Home Reviews

Bluffworks Horizon Quilted Vest review

REVIEW – I’m a big fan of Bluffworks.  Several of their clothing items have become part of my office and especially travel staples.  For example, their dress shirts and pants are super comfortable, have just the right amount of stretch, and are nearly impossible to wrinkle, and the same goes for their jacket and slacks.  When I found out that Bluffworks was releasing a vest and that I might have a chance to try one, I was very excited; besides my respect for Bluffworks’ existing clothing, I am also a big fan of vests because if their versatility.  So how did I like the Bluffworks Horizon Quilted Vest?  Let’s find out!  Gadget on!

What is it?

The Bluffworks Horizon Quilted Vest is a quilted, lightweight travel vest that has seven (7) pockets to carry your gear and can be dressed up or down depending on your other wardrobe choices or needs.

Specs

  • Available colors: Olive Green (reviewed here) and Dark Sapphire
  • Available sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL
  • 100% technical, breathable, quick-dry polyester shell that’s treated with a water-repellent finish.
  • 100g PrimaLoft® synthetic insulation made of 60% post-consumer recycled material.
  • Lightweight travel vest with pockets; 3.95 oz. per yard.
  • Washing machine friendly. Line or tumble dry.
  • 7 hidden pockets designed to protect your wallet, passport, keys, etc.
  • Durable, matte buttons that won’t fall off or stand out.
  • Open armhole for greater range of movement.
  • Full zipper and double-snap stand collar for form and function.

What’s in the package?

  • Bluffworks Horizon Quilted Vest

Design and features

First impressions: The Bluffworks Horizon Quilted Vest looked and felt very high quality, like all of the other Bluffworks items I have tried or own.  This is the ‘Olive Green’ color, and I really like it—it could have an almost military look, or a hunting/forest look, or an urban on-the-go look, and the color is such that it can complement many other items.  The materials from which the Horizon Vest are made are also solid.  The “100% technical, breathable, quick-dry polyester shell that’s treated with a water-repellant finish” actually has a really nice look and feel.  Although Bluffworks calls it “technical,” it doesn’t have the “sheen” that a lot of “technical” fabrics have. Also, the “100g PrimaLoft® synthetic insulation made of 60% post-consumer recycled material” keeps you toasty, but along with the shell is quite breathable and very compressible for packing.

One of the first features I noticed was that the Horizon Vest has a zipper as well as a snap-down flap over the zipper, as seen in the image above.   I found that this “snap flap” (see what I did there?) can serve two purposes, both related to the wearer’s temperature.  One is to keep cold air from penetrating the zipper and inside the vest, keeping you warmer.  The other is a way to close the vest without having to use the zipper, which could be useful to allow air inside the vest to keep you ventilated and cooler.  I will say the one downside to the snaps is that they rattle around a lot if you don’t have them snapped, which can be a bit annoying.

Speaking of the snaps, the above photo shows a closeup of them and you can see that they have been color-matched to the vest color (I love this—very subdued) as well as having a custom Bluffworks logo imprinted on them.   The photo above also shows how the snaps are arranged in the neck area.  Bluffworks calls this a “double snap stand collar” and if you snap both collar snaps, it forms and nice seal around your neck to help seal in your body heat, handy if you find yourself in colder conditions without a scarf.

As seen in the photo above, the Horizon Vest’s seams have a bit of a tapered cut, which helps give it a more fitted look when wearing it.  I also really like the quilting pattern.  It’s not straight vertically/horizontally oriented, which would make it look like a grid or checkerboard, it has a slight tilt which gives it a diamond-like pattern.  A great look, subtle but classy.

The front of the Horizon Vest has three zipper pockets.   In the photo above, the zipper pocket located on the top left is shown.  I really like this pocket because it is almost totally hidden—all you can really see is the zipper pull.  This pocket is in a nice location to hold a phone, which I suspect is its main purpose, but is large enough to hold other items for quick access as well.

The Horizon Vest also includes right and left zippered hand pockets, an example of which is shown in the photo above.  I really like that Bluffworks chose to make these zipper pockets as I tend to have thing fall out of my pockets, which is bad and especially bad when traveling.

Next, let’s check out the interior.  You can see in the photo above that there are a total of four pockets inside, which we’ll look at in more detail below along with some other features.  For now, let me state that the Horizon Vest’s lining almost like a microfleece—it is super soft and comfortable, so much so that I actually look forward to putting it on.

Starting at the top of the interior, Bluffworks has included a high-vis, hunter orange strip of strong webbing from which to hang the vest.  This may seem like a minor feature, but is a very useful one and I always appreciate it when a company includes one of these.  Also, I dig the Bluffworks tag sew inside the lining.  Bluffworks has made the exterior of all of their clothing item conspicuously inconspicuous in that they don’t litter them with logos or unnecessary trim.  This gives it a very classy and classic look.

Next, let’s take a look at the inside of the left front of the Horizon Vest.  There is a zip pocket at the top and large open pocket below the zipper pocket, both of which we’ll look at in detail below.

The above photo shows the inside zipper chest pocket on the left inside of the Horizon Vest (there is also a mirror-image one on the right inside).  Like the upper zipper pocket on the outside, Bluffworks has done a fantastic job of “concealing” this pocket and hiding the zipper right in one of the interior seams—if you didn’t see the zipper pull cords with their high-vis, hunter orange tips, you might not ever even know these upper inside pockets were even there.

The photo above shows the lower pocket on the inner left side of the Horizon Vest.  It is a large pocket with an open top, a really handy place for stuffing a pair of gloves or hat, but you may want to avoid placing smallish items in here that might bounce or slide out.

Next, let’s take a look at the inner right side of the Horizon Vest, as seen in the image above.  As mentioned above, at the top there is a mirror-image of the zippered pocket that is on the top of the inner left side of the vest, and below that is a larger zipper pocket which will be described below.

Above, a close-up photo of the lower pocket on the vest’s inner right side.  Like its opposite on the left side, this pocket is quite large, but has a zipper closure.  Because of this, the pocket can be used to hold all sorts of things securely.  It is almost large enough to fit a standard-size iPad, but not quite.

Finally, a few shots of some goofball wearing the vest, to give some idea of fit, sizing and so forth.  The vest reviewed here is a size Medium, which is what I typically wear for most shirts, jackets, and so forth.  I was a bit concerned that it would be too snug due to my build, which is just a bit outside the norm due to fitness activities (weightlifting, etc).  However, the Horizon Vest fit me very comfortably—not too loose (which I hate), and not too tight (which is uncomfortable). 

Full disclosure: I am also wearing my Bluffworks original Meridian Dress Shirt in Highland Grey Check and my Bluffworks Chino Pants in Khaki plus GORUCK Tac Hat in these photos.

One of the design aspects that Bluffworks incorporated into their Horizon Vest is “open armholes.”  This is a useful feature because it helped the vest fit me almost perfectly and also allowed for even wider freedom of movement, plus layering items under it becomes that much easier.

In the above photo, you can see the slightly tapered construction of the Horizon Vest, which I think is subtle, yet helps to produce a bit of a slimming effect.  Nice, clean lines throughout, like all of Bluffworks’ items.

Above, I’m placing my iPhone 6 Plus in the outer zippered chest pocket (located on the left side).  This pocket can easily hold a “Plus” or “Max” sized iPhone (even in a case, though I had removed mine for these photos), or one of the larger-format Android phones.  I like that Bluffworks placed a zippered pocket in this location, but I will say that the angled pocket does make it a bit more difficult to access than a vertically-oriented pocket that most garments have included.

Above, I’m placing my iPhone 6 Plus in the inner, upper, zippered pocket on the left side.  Great spot for a phone, in fact, this is where I typically place mine, rather than in the outside pocket.  These two inner, upper, zippered pockets are snap to access and having them inside the garment provides an additional level of protection.

Above, I’m attempting to show the lower right inner zippered pocket, the really large one.  I found myself thinking about all the different things I could put in here, especially while traveling.

And last but certainly not least, in the photo above I’m attempting to show the large inner left open pocket.  Again, a great pocket that I used to hold my hat and gloves when not using them.

What I like

  • The style is great–can be outdoor, urban, dress up, dress down, and layerable with many other clothing items
  • Color is subtle but rich and can complement many other clothing items
  • Seven pockets total, all but one zippered, provide lots of storage spaces for your gear
  • Super comfortable–soft interior as well as the fit/cut make me WANT to put it on
  • Looks and feels very durable and constructed from high-quality materials
  • Machine-washable?  Heck yeah!

What needs to be improved

  • Might want to think about re-orienting the front pocket to a vertically-oriented one rather than the angled one, but this is still a very useful pocket as-is
  • The snaps can be a bit “rattly” but this is far from a deal-breaker; eventually, I stopped noticing it

Final thoughts

As mentioned above, like all of the other Bluffworks items I have tried, I became enamored with the Horizon Quilted Vest immediately, and I now wear it just about every chance I get.  I’ve basically been wearing the Horizon Vest to the office and around town so far, I plan to do some actual travel with it in the future and I’ll report back here when I do.  If you have been looking for a vest to either wear on its own or layer with other items and you’d like one that can have a versatile look plus is loaded with concealed pockets for all your gear, I would highly recommend taking a look at the Bluffworks Horizon Quilted Vest.

Price: $155.00
Where to buy: bluffworks.com
Source: The product sample for this review was provided by Bluffworks.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged:

Bluffworks Horizon Quilted Vest review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 10, 2019 at 11:00 am.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.

Zanco Smart Pen review

REVIEW – Zanco, the folks behind the Tiny T1 phone are back with another Kickstarter campaign for a unique phone called the Smart Pen. You can use this device by itself as a 2G phone or you can use it paired with your existing smartphone as a multi-function accessory. Either way, people are going to notice it and you when they see it. They sent me a pre-production sample, so let’s take a closer look.

What is it?

The Zanco Smart Pen is a stand-alone 2G GSM phone or when paired via Bluetooth with your iOS or Android smartphone, it becomes a wireless handset with lots of built-in features like a camera, laser pointer, voice changer, a stylus, and more.

What’s in the box?

  • Zanco Smart Pen
  • micro USB charging cable
  • SIM card tool

Hardware specifications

Frequency – GSM900/1800 or GSM850/100
Display – TFT .96in color, 80 x 160 resolution
Camera – Front 0.3MP, Back 0.3MP
Bluetooth – V3.0
Battery – 400mAh

Design and features

The Zanco Smart Pen is shaped like a large pen but the name is a misnomer because the Zanco Smart Pen really doesn’t have a built-in pen. However, it does have a built-in stylus that you can use on your tablet or smartphone display. The Smart Pen has a small color display with a camera and speaker above it and a panel of function buttons and a phone keypad below it along with a microphone down towards the stylus tip.

On the back of the Smart Pen, you’ll find the back facing camera and a speaker.

On one the side is an attachment for a lanyard, a 3.5mm headphone jack, a micro USB charging port, and a cover for the micro SD card slot and SIM card slot.

One thing I noticed was that the micro SD card slot is not spring loaded, which means it’s a little tough to remove the card once it’s inserted. I actually had to use a sharp pin to pick the edge of the card so I could slide it out of the slot. The SIM card slot, on the other hand, is spring loaded, which confused me even more since included with the Smart Pen is a SIM removal tool which you don’t need.

The top edge of the Smart Pen has a laser pointer which you can toggle on and off by pressing and holding the round multi-function button on the front center of the device.

As a stylus, the Smart Pen works as well as any other capacitive stylus. That said, I would have rather had an actual pen built into the Smart Pen instead of a stylus. Of course, having a pen would mean that they would need to offer refills as well, so I can see why they went with a stylus.

Size-wise, the Zanco Smart Pen is the right length to use as a stylus and the right length to hold up to your ear as a phone.

People will wonder what the heck you’re talking into when they see you using this device as a phone, but it’s actually quite comfortable to use that way.

Built-in features

First of all, the Zanco Smart Pen can be used as a cell phone as long as you have a SIM card for a GSM carrier such as T-Mobile, AT&T, etc. I tested this device with a Mint SIM, which uses T-Mobile. With the SIM installed, pressing any button on the device will wake up the display to show the carrier, signal strength, battery capacity, other status icons, in addition to the date and time. As far as the time and time stamp goes, the device shows the wrong date and the wrong time but you can go into the settings to customize it. I’m not sure why it doesn’t get that info from the carrier.




Other features include a phonebook where you can store your favorite contacts, an MP3 audio player, a sound recorder, voice changer, an FM radio, and a text message app. For texting, you’ll have to brush up on the old school text message typing where you have to press each key multiple times to get the letter you want. For example, if you needed the letter C, you would have to press the 2 key 3 times as the first time would be A and the second press would give you a B.

The Smart Pen also has 2 cameras. One on the front for selfies, and one on the back for everything else. Don’t get too excited though because the image quality will take you back a decade or so. Here are a few example images.



No, these pics aren’t thumbnails that you can click to see the full size. They are full size. Yep, they are 80×160 pixels. There are settings that will let you switch to 640×480 but the setting doesn’t stick. I’m guessing they are still working on the software.

What I like

  • Fun novelty standalone phone or Bluetooth handset for your existing phone
  • Multi-functional
  • Can be used as a real cell phone to make and receive calls or text messages

What needs to be improved

  • Camera quality needs to be improved

Final thoughts

Yes, you can make and receive calls with this phone as long as you have a SIM for a compatible carrier. I used it on the T-Mobile network and it worked fine for my test calls. Would I want to use the Smart Pen as my primary phone? Ummmm, no. Sure it works fine in a pinch, but it ain’t no smartphone. On the other hand, it doesn’t offer all the distractions of a smartphone AND the battery can last for up to 6 days on a charge which is something no smartphone can do. When it’s all said and done, the Zanco Smart Pen is a novelty phone just like their Tiny T1 phone. It’s a fun little conversation starter with a few useful tools built in like the stylus, laser pointer, and the ability to be used as a stand-alone phone or a Bluetooth handset for your existing smartphone.

Price: $49.00
Where to buy: Kickstarter with rewards set to ship in April
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Zanco.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: , ,

Zanco Smart Pen review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 10, 2019 at 9:00 am.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.

James Brand Benton ballpoint pen review

REVIEW: I firmly believe all EDC bags should start with the basics: a small to moderately sized knife, a nice set of shades, and a reliable/solid writing implement. In addition to the bag itself, these non-tech accessories say a lot about the carrier. I prefer simple, well-made on this front. From that point, many of us add various layers of technology and accessories. For this review James Brand sent me one of their recently released Benton pens to checkout. Let’s see if it finds a permanent spot in my Colonel Littleton 1943 Navigator bag…

What is it?

The Benton is a minimalistic ballpoint pen engineered to survive the road less traveled. This small, lightweight pen is designed to live in your pocket or EDC bag, ready to jot some rouge thought, comical doddle, or notes during a board meeting.

Design and features

The Benton is very well made and has an excellent feel/weight to it. James Brand uses stainless steel to create the barrel of the Benton. The barrel is 3/8″ in diameter, which is thin but not too thin. Overall length is five and a half inches, weighing in at less than an ounce.

Specifications:

  • MATERIAL: 304 Stainless Steel Barrel
  • CLIP: Bent Steel
  • GRIP PATTERN: Laser Etched
  • LANYARD LOOP: From clicker
  • CARTRIDGE: Schmidt 900 M (Black)
  • CARTRIDGE ACCESS: Twist off
  • DIAMETER: 3/8″ (9.4mm)
  • LENGTH: 5.5″ (139mm)
  • WEIGHT: 0.8 oz

The Benton includes a Schmidt 900 M ink cartridge that provides a smooth, flowing writing experience and is easily replaced when needed.

The lower third of the pen has many small circular indentations laser etched into the stainless steel barrel that gives the Benton an excellent feel and grip to it.

The Benton’s pocket clip is made from a PVD coated steel with the James Brand logo monogrammed into its tip.

Like the rest of the Benton, its pocket clip is low-profile and minimalistic yet gets the job done. The steel clip is rigid and strong as you would expect.

The Benton’s clicker has a machined hole/hard point to attach a lanyard to the pen.

James Brand includes a matching monogrammed lanyard with the Benton.

James Brand also includes a wool felt sleeve to protect the Benton.

What I like

  • Excellent build and material quality
  • Nice size and weight
  • Excellent feel and grip
  • Good writing experience

What needs to be improved

  • None

The Benton is available in stainless steel with green/black highlights, all-black, and a limited white ceramic coated LTD edition.

Final thoughts

The Benton is a very nice pen, made from excellent materials and attention to detail. It’s shape, size, and weight is ideal. James Brand has done an excellent job creating a simple, minimalistic design…perfect for anyone’s EDC gear. It is lightweight, well-made, form factor combined with a great writing experience.

Price: $60
Where to buy: The Benton is available directly from James Brand.
Source: The sample of this product was provided by James Brand.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged:

James Brand Benton ballpoint pen review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 9, 2019 at 11:00 am.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.

Grado GW100 Wireless Bluetooth open-back headphones review

REVIEW – Let’s be transparent— I’m a big fan of Grado headphones and earphones. Their 325e headphones are one of my favorite open-backed headphones and the GR10 earphones are a go-to pair I still love and use. However, it’s becoming a wireless world and it appeared that Grado was being left behind—until now, that is.

What is it?

Grado’s new GW100 headphones are the world’s first wireless headphones that are open-backed. If you’re unfamiliar with the term open-backed, it means that you can see through the headphone ear cups. This openness makes the speakers sound like they are not sitting on your ears, but rather away from your head giving music an expanded soundstage. (However, this soundstage is not as pronounced as on other Grado headphones—more on that later.) Some people prefer the open-backed approach so much that they refuse to listen to any other type of headphone. Add Bluetooth wireless to the mix and you have something special. 

What’s in the box

  • GW100 headphones
  • Mini plug audio cable
  • Mini USB charging cable

Specs

  • Bluetooth Version: 4.2 with apt-X
  • Battery Capacity: 320mAH
  • Working Distance: 30+ ft.
  • Battery Life: 15 hours (at 50% volume)
  • Frequency Response: 20Hz~20KHz
  • Mic Sensitivity: 42dB +/- 3dB
  • Transducer Type: Dynamic
  • Operating Principle: Open Air
  • SPL 1mW: 99.8 dB
  • Nominal Impedance: 32 ohms

Design and features

These are Grado headphones. That may sound a bit obvious, but if you’re familiar with the Grado brand, you get it. One look and that Grado look is immediately apparent. The overarching design language of these headphones has not changed much since the first Grado headphone in the early 90s. The look is a postmodern/mid-century classic style that looks old, but never dated.

The ear cup design, the sliding sizing rod, those foam ear pads are all Grado. The ear pads on these are on-ear like the SR60 and SR80 headphones as opposed to over-ear like Grado’s more expensive models. The GW100s are clad in an abundance of matte black plastic and faux leather. On some headphones, this would look and feel cheap, but the pieces fit together well and there’s no rattling or squeaking. Plus they are incredibly light. I’ve worn them for hours with little to no discomfort. The one comfort issue I do have is the foam on the ear pads. My skin mildly reacts to whatever the foam is made of and can sometimes become itchy. It could be something worth noting if you have sensitive skin.

The headband on the GW100 headphones could use more padding, but it’s almost identical to the headbands of Grado’s upscale headphones. It feels fine to me but might not have enough cushion for someone with thinning to no hair.

One design flaw I noticed is that if you want to wear the headphones around your neck, the ear cups only swivel one way and that way is backward. Let me explain: when headphones are around your neck, the foam part of the ear cup should face your body so they won’t get dirty. However, when worn correctly, the ear cup’s foam on the GW100s only face outward—unless you flip them around which then makes the right speaker be on your left side and left on right. Who wants that? Maybe this shouldn’t bug me so much, but it feels completely backward. 

Even though the GW100s are wireless, they can also be used with the included mini plug cable for (slightly) improved audio quality or if you forgot to recharge the battery. The headphones are charged via a mini USB plug, also included. I would have preferred a newer, faster, more durable USB-C connection that many wireless headphones now employ. Also, the Bluetooth is version 4.2 instead of the latest version 5. 

As far as extras go, that’s it. They are housed in cheap foam inside a thin cardboard box. Plus, there’s no case included, but that’s true of most if not all Grado headphones—no matter the cost. It appears that Grado puts all of their money into the product instead of extras that have no effect on audio quality.

The GW100 headphones may be Grado’s first wireless model, but you would never know it. Out of the box, the GW100s are easy to pair and easy to use. I didn’t even need to read the manual—I was able to figure out the buttons fairly quickly. The buttons are on the large-side making them easy to feel and use. When pressed, there is a voice prompt that tells you if you are powered on or off and either connected or disconnected. It’s nice that I don’t have to translate what different beeps mean as with other headphones. Oh, the voice is female and has a trace of a British accent—nice touch.

Call quality is so-so using the GW100 headphones. People I spoke with could tell I was not using my iPhone (unlike the crazy good call quality of the Apple AirPods). I was told my voice had static in the background. Even so, I could hear the other person quite well. However, the open-backed design lets me hear myself talking—something sorely lacking on regular headphones.

It’s worth noting that even though the GW100 headphones are open-backed, Grado has noticeably reduced audio “bleed.” People next to you may still be able to hear what you are hearing, but it won’t be as loud to them as with other Grado models. Note that this also reduces the soundstage a bit, so if you’re looking for that ultra-wide Grado soundstage, you may be disappointed.

So what is that Grado sound? Grado headphones are tuned to middle to slightly higher frequencies, but without being too bright-sounding in any way. Bass is present but well controlled. They are well suited for rock and jazz but can be easily used for any genre of music—except for bass prominent hip-hop or some electronica.

Since I’m a fan of classic rock, the GW100 headphones sound just right, whether it’s the Beatles, Stones, Bowie or even more recent rock. It’s a “mama bear” kind of headphone. However, if you’re a bass-head, I would look elsewhere. If you’re used to a brighter, ”Etymotic” type of sound, The GW100s may come off as a bit flat sounding. They still sound energetic, but not to the point of becoming harsh.

But what’s really nice about the GW100 headphones is that they can disappear. The Grados put music first and when coupled with their open-backed design, it’s easy to become lost in the music where you can forget you’re wearing headphones. It’s a weird sensation and it doesn’t happen with many headphones.  

What I like

The GW100 headphones are extremely light and comfortable. They can be worn for hours with little to no discomfort. Oh yeah, they also sound great.

What needs to be improved

The GW100s are almost all plastic which can feel a bit cheap when first held. Be careful cramming them into a backpack—the ear pads easily come off and can be misplaced. The ear pad foam can be scratchy feeling for sensitive skin.

Final Thoughts

Grado took their time making a Bluetooth headphone, but the wait was justified. The GW100 headphones have managed to retain that illusive Grado character that fans love. It’s a Grado headphone, period.

Price: $249 US
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample for this product was provided by Grado.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged:

Grado GW100 Wireless Bluetooth open-back headphones review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 9, 2019 at 9:00 am.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.

Pelican Go G40 Case review

REVIEW – We all have our EDC essentials and some of us lug them into environments that are potentially a bit more harsh than average.  If you are one of the aforementioned folks, then you probably already know that Pelican has been making hard cases that are water- and drop-resistant for a long time and are arguably the gold standard for such containers.  Pelican’s most recent product in the personal hard case space is their Pelican Go G40 Case.   It not only has many of the features that have made Pelican’s products successful for many years, but also has a few additional features for EDC fans.  How did it fare?  Let’s check it out!  Gadget on!

What is it?

The Pelican Go G40 Case is a water- and drop-resistant personal hard case that is designed to hold and keep save several small items in potentially extreme conditions.

Hardware specs

  • Colors: Anthracite/Grey, Blush/Grey, Lime/Green, Surf Blue/Grey (reviewed here)
  • Dimensions: 7” x 3.5” x 1.6”
  • Material: ABS plastic
  • Waterproof rating: IP67 (Submersible for 30 minutes in a depth of up to 3 feet (1 meter))
  • Exterior: Equipped with a rubberized bumper, easy carry handle and secure closure latch to protect even the smallest valuables.
  • Interior: Cushioned EVA Lining in Lid and Base to keep cellphones and valuables safe plus Organization Tray with built-in credit card pockets and cord management strap
  • Warranty: Pelican lifetime warranty

What’s in the package?

  • Pelican Go G40 Case

Design and features

Fends off dust, dirt, sand, and water up to 1.5m deep for up to half-an-hour.

I actually already own two Pelican cases, both their 10xx and 1050 cases, which I purchased through GORUCK, and I have been very happy with them; they have protected my cell phone, wallet, car keys, and several other items through all sorts of adventures and harsh conditions.  When I first saw a photo online of the Go G40 Case, my initial thought was, “Hey, where’s the transparent lid?”  I was a bit skeptical, but the Go G40 Case’s other features intrigued me enough to want to review it.  

Other than the lack of a transparent lid as mentioned above, the Go G40 Case does share many similar features to existing Pelican cases, each of which will be covered in more detail below.  For starters, it looked and felt very rugged and durable.

Another thing that I noticed about the Go G40 Case immediately was its matte finish.  Most personal Pelican cases that are sized similarly to the Go G40 Case have a high-gloss finish.  While this has an appealing appearance initially, I’ve found this to be a bit problematic over time, because if you are actually using your Pelican case at all, it is likely that the case is actually coming into contact with other objects, which tends to scratch and scuff that appealing gloss finish.  I think the matte finish of the Go G40 Case is a serious improvement.

One of the more obvious external features that I appreciated immediately was the generously-sized loop that can be used to attach the Go G40 Case to things, such as a backpack.  Loop-type features are present on most hard cases of this type, but I’ve found most of them to be quite small and I’ve always been concerned that they might break off and I’d lose my hard case.  Not so here.  As mentioned, the loop on the Go G40 Case is very generously sized, thick, and integrally molded directly into the exterior of the case.  This thing is solid—good luck breaking this off without basically destroying the case.

The Pelican Go G40 Case, like many of its predecessors, has a single latch mechanism that locks down the lid and seals the case tight.  Like the loop described above, this latch is big, beefy, and provides a very positive tactile and auditory feedback when locked down.

The latch includes a valve that is similar to other existing Pelican case models.  This valve is intended to help equalize the pressure inside the case with the ambient pressure outside the case, such as at higher altitudes.

Moving to the other side of the Go G40 Case, the lid is attached to the main body of the case with two very solid hinges that have durable metal core pins as shown above.  This is yet another reason why Pelican is considered a gold standard for personal protection cases.  In addition, the gray strip running around the outside perimeter of the Go G40 is actually a rubber bumper that helps protect the case (and its contents) from shocks and drops.

The Pelican Go G40 Case is a decently compact size, while still being able to hold a fair amount of EDC-type items, as you will see below.  Above, I’m holding the Go G40 Case just to give an idea of scale.

Next let’s look inside the Go G40 Case, where there are some additional new features, such as the lining and tray.  More on these features below.

First, let’s take a look at the interior of the case itself, and focus on the bottom of the main compartment.  The inside of the Go G40 Case is lined with a soft EVA material that helps both cushion items placed inside as well as reduce the risk of scratching them against the inside of the case.  There are also two cross-shaped features that are very slightly raised from the bottom.  These are to prevent items from getting “stuck” to the bottom of the case.

Similar to the bottom of the case, the inside of the lid also has the same soft EVA material to help protect items placed inside it.  In the photo above, you can also see the black rubber O-ring that sits down in its own groove and runs the circumference of the case’s lid.  This rubber O-ring is key to the Pelican Go G40’s IP67 waterproof rating, which allows it to remain submerged in water to a depth of 1 meter for up to 30 minutes.

Next, let’s check out the Go G40’s Case’s internal tray.  This tray is specially sized to lay into the lower portion of the case, but stay elevated above the bottom; it rests in a ledge that is built into the circumference of the lower portion of the case’s interior.

This tray is molded to specifically fit into the lower portion of the Go G40, but the tray’s exterior is a fabric-type cloth, the texture of which is shown in the close-up photo above.  There is also an oval slot on either end of this tray, with I think is simply to help remove the tray from the Go G40 and to prevent the tray from getting “stuck” in the Go G40.

The tray serves two purposes.  First, it provides a space for your mobile phone to sit that is separated from any other contents in the lower portion of the Go G40 (see photo below).  Additionally, the underside of the tray has two card slots as well as a strip of elastic that can be used for cable management.  In the photo above, I’ve placed a debit card and my Driver’s License, along with a pair of iPhone earbuds.

Above, you can see that my iPhone 6 Plus fits perfectly in the tray; however, I did have to remove the Magpul case I that I typically have on my iPhone.  Smaller phones will fit fine in the tray, but if you have a larger phone, you may have to remove it from its case, or use a very thin case, in order for it to fit in the tray.  (Please ignore the goofball reflected in the iPhone’s screen. 😉 )

Above, I’ve placed a handful of my essential EDC items into the Go G40 Case, including my naked iPhone 6 Plus (which will actually sit down in the cavity in the tray as seen in the photo above and below), my Leatherman Squirt PS4 multitool with a 550 paracord fob, a Sandisk USB flash drive, a Sharpie pen, a Parker Jotter ballpoint pen, a Lumintop Tool AAA flashlight and a pack of Listerine Breath Strips.    Also included are the two cards and iPhone earbuds in the underside of the lid.

Above is the Go G40 Case with all of the items shown above placed inside it.  Everything fit well and the latch closed fine.  In fact, even with the items above placed in the lower portion of the Go G40 Case, there was still room for a few more small items if I arranged them all to fit.

In the photo above, I’ve used a carabiner to attach the Go G40 Case to the grab handle of my GORUCK GR1 rucksack as an example of how you might carry this case securely on the outside of a bag.

What I like

  • IP67 water resistance rating
  • Matte finish doesn’t show scratches, scrapes or smudges
  • Thick, tough carabiner loop
  • Exterior rubber bumper for added shock protection
  • Interior lined with soft EVA material
  • Interior tray separates phone from other items and also includes card slots and elastic strap

What needs to be improved

  • I had to remove my iPhone 6 Plus from the case I typically use in order for it to fit into the tray

Final thoughts

I really like the Pelican Go G40 Case.  It provides an excellent level of water- and shock-protection for small valuables and its interior tray that holds your cell phone is a great new feature.  If you work or frequently spend time in a harsh environment, or plan to visit such an area, I would encourage you to take a look at the Pelican Go G40 Case as a way to secure your important personal items.  In fact, I plan to use the Go G40 case to protect my wallet, phone, watch and a few other items on my next GORUCK Challenge, which is a really good testbed for protective hard case like this, because it is very likely that will be banged around around a lot, and also to be submerged in water.  Interestingly, the Pelican Go G40 Case is currently only available at REI, so if you are interested, check their site for more info or to order (see links below).

Price: $39.95
Where to buy: REI.com
Source: The product sample for this review was provided by Pelican.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged:

Pelican Go G40 Case review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 8, 2019 at 11:00 am.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.