The cases
The HPRC 2550W and Pelican 1510 are both watertight rugged hard cases meant to fit into the overhead compartment on an airplane. They’re pretty much the same size, of similar weight, and have a very similar design.
For the basics, check out the specs for both:
HPRC 2550W: http://www.plaber.com/2550w.htm
Pelican 1510: http://www.pelican.com/cases_detail/Case/1510/
A couple of more things..
Back in 2008, another blogger pointed out a major difference between the 2550W and 1510:
So it turns out that HPRC have done the seemingly impossible; making a case smaller on the outside and bigger inside, than the equivalent Pelican 1510. They’ve done it simply by designing specifically for purpose. The Pelican 1510 is a minor adaptation of a carry-case with a handle-and-wheel component bolted onto the back of the case. – manbagaholic.blogspot.com
While he goes on to point out that the HPRC does indeed fit more gear than the Pelican, I actually prefer the “kludged” on handle and wheels of the Pelican. As I pointed out in the video, they’re more easily replaced that way — I have a couple of pieces of luggage with broken wheels — and there are fewer intrusions into the case.
Not only that, but the Pelican is arguably better protected on the underside. It has the entire handle module between the bottom of the case and the ground.
The materials
I’d also argue that one of the reasons that the Pelican is larger on the outside and smaller on the inside than the HPRC is that it’s made of thicker material. I don’t have a pair of calipers to verify that, but it’s certainly sturdier.
In the video I also didn’t talk about materials: The Pelican is made of Polypropylene, while the HPRC is made of TTX01.
TTX01 is a polypropylene resin. Here’s the marketing hype:
TTX01 material confers the cases characteristics to withstand to impacts, drops and pressures thanks to its high resistance together with elasticity. An HPRC case used in extreme temperature conditions (both warm and cold) never lose its own distinctive characteristics (Granted range of temperature is -40°C +80°C). HPRC cases are watertight, dust – humidity – acids, ashes and sand proof. Cases withstand drops and impacts: a tool of transport not comparable to any other in the market for protection. Do not forget that TTX01 makes HPRC cases lighter in comparison to the average of the market. Maximum protection and light weight. (source: plaber.com)
It’s undeniable that the 1510 is heavier at 11.99 pounds than the 2550W at 10.69 pounds. I also noted the increased elasticity in the video. But is TTX01 actually a better material? All I can say is that I’m having the damnedest time finding specifications and/or independent (or even dependent) test data on TTX01.
Call me a pessimist, but HPRC doesn’t state unequivocally that TTX01 is stronger than the polypropylene of the Pelican. They only say that it’s “lighter”, and the extra 1.3 pounds makes no real difference to me.
The paucity of information on TTX01 is also troubling. I can’t even find the patent at either the US Patent and Trademark Office, or the Italian patent office. Of course, they may have patented the material under a different name, but I also can’t find the trademark in either Italy or the US (though I can find “HPRC” in both).
My point is that I’m betting that TTX01 isn’t as brag-worthy as HPRC would have us believe. In fact, their offered temperature range for performance of -40°C to +80°C is narrower than that of the Pelican 1510 of -40°C to +99°C. (Of course I get that you’re not going to be using the case in the range of 80°C to 99°C. I’m pointing out the only objective metric available.)
Conclusion
It’s what I said in the video: Get the Pelican. I’m sure you know that there’s a feel you get when you hold and manipulate a quality product. Even though the HPRC isn’t a bad case, the Pelican has an inherent feel of quality that the HPRC lacks.