In addition to being a private violin teacher and having a degree in music from USC, Alecia started writing music-related articles and product reviews six years ago and has enjoyed this experience greatly. She likes to learn new instruments and write new compositions in her free time.
Marcus has a vast experience in digital audio and sound design. Thanks to his knowledge, he actively helps musicians with technical problems, improving their audio quality and promoting their tracks so that thousands of listeners can enjoy really good music.
Last updated: August 09, 2024
Prime Sound is reader-supported. We may earn a commission through products purchased using links on this page. Learn more about our process here
Whether you’re a beginner and have a starter clarinet or if you’re almost on your way to being a professional musician, having a proper instrument protector can help you keep your clarinet safe. Having your fragile clarinet securely hidden in the best clarinet case not only helps with keeping dust at bay but can also be a consideration to help transport your case to and from lessons and performances—without worrying that it will get banged up by everyday movement.
In this review, we will go through the various features of the best clarinet cases out there and why you should consider each one before you choose a certain case. You’ll need to be aware of the weight of the case, the type, what kind of exterior material it’s made out of, the number of its pockets, and the warranty information attached to the product. All these features can truly make a difference with the type of case you choose.
ADVERTISEMENT
After hundreds of hours sifting through the best of what the internet offers, we’ve created a summary of the best clarinet cases that money can buy—even if you’re on a budget! We hope that our article—from the comparison table, which displays the best cases side-by-side, the in-detail review of each product with its pros and cons, and our buying guide—can help you make the best, most well-informed decision you can make when it comes to investing in a sturdy case for your clarinet.
The Protec PB307D is rated as our Editor‘s Choice for one of the best clarinet cases on the market. Measured at a lightweight size, the Protec PB307D weighs just around 3.8 lbs, which is extremely easy to carry around whether for younger children or those incapable (or unwilling) to carry a heavy case.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Protec PB307D comes with a soft-molded interior that is a great surface area to protect all clarinets, but especially the Bb and A clarinets. On the inside of the case, it also comes with four barrels, a nonabrasive velboa lining, and a small accessory interior compartment for your accessories.
With a slim, lightweight shock-absorbing frame, the outside of this case is not only extremely protective, it is also quite weather-resistant built with a 1680 ballistic nylon exterior—which helps when you‘re transporting your clarinet to and from lessons and performances. The Protec PB307D also comes with a large rear-side sheet music pocket.
It’s not only comfortable for your clarinet, carrying it is also quite easy to do, with a dual-corded handle design, a padded handle wrap, a subway rope handle, and even a removable padded shoulder strap.
ADVERTISEMENT
Another thoughtful feature also includes an I.D. tag, which is great when you‘re going to be taking the case to a bigger class.
Why did it make our list?
The design is slim, compact, and lightweight
Comes with various handles and comfortable carrying
Built-in organizer
What is not ideal about it?
Might be too high-quality for a smaller, beginner clarinet
The Protec Bass Clarinet Pro Pac is a great choice if you’re thinking about playing the bass clarinet and want it to be the best protected it can be.
Backed by a 1-year warranty, the Protec Bass Clarinet Pro Pac comes with features that not only set it up for being a great buy but also can set it apart from other cases on the market.
Designed with nylon and built with a lightweight, shock-absorbing frame, the case is hard on the outside but contains soft-plush lining on the inside. Not only is comfy in its interior for your bass clarinet, it also has a built-in organizer to hold pens, keys, and small accessories that go along with your instrument.
Taking it out outside is also no problem with its water and abrasion-resistant feature, designed with 1680 gauge ballistic nylon exterior.
The Protec Bass Clarinet Pro Pac is also easy to carry with its shoulder strap and equipped for a one-piece body bass clarinet. Unlike other hard-shell cases, this case also has an exterior pocket for storage.
If you’re planning on grabbing it to-go, the padded handle grip, secured by velcro makes it extremely mobile.
Why is it special?
A lot of space for accessories and organizing
Comes designed for comfort with padded strap and backpack strap option
The Protec BLT307SX is rated as one of the best designed hard shell cases on the market for clarinets.
Contrary to most other hard cases out there, however, it’s extremely lightweight, weighing only 2.7 lbs. and can be easily carried to and from lessons as well as performances.
No matter what type of clarinet you have, the Protec BLT307SX is extremely versatile, able to fit most Bb clarinet makes and models.
As for protection? The soft foam-injected interior, which is also mold lined with velvet is designed to keep everything in place, no matter how much the instrument is jostled around.
The larger interior also has a big accessory compartment that is capable of holding extra barrels, neck strap, pencel, and Protec swab, as well as other accessories.
Not only is the outside hard case and durable to withstand most bangs and bruises, it is also made out of scratch-resistant ABS plastic and has a removable sheet music pocket that comes with four removable screws.
The Protec BLT307SX is also easy to carry, coming along with two thickly-padded adjustable shoulder straps that have a grip surface.
Protecting your clarinet against shock and impact, the Protec BLT307SX sets it apart from other clarinets on the market because it also sits flat when you open it.
What are its best features?
Padded strap for carrying
Designed with ABS plastic case and scratch-resistant
Extremely lightweight at 2.7 lbs
What could be improved?
The music holder doesn’t hold any-sized folder with music
The Paititi Clarinet Case is rated as our most lightweight clarinet case. If you think 2.7 lbs was light—the Paititi Clarinet Case is even lighter at just 2 lbs!
How is it so light? The exterior is designed with vegan leather, which makes it not only protected but also makes it lightweight. The leather is also completely genuine and meets most standards for clarinet cases.
The Paititi Clarinet Case comes with a carrying shoulder strap that makes it convenient for carrying to and from lessons or from home to performances. The exterior is water-proof, which is great for taking the case outside. When you’re always taking your clarinet here and there, you need a high-quality case that can keep it protected from exterior weather.
Not only is the exterior great, but the interior is also high-quality, with deep, soft velvet lining interior that encases your instrument with comfort.
The exterior also has a roomy pocket for extra musical accessories, which is great for carrying everything you need, no matter where you are.
The case can also offer versatility and can be carried either as a backpack or even over the shoulder like a handbag—however you feel most comfortable.
The Paititi Clarinet Case comes backed by a 1-year limited warranty.
Why did it make our list?
One of the lightest weighing cases on the market
Weather resistant
What is not ideal about it?
Neither of the straps are long enough to serve as a shoulder strap.
If you find yourself on a budget—or if the clarinet lessons already ran you dry, you can still get a high-quality clarinet case at a budget price.
The Kaces KBOCLPP is a great choice for a high-performance clarinet case. Not only is it lightweight, weighing only 2.2 lbs, it also has a hard outer shell that gives your instrument the ultimate protection from outside factors.
The Kaces KBOCLPP features an ergonomic design with reliability at a very affordable price. The outside case is made out of hard EPS foam, which keeps it lightweight.
What makes the Kaces KBOCLPP different is that it actually has an interesting wrapped webbing handle that makes it great to hold. The removable backpack straps contain metal hardware which is also essential for easy transport.
The inside—like the outside—is also great for your clarinet, with molded interior features that offer soft and secure padded storage for your clarinet. You and your instrumental accessories can also benefit from the large exterior pocket that has an integrated organizer.
The Kaces KBOCLPP fits most clarinet sizes and has luggage-grade zippers for easy in-and-out access. From a high-quality brand, the Kaces KBOCLPP comes from Kaces, which is a global supplier of gig bags, cases, and music accessories for musicians of all genres.
Why did it make our list?
Comes backed by a 6-year warranty
Affordable price as budget option
What is not ideal about it?
Does not have hard shell case
Things to Consider
If you’re looking to buy the best clarinet case on the market, you’ll definitely want to check out this buying guide. We’re going to go through the various features you need to look out for when comparing one case to another.
After looking through these specific features, you might feel like you have a better understanding of the specific important features a quality clarinet case will have on the market.
You’ll definitely want to pay extra close attention to these features to help you decide which case is best for you
Why should you invest in the best clarinet case
Especially since you‘ve not only invested a lot of money on your clarinet and lessons, you’ve also been investing your time into learning how to play clarinet.
Investing in the best clarinet case—or at least one that hits all the desired features but stays in your price range is something that you should try and aim for.
If you’re going to be buying a clarinet case, you might as well invest in the best!
If your child is still quite young but is going to be transporting his or her clarinet to and from lessons, you’ll definitely want to choose a lighter case, like the Paititi Clarinet Case, which weighs only 2 lbs.
However, if you’re an adult or buying this for a bigger and stronger clarinet player, you’ll want to invest in a much heavier, harder shell case, like the Protec Bass Clarinet Pro Pac or the Protec PB307D.
The sound of money
Especially since you most likely have already been investing some money with your clarinet itself and lessons or traveling to and from performances, you’ll want to see if you can get the best bang for your buck with the price of the case.
With the clarinet cases on this guide, you’re going to be spending anywhere from $60 (like the budget option, Kaces KBOCLP) upward to almost $200 or more.
Choose the best clarinet case by the following features
Before you pick based on your price, you’ll definitely want to consider these features:
Brands
You might have spent a fortune on the brand because of its quality when it came to investing in your actual clarinet. This makes sense—especially if you are a high-quality performer and play at a high level. You are investing in your music, and that’s okay.
However, you don’t necessarily have to invest the extra money into the brand name if you’re looking for high-quality—you can get just as good quality with an unknown brand that gets the job done and protects your clarinet as you’re traveling from home to your lessons or performance and back again.
You might feel like (especially as a parent) that you would most likely want to invest in a familiar name rather than take your chances, but if you read enough reviews, do your research, and trust in the features of the product, you don’t necessarily have to invest in a popular brand name.
Soft or hard cases?
If you have a clarinet for beginners, or you’re a more advanced player, investing in a specific case can make all the difference in your experience playing, traveling, and knowing that you have your instrument protected.
Something that you should definitely consider is if you’re buying a clarinet case for your child—and what age they are as well as how big they are.
A harder case, like with the Protec BLT307SX (rated as our Best Hard-Shell case), can be great if you need it to be protected every time you travel.
However, if you need a lighter case, you’ll want to consider a softer case, like the Paititi Clarinet Case which can help make it much easier to carry to and from lessons.
Although they don’t offer as much protection as the harder cases do, they still can get the job done, are generally much more affordable, and still are high quality enough to keep your clarinet protected.
Padding
The padding on the inside of the clarinet case can keep your instrument in place, comfortable, and protected. Most of the cases on this guide come with some sort of padding that not only helps secure the instrument but also keeps it insulated from exterior forces.
Pockets
The pockets—whether internal or external — (most of the cases featured here have an exterior pocket) are important for holding the accessories that you may need while playing or learning to play the clarinet.
The pocket can also come with an organizer for various accessories.
Fit
What’s the point of investing in a clarinet case if you can’t even fit your clarinet in it?
Before you invest or buy a clarinet case, you’ll want to make sure that your clarinet fits into the case itself.
Double or single?
If you are buying a clarinet case for just one person, then it may seem like such a strange concept to buy a double case.
However, if you or your child is serious about the clarinet, you might want to consider getting a double case that can fit both the player’s performing clarinet and for the practice clarinet.
Especially if the clarinet player is going to be performing, they’re going to want to always bring a spare clarinet with them.
This might be a great idea if you’re pretty sure that you or your child is going to be sticking with the clarinet for a little while. If your child is just beginning, you might not want to invest in the double case.
Durability
The durability of the clarinet case is one of the most important features to look out for.
You can invest in a clarinet case with either a hard or a soft outer case—which can make a huge difference when it comes to durability.
Warranty
The warranty of the case also makes a huge difference—some of the clarinets on this guide will be only guaranteed for one year, but can be guaranteed up to six years, as well.
What you should have in your clarinet case
Before you invest in a clarinet case, you’ll want to definitely see if your clarinet comes not only with accessories included but the space inside to hold or organize them all.
Most of the cases on this guide have the room for storing accessories. These accessories may include sheet music, cloths, and tuners.
Most of these spaces are stationed outside the bag on the exterior.
Some cleaning accessories should also be able to fit into your bag.
FAQ
Once you’ve decided on a clarinet case, you might still have some questions that need to be answered for you to feel sure in your case choice. Here are the most frequently-asked questions, answered:
Fortunately, in most flights—especially in the United States, you’ll be able to legally take your instrument on board with you. A case that is easy to open and take out when you’re going through security is also seemingly beneficial.
However, it’s important that your case and instrument fits in the overhead cabin or underneath the seat in front of you.
A lockable case is also a great feature to have—not only will it help you keep it safe from stealing or breaking—so look for metal latches.
Although some other cases might be a similar size to fit your clarinet, it’s not recommended to use other cases for your clarinet. This is because the other case is most likely not perfectly molded to fit the shape of a clarinet, which means that it might not be securely fit in your case, increasing the chances that it will be jostling about inside.
Our Verdict
If you’ve decided to skip over our entire guide to check out our final verdict, here it is:
The Protec PB307D is our Editor’s Choice. Weighing only 3.8 lbs, the Protec PB307D has four different pockets that are well protected with its 1680 ballistic nylon exterior. With other features including a shoulder strap, soft molded interior, padded dual-corded handle, velvoa lining, shock-absorbing frame, weather-resistant, quick-lock, and molded rubber feet, this is a great buy!
The Protec Bass Clarinet Pro Pac is our Best for Bass Clarinet. Although it weighs more than double or triple the weight of other cases on this guide, it has a heavy exterior for the bass clarinet. With four pockets, padded hook-and-loop closure on handles, a padded shoulder strap, weather-resistant feature, and a QuickLock™, this is a great buy if you’re looking for a sturdy case.
The Kaces KBOCLPP is our Budget Pick. Although it’s rated at an affordable price, it is lightweight—only weighing 2.2 lbs. It is also backed by the longest warranty on the guide—6 years! It also features EPS foam, a wrapped webbing handle, removable backpack straps, and luggage grade zippers.
We hope this guide has helped you pick out the best clarinet case for you or your loved musician.
