Sea Run Cases has built its reputation on making bulletproof travel cases for fly anglers. Their assortment of hard-sided cases features built-in travel locks, internal organization compartments, and sizes to accommodate everything from trout rods to 15-foot Spey rods. In other words, their travel cases are built to last. However, for those looking to bring their cases on the boat or around water, a good waterproof solution never really existed. While you could add the Weatherproof Case, your hard case still wasn’t 100% waterproof…until now. Sea Run Cases has released its newest addition to its lineup to solve this problem: the Loggerhead Travel Case—built to withstand any and every condition anglers can face.
Loggerhead Travel Case First Look
The Loggerhead Travel Case is a fully waterproof case designed to carry rods and reels securely to any destination. It does this by combining a unique hard-sided inner shell with a soft, waterproof TPU zippered outer shell. In other words, this case is built to handle the plane and whatever your destination is with ease.
Sizes
The new Loggerhead Travel Case is currently offered in four sizes, with three of these being rod-and-reel focused and one being a boat box. The standard size is the smallest of the bunch at 34 inches and can fit fly rods up to 10 feet long. In total, it can hold 5-6 fly rods in the rod slot, and 6-7 reels, fly boxes, or other gear in the other compartments. In addition, Sea Run created an extended version (38″) for Euro rods up to 11’6″ and a Spey version (40″) for rods up to 15 feet. The last addition to the lineup, the Loggerhead Guides Boat Locker, is a hard-sided carry-all boat bag with two fly patches on top.
Features
Each Loggerhead case consists of two main components: the inner rigid walls and the outer waterproof shell. Designing this new case took Sea Run four years to ensure they got both right. In the end, the inside of the case was constructed from rigid twin-wall composite material with a hollow I-beam internal structure. This became the material for the top, bottom, outer, and inner walls, creating a nearly crushproof case. Next came the waterproof shell, and Sea Run settled on a TPU laminate over Cordura-type nylon fabric to maximize toughness. The shell is then paired with a YKK Aquaseal zipper for a fully waterproof package.
Inside each case, anglers will find zippered lid pockets for smaller items like tippet spools and leaders. The main case compartments include 6 movable slots for reels, sunglasses, pliers, and other gear, plus a rod slot for all your fly rods. The cases also feature a single outer zippered pocket for added storage. Each case also comes with a TSA lock, since the soft-sided cases don’t have built-in locks. This lets you safely check the bag if you can’t carry it on the plane. The Loggerhead also comes with a shoulder strap and backpack straps and is available in either light blue or tan.
A Quick Word from Sea Run Cases
Prior to the Loggerhead Case launching, we sat down with founder and owner Stephen Lamboy to learn more about creating the next evolution of Sea Run Cases.
Flylords: How long did it take to develop the Loggerhead Case?
Stephen Lamboy: I began developing the LH cases after the Sea Run Cases had been on the market for 4 years. We could see that it was the ultimate lightweight, crush-resistant air travel and storage luggage. The only shortcomings were the lack of waterproofing, a little too much bulk on a boat, and the cost. It wasn’t perfectly waterside friendly as we were told.
Flylords: What were you seeking to build with the Loggerhead?
Stephen Lamboy: The quest became how to build a lightweight, compact, soft-sided hardshell case that is fully waterproof, submersible, passes air travel durability tests, and guides abuse. No soft-sided hardshell cases existed. We had made durable PVC covers for the Sea Run cases with water-repellent zippers. This material tested well, though it is not as abrasion-resistant, nor does it retain flexibility as the better TPU laminates. We chose high-grade TPU laminated over a Cordura-type nylon fabric for toughness, yielding a good, grippy, non-slip but soft hand for the outside of the case. It is impervious to water and most chemicals. The next question was how to create a lightweight, completely rigid inner structure that was highly impact-resistant to resist crushing and all air travel torture. At first, we tried an incredible material: laminated PP, which is used for premium luggage. It is an incredibly strong material, yet it bends when used in flat walls, so no go. Our research identified a new ultra-rigid twin-wall composite-type material with a hollow I-beam internal structure. This became the top, bottom, and outer and inner walls, forming a nearly crushproof, post-and-beam hardshell architecture.
After the internal hardshell, we created the system to assemble and bond everything into one case, which was a little bit like building a ship in a bottle. This took time and a great deal of testing and manufacturing method development. Finally, we solved the last and most important requirement: fully waterproof and submersible. This took forever, and we tried many, many zippers. Most were just not fully waterproof at any depth, or they were either too fragile or required excessive pull force. If we claimed fully submersible, we had to deliver it. We turned to YKK and their marine department, where they produce submersible zippers used by professional divers. Our zipper tests watertight at over 1 meter deep. YKK quality control is second to none.
Flylords: What other challenges did you face bringing the Loggerhead to life?
Stephen Lamboy: Our cork handle presented a challenge. Webbing-type handles are abrasive when wet and uncomfortable. Cork is comfortable and a good grip in my weather, but the edges can be fragile. After much testing, we added durable rash guards to the ends and secured all with an inner aluminum flanged spool. Then we created strong and comfortable backpack straps. All external fittings are made from machinable glass-filled nylon that is non-corrosive.
Flylords: Why go to such lengths to build the Loggerhead? Why take so long to develop it?
Stephen Lamboy: To answer this, we need to look at the fly fishing guides. River rafts flip, boats swamp, and a deluge falls on the baggage carts. Cases get jumped on, fallen on, fallen off, and bashed about. They get thrown into boats, dirty truck beds, and fall off tailgates on gravel roads. Guides are the test force for our sport. If they can trust it, then so can anglers traveling with 8-10k worth of fly fishing gear on an adventure they spent another 8k to experience. It is a small price to pay for peace of mind. Buy it once and use it for life.
Flylords: Why the Loggerhead name?
Stephen Lamboy: Trust the Shell.
Final Thoughts on the Loggerhead Case
The Loggerhead case is a bulletproof organization system meant to carry all your fly fishing gear safely to its destination. Whether you’re a guide or a traveling angler in search of the next best fishing destination, this case will make sure your gear gets there in one piece. We saw this firsthand while testing the case prior to launch. If you want the peace of mind that your gear will be protected no matter the conditions, the Loggerhead is for you.
