Reviewing The Best Drum Cases on Amazon

Types of Drum Cases

Like most instruments, the drum cases also usually come in three types:

Drum bags

Drum bags are your simple nylon bags in most cases. They're usually well-padded, come with a strap or two, and have double zippers.

This type of drum bag is further divided into a hard plastic bag where the bottom/side of the bag has a plastic base. This helps add further protection to the bag, in addition to the 1-10mm foam padding they're mostly already equipped with.

Hard cases

Hard cases are your typical road cases - they're sturdy, usually made up of hardened fiberboard or polyethylene plastic outer shell. 

They're the sturdiest option when it comes to drum cases out there. This guide particularly comprises nylon drum bags since our aim was to put together a list of cost-effective, cheap drum cases. However, if you've got the budget for it, hard road cases are generally considered the better option - they provide better protection and deflect any rim-warping, lacquer cracking concussions.

It's also important to note that hard cases are heavy - so if you're looking for a lightweight carrying bag, you may just want to go for a simple nylon bag for your drum.

What Makes a Great Drum Case?

There are hundreds of drum cases out there - this guide alone lists 10 items. So, how do you identify the best from the rest? How do you choose the right set of cases for your drum kit? 

We've broken things down into a few steps to help you make the right decision.

Protection/Padding

Normally, all your gig bags come with 1mm - 10mm padding, and sometimes it's even more. The more the padding is, the safer your drums will be! 

Padding is mostly on the interior side. For extra protection, the fabric of your bag should be heavy-duty and thick from the outside and that helps add an extra layer of protection for your drums!

Storage

Being mindful of storage space is essential - you need to note down your instrument's dimensions and map them onto the interior of the bag you're going to purchase. 

Also, make sure there'll be ample space for closing the bag once you've fitted your drum inside. Ideally, your bag should be 1-2 inches bigger than your drum!

Carrying mechanism

Since drum bags are not that large, they usually come with only one type of strap; handheld strap, shoulder strap, or back straps.

If you're lucky, you may get your hands on a bag that sports more than one kind of straps. Moreover, some bags may come with wheels as well and that particularly helps with portability.

Also, make sure to look for adjustable and reinforced straps when buying the bag.

Weight

Your instrument's bag should not be too heavy - unless you're going for a hard case (which is obviously a bit heavier). If you're going for a backpack or a drum gig bag with a shoulder strap, it's important for you to zero in on a lightweight bag so it doesn't fatigue your shoulder or back muscles.

If you're buying a set of bags for your complete kit, you'll need to be extra mindful of this since you'll be carrying all your drums in this set of bags and if they're too heavy, it'll end up becoming more tiring than convenient. 

Compartments

So many drummers will end up forgetting a bag for their essentials and drumming hardware. More often than not, all your drum bags will have one or two extra pockets and that'll get the job done most of the time.

However, if extra compartments don't help float your boat - remember to buy an extra bag that'll help you carry any remaining hardware.

Bags vs. Hard Cases: What's the Better Option?

If you're looking for protection only then hard cases are definitely the better option. However, if your aim is to buy an economical drum case and you prefer just something to carry your drum in then zeroing in on a lightweight option should be preferred. 

To sum it up, hard cases are better for protection but gig bags are lightweight, economical, provide ample protection against scratches, and they're much easier to carry!

How to Keep Your Drums From Scratches Even Inside the Bags?

So sometimes, above all that fancy foam padding and lined interior, your drum shells and rims still become prone to damages and scratches. 

How? Well, zipper marks, somebody puts extra weight on your gig bag, your drums when collectively put together inside the same bag end up scratching one another, and whatnot. 

Problems like this can simply be avoided by adding extra padding to your bags. Try adding a piece of cloth between multiple drums and keep them from scratching against each other.

Place your bags at their designated spots when traveling and refrain from stacking them or putting luggage bags over/around them.

Lastly, you can never be too careful - if you fear damaging your drums, you can simply buy yourself a hard case and get rid of the problem once and for all!