The Lowdown
If you’re looking for a simple solution that can adapt to a wide range of accessories and DJ kit, the Namba Gear Wrap is a versatile choice for a variety of gear protection situations. Would have wanted the padding to be a bit thicker, though.
Video Review
First Impressions / Setting up
The Namba Gear Wrap comes in three sizes: 14″, 19″, and 25″. The exterior is made of a black, felt-like material, while the interior is made of padded nylon. In all four corners (it’s a square, after all), you’ll find hook tabs; when you fold one of the corners on top of the exterior of the Gear Wrap, they stick in place, just like Velcro.
The cool thing about the Namba Gear Wrap is that you can create a really snug fit for whatever you’ve got inside. This allows you to use and reuse a single Gear Wrap for different bits of kit, and is a breath of fresh air compared to “made for” carrying solutions, which seem to dominate the bag space these days.
In Use
I’ve been using a Pioneer DJ DDJ-RZ these past few months for parties, club gigs, and weddings, and it’s an awesome controller. I carry it in a UDG Creator Controller Hardcase 2XL zip bag, while my laptop, headphones, and other accessories go into a Thule Covert Rolltop waterproof backpack. This lets me carry everything while freeing up my hands on the way to the DJ booth.
My problem with the DDJ-RZ is that it’s huge! I find myself spending quite a lot of time setting it up in venues that don’t have spacious DJ booths, such as smaller bars or pubsq. For this reason, I picked up the Pioneer DJ DDJ-WeGO4, which is a more compact two-channel controller that’s perfect for tight spaces. It also happens to fit inside my backpack: Tempting as it is, I don’t keep it inside my bag for fear that the knobs and faders would fall off without a cover like the Decksaver.
When the Namba Gear Wraps arrived, I thought I’d try them out with the DDJ-WeGO4. I used the 25″ model to wrap my controller.q I placed it in the centre of the wrap, red interior face up. I folded it like an envelope with the left and right “arms” first, and then the bottom and top after. The result is a compact cover that offers some protection – at least enough to make me consider placing it inside my Thule backpack.
The smaller 14″ Namba Gear Wrap is great for little bits like external hard drives, USB sticks, or a set of GoPros. Again, you can fold it like an envelope and use it as a “catch all” for small items in your DJ bag. I also liked using the 19″ model as a wrap for my laptop and tablet when I don’t want to take my entire DJ bag along. I don’t keep my MacBook Pro in a hardshell case, and I really do prefer carrying it in a Gear Wrap instead of taking it around bare.
Conclusion
The Namba Gear Wrap does what it says on the tin – it lets you wrap your gear to protect it when you aren’t using it or you’re on the move. I would have wanted the Namba Gear Wrap padding to be a bit thicker, but it’s still loads better than just wrapping a piece of cloth around your DJ equipment. (I did this for a while back when I used to lug around a Behringer BCD-2000 to gigs. Not a good idea!)
If you’re looking for a simple solution that can adapt to a wide range of accessories and DJ kit, the Namba Gear Wrap is a versatile choice for a variety of gear protection situations. Recommended.
