The Best Overland Gear Storage Options, Tested and Proven

We Take A Practical Look At Some Of The Best, Tried And Tested Gear Storage Options Out There

Text by Matt Scott and Laura Chain

Regardless of the vehicle you drive or where you decide to explore, we’re all bound together by at least one universal overland truth—we all need to store stuff when we’re on the road or trail. It sounds easy, and while you can definitely throw your gear in a disused milk crate, we’re assuming that you’d like a bit more protection for the gear you’ve spent your hard-earned dollars on.

HARD vs SOFT: Which Is Better?

We could argue over this for days, but the truth is that there’s no right answer. Hard cases have their benefits just as much as soft bags have theirs. It really comes down to how you’re going to use it, and what you’re going to store inside.

Soft bags offer little in terms of hard-knock protection, but they do have the benefit of being collapsible, meaning whenever what you’re carrying is either gone or not needed, you aren’t left with wasted space. You can just roll up the bag or shove it behind your seat—with a hard case you’re left with solid dimensions to accommodate.

Space Efficiency

It might not be something you’d think of, but some cases are actually designed quite poorly when it comes to space efficiency. The Rubbermaid ActionPacker, while cheap and cheerful, has cutouts into the side of the box for its handles, effectively decreasing the available storage space by reducing interior dimensions and volume, the case seems much larger than it actually is.

If you’re storing a lot of square edged items, any case with rounded edges on the top and bottom is going to decrease your capacity (we’re looking at you, Pelican which has no angled corners). Alu-Box does a great job with this, offering completely vertical walls with only small rounded corners. Pair this with a thin, aluminum construction and thin, external spring loaded handles and what you see is what you get.

Durability

Don’t think that hard cases will automatically get the win here. Modern textiles and soft goods are durable as ever. I’ve probably put 250,000 flight miles on the actual Watershed bag that’s in this review, along with taking it on countless four-wheel-drive trips to parts unknown. It’s also fallen out of a rickshaw in Thailand without puncture, still waterproof and holding air to this day. The North Face duffel in this guide has seen similar treatment, often ratting around my truck bed with advanced recovery gear and tools. Front Runner’s Monsoon bag is almost a hybrid design, completely waterproof, yet it has a solid floor which makes for easy organization and transport. I’m going to buy one for myself to store my motorcycle gear.

Plastic composite hard cases, such as the Pelican, offer a great tradeoff when it comes to long-term durability and waterproofing; but cheaper hard cases might not live up to the Pelican’s reputation. We love Front Runner’s Wolf Pack, and while it’s a bargain­— and our favorite for in vehicle storage—it isn’t completely waterproof and we wouldn’t try throwing it out of a moving car. It is, however, immensely stackable (the most in this guide) and has great handles, overlanders have been running them in and outside of their vehicles for decades in Africa.

If it isn’t going outside your vehicle, remember that you don’t need something completely waterproof, but if it is then you best make sure it’s durable. We like the Alubox for mounting on roof racks, with brackets available from Equipt.

Accessories

Pretty much exclusively in the territory of hard cases, there’s some thoughtful accessories out there that can turn your four-wheel drive into a well-organized machine. Pelican is the first to come to mind here, with a variety of soft, adaptable, padded organizing kits that use velcro to dial-in your case specifically to your needs. One step up from that, Alubox has partnered with TrekPak, to offer an innovative padded storage system we’ve found to be durable and practical.

Front Runner does a great job supporting their Wolf Pack lineup with a variety of accessories, including drawer systems designed completely around them (we think that’s a stellar idea) and their Flat Pack organizes the inside of the case while also functioning separately as an external bag. We’ve even seen hi-tech alloy mounts for the Action Packer.

What’s It Made Out Of?

What your storage bag, case or box is made out of is just as important as its design and the quality of its craftsmanship. Understanding what all those acronyms stand for and the difference between different types of plastics will make you a smarter, more effective shopper. Here’s a breakdown of commonly used materials to look out for.

ABS
(Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene)

A thermoplastic (meaning starts as a liquid that is then either extruded or used in injection molding) polymer that is durable thanks to the presence of polybutadiene and styrene that gives it a shiny appearance and impenetrable surface. Typically can be used between -4° and 176° F.

Polypropylene

Another thermoplastic, polypropylene is the world’s second most widely produced synthetic plastic due to its low cost and wide variety of applications from clothing, to rope, to storage boxes. It’s a relatively sturdy plastic that is resistant to impact and freezing. Polypropylene is degraded by UV light and oxidation presentted as small cracks that will get worse over time and exposure. To limit UV damage and oxidations, additives such as Carbon Black (a byproduct of combustion) and anti-oxidants need to be used.

Aluminum 

One of the most abundant metals, aluminum is often favored over other metal sor metal alloys, such as steel, because of its light weight and ability to resist corrosion. Due to its soft, malleable nature, aluminum is excellent material for case construction, however this also makes it susceptible to cosmetic damage. Unlike most plastics, aluminum isn’t affected by temperature changes or UV light.

TPE
(Thermoplastic Elastomers)

A mix between plastic and rubber, TPE can be stretched and manipulated and return to its original shape without damage, for this reason it’s often used in applications such as suspension bushings and bag fabric. Considered to be a stable plastic, TPE’s can be exposed to a wide range of temperatures without ill-effect and is resistant to abrasions.

PVC
(Polyvinyl Chloride)

The third most commonly produced plastic polymer (behind polypropylene), soft PVC is often used in place of rubber. In order to make it useable as a protective coating, additives are often added to make it UV and heat stable. PVC is resistant to acids, salts, bases, fats and alcohols. In the case of the Front Runner Monsoon bag, it adds an extra layer of protection.

HDPE
(High Density Polyethylene)

Polyethylne is the world’s most produced plastic, high density polyethylene in particular can be found in everything from food storage containers to water pipes. HDPE has a high strength to density ratio, meaning it’s stronger than a standard polyethylene at the same density. It is also UV-resistant, physically stiff and resistant to many chemical solvents. While cost effective to produce, HDPE weathers quickly compared to the other plastics listed and is also more susceptible to stress cracks.