Shimoda’s line of Core Units has expanded to include two drone-specific soft-sided cases designed to protect your drone, controller, spare batteries, and other drone-related accessories. The two sizes, Drone Mini and Drone Pro, suit everything from smaller Neo and Mini drones, up to the Mavic series and an RC Pro remote.
While Shimoda’s standard semi-hard-sided Core Units are designed specifically for the brand’s lineup of outdoor photography backpacks, namely the Action X and Explore series bags, the Done Cores, along with the brand’s Soft Core range, are a more universal design. Of course, they fit perfectly in those existing Shimoda backpacks, but fit equally well in camera bags from most other brands. In this review, I’ll run you through the features and specifications of these compelling new protective options. It’s worth noting that these are extremely adaptable products that can be used for storing much more than just a drone.
Disclaimer: Shimoda provided the Drone Cores for test and review. No money changed hands, and they were not allowed to see the content before it was published.
Table of Contents
Shimoda Drone Core Specifications
The Shimoda Drone Cores are available in two sizes: Mini and Pro. Both sizes are available in two colors: Black or Boa. To see how the dimensions and weight of the Drone Cores compare to Shimoda’s other Core Units, please consult my extensive Core Unit comparison guide.
| Model | Width Internal | Height Internal | Depth Internal | Width External | Height External | Depth External | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drone Mini | 9.4in / 24cm | 6.7in / 17cm | 3.1in / 8cm | 10.2in / 26cm | 7.1in / 18cm | 3.9in / 10cm | 0.6lbs / 0.25kg |
| Drone Pro | 9.6in / 24.5cm | 6.5in / 16.5cm | 5.9in / 15cm | 10.2in / 26cm | 7.1in / 18cm | 6.5in / 16.5cm | 0.8lbs / 0.35kg |
Drone Core Features
Drone Mini
The Drone Core Mini is designed to hold smaller drones like the Neo or Mini, alongside an RC Pro controller, spare batteries, and a charger. The zippered pockets also provide ample room for small items, such as spare propellers, ND filters, and extra memory cards. Inside the internal zippered pocket is a dedicated Apple AirTag pocket.
Shimoda’s Drone Cores come with a generous selection of flexible padded dividers. If you’re familiar with Shimoda’s standard Core Units, with their stiff dividers, you’re in for a different experience when handling the Drone Cores. These are incredibly soft, highly cushioned dividers. On the case’s exterior, you’ll find a pair of grab handles and D-rings for attaching the included padded shoulder strap.
Drone Pro
The Drone Core Pro is designed for larger Mavic drones and is roughly twice as deep as the Mini. It has all the same features as the Drone Core Mini, but adds a double-decker design with a zippered battery compartment on the base. Unfortunately, this case was designed before the Mavic 4 Pro’s launch in May 2025, which turned out to be slightly larger than the previous Mavic 3. I don’t have a Mavic Pro 4, but judging by the dimensions, it will be slightly too big to fit in this case. This isn’t Shimoda’s fault. It’s just bad timing. I’m sure that had they designed this after the Mavic 4’s launch, they would have designed it around that drone’s size, and the increased size of the new RC Pro 2 remote.
Conclusion
I like what Shimoda has done with the new Drone Cores. Similar to the Shimoda Soft Cores introduced alongside the Drone Cores, these are well-built, well-thought-out cases with flexible functionality. The use of rugged exterior materials and the inclusion of a shoulder strap on the Drone Cores extends their use and makes them a desirable drone storage solution for all users. If you want to pack your drone in a separate grab-and-go protective solution within your main camera bag, I recommend looking at the Drone Pro or Drone Mini.
Where to Buy (+ Save 10%)
Shimoda Designs has offered Shutter Muse readers a 10% discount on anything purchased through their online stores. US, Canadian, UK, French, or German residents should use the discount code ShutterMuse10 after clicking here to access the store. Australian readers should use the same code on the local Shimoda distributor’s site, Maxxum, instead.
The Shimoda Drone Cores are available through the links below. It’s always appreciated when you use my links for your purchases. Of course, it makes the most sense to buy directly from Shimoda to make use of the discount detailed above.
