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Staying practiced in a spectrum of outdoor pursuits requires two things: time and the gear to get it done. As urban dwellers with finite storage space, keeping track of all our crap gear investments can be quite a task. (Yes, I'm guilty of storing endless tote bags and backpacks in empty duffels, next to my climbing shoes and hiking boots.) It can be a real challenge to remember where that one piece of gear is hiding without a very dialed system. Good news is, camping storage bins is a fast growing category for a surprising number of outdoor goods manufacturers.
More organized outdoor people have long relied on bulky, plastic, clear storage bins to haul their gear from the basement or closet to the trailhead and campsite. Now, brands from the outdoor industry have worked up no shortage of impressive storage options designed explicitly for storing camp/climb/ski/etc gear at home, hauling equipment in your car camping vehicle of choice, AND to the campsite or crag. Whether you live in the exurbs, the city, or a van, these camping storage boxes, bins, and containers will help make your life easier in more ways than you might imagine. And yes, I have personally replaced a few overloaded Ikea totes with some bins from this list, so consider the following editor tested and approved.
Below I'll breakdown the ins and outs of what we look for when qualifying the "best bins". Read on, take some notes, then embrace a more organized life (perhaps give your gear closet a proper KonMari while you're at it).
What to Look for in a Gear Storage Container?
Size
It might seem like an obvious overstatement, but size is probably the first thing to consider. For example, a huge 100+ liter bin might sound nice but think about lugging that thing up and down from a second-story walkup. Or even off a high storage shelf. Instead, two individual 50-liter containers would allow for easier quick access and extended backseat Tetris-ing, with the added benefit of keeping your camp kitchen and cookware separate from grosser outdoor gear.
Construction & Material
Some of these gear storage containers use flexible materials (Cordura, nylon) mated to a frame, which is collapsible when empty to save space. The more bombproof gear containers mold themselves in hard plastic, tested to handle significant, repeated drops through a lifetime of service. Which is the best if of course a question of preference (personally, I dig the flexible options.)
Weatherproofing
Similar to the material selection, it's obvious that heavy-duty, rigid containers for outdoor gear are made to keep the weather out as long as their closures are well-considered. But don’t overlook the soft-sided bins that use welded seams and waterproof materials to keep your gear bone dry, too. Last thing you want is a soggy sleeping bag!
Top Picks for the Best Gear Bins:
- Yeti LoadOut GoBox 60 Gear Case
- Rux 70L Clear
- Gregory Alpaca Gear Box 45
- Snow Peak Stacking Shelf Container 50
- Front Runner Wolf Pack Pro
- Roam 86L Rugged Case
- The North Face Base Camp Gear Box
- Yakima MOD HomeBase
- Dometic GO Hard Storage 50L
- Plano 108 qt Sportsman Trunk
- Radius Outfitters Gear Box 3000
- Pelican Case SM Trunk
- Sidio SidioCrate Full Size
- REI Co-op Trailgate Gear Bin
- Rubbermaid Action Packer 48 Gallon
The 15 Best Camping & Outdoor Gear Storage Containers of 2024
Yeti LoadOut GoBox 60 Gear Case
Pros: Rugged and submersible, ideal for watercraft use Cons: Pros come at the cost of some bulkiness Volume: 60 liters Weight: 17.2 pounds Price: $300
It makes all too much sense that Yeti would offer an uninsulated version of their popular hard cooler to use as a camping storage box. And while many brands choose to sell a host of accessories separately, Yeti kindly includes an inner lid organizer, drop-in trunk organizer, and vertical divider. The GoBox lacks the bear-proof honor of its coolers but happily keeps out dust and weather. Just don’t get it mixed up with your actual cooler, or you’ll be sipping warm beer all weekend. Available in a 15 liter, 30 liter, and 60 liter sizes for your various needs, plus a pleasing limited edition Camp Green color.
Rux 70L Clear
Pros: Clear exterior, high volume and low weight Cons: Expensive, single-size option
Volume: 70 liters Weight: 5.3 pounds Price: $298
The Rux 70L gear hauler pairs a strong, flexible TPU-coated nylon with a composite nylon frame, making it both lightweight, waterproof, and capable of being packed flat when empty. Campers can easily access items from inside with the lid removed or by flipping up one of the foldable portions; we really love this new clear version of the Rux bag for its ease of gear-rummaging. An ecosystem of components makes this container one of the most modular systems we’ve seen yet.
Gregory Alpaca Gear Box 45
Pros: Affordable and clean design, accepts add-on organizers Cons: Thin plastic latches may be less-durable, but they’re backed by a lifetime warranty Volume: 45 liters Weight: 6.1 pounds Price: $60
Backpacking innovators brought some innovative designs to help hikers carry their gear into the backcountry, and now they’re helping us keep things clean and tidy at home or in the car trunk. The impact-resistant polycarbonate body supports up to 50 pounds of weight while a clear lid gives you a quick look at its contents. Unlatch the lid from either side of the box and slide in a few optional Gear Pods for further compartmentalization of camera gear or your coffee kit.
Snow Peak Stacking Shelf Container 50
Pros: Great design, doubles as home decor Cons: Heavy, open-top design does not secure gear Volume: 50 liters Weight: 12.1 pounds Price: $170
We’ll typically gravitate towards a closed-top storage bin, but sometimes the ability to overload a lid-free bin is useful for items like firewood or stacks of camp blankets. This stainless steel bin from the high-design-minded folks at Snow Peak stacks neatly in its normal configuration and also when the hinged points are flexed open wide. For an at-home outdoor aesthetic, stack together a couple of the 25 liter models in your mudroom or utility space.
Front Runner Wolf Pack Pro
Pros: Stackable with very secure closure design Cons: Internal dividers sold separately beginning at $45 Volume: 30 liters Weight: 8.1 pounds Price: $80
Front Runner specializes in gear for to outfit the overlanding adventurer with everything from rooftop tents and car awnings to these sturdy plastic storage bins in its catalog. Saving valuable interior space, the Wolf Pack Pro boxes are intended to live on roof racks, secured by heavy-duty latches while highly resistant to dust and water. Save yourself a little cash by ordering them in pairs or quads and fully organize your gear with compartmentalized perfection.
The North Face Base Camp Gear Box
Pros: Lightweight and packs flat when empty Cons: Soft exterior means it's more suitable for soft gear Volume: 86 liters Weight: 5.5 pounds Price: $175
The mountain gear geniuses at The North Face put forth a design that combines heavy-duty fabric with an internal frame, providing substantial storage volumes at a fraction of the weight other hard body cases often come with. The small tote style box might not be the best choice for scenarios where a heavy-duty submersible box is king, but the stackable medium and large gear box and will suffice for organizing car camping trips.
Yakima MOD HomeBase
Pros: Rugged and modular system that accepts a number of add-ons Cons: Pricey, maybe only accessible to the more affluent carcampers and vanlifers Volume: 99 liters Weight: 55 pounds Price: $949
Auto cargo specialists Yakima have dreamed up a high-end trunk organizer befitting of a fresh-off-the-lot AWD adventuremobile. Once affixed to your cargo area via integrated lash straps, the heavy-duty base’s slide-out drawer provides easy access to gear once optional rigid Topper bins, semi-rigid GearCrates, or open GearTotes are added on. A bit overkill for the average car camper, but certainly the dream kit for a hyper-organized owner of a rig like a Wilderness Edition Subaru. Available in small, medium, and large base sizes.
Roam 86L Rugged Case
Pros: Very rugged, nice color options Cons: Heavyweight design may be overdoing it for many users Volume: 86 liters Weight: 21 pounds Price: $309
The overland accessory brand ROAM Adventure Co offers several sizes of their Rugged Cases, starting at 55 liters and up to a ginormous 160-liter gear trunk. Each of the six volumes of LDPE (low-density polyethylene) containers comes in four colors to choose from, with interlocking contours that inhibit stackability between all sizes. With the higher price tag also comes a complete list of features: rope and rubber handles, dustproof and weathertight gaskets, and locking steel latches. For further organization, add a MOLLE panel or a lid organizer to the inside of the case’s lid.
Dometic GO Hard Storage 50L
Pros: Clean design, compatible with useful bins Cons: Heavy carry weight in smaller volume sizes Volume: 50 liters Weight: 13 pounds Price: $150
Travel refrigeration turned general camp equipment brand Dometic now makes camping gear storage bins that give serious toaster vibes (in a good way) with clean, brushed aluminum sides. The midsize locker sports a hinged lid that accesses the dustproof and waterproof interior, capable of nesting smaller 10-liter and 20liter Soft Storage bins ($109-149). High-impact-resistant polymer tops and bottoms protect your stuff with interlocking stackability should you end up with a few of these in your trunk or pick up bed with some tie down straps.
Plano 108 qt Sportsman Trunk
Pros: Super affordable, straight-forward design Cons: Flimsier than others, may not survive hard use Volume: 102 liters Weight: 7.7 pounds Price: $45
This high-impact plastic storage trunk takes the cake on the biggest bang for your buck, offering the highest volume-to-dollar ratio out of our entire list. Given the low weight of the high-volume trunk, it’s probably safe to assume it lacks the long-term durability that other options provide. If throw-it-off-a-cliff ruggedness isn’t your top concern, then this budget bin still offers several attractive features: a pair of integrated rolling wheels, molded grooves for stacking, port for a padlock, and a removable lid.
Radius Outfitters Gear Box 3000
Pros: High quality materials, flat-pack design Cons: High dollar-to-liter ratio Volume: 30 liters Weight: 9 pounds Price: $239
Specializing in accessory gear for all types of overland vehicles and vanlife-type-rigs, this box from California-based brand Radius Outfitters spares no expense to deliver a rugged gear box that disassembles for flat-pack storage when it’s not needed. Padded panels keeps camera and other small, expensive pieces of gear from bumping around too heavily when the fireroad gives way to washboard gravel. Also available in larger 3500 and 5500 sizes and with additional internal dividers. For the dedicated remote working-from-van folks, Radius even has a Starlink Storage Case designed with custom foam inserts for this sci-fi hardware.
Pelican Case SM Trunk
Pros: Robust design will withstand hard use Cons: A pricier option that will be of less value to many Volume: 80 liters Weight: 19.3 pounds Price: $320
Trusted by photographers, videograpers, and travelers of all sorts with very expensive gear; Pelican cases are the very definition of bomber. The storage experts’ lineup now includes a full suite of cargo cases and boxes explicitly designed for rugged terrain and harsh weather while fastened to the roof racks and truck beds of macho overland vehicles. From steel latches to the mounting hardware, every inch of the roto-molded case has been designed to go far without restraint.
Rubbermaid Action Packer 48 Gallon
Pros: Lightweight and impact-resistant Cons: Design is less visually appealing than other options Volume: 181.7 liters Weight: 20.7 pounds Price: $150
It’s not your regular Rubbermaid bin; it’s the Rubbermaid bin you grab when you need to pack for action: car camping trips, kayak outings, and all that good stuff we’re all about. The durable plastic storage bin features a removable, lockable lid for easy gear access. For dry food storage or organizing groups, camp essentials, its smaller 8-gallon storage organizer counterpart.
REI Co-op Trailgate Gear Bin
Pros: Simple and flat-packing design Cons: Light structure less ideal for heavier items Volume: 140 liters Weight: 3.7 pounds Price: $139
The OG outdoor recreation outfitters storage solution takes the concept of a packing cube and ups the scale to 100-liter ($109) and 140-liter ($139) storage bins for camping gear. The featherlight bins use strong 300 and 1,680-denier polyester (super heavy duty) with a water-resistant DWR treatment and foam panels to give it some structure. When unloaded, the large-format bins fold for easy storage in the back of your closet.
Sidio SidioCrate 2.0
Pros: Simple and modular design, made in USA Cons: Minimal functionality without add-ons, only two sizes Volume: 33.3 liters Weight: 5.5 pounds Price: $34
Milk crates are the storage bins of the people, and storage brand Sidio took on the task of reinventing them from the ground up as a hyper-modular storage system for anyone and everyone. Available in Full ($34) and Half ($24) sizes, the made-in-USA crates fit an entire array of add ons: handles, lids, dividers, and even casters to push around a neat, colorful stack of the camping storage containers. Instead of using virgin polypropylene, Sidio uses 100% recycled post-consumer plastic to mold its crates and add-ons.
Published 05-01-2024
Updated 05-13-2024
