I encountered the same dilemna, I bought both. The Pelican case is a monster made by a Pelican affiliate, Casecruzer. Its a 2N2 Gunpod, while its bulky and expensive it handles everything for a long trip and well worth it when you consider the value of its contents when fully loaded. I agree with KB, the 5.11 case could be a bit more refined but for the price, construction, and backback style straps it works a **** of alot better than a blanket for short trips. You can get a fair price on the 5.11 cases through Opticsplanet direct or through their Ebay store and maybe get free shipping. GL