The 10 Best Saxophone Cases

Students who carry an alto to school every day get the most from the Protec MAX Contoured Alto. A stiff foam frame under a nylon cover keeps it light, and padded straps tuck away until you want to wear it as a backpack. A roomy front pocket holds a method book, reeds and a neck strap. The catch is a one-year warranty, short for this brand, and most vintage altos won't fit inside.

Tenor players who walk or ride the bus to rehearsals should look at the Protec Micro ZIP Tenor. Its hard plastic shell follows the horn's outline, so it stays slim, and two padded straps clip together into a backpack with a chest strap. Zippers take the place of latches, and the pulls accept a small lock. There's no outside pocket, so reeds and music ride elsewhere, and a few big-bell horns need a roomier case.

If an alto is going to get knocked around, the Protec PRO PAC Contoured Alto is one of the sturdiest fabric cases around. A shaped wood frame sits under tough ballistic nylon, and the front pocket is big enough for a flute case or a stack of music. Protec backs it for five years. The wood frame adds weight, and it rides on a shoulder strap alone, with no backpack straps.

The Gator Adagio Alto suits young players who need to carry a horn without much bulk. A stiff foam shell inside a charcoal nylon cover cradles the alto, hidden straps let it ride as a backpack, and a zippered front pocket holds the small stuff. Gator covers it for two years. It hasn't been around long enough to build much of a track record, and foam under fabric won't stand up to a hard crush.

Anyone searching for a classic latch-and-handle hard case will recognize the SKB 1SKB-340. Its molded plastic shell is a simple rectangle with metal latches, rubber feet and a sturdy top handle, and it shrugs off bumps in a car trunk or a crowded band room. There's a little space inside for accessories. The boxy shape is bulky to carry any distance, there are no backpack straps, and some vintage altos won't fit.

Hard-shell protection that still carries like a school bag is what the Protec Micro ZIP Alto offers. The molded shell hugs a modern alto closely, the zippers run smoothly, and two padded straps join into a backpack. It's light and slim enough to take on a plane as a carry-on. The trade-offs are no outside pocket and thin padding near the low keys, and it can't stand on end, so it has to lie flat.

Tenor players who haul reeds, music and a flute to every gig can keep it all together with the Protec PRO PAC Contoured Tenor. A wood frame under water-resistant ballistic nylon guards the horn, and the front pocket swallows a flute case. One owner credits it with saving a horn in a fall. Most modern tenors fit, but vintage and big-bell horns need the XL version, and it carries on a shoulder strap only.

Saving money on a tenor case doesn't have to mean a flimsy one, as the Gator GL-Tenorsax-A shows. Dense foam under a gray nylon skin keeps it light, there are pockets front and back, and the rubber shoulder strap comes off when you'd rather use the handle. Gator gives it a limited lifetime warranty. It's sized for student horns, so some pro tenors sit loose or won't close in, and the pockets are small.

For short hops across town, the Protec Explorer Tenor Gig Bag is a light way to carry a tenor. Four padded blocks inside move to fit your horn, a pouch tucks the neck and mouthpiece into the bell, and backpack straps fold away when you don't need them. A back pocket takes sheet music. It's still a padded bag, though, and padding won't save a horn from a hard drop or a heavy load on top.

Players who fly with an alto often look to the BAM La Defense Cabine, a French hard case sized for airplane cabins. Its shell has a brushed aluminum look, and a rubber seal shuts it airtight against dust and damp air. Backpack straps and a side handle help on long walks through an airport. It's a big spend for a case, and the latches lock with a small key that's easy to lose.