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Wednesday, May 27 2009 09:19 Written by ATV Escape Staff

There can be no doubt one of the single most popular ATV accessories are rack bags and hard cases. For those of us who like to take trips to our favorite riding areas we are always needing space to carry more stuff than our ATVs can hold. We have tow ropes, beverages, tools, beverages, food, cameras, maps, beverages, clothing, and who knows would other items fighting for a place to ride along on our adventures (did we mention beverages?).  To carry all of these items we need a good rack bag or hard case to secure to our ATV. With so many of these cases on the market the choices can be a little overwhelming.  We were pleasantly surprised by all the Kolpin cases had to offer.

Generally speaking there have been two kinds of “cases” available to the ATV user to purchase. You could buy a hard case made of plastic, or a soft case made of canvas and other pliable materials. Both kinds of cases had pros and cons. The hard cases are very durable, hold their shape, tend to last the life of the ATV rider, can be permanently mounted on the ATV, are waterproof, and a big plus have NO zippers. The cons of the hard cases are they are not as easy to take on and off the quad, they will not fold flat to store them, and they are not comfortable to lean on. Soft cases are easy to take on and off, fold flat for storage, come in different shapes and sizes, hold a bunch of stuff, are fairly durable, and weather resistant. Cons on soft cases include the lack of holding their shape, are not waterproof, are not as durable as hard cases and have zippers. Zippers tend to be a weakness as they can catch, can wear out, and are not as easily used as a latch on a hard case. Now that we have some background on cases, let’s take a look at the Kolpin cases and Kolpin innovation.

About Kolpin:

Kolpin is a company who makes lots of accessories and equipment for outdoorsmen including ATV and UTV accessories. Kolpin makes everything from cases to gun boots and tow-behind equipment. Kolpin makes both hard and soft cases, and in summary all of the cases we tested are very impressive. The big Kolpin innovation though is adding a third type of case. This case is partly soft and partly hard. They are calling it the Trail-Tec Crossover Series, and this is an appealing case. Kolpin has attempted to take to pros of both cases to make and “ultimate” case, and the result is good.  

Kolpin Soft Case-

As soon as you open the package this soft case comes in you know it is made to be durable and well thought out. The case is made of a weather resistant thick canvas and reinforced with a rubber-type plastic on the places prone to wear. No doubt it would take a heavy rain to cause this case to leak. The amount of space offered is substantial as it is huge! You can easily fit a day’s worth of gear inside, and you could be quite a ways down the road filling it with your overnight camping gear. It has more storage space than the other two cases we tested. There are several small innovations. There is an elastic mesh on the top of the case which can be used to secure more gear. There is mesh bottle holder pouch on the side of one of the front pockets to hold a drink along with an insulated front pocket used for ice and drinks. The other of the two front pockets has other mesh pockets inside it including a cell phone holder. This case has more pockets within pockets of anything I have ever seen! Separating your gear out will not be a problem. Above we mentioned how zippers are a weakness of many cases, but the zippers on this case an extremely heavy duty. The teeth are large with reinforced seams. This is truly an outstanding soft case, which will no doubt give you many years of use.

Rear Cargo Bag - Black- (92125)

Price: $120.99 http://www.kolpinpowersports.com/products/geartector-luggage/rear-cargo-bag.html

Kolpin Hard Case-

This hard case is simple to use, durable, and roomy, which is exactly what a hard case should be. It is made of a durable plastic, which offers a lifetime of use. This hard case has a lockable front latch which makes for easy open and closing without any complications. There are two ways to attach this case to your rack. One way is to use the included u-type bolts, and drill holes in the bottom to secure it to your rack. One thing to note about this approach is you will compromise the waterproof aspect of the case, and unless you intend to submerge your case in water, we don’t see this as a problem. We would recommend taking some silicone and sealing the bolts after you install them to reconcile this problem.    The second way to attach this case is use a bungee cord or rope over the notched handles to attach it to your rack.  We used this case by attaching it to the rack with a bungee cord, and we found it to work very well. We had gear in the case, but the case stayed put despite the rock crawling, hard corners, and hill climbs we did. We will say this approach worked far better than we were anticipating. The benefit to this approach is the fact the case can be removed easily from your rack. No matter what approach you use, this is a great case. Its simplistic design makes it an ideal choice when purchasing a hard case.

Molded Plastic Hard Case (93150) Price: $160.99 http://www.kolpinpowersports.com/products/molded-products/atv-accessories/large-front-rear-gear-box.html

Kolpin Trail-Tec Crossover Series Case-

We have been anxious to get a hold of this new Trail-Tec series combining a soft case with a zipperless design. Kolpin’s design approach is very impressive. Using folding metal forms and Velcro straps (see the picture below), this case goes from folding flat like a soft case to a semi rigid form requiring no zippers to open and close the top. Getting into and out of this Trail Tec case is easy, and can be done quickly. The case is made of a weather resistant thick canvas, and reinforced with a rubber-type plastic on the places prone to wear. Setting up the case takes a minute, but works well once it is setup. Make no mistake this is not as rigid as a hard case, but it doesn’t have the drawbacks either.  We liked this case and its design, though it was not quite as big as the others. We think it will work well overall, and like the other cases is durable offering years of use. You will want to check this Trail-Tec series out if you are in the market for a case

Trail-Tec Crossover Front/Rear Bag Black (25120) Price: $114.99  http://www.kolpinpowersports.com/products/geartector-luggage/trail-tec-crossover-series-front-rear-bag.html

Our Thoughts:

In a single sentence we will state the two thoughts that come to mind about the Kolpin cases: well thought out and durable. Kolpin obviously has a great R&D department who actual ride ATVs! These products are designed to be used, and to serve their purpose well for years. Small innovations such as mesh drink holders, extremely heavy-duty zippers, and reinforced securing points make it obvious these cases are made for real ATV riders to use for years. The quality and materials used is also obvious. These cases are not made with cheap materials, but are made with heavy-duty materials.  We were very impressed with all of these cases, and we would without question buy them for our own personal use. We have been through cheap soft cases which last two or three long trips, and then they rip at the attach points requiring a replacing of the case. With Kolpin we are confident in the longevity of these products because of the quality materials used. Kolpin cases are not the least expensive cases on the market, but you will not be left replacing them every two years like many others.  We have found you get what you pay for, and you get a whole lot for what you pay for with Kolpin. 

Check out www.kolpinpowersports.com or call 877.9KOLPIN for more information on Kolpin products including all the products we tested.

 

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