Traveling with a GruvGear Kapsule

[squish]

This past weekend my band played two fly-in shows. Actually we flew in for the first one in NYC, took an Amtrak to PHL, and then flew back to ATL on Sunday. We also took a few taxis/Ubers and walked to one of the shows

I packed the Kapsule with a Jazz bass, Mesa Subway D-350 amp, all cables, assorted gig clothes including a heavy leather Brando jacket. The whole rig weighed 36 pounds on the airline scale and was taken to the oversized baggage team.

Neither Jet Blue or Delta charged extra for sending this case to Oversized.

The loaded up case rolled well on its removable wheels from the car through the airports. The skate-sized wheels and 608 bearings are standard and will be easy to replace when the time comes. The only wear I found was a little fuzz forming on the mesh backpack strap cover.

When we walked from the hotel to the venue, it was about a 15 minute walk so I tried out the backpack straps. They were fine, but after a while the straps were starting to dig in a bit. A waist belt would have helped but I've never seen anything like that on a case like this.

Overall I love this case! It protected well, moved easily, and looked really cool. I had a musician come up to me in the airport to say that he loved his GruvGear Kapsule too. It wasn't cheap at $400 (Sweetwater had it on sale for $320) but I consider it a good buy. We are flying up that way again next month so I will make an update then.

 

[AlfBrewdog]

Nice. I’ve had mine since the kickstarter campaign and done hundreds of flights with it. I was open-minded and thought it may not hold up for the long haul, but it is still in great condition!

 

[squish]

Took the same rig on another NYC trip but replace PHL with Boston in Sept.

Same thing - checked it in before flight at oversized, picked it up at oversized baggage claim after flight, rolled it around the airport/taxi/hotel/gig/taxi/train to Boston/subway/walk to hotel. Then gig/hotel/subway/airport/home. Kapsule protected everything perfectly, although it did get a few more dings on the hard shell. This time I didn't remove the wheels when checking it in at oversize (they said it was fine to leave them on). The case is holding up really well so far.

Repeating the NYC/PHL trip tomorrow. In Feb band is flying to St Louis and Chicago. I'll try to keep updating this thread.

 

[squish]

Took the Kapsule on NYC/PHL trip again (fly/train/subway/bus/Uber/cab/walk) two weekends ago. Had it loaded down with mini amp (D-350), cable/accessories and extra clothes just like the prior two trips up there and it did a great job again.
It is starting to show more light wear marks, but nothing like cracks or chips on the hard surfaces. Vinyl top surface is remarkably clear of scrapes and wear. Handles and wheels are staying strong and straps are good to go, too. It has become a trusted friend.
Next on the schedule is a Boston fly-in gig for New Year's Eve then St. Louis/Chicago dates in Feb then back to NYC/PHL in April. All with the Kapsule.

 

[squish]

Update on Kapsule use:

Enjoyed a quick fly-in show in Boston (from Atlanta) this past weekend. The Kapsule performed great.

I live near the MARTA line making it easy getting to our busy airport. Once checked in at the counter, I simply roll the rig to the oversized baggage counter and that's it. It pops out at the next airport at the oversized bag area.

It comfortably rolls onto the airport shuttle to the subway terminal, jumps the train to North End Boston, then on the sidewalk to hotel. Then before sound check the few blocks to venue is nearly effortless. Reverse the order the next day and I'm home. It could not be better!

The Kapsule cruises up escalators, down sidewalks, slips easily into Uber trunks, and when needed, the handle is comfy enough for short lifts up flights of stairs.

It's tough too. I dropped it twice (once on escalator) and no damage appeared. Bass stayed in tune with itself and played perfectly.

Next up is a NYC show in 30 days. Checking this case has been so stress free and easy to deal with. Still love it!

 

[JakobT]

Update on Kapsule use:

Enjoyed a quick fly-in show in Boston (from Atlanta) this past weekend. The Kapsule performed great.

I live near the MARTA line making it easy getting to our busy airport. Once checked in at the counter, I simply roll the rig to the oversized baggage counter and that's it. It pops out at the next airport at the oversized bag area.

It comfortably rolls onto the airport shuttle to the subway terminal, jumps the train to North End Boston, then on the sidewalk to hotel. Then before sound check the few blocks to venue is nearly effortless. Reverse the order the next day and I'm home. It could not be better!

The Kapsule cruises up escalators, down sidewalks, slips easily into Uber trunks, and when needed, the handle is comfy enough for short lifts up flights of stairs.

It's tough too. I dropped it twice (once on escalator) and no damage appeared. Bass stayed in tune with itself and played perfectly.

Next up is a NYC show in 30 days. Checking this case has been so stress free and easy to deal with. Still love it!
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Thanks for sharing this. If I ever do more fly dates, the Kapsule is high on my list. Ever use the backpack straps?

 

[squish]

Ever use the backpack straps?

Yes, if terrain like broken pavement or rain requires it. The one time I used the straps the case had an amp, accessories and a leather jacket packed in it. With that setup I was only comfortable with the case on my back for probably ten minutes. But if packed a little lighter I'm sure I could have gone a lot longer. The straps are not just thrown on there. They seems sorted.

 

[squish]

Alrighty, another update to traveling with the Kapsule.

This trip was a quick out-and-back flight to NYC from ATL. I didn’t pack as much on this trip so the Kapsule carried only the bass (maybe my shave bag) - not additional clothes or jackets. Weight was 29 bs according to Delta’s scale. The baggage handlers put some wear on the case this time. An area of ballistic nylon now got some thread pops and the vinyl facing looks like it went for a drag.
I was surprised in the hotel when evaluating the bass’ condition that it was perfectly in tune. Same the next day at the venue.
The performance and comfort remained while navigating airports, getting on commuter busses, NYC subways, Lyfts and a hike to the venue.
So yeah! It’s starting to show some wear but nothing is looking like it about to fail. It’s pretty tough.
I have more fly-in shows in two weekends to St Louis and Chicago, so I’ll send an update after that one!

 

[TaySte_2000]

I’ve got my first flight with mine on Friday. Houston to Frankfurt, Frankfurt to Istanbul.

I don’t have much in the way of clothes to pack but I’ve got a few pedals and preamps I use for practice that should weigh it down.

So we’ll see, I have to collect it in Frankfurt, change terminal and recheck it. Then I have a subway ride and 15 minute walk once I land in Istanbul. So it’s going to go through its paces.

I’ve done similar with the SKB Bass Safe and it did not leave me in the best of moods

I have the guitar version which fits my JMJ mustang great, just that little bit smaller that it makes getting in and out of taxi’s easier.

 

[TaySte_2000]

Went that well Gruv Gear have featured me on the product page



So my thoughts are this is probably the best case available for travelling right now. I had some issues where it’s clearly been dragged across the ground which has made it hard to slide the wheels on but I’ll be able to file/sand the excess plastic off.

Due to the way I was travelling I had to collect the bag in Frankfurt, drag it to another terminal and check it back in. This all went fine but as I say the wheels were difficult to slide on due to this damage.

Once I landed at Istanbul I had the same deal with the wheels, dragged it to the metro and headed to where I was staying. I walked the final 1km or so with it on my back due to the uneven ground. This was manageable but not easy. Bag was comfortable but it’s the sheer amount of weight on your back (after 18 hours of travel) that just makes it not the greatest experience.

But I’ve done this same walk with the bass safe and had to drag is because there isn’t a way you can comfortably carry that in one hand for this distance. It was not pleasant, really not pleasant.

I also have the Kapsulite (the older model without wheels) which has also flown successfully with me and is an easier carry but as with the Bass Safe you can’t fit anything inside it, but without the wheels you’re carrying it everywhere. I do really like the neck pocket bag thing they have on this and the Sleeve. But I’m not sure where this fits in my requirements now, it’s not as light and small as an Edge for running around a city in taxis and public transport and you can fit very little in it if you’re flying with it.

With the Kapsule I really like I can pack all my stuff into one case, it makes for a great storage and shipping solution. I’ll likely get another one to leave in the UK where I have a few more instruments stored with friends. It would not however be my grab and go rig in say a city, it’s far easier to run around with a Gruv Gear Edge and be more minimalistic with the gear. But there is no rig I’ve gigged in the past 5+ years that I couldn’t carry in the Kapsule and fly with.

 

[squish]

So my thoughts are this is probably the best case available for travelling right now. I had some issues where it’s clearly been dragged across the ground which has made it hard to slide the wheels on but I’ll be able to file/sand the excess plastic off.

With the Kapsule I really like I can pack all my stuff into one case, it makes for a great storage and shipping solution.

Excellent review!

Last weekend we flew into one STL, took a train to CHI, except when the train had to be stopped - then on a four-hour bus ride from Springfield IL to CHI, uber rides, then the flight home and on a commuter train home.

Pretty typical trip for us except we encountered SNOW. Yes, I dragged the Kapsule through a couple of inches of snow in Saint Louis making my way to their commuter train. It also got a health dose of stinky de-icer from the airport. Grrr

The Kapsule took some more dings and scrapes this time, but everything in the case came out perfectly protected (in the last pic below, some new scrapes on the vinyl are visible). The bass was perfectly tuned as well which was crazy since we left 60* ATL to 19* STL.

Anyway, another great trip with this great case.

 

[squish]

Here's an update and it isn't a happy one.

I've flown with this case seven times since my last update. It is a year old with a two year warranty. This past weekend we traveled to Chicago. After we got back I found damage to my Kapsule - two significant cracks in the hard shell, a broken zip track and a missing zip pull. I reached out quickly to Gruv Gear. I sent them pictures and told them how it happened (found it this way at baggage claim). They replied that any damage an airline causes they cannot warranty.

What? The whole purpose for this case is for flying. It is designed to absorb blows and bangs from handling. If it is warrantied to not fail under the conditions in which it was designed for, and does, why wouldn't the company replace it? The two-year warranty claim is completely bogus.

When I reached out to Sweetwater about it, they told me that their hands are tied.

This expensive case is indeed not strong enough for air travel. And with no manufacturer support, you are left on your own. I love the design of the case so much. It really does it all, but has no warranty. I'm very disappointed with Gruv Gear.

 

[TaySte_2000]

Sorry to hear that, I thought the warranty was only 1 year, not that it appears to matter.

How many flights did you get from it before it failed?

 

[squish]

I put it on the plane 20 times. There are another 10 fly gigs booked this year.

 

[TaySte_2000]

What are your plans now? What will you replace it with?

I’m currently doing the maths on mine wondering if 20 is the point of failure I’m up to at least 10 with mine, but mines more international long haul.

Might keep the SKB Bass Safe around just in case.

I think your points echo the issue Janek had with his. Then at point of failure the whole case is rendered utterly which is a shame.

 

[JakobT]

Here's an update and it isn't a happy one.

I've flown with this case seven times since my last update. It is a year old with a two year warranty. This past weekend we traveled to Chicago. After we got back I found damage to my Kapsule - two significant cracks in the hard shell, a broken zip track and a missing zip pull. I reached out quickly to Gruv Gear. I sent them pictures and told them how it happened (found it this way at baggage claim). They replied that any damage an airline causes they cannot warranty.

What? The whole purpose for this case is for flying. It is designed to absorb blows and bangs from handling. If it is warrantied to not fail under the conditions in which it was designed for, and does, why wouldn't the company replace it? The two-year warranty claim is completely bogus.

When I reached out to Sweetwater about it, they told me that their hands are tied.

This expensive case is indeed not strong enough for air travel. And with no manufacturer support, you are left on your own. I love the design of the case so much. It really does it all, but has no warranty. I'm very disappointed with Gruv Gear.

Well, that’s it, then. No Kapsule for me. I do wonder about the Kapsulite, though - since it’s cloth-covered, it may be less prone to this kind of breakage?

 

[TaySte_2000]

Well, that’s it, then. No Kapsule for me. I do wonder about the Kapsulite, though - since it’s cloth-covered, it may be less prone to this kind of breakage?

I also have a Kapsulite and I would assume yes it’s less prone to breakage but you can fit very little in it.

It’s a great case and I’ve done 3-4 flights with mine. But I get a strap, cable, Di and a clip on tuner in it.

The Kapsule is far better a single luggage solution…. Until it breaks it seems.

I’ll keep travelling with mine and let you know when an airline kills it.

 

[squish]

What are your plans now? What will you replace it with?

I wish you hadn't asked.

The Kapsule's functionality actually improved the way my band flies to shows. No other rolling bass case carries equipment and clothes/shoes like this one. It frees up my carry-on to hold more show production items. Losing that ability is probably worse than buying another Kapsule. We travel as minimal as possible.

Anyway, having to buy this case again is frustrating. But my Sweetwater rep has offered to pull some strings to make the replacement cost not as painful for me. I have some ideas for additional protection too, like taping down the zip pulls. Covering the wheel mounting blocks with low residue tape could limit the wear there too. Adding "fragile" stickers could help.

This year so far has been expensive. I recently had to replace a pedalboard that was lost on a flight.

 

[TaySte_2000]

I was going to say, isn’t there normally compensation available when an airline wrecks the luggage (even if there is no damage to the contents).

There is always a long queue of people in Istanbul waiting to complain about the state of their cases to get a refund. It never ceases to amaze me what an airline can do to a case.

Well you have my sympathy for the losses this year.

Following your post it got me thinking about what I’d do in the same situation. I’ve generally been travelling with a Mexi Mustang so wouldn’t be so broken up if the case and bass got destroyed. Now I’m moving over to a Serek I’m getting more concerned.

But every solution I’ve had prior to the Kapsule has left me wanting so I’d also probably buy another if anything happened to mine.

You make some really good suggestions to help extend the life of the case. Thanks for sharing your experiences.

 

[JakobT]

I was going to say, isn’t there normally compensation available when an airline wrecks the luggage (even if there’s no damage to the contents).

I have had that happen with an ordinary suitcase. After collecting it from the conveyor belt I discovered my suitcase was cracked. Went over to the desk to file a complaint, and the lady from the airline simply wheeled out a new case for me on the spot.