Unknowndivide may earn a commission from purchases made through links in this post.
Some gear is too important to toss in a bag loose. A compact camera, a small drone controller, a set of lenses, a portable recorder, a phone and passport on a canoe trip. The Pelican 1120 is built for exactly those moments. It is a small hard case that shuts out water and dust and shrugs off being crushed, dropped or sat on. It is the kind of thing you buy once and keep for decades.
Who makes it
Pelican says it invented the hard protective case in 1976, and that the Protector Case was its first answer to the challenge of keeping important gear safe. Its cases are built to travel in the harshest environments, from extreme arctic cold to the heat of battle.
What the 1120 is
The 1120 is one of the smallest Protector Cases. It is made in the United States of America (USA) with a solid wall design and an open cell core, which Pelican says keeps it strong and light. The lid closes against a watertight O-ring seal, and an automatic pressure equalization valve balances the air pressure inside while keeping water out.
- Exterior: 8.41 by 6.76 by 3.87 inches (21.36 by 17.17 by 9.83 centimeters)
- Interior: 7.29 by 4.78 by 3.33 inches (18.52 by 12.14 by 8.46 centimeters)
- Depth: 0.50 inch lid, 2.56 inch base
- Weight: 1.34 pounds without foam, 1.43 pounds with foam
- Body: polypropylene
- Protection: watertight, crushproof and dustproof, rated Ingress Protection 67 (IP67)
- Temperature range: minus 40 to 190 degrees Fahrenheit
- Hardware: stainless steel, with a padlock hole
- Interior option: Pick N Pluck foam
- Warranty: Pelican's lifetime guarantee, where applicable by law
Why it is cool
The IP67 rating is the headline. Pelican lists the 1120 as watertight, crushproof and dustproof, and that makes the 1120 a natural fit for kayaks, boats, beaches, rainy festivals and dusty work sites.
The pressure valve is a clever detail. Pelican's automatic pressure equalization valve balances the air pressure inside the case while still keeping water out, a thoughtful touch for a box that seals this tightly.
Pick N Pluck foam turns a box into a custom holster. You pluck out small pieces of foam one by one to match the shape of your gear, so each item sits snugly in its own pocket. Plan your layout before you start, and the result looks and works like a professional kit.
And it is tough. The solid wall construction is designed to resist crushing, and the stainless steel hardware will not rust. These cases often outlast the gear inside them.
What fits inside
The interior is just over 7 by 4.75 inches, a bit over 3 inches deep. That suits a compact camera with spare batteries and cards, a set of small lenses, a handheld audio recorder, a pocket multitool kit, small electronics like a portable hard drive and cables, a watch collection, or a phone, keys and wallet on the water. Measure your gear before you buy. If it is close, the next size up gives more room.
What fits inside
The 1120 is a small case, which is exactly why it is useful. Think of it as a protective box for the small things that matter most. Popular uses include a compact camera with a spare battery, a set of memory cards and hard drives, a phone and charging cables for a trip on the water, a small first aid kit, or a watch and a few valuables on the road. Pluck the foam to match the shape of your gear so nothing rattles around.
It also works as a tidy organizer at home or on the desk. A case like this keeps small electronics, spare batteries and adapters together, protected from dust and spills, and ready to grab when you head out.
Who should buy it
Buy the 1120 if you paddle, sail, camp or travel with small valuable gear, if you are a photographer or audio recordist who needs a tough carry case, or if you want a safe place for documents, backup drives or keepsakes.
Skip it if you need to carry something large or want a soft, light pouch. A hard case adds some bulk and weight, which is the tradeoff for real protection.
Building a kit? See our everyday carry essentials, the Olight Arkfeld Pro, the Peak Design Everyday Backpack Zip and our best carry on travel backpacks. More gear lives in our desk and everyday carry hub.
