HikingThe North FaceGear storage

The North Face Base Camp Gear Box review: rugged, spacious, and built to last

Tested from rainy campsites to car boots and kit cupboards — this burly box might be one of the best gear storage solutions we've come across.

By Adrian Wilson

✓  Top Pick The North Face Base Camp Gear Box RRP£135Weight~2.5 kgVolume90L The good ✓  Ultra-durable build
✓  Rigid collapsible structure
✓  Clear window for easy ID
✓  Great organisation
✓  Huge 90L capacity
The not-so-good ✗  Awkward to carry when fully loaded

At a glance

Overview

The North Face has become a household name in outdoor gear — first for its down jackets and mountain-ready apparel, and later for its near-indestructible luggage. The Base Camp series has built a cult following among climbers, expedition crews, vanlifers and weekend adventurers alike — and the Base Camp Gear Box is a natural evolution of that legacy.

This 90-litre storage unit isn't a pack or a bag — it's a box. But it's a box you can lug around, load into a car boot, or take on a plane. Made with the same burly Base Camp material that keeps the Base Camp Duffel alive from Denali to Dartmoor, this is a purpose-built hauler for keeping your kit in order — at home, on the road, or at basecamp. It's top-loading, stackable, reinforced with metal kickstands, and thoughtfully organised. At £135, it's excellent value.

In a world of heavy-duty gear haulers, this sits at an interesting crossroads. It's more affordable than overlanding-specific solutions while offering double the volume of options like the Gregory Alpaca Gear Box 45L — in a package that's just as useful in a loft as it is in a Land Rover.

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How we tested

We tested the Base Camp Gear Box over several months of classic British adventuring. It lived in the back of our car, ferrying gear to and from wild camps across the UK — from misty mornings in the Lake District to windy evenings on the Gower. It became our go-to box for moving review gear between GBAC contributors, and even took up residence in our gear cupboard between trips. While this isn't the kind of product you take on the hill, it quickly became an indispensable part of our setup — especially when moving with large volumes of kit.

Features and performance

Structure and durability

Built from the same material as The North Face's legendary duffels, the Base Camp Gear Box is rugged enough to take a beating — whether being chucked into the back of a van or living under piles of wet gear in a garage. The fabric shrugs off abrasions, spills, grit, and the odd crampon spike like it was made for the abuse. Which, of course, it was.

Where it really shines is structure. Inside are two clever metal kickstands that fold out to make the box rigid when in use — no saggy walls or floppy corners — then fold back in when you want to stash it flat. This pop-up, pack-down design makes it ideal for vanlifers and anyone with limited space at home.

Organisation and features

There's more organisation here than you'd expect. Four mesh internal pockets keep smaller bits separate — ideal for stashing stove parts, gloves, headtorches, or any of the usual kit that disappears just when you need it. Up top, there's a secure zipped lid pocket, while two external sleeves offer extra stash spots for maps, trail snacks, or climbing tape. The cherry on top? A clear window on the side — perfect for quickly identifying what's inside without having to unzip or rummage. It sounds like a small thing; in practice it saves minutes every time.

The 90-litre capacity is genuinely huge. We packed a full wild camping sleep system, a climbing rack, waterproofs, boots and more into a single box without playing Tetris. A daisy-chain webbing system on the lid adds further flexibility — useful for lashing it down or strapping on extras.

Quick tipPair it with the Base Camp DuffelThe Gear Box and Base Camp Duffel work brilliantly together as a mobile basecamp from the boot of the car. The box stores the bits you need quick access to; the duffel swallows everything else. It's a simple system, and it works.

Performance in real UK conditions

Across every trip and every gear room it sat in, the Base Camp Gear Box proved itself endlessly useful. Even loaded up with 20+ kg of gear, it held its shape, carried fine over short distances, and didn't show any signs of stress. After several months of near-constant use, it still looks almost new — which is more than we can say for most storage bins. The clear window was a game changer on busy days, and the internal pockets meant less rummaging.

Comparison with rivals

Against the Base Camp Duffel, the Gear Box is more structured and better for stationary storage — the Duffel carries better but stores worse. The Gregory Alpaca Gear Box 45L offers half the volume. Overlanding-specific solutions like the Rux 70L integrate with a whole modular ecosystem but cost substantially more. For standalone British adventure use, the Gear Box hits the sweet spot.

Our verdict Big, burly, and brilliantly useful — the best gear storage solution we've tested. The North Face Base Camp Gear Box isn't trying to impress you with sleek design or clever compartments. It's a big, burly box that does exactly what it says: hauls loads of gear without fuss, fails, or frills. And honestly, that's exactly what we needed. Over months of testing — from gear cupboards to Scottish campsites — it became the box we reached for whenever things got messy, bulky, or chaotic. At £135, it's a solid deal for something built to last decades. Brilliant for vanlifers, overlanders, climbers, or just anyone looking for a smarter way to store their kit between adventures.

FAQs

How durable is The North Face Base Camp Gear Box?Very. Made from the same Base Camp material as The North Face's expedition duffels — known for lasting decades. It shrugs off scuffs, resists moisture, and handles heavy use brilliantly.

How does the rigid structure work in The North Face Base Camp Gear Box?Two internal metal kickstands fold out to make the box rigid when in use, giving clean upright walls and a sturdy base. When you're done, they fold back in and the whole box collapses flat for easier storage.

How much can you carry in The North Face Base Camp Gear Box?It holds 90 litres — quite a lot. You can easily pack a full wild camping sleep system, a climbing rack, cold weather layers and more into a single box. It's big enough to become your go-to adventure kit trunk.

Is The North Face Base Camp Gear Box worth the money?Yes. At £135, it's cheaper than many high-end duffels and better suited to stationary storage and overlanding-style use. If you need a tough, tidy way to keep your gear organised and ready to go, this is an excellent investment.