My first cello hardshell case was a 16-pound fortress on wheels (25 pounds with my cello in it) that did a great job protecting my cello while I was growing up in suburban San Diego.
A far cry from other under 10 lb cello cases.
When I had to take it anywhere, we would just stick it in the trunk, drive to school or to youth orchestra, and I would wheel it into the building from the parking lot.
When I went to college, thatcase also kept my cello secure through all my flights – including one where my cello case was strapped to the seat upside-down! – and buses between home and college.
However, when I moved to New York for grad school, I quickly realized thatthe cello case I had worked so well for almost ten years wasn’t going to cut it in Manhattan.