Orion Deluxe Aluminum Accessory Cases

4.0 Orion Makes a Good Case

Nice look, roomy, moderately sturdy.

Large accessory slots too close together, foam inside dries out over time.

I purchased Orion’s Medium Deluxe Accessory Case to replace my Small Poly Accessory Case when my collection of eyepieces and accessories just became too big. I bought it direct from Orion for $36.95.

The 12¾” by 8¾” by 9” case has the standard foam inside with 8 spaces with removable inserts for 1¼” eyepieces, a ½” by 7¼” slot for filters and 2 slots for larger accessories (like 2” eyepieces), each 7¾” by 2”. The inside of the lid is covered with more foam in an “egg crate” shape. The Medium Deluxe Accessory Case certainly has plenty of room for the stuff collected by an “advanced novice” like myself.

The outside of the case is heavy plastic covered in black vinyl, reinforced with aluminum edging and steel reinforced corners giving it a professional look. There’s also a very sturdy handle and shoulder strap. The only feet are for standing the case up on edge but strangely, not on the bottom that the case would rest on if it were open.

Problems with the case are few, the biggest being that there are no slots for 2” eyepieces. The two larger accessory slots must be used for larger eyepieces. These slots, however, are separated by a wall of foam only ½” thick, leaving no support for the accessories within. There’s a possibility that any eyepieces would not be well cushioned and protected during transport. I left the insert in one of the slots to provide support for the other slot. The other issue is also mentioned in my review of the Small Poly Accessory Case. The foam insert tends to dry out and lose its elasticity over time. Eventually, any accessory in the case will be covered with the crumbled remnants of the foam cushion, which are not the easiest thing to clean off. (A can of compressed air works well.) Still, the case should provide at least 12 to 15 years of reliable use until this happens.

In conclusion, Orion’s Medium Deluxe Accessory Case is a very good case to transport and store telescope accessories though like most foam-lined cases, it has a limited life expectancy.