Just spent the morning repairing my son's semi hard (styrofoam) cello case. He too is travelling abroad with his cello soon and seeing the violin case topic & realising his case isn't going to last forever wondered what the recommended cello cases are and what I should look for when buying one?

This trip will be by plane and bus (the cello has a seat on the plane, but I'm not sure if his styrofoam case might be too wide even for a plane seat?), but if I'm getting a new case it will need to be good enough to cope with the rigours of being hefted around school, in & out of cars, buses, planes and around airports; provide good protection and last a long time!

Are hiscox good for cellos too - any other recomendations?

Hiscox cello cases are very good and strong - up to pretty much anything except perhaps the full airport baggage handling and airplane hold experience. Cello cases can be very expensive but Hiscox are good value. I bought my daughter the most basic model (about £175 I think) and the only thing I would change with hindsight would be to get one which would hold two bows rather than just one.

Only slightly weak area is the clips. They work very well if used properly but you need to close the case properly then do the clips up, rather than use a clip as a lever to close the case the last inch. If you get something like a strap caught stopping it close the clip can fairly easily bend slightly then will not stay closed. Daughter has done this to one clip on hers but the case still works very well with one damaged.

My son has a Bam case too. It's not too heavy and nor is it too bulky and protects the cello well.

Bam cases are very good and I would recommend them. Hiscox, no thanks, unless you want a permanent back/shoulder problem - they are horrendously heavy and very bulky too! I will also second the fact that the clips on them aren't particularly reliable either.

Given that cellists are prone to back problems anyway, the best option is a hard case that's manageable in size and weight by the cellist carrying it. Be guided by physique.

Be wary of cases with wheels. On face value they seem an ideal option, but trundling your case on those hard tiny wheels over our appalling road and pavement surfaces could well rattle your cello to bits in the end.

See my post on the Beginner Cellists thread - post 9.