I use a variety of containers for storing stuff, and have a veritable boatload of different sizes and strengths. What I pull out and use depends on what type of wandering I'm going to do and where. Some stuff lives permanently in certain containers, always ready to go.
What I use most are four
Plano #1619 56qt Sportsman's Trunks for everyday stuff, clothes, and non-food camp gear; three newer
Zarges K470 aluminum cases for kitchen/food stuffs, and three different Pelican cases for my photog gear.
I really like the smaller size Plano 1619, and find the 108 qt just too big for most stuff so far. The 1619's are only 24" long exterior and a comfortable sitting height, and fit nicely under the different bed arrangements I've had. Adding some EPDM 1/2 round rubber to the inner lip on the lid, as shown in other threads here, is really helpful in making them tighter to weather, though they really do pretty damned good on their own without it. I used
Trim-Lok and time will tell how it holds up. I like that it's hollow and flattens when the clasps are battened down.
The
Zarges I have because they're pretty much bear-proof and about the longest-lived gear I own, and I know the extra pesos spent on them mean they're something that will outlive me, and that my daughter and likely her daughter will be able to use. I kinda like knowing that, and that the slow accumulation of stickers and badges may mean something to them at some point long after I'm gone.
I chose the two sizes that are "Bear Resistant" - two 40678 and one 40810.
They stack so nicely.
I chose Zarges over Alu-Box because the gasket is in the lid, not on the rim of the lower case like Alu-Box. I know from experience I'd end up fouling that gasket and getting little gashes and chunks torn out of it. I ordered mine from Zarges direct, in Charlotte NC and they showed up (free shipping) in two days.
The Pelicans, well, are Pelicans and live up the the Pelican name. Heavier, extremely protective, have pressure valves, just all-around rugged beasts. I've had one for 12 years, a 1510 with wheels and extendable carry-on handle, that has been all over the continent with me. Recently found a gigantic 1620 on craigslist for way cheap that I picked up to go with my 1600 because they stack well. The 1620 you could wash a dog in, seriously, and the 1600 is about half the height.
I have a mess of
black/red Sterilite Industrial Totes that are way cheap, too, at like only $9ea/60qt &
$12ea/108qt that I use for carpentry, garden, and household use. They've stood up really well to all sorts of abuse like hauling demolition debris, hauling power tools in and out of my van daily, being loaded up with loam and compost, etc. They have a nice lip on the lid, a place to lock if you like, and stack really, really, well. Great for storage, though I'm not sure I'll use the larger sizes for camping as the sidewalls will bulge if overloaded. They do have some great smaller sizes I just got from Walmart that also stack nicely, that are far sturdier in the smaller sizes that I plan on using for a variety of things in the van and trailer. Bathroom stuff, first aid, etc.
I also love my
Magpul Daka Pouches and use them for everything from electronics, cords, to maps, passport, and legal papers, etc.
I'm a container geek, and need to do a write up or vid post at some point on all of this.
Thanks for asking the question, Krasowski, made me realize just how many containers of diff types I have.
Road
Roaddude - Traveling Photographer/Writer/Artist On the Road In North America. Gear, reviews, people, places, and culture.
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