Review: REI Trailgate Bins & Cubes for Camping Gear
Organize your camping gear and then easily transport it with the Trailgate system of bins and cubes from REI.
Whether I’m solo camping in my SUV or glam camping in a large tent, I like to keep my gear well organized so I can easily find what I need. After using multiple plastic bins for several years, I decided to try out these fabric bins and cubes to see if they would work better for me.
I have a combination of REI’s Pack-Away system (introduced in 2023), and their Trailgate system (introduced in 2024). Both lines offer the same range of capacities and styles but with a change in colors.
Trailgate Bins
The 100 liter and 140 liter bins are great for transporting larger gear items, including sleeping bags, camp chairs, and other bulky items. Made from heavy-duty fabric reinforced with foam structured panels, I find that these bins fit more gear due to flexibility of the fabric versus hard-sided plastic bins. Multiple handles on all sides of the bins help to make transporting them easier. And when it’s time to store them, they flatten to take up less space.
Overall, I prefer to use these Trailgate bins versus the plastic bins that I used to store gear in. Just when I think I can’t fit any more gear in them, there’s room for a bit more.
Specs
- sizes: 60 liters (24 x 13.5 x 14 inches), 100 liters (27 x 16 x 14 inches), 140 liters (33 x 18 x 14 inches)
- materials: 300-denier recycled polyester; base: 1,680-denier recycled nylon
- repellent: nonfluorinated durable water repellent (DWR) finish sheds moisture and resists staining
- sustainability: contains materials that meet the bluesign criteria; contains recycled materials; from a Climate Neutral Certified brand
Trailgate Cubes
Keep smaller items organized in these cubes, available in 10 liter, 15 liter, or 25 liter capacities that are sized to stack inside the bins. The zippered mesh tops make it easy to see what’s inside and provides ventilation, and grab handles on the sides make them easy to carry. The 25 liter adjustable cube with dividers is my favorite for storing camp lights, electronics, first aid kits, and other small items.
Specs
- sizes: 10 liters (13.5 x 8 x 7 inches), 15 liters (16 x 9 x 7 inches), 25 liters (18 x 11 x 7 inches)
- materials: 300-denier recycled polyester; top panel: 200-denier nylon mono mesh
- repellent: nonfluorinated durable water repellent (DWR) finish sheds moisture and resists staining
- sustainability: contains materials that meet the bluesign criteria; contains recycled materials; from a Climate Neutral Certified brand
Disclosure: this item was donated for the purpose of a review.