Heavy Duty SOPRANO Ukulele Gig Bag

Honestly, I didn't even know how much I liked this case until I finished writing and saw how much I said. According to what I wrote below, I guess I really, really, really like this case. 1. Generously padded. The photos made it look like there was only a meager amount of cushioning behind the lining, but it turns out that there's a nice amount of cushion. Out of curiosity, I measured it and found that the thickness is about 5/8 of an inch, which doesn't sound like much but acts as an excellent buffer to protect it. (And even thinking about it now, any closer to an entire inch, and it'd seem like overkill.) 2. Very lightweight. I wasn't sure why I was expecting it to be heavier, but it's actually super light. I didn't realize how unwieldy transporting around a small ukulele can be until I tried going into tight spaces and trying to squeeze past people, so I'm so glad that this case doesn't add unnecessary heft. 3. Protective faux leather(?) panel for headstock. So the part at the top of a ukulele with the tuning pegs is called the "head" or "headstock" (I had to look this up). There's a somewhat stiff material on the lining (I think they're trying to go for faux leather, though I'm not entirely sure) that makes sure that the front of the head with the metal bits won't get caught in and subsequently fray the soft lining of the case, which is an incredibly smart design element. Maybe all cases have this, but I was blown away by the intelligence of such a small thing. At the end of the day, each of these small quality-of-life components add up to make or break a product. 4. Convenient zipper. The zipper (as pictured) goes nearly around the whole case. It's a little silly because I don't know that I'll ever really need to open it all the way like that, but I like that it gives me the option in case I ever need it. That said, the nature of a zipper (besides being a fast and easy way to open and close) makes it easy to adjust your opening anyways, so you can always find the exact amount of length you want. So even if I wanted to complain about the zipper, I don't think I COULD because I'd actually have to blame myself for being an idiot if I ever open it too much or too little. 5. Pocket (on front of case) lies flush against exterior. Basically, the pocket doesn't really protrude from the case, which is nice because I can fit it into spaces without the pocket catching on things like my backpacks often do (which is a nightmare). It makes my life so convenient because having to make extra space for a protruding pocket would also mean a weight imbalance that might tip the case over when I try to store it upright. (I usually slip it in between my paper organizers and textbooks, and it just stands there cheerfully.) And I've already discussed how carrying a ukulele is already more unwieldy than I first suspected, so the lack of extra girth is a godsend for when I'm on the move with it. 6. Useful handle and strap. The handle allows for one-handed carrying while the strap allows for over-the-shoulder or even crossbody transportation. The handle has an extra layer on top of it, so it sits wonderfully in hand (unlike cheaper handle designs that are just a woven strip of fabric. I find that those crease, eventually slip out of my hand, or, in the case of backpacks, cut into my palm). As for the strap, I don't really use it because I think it's more convenient to grab the handle, but the option is there if I need it. If I HAD to offer a complaint, it might be that the pocket at the front of the case (because it doesn't protrude) can't fit a whole lot into the pocket. I think this is a double-edged sword because (a) trying to cram too much could end up making it press against the ukulele inside, but (b) it also works well to discourage you from trying to take a lot in there. And honestly, I think I side more with the latter. I comfortably fit my capo and the capo's case in that front pocket with plenty of extra space, and that's honestly all I need in there. (I added my keys, wallet, hand sanitizer, and a chapstick out of curiosity, and there was STILL space for more. But joke's on them because I usually keep these in the pockets of my pants anyways, so I don't even need that space.) So basically, I think the pocket already has plenty of room as is, so I guess I'm kind of debunking my own potential complaint. Ha.