Magpul just announced a new addition to their DAKA lineup, and this one takes your gun case organization to the next level.
Called the DAKA Grid Organizer, this product lets you customize your gun cases like never before.
We can agree it’s important to safely transport our firearms — no one wants them to be scratched, jarred, or have any accessories rattle loose. But we also know how roughly the cases are handled during shipping or flights.
Magpul sent us the Grid Organizer to try out for ourselves, and we were excited to see all the problems it solves.
So keep reading to learn what the Grid Organizer is and how it can be used!
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Magpul DAKA Grid Organizer: At a Glance
Pros
- Unparalleled modularity
- Reusable
- Impact and chemical-resistant foam
Cons
- Currently only for Pelican Vault v730 and v800
The Bottom Line
Magpul’s DAKA Grid Organizer consists of a foam grid base that receives pluggable blocks in vertical or horizontal configurations. I’m not sure why no one thought of this sooner; it’s an awesome product that allows you to configure your case for nearly any setup.
Specs & Features
Specs
- Fits: Pelican Vault v730 and v800
- Length: 44.5″ (v730), 53.8″ (v800)
- Width: 16.6″
- Weight: ~3lbs (v800)
Features
- Expanded Polypropylene Foam blocks
- Grid base
- Upgradeable
Source: Magpul
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Background
For years now, if you wanted to customize your gun case, you had to rely on some sort of foam, and that was a one-way trip.
Whether it was pluck, scalpel, or lasered, once you had the outline cut, it was set.
If you wanted to change something, you were pretty much locked into getting another piece of foam and either starting over or sending it out to be customized.
There wasn’t really a clean way to configure your foam for multiple settings….until now…
Who Is It For?
Anyone who transports guns will find great use for this product. Whether you’re flying or shipping, guns and optics are just too expensive to not properly protect.
Additionally, those with lingering wishes to still play with Legos will be well-satisfied with the experience of arranging and plugging in their DAKA Grid blocks!
Fit & Feel
The blocks are rigid foam, lightweight, but still very firm and strong.
They won’t scratch anything and hold up to the weight of firearms nicely when you use a supporting build pattern.
The foam comes in 2-hole and 3-hole configurations and is rectangular in nature, so you can build up the platform you need for your case.
The base kit comes with three (3) pieces of grid, (8) 3-square blocks, and (8) 2-square blocks.
How Does It Work?
It works great! We tried a couple of different configurations and were able to accommodate a rifle with LPVO easily with the base kit supplied.
We also tried another setup with an AR pistol and handgun to see how they would serve.
Both configurations plugged in nicely, though took some thought on how best to support them. Magpul has guidelines. I felt my child’s mind coming back to me as I puzzled out the best way to configure the blocks.
After figuring these out, I closed the case and moved it around to see how they held up.
While I couldn’t always achieve zero movements, I was able to make sure the firearms didn’t shift around a great deal. In addition, none of the plugged-in blocks came loose.
What Sets it Apart?
Nothing that has come before in the way of gun cases approaches the modularity of the DAKA Grid Organizer. The ability for multiple uses holds so much utility.
We head to the range almost every week, and we almost never use the original boxes to transport long guns. Sometimes we add scopes, red dots, flashlights; you name it.
However we set up our guns, the DAKA Grid will be able to handle that configuration and secure it in place without letting it slide around.
With this system, there’s no need to cut foam anymore.
By the Numbers
Reliability: 5/5
We’ve only had it a short time, but so far, the DAKA Grid is doing a good job of holding things in place.
Customization: 5/5
This product is specifically designed to allow users to customize it however they need.
Value: 5/5
With an MSRP of $139 (v730) and $159 (v800) this one-time purchase will serve you for years and years.
Overall: 5/5
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Upgrades for DAKA Grid Organizer
Just like any good blocks system, this one starts out with a good base pack but can be expanded. Users will be able to buy additional block packs to further increase capability.
Final Verdict
If I had a quarter for how many times I’ve heard the terms “revolutionary” or “game-changing” in this industry, I would be a wealthy man.
Based upon that cynicism, I almost never use those terms myself.
It’s rare when something comes along that is such a useful and different approach I have to revisit my prohibition against such terms. The DAKA Grid Organizer is one such case, and I’m excited to see how it evolves from here.
Want to see the DAKA Grid Organizer in action? Check out the video from Magpul below!
Are you picking up a DAKA Grid Organizer? Let us know in the comments below and if you’re still using foam, be sure to check out our guide: [How To] Prep and Cut Pelican Case Foam.
12 Leave a Reply
Purchased a Vault 800 and the corresponding Magpul DAKA kit. I really wanted this to be good but it's not.... for one simple reason. It doesnt fit. as soon as i put the Daka kit in the case it pushes the front of the Vault case out and it will not close without crushing the case by hand back into shape in order to close it and then i can force it to latch. with $400 into this solution combined frankly that seems unacceptable. I just got everything yesterday so i havent had a chance to get with Magpul/Pelican yet but if i remove the Daka insert it closes flawlessly..
After spending the bucks for a Pelican 1700 13 years ago, why would I run out and buy the new Vault series?
Pelican should make a Retrofit kit for their older cases. That I would be interested in more than purchasing a new case.
It seems to me that although it is fitted for those pelican models it could be easily cut to fit other brands of case (assuming they are smaller) if it's just foam. Or is there an endoskeleton of metal or hard plastic that would obstruct such efforts?
I don't believe there is anything within the base of the grid itself but I'm not certain.
I carved out the foam for my first rifle case today, so this review is super timely. Didn't have an electric carving knife, thermal lance, or whatever it is the pros use, so I made do with a serrated Spyderco Delica. The result is ugly but functional. These blocks look like a game changer and will be on my list when I finally spring for an AR optic.
do what I do, uses two layers of foam. The trick for this is that the top later is a solid piece of foam and not that pull out blocks thing. Cut the first layer (top layer) all the way through on the outline of the gun with a really sharp knife, depending on the rigidity of the foam you can also use a pair of sharp garment/sewing use scissors used to cut cloth. When the cutting is done lay the top custom cut layer over the bottom layer and 'voila you have a professional looking custom job foam cradle for your gun (if you were neat about it and didn't hack at it).
The bottom layer can be as thick as you want up to decide how far above the cut out in the top layer you want the gun to be.
Of course a lot of cases that come with foam already have that block thing going on and filling up the case with their foam. I buy cases without foam (making the case cheaper) and then buy my foam from "foamorder" (can;t post urls here, wont let me but add a dot com to the foamorder) --- I usually get their packing foam for rifle cases where, for example, a 48" long x 4" thick x 12" wide piece costs about $30.00 (but you can get just about any size you want) and their sometimes their EVA grade foam for pistol cases. The total cost, case and foam, usually comes out a little less than if I had purchased the case with foam but it depends on the case too. Get a thicker layer for the bottom layer, and a thinner layer for the top layer that matches the 'width' of your gun so its easier to cut.
But its a good way to get a clean pro looking custom made foam cutout for your gun.
Hey John, this is a great solution, but I still feel like it's a bit of a workaround.
The Grid is going to be awesome for us because we take different guns to the range almost every week, and never transport in the original box.
Its not really work around if you wanted an eaisier to make nice custom made thing.
But for cases for guns, if I am planning on changing guns to put in the case I just make make different top layer foam cut outs and have them ready then when the time comes to change lay it in the case and I have a custom made foam for the gun. I swap from an AR to say a hunting rifle in a few cases like this and its always a custom fit. Takes about two seconds to lay the new layer in the case.
In your case, since you do a lot of different guns a lot the MagPul Grid makes sense. Most gun owners have 5 or fewer guns, probably about 25% - 30% have only one gun. I've got 67 of them, and I wanted custom foam inserts to fit each one so I did a lot of cutting and overall the foam for all those ran me a few hundred dollars but I've only got several cases but I just change the foam insert and an instant custom made thing.
Sure, ya going to put a little time in to make those cutouts but I'm more interested in pro looking custom fits for my gun cases and not a 'play with legos to make them fit' look.
For $139.00 I can buy a new case and new foam (price depending on the case and gun) which I would rather have. But I don't change guns around as much as you do with your reviews and stuff.
Wow man, that's a lot of effort but no doubt a very nice fit for each one, very cool. You're right, in my case it makes a lot more sense because our range trips are fluid and the guns change frequently, different guns, different optics, etc.
There are some good options out there but this is the best I've seen so far.
Legos for gun people.
Very true!