Concert Ukulele Case: How To Choose The Best Ukulele Case For You

Okay, so you have discovered the joys that only a Ukulele can bring. From those first sweet plucky sounds, to the bonds that come with joining your local ukulele playing club, there is a lot to love. Few instruments provide us with such playability, affordability, and fun all in one. With a few simple chords, you find yourself strumming away to your favorite songs.

Maybe you signed up for a class at your local community college and need a way to safely transport your ukulele back and forth to class. Perhaps you are an accomplished musician playing gigs around the world. Whatever your experience level, you will want to protect your instrument.

Ready to take your show on the road? Maybe your Ukulele will complete that camping trip you have planned. Maybe you want to play for your great aunt Lucinda at her nursing home. Maybe your local Ukulele club is putting on an open air show outside that new coffee shop. Or maybe you simply want to keep your instrument dust free and safe while being stored at home.

It’s time to protect your investment and buy a ukulele case. So, which ukulele case is the best? Well, ukulele cases range in price from around ten dollars to hundreds of dollars. While buying the absolute cheapest might seem wise, when the zipper fails after three uses, you might regret that decision.

On the other hand, is it reasonable to spend hundreds of dollars protecting an instrument that cost less than one hundred in the first place? Probably not. Most ukuleles are relatively inexpensive. It makes sense for the case to be too. Let’s take a look at some options below.

Top 5 Best Ukulele Cases

IMAGE	PRODUCT	DETAILS
	Hot Seal 10MM Sponge Padding Waterproof Durable Colorful Conventional Ukulele Case Bag with Storage	Inexpensive case to fit anyone’s budget Waterproof design Comes with backpack straps Fun colorful designs 10mm protection Highly Portable	Check Price
	Cloudmusic Ukulele Case 10mm Padded Backpack Case For Men Women Kids	Inexpensive case Wide variety of colors and patterns available Comes with backpack straps 10mm protection Highly portable	Check Price
	Gearlux Ukulele Case	Inexpensive provides more protection than softshell cases Comes in a variety of sizes to fit most ukuleles	Check Price
	Crossrock Deluxe Fiberglass Ukulele Case	Superior protection Lightweight Padded backpack straps Unmatched style Locks	Check Price
	Gator Cases Deluxe Hard-Shell Wood Case For Ukuleles	Solid hard-shell protection Classic design Plush interior More affordable than top of the line cases Locks	Check Price

Hot Seal 10MM Sponge Padding Waterproof Durable Colorful Conventional Ukulele Case Bag with Storage

There is a lotto love about these cases. If you are looking for an inexpensive eye-catching case, this product might just be for you. They offer ten fun choices in colorful fabric that will really make your ukulele stand out.

The 10 mm protection is sufficient to protect your instrument from everyday scratches and bumps, and its waterproof qualities will be sure to protect your instrument should you be caught out in the rain. These cases also come with convenient backpack straps, so carrying this around town would be a breeze. These cases come in three sizes to fit Soprano, Concert, and Tenor ukuleles. Like most soft-shell cases, these do not lock.

Unless your ukulele is very valuable, this shouldn’t matter too much. Honestly, a locking case does very little to deter theft. It is too easy to simply pick up and take the case regardless of locking capacity. These cases are currently listed for $20 on Amazon.

Hot Seal also makes a variety of cases without the waterproof fabric. Some of these other models have superior aesthetics. However, the waterproof quality is important enough to override the style in my opinion.

Want to bring your ukulele to the beach? This case’s waterproof fabric is a must-have. This should make the top of anyone’s best bang for the buck list.

Cloudmusic Ukulele Case 10mm Padded Backpack Case For Men Women Kids

This is another option for those seeking a backpack style soft shell case. This case comes in a wide variety of colors and designs. The solid colors are visually simple, yet offer the bearer a more simple sophisticated look. The color prints are fun and varied enough to ensure everyone can find a style they love.

They come in three different sizes to fit Soprano, Concert, and Tenor ukuleles. They also boast a water-resistant fabric. Water-resistant fabric is not the same thing as a waterproof fabric. I would be nervous exposing this case to rain. And like Hot Seal’s cases, Cloudmusic’s soft-shell cases do not lock.

These cases would look great being carried by anyone and may be a great choice for anyone looking for a simple and easily portable ukulele case. The price comes in just dollars higher than Hot Seal’s cases, ranging on Amazon depending on print chosen from $22 to $29.

Gearlux Ukulele Case

This case is a great choice for those looking for the protection of a hard shell case, but are on a budget. For just a little more money that most of the soft shell cases on the market, this case can be yours.

This case is kind of a crossover between soft-shell cases and hard-shell cases. It is made of a stiff durable foam that keeps its shape making it similar to a hard-shell case. While there are no color choices, the case comes in black, it does come in enough size choices to fit almost any ukulele. Size choices include Pineapple Soprano, Soprano, Concert, Tenor, and Baritone.

The case is constructed from a polyfoam material and boasts a plush interior to prevent scratching. It also comes with a shoulder strap. Gearlux makes an attractive case that will suit the needs of most ukulele players at an affordable price.

Like the soft-shell cases listed above, Gearlux cases do not lock. What I love most about this case is the wide variety of sizes it is sold in. Few cases can be found that offer the level of variety that Gearlux provides in their cases. These cases can currently be found on Amazon from between $33 and $64.

Crossrock Deluxe Fiberglass Ukulele Case

This ukulele case is truly a thing of beauty. If you are looking for a top of the line case, look no further. This case boasts a sleek design, bright colors, and strong yet light weight protection. This case is also the most expensive on our list today.

If you are looking for a case that will provide superior protection, unmatched style, and don’t mind paying for quality, this case was made for you. This case comes in three sizes to fit a Concert. Baritone, and Tenor ukulele. It comes with padded backpack straps for ease and comfort while carrying around town, high density padding, and a soft silk-like lining. The case comes with a nice leather handle and quality latches, and a locking mechanism.

These cases are currently sold on Amazon for beween $229 and $239. Crossrock does make other less expensive cases, and those would certainly be worth exploring for anybody who loves what Crossrock offers, but can’t afford their highest end products. Their non-deluxe version of a fiberglass ukulele case goes for $178.

They also make a double ukulele fiberglass case that is currently sold for $299 on Amazon. Their lesser expensive models are their wooden cases that come in at between $57 and $86. These are excellent cases and certainly more affordable. However, wood cases have a tendency to warp, and some people have complained that their case did arrive warped.

Gator Cases Deluxe Hard-Shell Wood Case For Ukuleles

Gator makes a classic case for a mid-range price. If you picture a black hard-shell acoustic guitar case, the image that comes to mind will most likely match what these cases look like. This is a no-frills model that will provide the protection of a good hard-shell case.

There are no backpack straps, color choices, or fancy designs. This is a straightforward black case. You will get solid construction, a locking case, and a plush interior providing plenty of protection for your ukulele. This case comes in three sizes including Soprano. Concert, and Tenor.

If you are looking for a simple hard-shell case with a classic design, that also has the capacity to lock, this might be the case you are looking for. These cases can currently be found on Amazon for between $84 and $145.

Buying Guide

Which brand of ukulele case is the best?

Well, that depends on what your needs are. A serious musician with a top of the line ukulele will have different requirements than people who play as a hobby for fun. Most starter ukuleles are inexpensive. It doesn’t make sense to spend more on a case than on the instrument itself. However, if you have a really nice instrument that you want to protect, spending more will generally provide a higher level of protection.

For a serious musician, I would recommend a Crossrock hard-shell case. They make solid cases that provide excellent protection while providing the portability of a soft-shell case by including backpack straps. The style of their cases is also unmatched.

If you have the money to spend on a quality case and you want the best go for a Crossrock. However, they do not come out on the top of this list for the best ukulele case.

Factors to consider when purchasing a ukulele case

When choosing which case to buy. consider your needs. Are you looking for a case that will simply keep the dust off of your instrument while being stored safely at home? If so. any low cost soft-shell case will do. as long as it is the correct size.

If you are looking for something that is highly portable, check out the cases that sport backpack straps. Imagine yourself heading off to your next neighborhood gathering walking or biking with your ukulele carried on your back. Think about purchasing a case with waterproof materials. A beautiful case that doesn’t protect your instrument in case of rain doesn’t provide the protection your instrument deserves.

While I wouldn’t try to submerge my ukulele in any case, there are some great options available that will protect your instrument when an unexpected shower comes, or someone accidentally spills a drink. Picture your uncle Ed sloshing his beer at your family gathering, or your niece Emma tripping while carrying her, filled to the brim, lemonade.

Imagine that unexpected downpour on your way home from your local meet-up group’s strum-along event. Decide if you want a soft-shell or a hard-shell case. A hard-shell case will generally cost more, and be heavier. But, it will also provide more protection from bumps and abrasions.

If you are traveling and will be storing other items on top of your ukulele, a hard-shell case is a must-have. Otherwise, a soft-shell case can provide reasonable protection for everyday use. Consider cost.

How valuable is the ukulele you want to protect? It makes sense to protect your investment. It doesn’t make sense to go broke doing it. You know how much you can reasonably afford. Pick your budget and stick to it. There are plenty of options available at all price points.

Overall winner!

The winner of the best ukulele case goes to Hot Seal. I really like the cases they make, and the Hot Seal 10MM Sponge Padding Waterproof Durable Colorful Conventional Ukulele Case Bag with Storage, comes in top of the list. They provide a product that is highly affordable, ultra portable, waterproof, and stylish.

I absolutely love the color choices and the fun prints. I also love the adjustable backpack straps. At a cost of around $20 on Amazon, they are sure to be affordable by all. Ukuleles are an instrument that just about anyone can learn to play. I love this case because it is just as accessible to everyone as the instrument inside of it. If I were in the market for a new ukulele case, I would be sure to check these out first.

While these cases will not provide the level of protection that a hard-shell case will provide, the fact that they are waterproof and so affordable tips the scales in their direction.

These are not the cases that I would recommend for every ukulele out there. These cases are meant for your average starter ukulele valued at between $50 to $150. If I had just inherited the Elia Ukulele, valued at $26000.

I would certainly be seeking out a more substantial case that offers a higher degree of protection Most of us don’t need that level of protection though. Most of us want an affordable option that allows us to keep our ukuleles dry, dust-free, and allows us to transport them easily. Hot Seal checks off these boxes with ease.

Conclusion

There are many different options available to anyone seeking a case for their ukulele. A case is a worthwhile investment. But, unless your ukulele is very valuable, you don’t need to spend a fortune to protect it.

There are plenty of choices that are highly affordable. Hard-shell cases are more expensive, but generally offer a higher level of protection. If you are traveling with your ukulele and may need to pack it with other gear or luggage, a hard-shell case might be a worthwhile investment. Soft-shell cases are less expensive and easier to lug around. They are generally lighter weight and typically have at least a shoulder strap for carrying ease.

What’s the best ukulele case for you? Well… only you can decide that. Figure out what features are important to you and decide what price range you can afford. While my top pick, Hot Seal’s waterproof soft-shell case, is a very inexpensive choice, the old saying still holds true. You get what you pay for.

If high quality is important to you. spend a little more money. I appreciate a low cost option, but I also appreciate quality. Only you know which is more important to you.

If you will only be happy with the best, spend the money and get the best. If you, like most of us, want to save a little money, that is very doable.

Please comment if you have any questions. And remember, ukuleles are meant to be played! Have fun and try not to overthink this too much. Find a case that speaks to both your sense of style and your wallet. If you enjoy looking at it, you will be more likely to pick it up to play it. So, with all that said, strum on my fellow uke lovers!