Why I Designed My Own Gear Bag

I've been trying to find the right storage solution for decades. Something I could use for camping gear, food, tools, cooking equipment, clothing, and even my expensive camera gear.

Sounds simple enough, doesn't it?

Most gear bags don't stack well, offer little protection, and can be a nightmare to organise. Sometimes it's like playing Tetris just trying to fit everything in!

Crates are bloody great, and I still use them. But they're rigid, less forgiving on delicate gear, and take up the same space whether they're full or empty.

I wanted a bag that could carry plenty, stack well, offer some protection and, most importantly, adapt to whatever I needed it for.

So I made my own.

Twelve months and several prototypes later, here's what I've come up with.

Getting the Size Right

Too big and it's ridiculously heavy and won't fit anywhere. Too small and there's always that one thing that needs to go somewhere else.

I settled on 700 mm wide × 400 mm deep × 270 mm high, giving approximately 75 litres of space.

Big enough for food, cooking gear, clothing and plenty more, while fitting nicely on a passenger seat. Multiple bags can also be stacked together, making it easy to organise your gear and swap their positions depending on what you need most.

The structured sides help the bags hold their shape and offer more protection than a basic soft bag. It's not a hard crate, nor is it intended to be one.

And when it's empty, it folds flat!

Down to approximately 440 × 270 × 70 mm.

Start a trip with two bags of food, eat your way down to one, then fold the empty bag away. More space for the rest of your trip! Folding also helps keep shipping costs down.

Make It Your Own

This was probably the most important part of the design.

The bag comes with two adjustable dividers, attaching to Velcro strips inside. Arrange them however you like for bottles, billy cans, plates, tools or whatever else you're carrying.

Want more organisation? We've also made additional dividers, zip pockets and twin elastic pockets available separately.

For cameras and sensitive equipment, I've also developed a removable camera insert.

It's what I now use for my expensive filming gear, but it's equally useful for surveying equipment, delicate tools, glassware or other items needing extra protection.

The insert has its own adjustable padded compartments and is available separately or as a combo with the bag.

See our Camera Insert product page for more details.

The Little Things

After years of using different storage systems, there are a few details I wasn't going to leave out.

• Full-opening lid: Easy access to everything, with the option to keep the lid off the dirt when opening.
• Clear or concealed top: Remove the blackout cover to reveal the tinted clear lid. Handy for identifying contents, reducing direct sunlight exposure or keeping expensive gear out of sight.
• Three grab handles: Two side handles and one on the front, especially useful for pulling bags out of tightly packed canopies.
• External pockets and holders: Quick access to smaller, frequently used items, including a fire striker or pen.
• Identification patches: Velcro attachment points on three sides, so you know which bag contains your food, tools, kitchen gear or whatever else.
• PVC-lined interior and dividers: Makes wiping up dirt and spills much easier.
• Expandable storage: Change the internal layout and add accessories as your needs change.

Final Word

After 12 months of development, I finally got to put all these ideas into practice on a 5,000-plus kilometre trip covering remote beaches, bush tracks and plenty of long stretches of road.

And I'm absolutely stoked with the result!

I've been using multiple bags together, stacking them, swapping them around and organising everything from food to camera gear.

At the end of the day, whether you just want something simple to store your stuff in or something you can customise for different jobs, I've made a bag that might just suit your needs.

Ronny Dahl
4 Wheeling Australia