Customer Reviews

Meade 07328 ETX Hard Carrying Case

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I was hesitant to order a "pricey" plastic case. Now, I am very glad I did. The internals of the case are pre-formed to fit the ETX-90EX, Autostar controller, lens filters, lenses, barlow, T-adapter, and a few extra storage areas. The external case is adequate to protect the contents from a short drop. It also comes with two keys so you can lock the case. The locks are designed to prevent curious children from opening the case. The lock on this case would never prevent a theft. It is also convenient to have all your accessories in one spot! Prior to using the case I had the little boxes my accessories came in one big box. This made it hard to find the right lens during a dark viewing session. With the case I know exactly where each accessory is. I do not need to see it.

Ok, so it isn't a Zero-Halliburton case. I bought the case and definitely recommend it when you are transporting your telescope in the car, however it isn't as sturdy as a Zero case or a Pelican case. Either of those cases you can customize the foam in to hold your telescope. I wouldn't take my scope as "checked baggage" in this case, but it is great for carrying the scope and its accessories. Something I would like would be a place to store the manuals and both the autostar and regular controller (for terrestrial viewing the hand controller is fine.)

The only thing that's nice about this case is that the inserts are already cut out for you. The plastic outer shell is pretty cheap and doesn't inspire confidence. The locks are a joke. The case isn't water/airtight. With this case, you're paying for an official Meade accessory and the convenient cut-outs. It's really more of an organizer, a way to keep everything together with a bare minimum of protection. So before you plunk down the money, do the research and learn about other options.



I bought one of these cases and was so disappointed, I returned it; as someone else said, for $40, this would be a fine case, but for $100+, it's a rip-off. Instead, I spent a few dollars more on a Pelican 1550 with pick-and-pluck foam ($125 if you look around hard enough), and now I have a *real* hard-case that's NATO-codified and tested to MIL C-4150J (Military Standard), IP-67 (Ingress Protection) and ATA (Air Transportation Association). Granted, I had to spend an hour carefully picking out the insert shapes myself, but I had the added bonus of customising it for my own needs, and because I planned carefully, it holds more accessories than the Meade case.



Don't be a completist and buy this case as a twitch reflex. If all you want is an easy purchase, and you only need a minor level of protection, then this is the case for you. But you should know that with a little bit of extra work, you can get something that is actually worth the money.

One of the reasons I purchased the ETX-90 is its portability. The hard carrying case is really a very convieniet way to safely transport your telescope to star parties or when moving out. I took the ETX with me back home (Kuwait) and I checked the hard carrying case as a carry-in. Even though the case is designed to stand great pressure, you should always check it as a carry in. The smart design of the case enables you to have all your accesories in one place! Not to mention that the case looks neat and intimidating :-)

As may reviewers have said, it just seems cheep. A thin plastic case which flexes, with a basic cutout of your telescope inside. If it was $40, I would say it is great. But, at the price I paid from Amazon, I can't help but think there is something better out there.

they suggested me to buy this accessory but it does not work in my system... also, they did not return my money yet (more than 30 days since I asked them to return)