Settling on the right gear storage solution can make the difference between smooth paddling and a spoiled time on trip. Wondering how to choose? Whether you’re looking to protect your phone, your camera, your camp kitchen or your whole kit—we’ve got you covered. Below, eight weather-proof gear boxes go head-to-head against the OG wooden wanigan for gear storage supremacy.
RUX
RUX 70L
15.7” × 19.5” × 13.8” | $369 CAD | rux.life
Meet the RUX 70L, a gear storage companion that’s neither quite a box nor a bag. Crafted from flexible, waterproof TPU-coated 840D nylon, it adapts to your needs with aluminum corner stays that work like magic slap bracelets. Need a stiff box? Done. Want it flat for storage? No problem. Set up might require a quick video tutorial the first time, but the 70L is worth it. Most suited to frontcountry camping and portage-free paddling, the built-in grab handles and removable backpack straps make it a breeze to carry, while its wide, rigid opening ensures easy access. The RUX 70L is lightweight, rugged and weatherproof, and the Paddling Mag staff were all quite taken with it—until we checked the price tag. For $369, a paddler could buy 30 large Rubbermaid bins at $11.99 each and organize the whole gear room, not just the camp kitchen.
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ALTITUDE SPORTS BACKCOUNTRY BESPOKE POST EVO MEC REI VALHALLA PURE OUTFITTERS
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The OG Wanigan
Meet the OG gear box, a timeless favorite that was the go-to for hardy voyageurs for a couple centuries. Still revered by trad trippers and canoe camp enthusiasts, many claim the wanigan is the real MVP on a trip. Need to haul food or oddly shaped essentials? It’s the go-to storage for cooking pots, large utensils, stove fuel, hatchet and bush saw. And the wanigan is not just mere storage, oh no—it moonlights as a makeshift bench or dining table for your wilderness feast. The wanigan pictured here weighs just under 10 pounds. It’s not featherlight, but fans swear by its durability and repairability. The classic wanigan is often DIY-ed with plywood and pine and is an affordable weekend project—for roughly $50, you too can tump around with a piece of history.
Recreational Barrel Works
Wanigan Harness
$79.95 CAD | recreationalbarrelworks.com
Portages can be a pain, but they don’t have to hurt. The new Wanigan Harness from Recreational Barrel Works offers a comfortable solution for carrying traditional wanigans, the NRS Canyon and Boulder dry boxes (below) and many hard-sided coolers. The modern Wanigan Harness features shoulder straps and a cushy foam back pad. The combination of the two prevents the gear box’s bottom edge from digging into the paddler’s back. Weighing just one pound, it’s lightweight but can carry up to 65 pounds. Designed for camps, outfitters and individuals alike, expect the top-tier quality RBW is known for. Fits gear boxes from 18 to 29 inches long, 12 to 17 inches wide, and 10 to 17 inches tall.
Pelican Products
1500 Case
18.50” × 14.06” × 6.93” | $248.95 | pelican.com
Pelican started in 1976 out of the California garage of founder Dave Parker when he began designing first aid kits. As the story goes, the durable and waterproof cases were a hit with divers, who tossed out the first aid supplies and used the cases to protect other valuables. From those humble beginnings, Pelican has become a go-to for military personnel, first responders and international river runners, protecting fragile equipment in the world’s harshest environments. Getting dropped, run over, submersed and facing TSA scrutiny unaccompanied is all in a day’s work for the waterproof and crushproof 1500 Case. The 1500 is an ideal size for photo and film enthusiasts toting multiple lenses. It is buoyant with up to 50 pounds and throws in a lifetime guarantee, too. Paddling Mag’s publisher has been using this eight-pound case for more than a decade.
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AMAZON HENRY’S SPORTSMAN’S GUIDE VALHALLA PURE OUTFITTERS WALMART
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Yeti
LoadOut GoBox 30
20.4” × 14.8” × 11.3” × | $250 | yeti.com
A favorite among rafters, campers, hunters and tailgaters, Yeti needs no introduction. Their LoadOut GoBox 30 is a fully submersible beast with tie-down points and lock ports for any wild escapade. Team it up with Yeti’s many accessories—cargo trays and gear compartments—for an organized interior. Yeti’s Pack Attic accessory nests in the lid with three large zippered compartments for stashing small items. Use the hefty hauler handle for one-hand carries. The GoBox 30 weighs 12 pounds and is ideal for stowing the camp kitchen or food. The smaller 15 size has just enough room for fragile essentials, while the burly 60 is a full-on gear locker. The only complaint from Yeti fans? The GoBox comes in just four colors: white, orange, black and tan.
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ACADEMY SPORTS AL’S AMAZON ATMOSPHERE BASS PRO SHOP CABELA’S CAMPSAVER DICK’S SPORTING GOODS REI SCHEELS SPORT CHEK SPORTSMAN’S GUIDE VALHALLA PURE OUTFITTERS WALMART
BUY DIRECT
Otterbox
Waterproof Drybox 3250
8.32” × 5.09” × 2.51” | $39.99 | otterbox.com
Perfectly sized for stowing a phone, cash and key fob while on the water, Otterbox’s Drybox 3250’s padded foam interior protected our editor’s valuables while bouncing around the cockpit on a 52-day kayak trip last summer. As for the polycarbonate case itself, Otterbox claims you can “beat the living daylights out of it”—and honestly, we tried. Weighs less than a pound and is waterproof up to 90 feet for 30 minutes. Paddling Mag’s designer has dreams of turning it into a mini fly fishing tackle box next.
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NRS
Canyon and Boulder Camping Dry Boxes
Canyon: 26.75” × 16.75” × 16.75” | $170 | nrs.com
Boulder: 23.75” × 15.5” × 10.75” | $135 | nrs.com
The NRS Canyon and its little brother, the Boulder, boast 3.6 and 1.6 cubic feet of roominess inside, respectively. These rain-defying gear boxes won’t win gold in a flip test, but they sure can keep things dry. Just snug the straps tight to ensure a secure lid fit, and then forget about rain and splashing. The Canyon weighs 13.5 pounds, while the Boulder weighs 8.8 pounds. There aren’t handles, but you can rig your own with straps fed through the holes on each end. These polyethylene cases are essentially modern wanigans and perfectly sized for stashing your camp kitchen gear or a week’s worth of food. They’re affordable sidekicks whether in your canoe, at camp or on the road in a truck bed. NRS advises against turning these gear boxes into seats, as the compression might mess with the foam weatherstripping in the lid. Opt for gray or yellow to suit your style.
Buy Canyon from:
AMAZON BACKCOUNTRY OUTDOORPLAY
Buy Boulder from:
AMAZON OUTDOORPLAY
VIEW NRS PRODUCTS
S3 Cases
3500 and 6500
3500: 8.38” × 4.66” × 3.99” | $23.99
6500: 12.81” × 10.36” × 6.64” | $74.95
Waterproof and built to withstand the rigors of the most rugged adventures, S3 Cases’ gear boxes are built with tough injection molded ABS to keep your delicates safe. The one-pound T3500 model is perfectly sized to carry midsize items, like small medical kits, microphones, multiple cell phones and wallets, sunglasses, power banks and GPS units. The four-pound T6500 is more appropriate for storing large DSLR cameras, drones, laptops, and other compact and fragile equipment. Both models’ heavy-duty hinges and handle pins are extra tough and confidence-inspiring. Available in black, yellow and red at salamanderpaddlegear.com for paddlers in the United States and underwaterkineticscanada.com for paddlers in Canada.
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This article was first published in the Spring 2024 issue of Paddling Magazine. Protect your kit. | Feature photo: Mike Hewis
