Nowadays, there are hundreds of options in the market. Finding a suitable hard disk case is like finding a needle in the haystack. To make your search easy for you, below are our favorite hard drive protective cases. These portable options protect the HDD from stress and environmental phenomena such as moisture, dust, and dirt. So, without wasting time anymore, please take a look at our reviews.
1. Amazon Basics External Hard Drive Portable Carrying Case
The external hard drive case by Amazon Basics is a fundamental option for carrying your drive while traveling. It can fit in hard disks with max compatible dimensions of 5.39 x 3.54 x 0.59 inches which means it’s suitable for most Seagate and WD drives. It is surprisingly very well made and an inexpensive way to keep drives safe.
The design is pretty functional. It has an Interior strap and zippered closure that helps keep the drive well snug inside. There’s also a mesh pocket inside, which conveniently stores any power cords or other small accessories. It’s not heavily padded, though. And it makes sense because additional pads would add more thickness and make it bulky.
While the company advertises it as a hard case, it should be referred to as a rigid case. This is because it is pretty flexible. Hard cases do not flex at all. Being flexible means, you can quickly put it inside your backpack pockets while on the go. If not an HDD, you can also use it to store small cords, earphones, USBs, or even a mouse.
Overall, the Amazon Basics portable HDD case provides a durable and quality protective solution. And it comes at a price point that is hard to resist. Just make sure you are getting a suitable case as there are two versions. One is slightly more prominent, while the other – My Passport Essential case – fits smaller HDD models.
Buy Here: Amazon
2. Lacdo Hard Drive Carrying Case
Are you tired of using basic models and want something funky yet functional? Try Lacdo hard disk case. As it has exterior dimensions of 5.6 x 4.4 x 1.5 inches, you can fit most Toshiba, WD, and Seagate hard drives along with GPS devices, a power bank, and even a digital camera inside.
The protective case is made of waterproof PU material, which provides decent water and vapor resistance. It will easily brush off a little splash in the shower now and then. However, don’t submerge it in water as it is not waterproof. Additionally, it’s extra soft due to 4 layers of materials, providing some shock resistance as well.
There are multiple pockets inside, offering enough room for the cord as well. It also includes two small ones for a thin flash drive or SD card. The hard textured case is easy to carry as it has a metal hook and a wrist strap. Zipper also seems sturdy, though I am yet to see how it holds up in the long run.
Of course, with so many different pockets and extra material layers for protection, the size couldn’t be kept as thin as the Amazon Basics model above. It’s slightly bulkier. However, for the economical price and value you get in return, the Lacdo Hard Drive carrying case is another highly recommended purchase.
Buy Here: Amazon
3. Case Logic QHDC-101 Portable EVA Hard Drive Case
The Case Login portable EVA hard drive case is another great-looking case for compact HDDs. It fits most devices – HDDs, power bank, iPhone 6s – as it has interior dimensions of 3.3 x 1.2 x 5.3 inches. While most protective cases come either in Black or Charcoal colors, this one is available in a charming red shade as well, making it easy to spot, among others.
The protective case has EVA Molded foam construction. The durable, semi-rigid exterior effectively protects your valuable devices from everyday wear and tear. It also has an interior mesh pocket to protect your cables. The case itself is semi-rigid with no soft padding inside.
I particularly love the single wider strap that goes along the length of the case instead of 2 smaller bands spanning the width as it can hold different sized drives more securely. It fits devices perfectly and provides a less bulky alternative and excellent protection from just about anything – except maybe dropping it from 10 feet.
If you plan to do the latter, you better get a shock-resistant and a bulkier, padded protective case. Otherwise, for everyday protection from bumps, minor drops, dust, and other everyday nuisances, this is a perfect carrying case. Oh, and did I say it looks great, too?
Buy Here: Amazon
4. ProCase Portable 2.5 inches Hard Drive Case
Are you looking for a well-designed and sturdy case for your portable hard drive? Well, this is it. The ProCase portable external hard drive case is suitable for all and any 2.5 inches hard drive. You can get it in five different colors. Plus, it comes with a carabiner and a wrist strap for convenient carry.
Design-wise, the elastic retaining band provides a snug fit for the HDD (both from the top and bottom). There’s just the right amount of room left and right to get your finger in (to lift out the hard drive). Additionally, the Water-resistant EVA exterior and premium soft interior provide outstanding protection against scratches, knocks, and impacts.
Moreover, the casing has a padded internal lining for protection against any damage and a nice elastic strap that keeps your drive from moving around too much. The inner mesh pocket is spacey enough for the cable that came with your drive. I also like the padded flap positioned between the mesh pocket and the drive compartment as it prevents the metal parts of the cable from scratching the HDD.
With that said, the ProCase Portable HDD casing is the ultimate protection for all popular models of 2.5 inches drives. You can also utilize it to securely store battery packs, thumb drives, GPS, and other small accessories.
Buy Here: Amazon
5. ORICO Hard Drive Case 3.5 inch HDD
The ORICO HDD case for 3.5 inches hard drives is another outstanding option. Available in 5 different colors, this hardcore plastic casing is a little pricey but excellent protection. And it is stackable as well, which is helpful for people who may want a couple of these pieces.
The enclosure has a robust plastic side hinge all along the edges, unlike some other models that only have a 1-inch hinge on the short edge of the cover. It’s pretty durable, so if you are worried, it will stress to fail from bending back and forth; rest your worries. It’s thick internal padding to protect your drive during transport and storage.
Some people do complain about the inner padding of the case falling apart. But, that is because of the excessive heat. HDDs can become very hot. Therefore it is best to let them cool down a bit before putting them inside the case.
All in all, Orico’s model is one of the best hard drive storage protection I have come across. However, I will not recommend this case for slim HDDs like the Seagate models. Other than that, you can use it for pretty much any 3.5 inches hard disk drive.
Buy Here: Amazon
Buyer’s Guide – Ideal External Hard Drive Case
When it comes to finding a suitable protective casing for your hard drive, below are some critical considerations.
Size
The most important thing to consider when purchasing a hard disk case is the size. Make sure it fits your drive well snugly. If it fits, but there’s some extra room that it sloshes up and down, then it can damage your HDD. Some cases use interior padding for additional protection; however, I’m not too fond of that option, as it also adds around 1 to 1.5 inches width on all four sides, turning it a much bulkier item to carry in my backpack.
Protection
Next comes the protection. Always check the description for the type of protection it provides against different environmental, stress, and electrical phenome. Not all cases offer protection against all elements. Some offer better protection against moisture but are behaving poorly in stress tests. Make sure the case is also durable. Otherwise, what’s the point?
Space
Finally, ensure there are multiple compartments in the case to help you with securing cords, SD cards, and any other similar small accessories. However, as I discussed earlier, more compartments mean the case will get bulkier. So, keep this point in your mind as well.
Final Thoughts
People who often travel with their external HDDs need a protective external hard drive case. The cases mentioned above are some of the top options for this purpose. Besides protection, these cases also keep your cords (and other tiny gadgets) organized. So, you can take your HDD along with ease and without any worry of potential damage due to stress.
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