Condition 1 #184 11" Small Waterproof Case
Two layers of pluckable cubed foam over a solid base, egg crate foam in the lid, IP67, and padlock holes. Small enough to lay out in one sitting.
$69.99, Red or Ranger Green.
Shop the #184 →What is pick and pluck foam?
It is a block of foam pre-cut into small cubes that are still joined at the bottom. You pull out cubes by hand to make a pocket shaped to your gear, with no knife and no custom cutting.
It holds each item in place, so nothing shifts, rattles, or knocks into anything else when the case moves.
How do you pluck the foam step by step?
Plan the whole layout before you pull a single cube. Here is the order that works.
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1. Stage | Lay every item on top of the foam in the spot you want it. Heavy items low and centered, the thing you grab most near the latch side. |
| 2. Space | Leave at least one full row of cubes between items and between items and the case walls. That row is the padding. |
| 3. Mark | Trace each outline with a marker, or push toothpicks into the foam around the edge. Then take the gear off. |
| 4. Pluck | Pull cubes from the center of each outline outward. Stop one cube inside your line so the fit ends up snug, not loose. |
| 5. Depth | Pluck only as deep as the item is tall. On a layered case, you may only need the top layer. |
| 6. Test | Set the gear in, close the lid, and shake the case. Anything that moves needs a tighter pocket or a filler cube. |
| 7. Finger holes | Pull one or two extra cubes next to each item so you can get a finger under it and lift it out. |
What are the most common pick and pluck mistakes?
Pulling too many cubes is the big one. You cannot put a cube back and have it hold, so a pocket that is one cube too wide stays that way.
The second is plucking walls down to one thin strip between items. That strip tears the first time something heavy shifts, and then two items share one loose hole.
The third is plucking all the way to the bottom for a short item. It sinks, you cannot reach it, and it rattles.
Can you fix foam you over-plucked?
Partly. You can glue loose cubes back in place with a foam-safe spray adhesive, or push a pulled cube back in as a filler to tighten a pocket.
It works, but it never holds as well as uncut foam. The real fix is going slow the first time.
Should you use pick and pluck foam or padded dividers?
Foam for a kit that never changes, dividers for one that does. The table sums it up.
| Pick and pluck foam | Padded dividers | |
|---|---|---|
| Fit | Exact, item by item | Close, adjustable |
| Rearranging | One shot. Pulled cubes stay pulled. | Move them in a minute |
| Best for | Tools, first aid, keys, batteries, a set kit | Cameras, lenses, gear that changes |
| Our case | #184 11" | #179 16" and #300 22" |
Condition 1 #179 16" Waterproof Camera Case
What we sell. A 16 inch IP67 case with a padded divider set and lid organizer instead of foam.
Why it helps you. If your kit changes every few months, dividers save you from buying new foam every time.
How to buy. $189.99, one time purchase.
Shop the #179 →Questions people actually ask
How do you cut pick and pluck foam?
You do not cut it. You pull the pre-cut cubes out by hand. Lay your gear on top, mark the outline, then pluck from the center of each outline outward, stopping one cube inside the line so the fit is snug.
How much space should you leave between items?
At least one full row of cubes between items and between items and the case walls. That row of foam is what absorbs the shock when the case gets dropped or stacked.
Can you put pick and pluck cubes back?
You can push a cube back in as a filler or glue it with a foam-safe spray adhesive, but it will not hold like uncut foam. Plan the layout fully before you pull anything.
How deep should you pluck the foam?
Only as deep as the item is tall. If the case has multiple layers, a short item may only need the top layer removed. Plucking too deep lets the item sink and rattle.
Is pick and pluck foam good for cameras?
It works if your camera kit never changes. Most photographers add and swap lenses over time, so padded dividers are usually the better choice for cameras.
