Review: Plastic Storage Cases from LightsCastle.com

Plastic Flashlight Storage Boxes

* I received these storage boxes for review courtesy of LightsCastle.com

They come in 3 sizes - small, medium & large. I like storage boxes for special lights but most are very expensive. Even the smallest storage boxes by Otterbox and Plano are at least $10 and the prices on the larger sizes are much more. Since you don't see boxes for prices like this at most places, especially for thiese low prices, I expressed an interest in them to Crystal from LightsCastle and she hooked me up with one of each size.

CONSTRUCTION

These boxes are a fraction of the price of better known high quality cases from Otterbox and Plano. They are also not waterproof as claimed on LightsCastle's website. While they are not of comparable quality to Otterbox and Plano they are still useful for storinng lights that, while of good quality, may get relegated to the flashlight drawer. They are also good for storing your good lights so they don't get scratched up against other lights or objects while not in use. For the price you can afford to by several in different sizes.

The first thing I noticed about them is that the plastic is not as hard as other cases I've seen. Fine for storing flashlights and other objects that will fit inside, they are not designed for really abusive situations. While I wouldn't use one as a step stool to help me reach a high shelf, I would feel safe with it if dropped from a shelf. The latches snap firmly shut and will not pop open or their own or if dropped. The softer plastic may actually be a good thing when protecting your valuables from hard shocks caused by dropping. A hard brittle case might shatter more quickly and will definitely transfer more shock to your valuables inside. They will definitely protect them from getting scratched. Each size is also a different shade of green. That may bother some folks but for others like me it's no big deal.

The second thing I noticed is that they are definitely not waterproof. There is no gasket in the seals of any of the sizes. With the boxes closed you can squeeze the cases and hear the air inside huffing in and out past the interlocks. I did not bother watertesting them since I already know the outcome if you were to submerge them. I wouldn't hesitate to expose them to rain but would never recommend submerging them.

The third thing I noticed is that the foam lining them is a little on the thin side, especially in the small and medium boxes. The foam in the large box is an egg crate design and is very thick. You can safely place multiple items inside the large case and not wirry about the items hitting eachother unless the box was dropped hard on it's side. Without any additional padding in the small and medium boxes I wouldn't recommend storing more than one item unless you are not storing items for travel and feel comfortable that you wont drop it when moving it in or out of a drawer or shelf.

If you go to a craft store and purchse some egg crate foam that is thicker, you will feel much safer with the boxes and it won't cost much at all for the upgrade while saving you a bundle overall.

Small Case $3.70 USD

Dimensions: 5.00 in x 3.50 in x 1.42 in (12.70 cm x 8.90 cm x 3.60 cm)
Size: S

Color: Army green
Made of engineering plastic material
Inner size: 11.8 x 7.8cm
With strap

Each case is held closed by 4 latches. Two on the one long side and one on each short edge. The rear edge acts as the hinge.

Each box has two lanyard loops to act as the anchor point for the included lanyards.

Here you can see how thin the foam really is in the small and medium cases. You can also see that there is no gasket in the seal to make these actually waterproof. The design will keep rain and dirt out though. Just don't submerge the box under water.

The small case is the perfect size for a Xeno E03. A light as thin as the Xeno will not press tightly into the foam and if you shake the case the light will move around inside. This is why I do not recommend storing more than one light in a case unless you upgrade the foam to a thicker egg crate style.

Even an L2M in shorty mode fits perfectly and closes fine.

Medium Case $4.40 USD

Dimensions: 7.01 in x 4.65 in x 1.81 in (17.80 cm x 11.80 cm x 4.60 cm)
Size: M

Color: Army green
Made of engineering plastic material
Inner size: 16.7 x 10.8cm
With strap

The medium box easily holds 2 or 3 P60 hosts. You can see here how well the L2T fits in the case.

Below you can see how even an Ultrafire UF-T20 will fit inside and it still closes. It's about as wide a head that will fit and the body easily fits lengthwise if placed at a slight angle.

Large Case $6.20 USD

Dimensions: 10.16 in x 4.69 in x 2.72 in (25.80 cm x 11.90 cm x 6.90 cm)
Size: L

Color: Army green
Made of engineering plastic material
Inner size: 24.5 x 10.8cm
With strap

The eggcrate foam in the large case provide much better padding than the two smaller sizes. THe textured surface helps the foam keep objects in place.

Even the Small Sun ZY-T13 fits inside the large case. When closed there is a very slight buldge around the head when closed but it latches just fine.

CONCLUSION

Not the best storage boxes you can get. Not by a longshot. But for the money they are well worth the price for regular storage and transportation.

For around $5.50 USD (give or take a dollar depending on the size) you can easily justify getting several of these to store your better lights in. Keep your light in the car? Get one of these to store your light and keep it under the seat or in the glove box. Easily worth a few dollars if it protects your light from getting messed up rolling around in the glove box, under the seat, or in the bed of your truck in the tool box. Have some expensive lights you don't want getting scratched up or dusty? Put it in one of these along with the owners manual, spare o-rings and lanyard to keep it all together in one place. For $5 you can't go wrong.

Plan on storing your light in the boat or taking your light and some cells along with you on your white water camping trip? Get yourself an Otterbox or Plano for $20 so you know they will stay dry. Don't plan on swimming with your backpack on but want something to store your light in and toss in the backpack while camping? Why spend $20 when you can get this for a fraction of the price.?

Please leave comments and feedback. ;)

Johnny

UPDATE:

I was easily able to remove the label by soaking it in hot water and rubbing it right off. Some WD40 cleaned up the remaining adhesive spots and a final cleanup with soap and water to remove the WD40.

they look great.

what I can see is the large box, a single cell light, cells and charger to make up a package to sell/gift with a little work on the foam.

That would look very professional if you wished to make a good impression.

I think I’ll be buying a few of these as Mrs gords wants me to not store my lights on my book shelves when we get our new place, she wants them kept in the gords cave. These would make for excellent storage solutions. they’d also work well for tool storage in a van thinking further on.

Thanks for the review and heads up, I like these.

Nice review JM, those cases look good for the price. Will a TR-3T6 fit in the big one? Looks like it will in two cell mode.

Looking good. Would be even better if the stickers are optional. Do you understand the Chinese words?

LOL! I have no clue. I will try and remove the sticker from one and see if I can get it off cleanly.

Nice find - thanks. Have you seen the Naithawk boxes? Similar tyoe of thing, with same latches. In the 160mmx105mm there is space for 8 AAA lights, held pretty safely by egg box foam.

My only concern is for how long the plastic latches will last. And if you can’t get the label off - forget it. :slight_smile:

强光电筒 ,强光手电 flashlight
强光手电筒 bright flashlight
防水 waterproof

I wonder what plastic they are made from. Any ABS sign inside or out? ABS is good for cases.

I have a Naithawk light with the case. Similarbut IIRC the paix on it is more rigid than these.

BTW, Iwas able to remove the label on one with no trace it was ever there. Will post pics after I get back from dinner and shopping. ;)

Johnny

The Naithawk boxes cost a bit more but they include a gasket.

If anyone else ever wants to remove any labels, heating it with a hair drier while peeling them off works wonders. Even labels on paper or cardboard can come off clean.

Here is the box without the label.

Removal:

On the surface of the paper label is a thin film of clear plastic. I picked at the edge of the label and pulled off the plastic film exposing the surface of the paper label. Next I removed the foam from inside and roughed up the surface with a scrubbing pad under hot tap water. You can float the case label side down in a pan of hit water or lay a wash cloth soaked with hot water over the label and leave it sit. The longer it soaks/sits the easier it is to remove the label. Afterwards when the label is about ready to fall off, run it under hot tap water while you just rub/wipe the label right off the case. I cleaned up the remaining bits of adhesive using a paper towel and some WD40. Lastly all you need to do is clean off the ED40 with a little dish soap and water and try it off.

I did not try Helios' hair dryer technique and if it works well it would be even easier. All told it really only took me about 5 minutes to remove the label on mine using the hot water technique.

OK never mind, it will fit in 2S mode. I just checked the inner dimensions. Cool, I might get one to keep a light or two in the truck.

Thanks for the review, I ordered one of each of these and two Ultrafire holsters with my UF-C20 about a week ago, still waiting for their arrival. Too bad they’re not the harder plastic, but I’m sure for the price I won’t be disappointed. I have some pieces of salvaged convoluted foam I can use in the smaller ones. I can envision many uses for these.

I’m thinking load some of the of the smaller ones up as back up grab-n-go USK’s (Urban Survival Kits) for each of my vehicles. SK68, batteries, multi-tool/knife, lighter, band-aids and a couple of twenty’s under the foam :bigsmile:

If you were really good with a caulking gun, you could run a thin bead of silicone in the channel in the lid to waterproof this case.
I thought of that when I saw these at I-O It looks like a silicone strip is in the channel on the lid.

Thanks Johnny
They look like a bargain. I can think of half a dozen lots of uses for them.

they do look like a bargain for the price… but the question is, why include a nice groove for a seal, but not spend the 10c for the seal itself? rubber is cheap
but crush proof alone, these cases are worth what they cost. store a $30-100 light in your car with out risk of damage is worth a lincoln

Thanks for another review of some useful gear! Sticky’d.

I found some very similar looking cases in the new arrivals at DX:
http://dx.com/c/electrical-tools-499/hand-tools-404/storage-supplies-423?sort=addDate&sortType=desc

Thanks, Chloe, those look great! I like that they have the egg crate foam in all sizes.

Last night I found I like the fact that the ones from LightsCastle have the flat, thin foam in them. It allowed me to do this:

Harbor Freight sells a 4pc pack of 1/2" thick foam cushion tiles for the floor for just $10 a pack. Each piece of foam is 2'x2' and has interlocking edges to make it as large as you like. I took one from a pack I bought and cut a piece to fit in the smallest of the three boxes I had from this review. I cut out the foam to fit a light I made for a fellow member and stuck the foam in the base of the case on top of the original foam. This keeps some padding underneath the light but the firm foam if the insert I made keeps the light locked in place. Makes for a super sweet package!