Mention Yetiand anyone familiar with the brand will immediately think of aggressively durable ice chests. (That themythical, furrymountain-dweller is not top of mind counts as one of the biggest marketing coups of this century.)The Texas-based brand is famous for its —bulky rectangular boxes insulated with up to three inches of foam, capable of keeping ice frozen and food(including game)cold for days, and strong enough to withstand the prying of hungry bears.
Now it’s bringing that signature function and aesthetic to gear storage. On Tuesdaythe company launched the ($250), a waterproof, dustproof trunk for safeguarding your most valuable tools while you’re out in the field. At 30 liters, it’s big enough to stash a complete camp kitchen—stove, pots, fuel, utensils, and more—or bulky items like climbing gear and fishing tackle. A removable internal divider helps keepcontentsorganized, while three mesh pouches on the lid and a compartmentalized top tray hold small sundries.
Of course, $250 is steep compared with the $10 to $30 price point of the plastic Rubbermaid binsavailableat home-improvement stores. And weighing in at over 11 pounds, the LoadOut GoBox is far heavier, too.
In most situations, this is overkill. For basic car-camping trips, those run-of-the-mill hardware-store bins will keep your gear dry in most conditions outside of complete submersion or a daylong downpour, and their light weight means they quickly slide out ofyour car when the sky opens up. Most nice ones (the ) are durable enough to last at least a few yearsof heavy use.
But if you’re heading way out for long periods of time in places where prolonged inclement weather, frequent dousing, or humidity are likely (think open water, rivers, and hunting camps) or just want a storage container you can really beat the crap out of, the LoadOut GoBox seems like a surebet.(It is made through injection molding rather than rotomolding, the process behind Yeti’s Tundra line, though on its site the brand claims it’s still “nearly indestructible.”) Though we haven’t tested it yet, the waterproof gasket and latches promise total protection against precipitation. And the rectangular shape and internal storage compartments mean you’ll be able to stay far more organized than you would with drybags or waterproof duffelslike .
Yeti says the LoadOut GoBox will be available on May 8, though it’s already listed on the brand’s website. You can sign up to be notified when the containers are on sale.
Is it excessive? Yes. Would we all rest a little easier on our sleeping pads knowing our gear is guaranteed to stay 100 percent dry—and organized—during an unexpected storm? Also yes.