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I’ve tested several Yeti coolers, but the company’s LoadOut GoBoxes are different animals. They’re hard-sided gear cases that are designed to keep supplies dry, clean, and organized whether they’re riding in a truck bed, boat, campsite, or garage.
I tested the LoadOut GoBox 15 and the larger LoadOut GoBox 30 gear cases, loading them with food and supplies, rolling them over, inspecting the latches and seals, and finally doing what any curious tester would do—I tied ropes to them and threw them into a lake.
Both came back with their contents dry. That was the test that sold me.
Best Waterproof Gear Case
Photo: Glenda Taylor for BobVila.com
What We Like
- Truly waterproof in testing
- Rugged, impact-resistant construction
- Handy built-in organization
- Stackable for easier storage
What We Don’t Like
- Expensive for storage boxes
- Not insulated like coolers
Product Specs
-
GoBox 15 Exterior Dimensions:
10.2 inches by 14.6 inches by 11.3 inches -
GoBox 15 Weight:
7.5 pounds -
GoBox 30 Exterior Dimensions:
20.4 inches by 14.7 inches by 11.2 inches -
GoBox 30 Weight:
12.1 pounds -
GoBox 15 and 30 Water/Dust Rating:
IP65 and IP67
Just How Waterproof Are the Yeti GoBoxes?
Very. I started with simple ordinary abuse—loading them, carrying them around, and deliberately rolling them onto their sides and tops. The latches stayed closed and the cases never felt flimsy or prone to popping open.
Then came the lake. I attached a rope so I could retrieve each GoBox, tossed it into the water, let it get thoroughly wet, and then pulled it back out. The contents inside stayed bone dry.
That matches what the cases are designed to do. Both meet IP65 and IP67 standards for protection against water and dust, making them useful for boating, fishing, camping, overlanding, or storing electronics and emergency supplies where moisture could ruin expensive gear.
What Can You Carry in Them?
The GoBox 15 became my favorite for smaller loads because it’s easy to grab and carry. It makes sense for electronics, first-aid supplies, fishing gear, tools, cameras, or anything else you don’t want bouncing loose in a vehicle.
The GoBox 30 offers substantially more room and includes organizational features that make it useful as a camp pantry, tackle box, camera case, or general gear locker. The removable tray keeps smaller items from disappearing at the bottom, while the divider helps separate different types of equipment.
The boxes are also designed to stack together, which I can see being useful in an RV, boat, truck bed, workshop, or garage where storage space matters.
Are Yeti GoBoxes Coolers?
No—and that distinction is important. I carried food and supplies in mine, but Yeti specifically says the GoBoxes are not insulated and should not be filled with ice. If food needs to remain cold for an extended period, use a real cooler or place an insulated lunch box inside the GoBox.
What the cases do exceptionally well is protect whatever is inside from water, mud, dust, crushing, and general travel abuse. That can include packaged food, cooking supplies, dry ingredients, or camp kitchen gear, just not perishables that depend on the case itself for refrigeration.
Who Are the GoBox 15 and 30 Best For?
The two sizes I tested make the most sense for people who routinely carry gear that’s either expensive or important enough that getting wet isn’t an option. Anglers, boaters, campers, photographers, hunters, DIYers, and contractors could all put them to work.
The GoBox 15, at about $125, is the better grab-and-go size for smaller essentials. The GoBox 30, at about $250, offers enough capacity to organize a much larger assortment of equipment and adds a divider along with its removable tray.
Yes, they’re expensive for storage boxes. But they don’t behave like ordinary totes, either. After deliberately knocking mine around and tossing them into the water, I came away thinking of them less as storage bins and more as protective cases for the things I really don’t want damaged.
Photo: Glenda Taylor for BobVila.com
Photo: Glenda Taylor for BobVila.com
What We Like
- Truly waterproof in testing
- Rugged, impact-resistant construction
- Handy built-in organization
- Stackable for easier storage
What We Don’t Like
- Expensive for storage boxes
- Not insulated like coolers
Product Specs
-
GoBox 15 Exterior Dimensions:
10.2 inches by 14.6 inches by 11.3 inches -
GoBox 15 Weight:
7.5 pounds -
GoBox 30 Exterior Dimensions:
20.4 inches by 14.7 inches by 11.2 inches -
GoBox 30 Weight:
12.1 pounds -
GoBox 15 and 30 Water/Dust Rating:
IP65 and IP67
The post Yeti LoadOut GoBox 15 and 30 Review: Rugged Gear Cases That Keep Contents Dry appeared first on Bob Vila.