What’s the safest way to transport hard drives during a one-hour move?

Hard drives are not so delicate that they need special treatment for a one-hour drive. Shut them down normally so the heads can park, then carry them carefully and avoid dropping them, strong jolts, or placing heavy objects on top. For loose drives, an anti-static bag plus firm foam padding should be plenty.

For maximum protection, use the original drive packaging or a small hard case with molded foam. The important part is that each drive is cushioned on all sides and held securely rather than bouncing against other drives or the box.

The main thing to protect against is a hard impact or drop. Put each loose drive in an anti-static bag if you have one, then surround it with foam or other padding so it cannot move around inside the box. Bubble wrap is fine as extra cushioning, but don’t let the drives rattle around.

If the drives are currently installed in a computer, NAS, or server, it’s usually safest to leave them mounted in place. Secure the system, keep it upright or position it so heavy components aren’t stressing the motherboard, and pad the entire case with blankets or its original foam packaging.