The Lowdown
It’s going to be a good fit for scratch DJs who take their own mixer to gigs, for modular DJs who carry several smaller pieces of gear, for DJ/producers who take something like a Maschine Studio or Ableton Push with them, or for iPad DJs who again might typically be carrying a smaller set-up. As long as you pick gear that can physically fit into a bag designed for carry-on, the Magma Riot Carry-On Trolley is a great choice.
Video Review
First Impressions / Setting up
We’ve reviewed Magma Riot gear before (check out our Magma Riot DJ Backpack review, and indeed our Magma Digi-Control Bag XL review), so the quality was as expected, which is to say, very good. Highly water resistant, all the zips are sealed, as is the handle at the top (there’s a zip-around for when it’s not in use), and the corners are extra reinforced, plus there’s integrated padding where it matters. Plus, the soft fleece lining is configurable to make sure that whatever you want to put in it is snug.
Internally, there is the main compartment for a DJ mixer, a modular set-up or a small DJ controller; a separate compartment for a laptop up to 19″; and some nice touches, like a PVC flap to protect knobs and buttons from the internal strap designed to secure your gear, and a padded “lid” to go over the top of your gear once it’s in place, giving all-round protection.
On the front is a “main” zip compartment with room for leads, with a couple of mesh zipped compartments for other bits and pieces (such as your cartridges). Control vinyl is best tucked on top of the lid inside the main compartment. Once you’re all packed, side tension straps give you an extra layer of security, while at the same time squeezing an extra few inches from its dimensions if regulations are tight on your particular airline…
In Use
We’ve reviewed Magma Riot gear before (check out our Magma Riot DJ Backpack review, and indeed our Magma Digi-Control Bag XL review), so the quality was as expected, which is to say, very good. Highly water resistant, all the zips are sealed, as is the handle at the top (there’s a zip-around for when it’s not in use), and the corners are extra reinforced, plus there’s integrated padding where it matters. Plus, the soft fleece lining is configurable to make sure that whatever you want to put in it is snug.
Internally, there is the main compartment for a DJ mixer, a modular set-up or a small DJ controller; a separate compartment for a laptop up to 19″; and some nice touches, like a PVC flap to protect knobs and buttons from the internal strap designed to secure your gear, and a padded “lid” to go over the top of your gear once it’s in place, giving all-round protection.
On the front is a “main” zip compartment with room for leads, with a couple of mesh zipped compartments for other bits and pieces (such as your cartridges). Control vinyl is best tucked on top of the lid inside the main compartment. Once you’re all packed, side tension straps give you an extra layer of security, while at the same time squeezing an extra few inches from its dimensions if regulations are tight on your particular airline…
Conclusion
Its greatest weakness is really its reason for existing: Its size. Externally, it is 55 x 37 x 23cm, which is OK for the majority of airlines, and internally it is 45 x 34 x 16cm (main compartment). If you want to guarantee your DJ gear is going to stay with you as you travel, you have no option but to have a bag that fits the dimensions insisted on by airlines, and the Magma Riot Carry-On Trolley does just that – but that does mean that most medium to large DJ controllers are out of the question. Also, again to fit size restrictions, you’ll struggle to fit headphones in here if you’re carrying a larger piece of gear like a mixer, unless your headphones are really portable, like the Sennheiser HD25-IIs, for instance.
As such, it’s going to be a good fit for scratch DJs who take their own mixer to gigs, for modular DJs who carry several smaller pieces of gear, for DJ/producers who take something like a Maschine Studio or Ableton Push with them, or for iPad DJs who again might typically be carrying a smaller set-up.
This is something you’ll want to think about pretty early on if you think your career is going to involve air travel, and the way you DJ involves carrying your own set-up, or at least part of it, with you; as long as you pick gear that can physically fit into a bag designed for carry-on, the Magma Riot Carry-On Trolley is a great choice.
