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After a recent 12-day camping trip, I realized that even after years of camping, I can still find gear that makes life on the road easier. My family and I have camped for so long that we rarely need new equipment. If someone makes a camping product, chances are we have either owned it, tried something similar, or decided we simply didn’t need it. This trip changed my mind about a few things.
Spending nearly two weeks in our camper gave me a better idea of where I could improve our organization. I discovered that I needed a convenient way to transport dirty and clean laundry to and from the campground laundry facilities. I also realized that I needed sturdier storage totes for the front pass-through compartment of our camper.
That’s where the Gregory Alpaca Gear Road Trip Organizer Set came in. The set includes an Alpaca Gear Box 45, Alpaca Gear Basket, and Alpaca Utility Tote 35, and I quickly found uses for all three pieces.
A Better Solution for Laundry
Laundry became one of those small challenges that I didn’t think about before our trip. When we spend several days at a campground, laundry can pile up quickly, and carrying everything to the campground laundry room can become a hassle.
I wanted something that could hold a good amount of laundry without taking up permanent space in the camper. Since I only need a laundry basket a few times a year, I didn’t want a bulky basket taking up valuable storage space when I wasn’t using it.
The Alpaca Gear Basket solved that problem for me.
The basket collapses when I don’t need it, so I can tuck it away in its included stuff sack and get it out of the way. When I need it, the aluminum frame gives it plenty of structure and makes it easy to carry. I also like the integrated grab handles because they give me a solid place to grip the basket when I load it with clothes. Plus the stuff sack doubles as a laundry bag as needed.
The padded bottom and double-wall construction also give the basket a much sturdier feel than the inexpensive baskets I’ve used in the past. The large zippered side pocket gives me a convenient spot for smaller laundry essentials.
Finally, a Tote That Can Take a Beating
My other big storage problem involved the plastic totes I currently keep in the camper’s front pass-through compartment. I had accumulated a mismatched collection of inexpensive totes from big-box stores. They work for a while, but I usually get only a season or two out of them before something cracks, breaks, or stops fitting correctly.
The lids especially frustrate me. They feel flimsy, don’t always fit securely, and don’t give me much confidence when I pack the totes with camping gear.
The Alpaca Gear Box 45 immediately felt like a major upgrade.
It has a rugged construction that makes me feel much better about stacking gear inside the camper’s pass-through compartment. The molded bottom and side grab handles make it easier to move even when I load it with heavier items. I also love the stacking design because it lets me make better use of the vertical space in the compartment.
The clear polycarbonate lid gives me another feature I appreciate. I can see what’s inside without opening the box and digging through everything. The lid also uses a gasket seal to help keep water and dust out, which gives me much more confidence when I store camping equipment in an exterior compartment.
The box carries an IP65 rating, and its design helps protect the contents from water and dust. I especially like that I don’t have to baby this box. I can load it, move it around, stack it, and use it for camping without worrying about the kind of cracking I’ve experienced with cheaper plastic totes.
More Storage Than I Expected
One of my favorite things about the Gear Box 45 involves how much I can actually fit inside it. I was able to pack two of my smaller cheaper plastic totes plus a basket’s worth of items into the Gear Box.
That alone made me start thinking about replacing more of my mismatched storage containers.
I like having everything organized, and I’ll admit that I also like when my storage looks neat and coordinated. Right now, the front pass-through compartment contains a collection of different totes that don’t match and don’t always stack well. Adding a few more Alpaca Gear Boxes would give the compartment a much cleaner and more organized appearance while also making better use of the available space.
The removable lid and combination hinge/latch design add even more convenience. I can open the lid from either side, which comes in handy when I stack the box or position it in a tight storage compartment.
The Utility Tote Has Become an Everyday Bag
The Alpaca Utility Tote 35 has also surprised me with how useful it is. I originally thought I would mainly use it for packing gear in and out of the camper, but I’ve already found plenty of other uses for it.
The structured design helps the tote stay upright while I pack it, which makes a huge difference compared with floppy reusable bags. The lightweight aluminum handles give it stability, and the padded webbing handles make it comfortable to carry over my shoulder.
I especially like the exterior zippered pocket because it gives me a quick-access spot for smaller items. The interior zippered pocket provides another secure storage area, while the flip-out bottle pockets give me the flexibility to separate bottles or tuck the pockets away when I need more room.
The tote can carry up to 20 pounds, so I can load it with a good amount of gear or groceries without worrying about pushing it beyond its intended capacity.
I can easily see myself keeping this bag in the camper for day trips, campground outings, groceries, or everyday errands. It doesn’t feel like a product that only works for camping.
The Gregory Alpaca Gear Road Trip Organizer Set is Built for Camping
The materials throughout the set give these products a much more durable feel than the inexpensive storage solutions I’ve used in the past. Alpaca uses recycled materials in several components, and the Gear Basket and Utility Tote use recycled polyester materials.
I also appreciate the attention to details that make sense for outdoor use. The reflective gear loops, water-resistant materials, sturdy frames, reinforced construction, and durable handles all make these pieces feel ready for camping rather than simply designed to look good in a storage closet.
The Gear Box also comes with Gregory’s lifetime warranty, which gives me additional confidence that I can keep using it for years.
The Gregory Alpaca Gear Road Trip Organizer Set Solved Several Problems
I started out looking to solve two specific problems: finding a collapsible laundry basket and a better storage tote. The Alpaca Gear Road Trip Organizer Set handled both while giving me another useful tote for packing and everyday use.
After 12 days of camping, I have a much better appreciation for products that help me stay organized without taking up unnecessary space. The Gear Basket collapses when I don’t need it, the Gear Box protects and organizes my camping equipment, and the Utility Tote makes packing and carrying gear easier.
For me, the biggest surprise came from how quickly I started imagining additional ways to use the set. I went from wondering if one Gear Box could replace my existing totes to thinking about how many more I could fit into the camper’s pass-through compartment.
After years of camping, finding gear that actually improves my setup doesn’t happen often. The Alpaca Gear Road Trip Organizer Set did exactly that, and I can see these pieces becoming regular parts of our camping trips for years to come. If you would like to check out this set or other items Gregory has to offer you can do so at gregory.com. Gregory Alpaca gear is also available from rei.com and amazon.com.
