Walking Equipment and Accessories

Gregory Alpaca Gear Box 45L | Review

"This 45-litre storage box turned my chaotic car boot into a much calmer and convenient place."

This is a lovely bit of kit. In fact, it’s had me asking myself why the hell has it taken me this long to start organising my gear properly when it’s in my car boot? It’s all well and good stuffing my kit into duffel bags and ramming them into the back of my car, but it’s not exactly a practical way of going about things – nor is it particularly feng shui.

I’ve got one Gregory Alpaca Gear Box, and it fits very nicely in the boot of my VW Polo. I’m now thinking of getting another one, just for ultimate convenience. So far, however, this one is proving its worth, making efficient use of the base of my boot and providing a good, level platform for loading duffel bags on top.

In use during our Outdoor 100 Test Trip in the Lake District. Photos: Dave Macfarlane.

Since having the Gregory Alpaca, I’ve also started keeping it permanently in my boot, loaded up with my camping essentials. I’ve got a tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, stove, boots, head torch, backpack, rain jacket, and insulated jacket all packed and ready for a spontaneous outdoor adventure – and there’s still space to load the weekly grocery shop on top of it too.

I used to be all about roughing it in a one-person tent, but these days I’m partial to full-blown, bells-and-whistles bell tent camping – with all the necessary trimmings. This box, plus a couple of Gregory Alpaca Gear Pod 5s, has been brilliant for that. I can load it up with all our camping gadgets and gizmos and haul them all from the car boot to the tent in one trip.

There have been some other quirkier uses for it too. I’ve realised that, with a length of plywood and the Gregory Alpaca, I can create a level platform in the back of my car that’s comfortable enough to sleep on. OK, not particularly glamorous, but it’s proved pretty useful during the many weekends I’ve spent in the mountains recently while checking out hiking routes for a guidebook I’m working on.

Pros: Waterproof, durable but still light, very convenient.
Cons: Not strong enough to sit on.

Buy the Gregory Alpaca 45L: £55 at eu.gregorypacks.com

Durability and Functionality

The durability, from my experience, is good. The Alpaca has a solid feel. You can’t sit on it, but you can definitely load a lot of items on top. The lid on mine has gained a few scratches, but they just add character in my eyes. Alongside that durability, the whole thing isn’t ridiculously lumpy and heavy either. It might be heavy when loaded with those fishing trip beers, but the box itself is fairly lightweight.

OM editor Will using the Gregory Alpaca on a Lake District trip. Photos: Dave Macfarlane.

It’s really handy that the lid has hinges on either side too, meaning you don’t have to worry about which way round you stick it in your boot. The handles are properly sturdy, which makes carrying it from car to campsite far less awkward than trying to juggle a collection of bags.

The watertightness is another big tick. We used it recently on our Outdoor 100 photoshoot in some really nasty conditions, and it was excellent for keeping photography kit and some of the garments we were shooting dry and protected.

On one camping trip, I really liked how I could keep all our food stowed away in this, out of the tent but still accessible – and safe from slugs and rain. Another neat touch is the transparent window on top, which means you can quickly see what’s packed inside without opening it up and rummaging through – ideal if you’ve got a few of these boxes stacked together (and they’re designed so that the top box can sit on top without sliding off by the way).

Verdict

Overall, the Gregory Alpaca Gear Box has genuinely made my car boot a calmer, more organised place. It’s one of those bits of kit that, once you start using it, you wonder how you ever managed without it. For road trips, wild camps, and general outdoor chaos management, it’s an excellent piece of kit that earns its keep every single time I pack the car.

Buy the Gregory Alpaca 45L: £55 at eu.gregorypacks.com