If you took a look inside the cab of my Silverado, you’d notice I have tons of gear bags for all my farm stuff: one has fencing supplies and tools, one has a hoof-care kit, one has extra rain gear, one has soil-sampling components … you get the idea. My farm gear bags are how I keep my life in order — somewhat. They’re vital to me, though I’m well aware that more than a few folks have their tools and other gear more haphazardly strewn about their trucks and tractors.
Have you ever considered a change?
I want to share some of my favorite farm gear bags that help me stay organized and that save time since I don’t have to hunt around under the seat for the spark-plug socket that rolled under there sometime last week or last month … or was it last season? Finding things is important to me!
For this list, we’ve zeroed in on durable bags — that’s first and foremost — as well as bags from brands that do a lot to support farmers and rural lifestyles. Yes, you could grab a small gym bag from Walmart, but my experience is that those don’t have the kind of durability, especially around the handles or on the zipper threads, to handle the harder (and dirtier!) tasks that we encounter daily.
Take a look at these 5 best farm gear bags and find one (or two) that work for you:
Carhartt Legacy 25-Inch Utility Duffel
Carhartt has several duffel bags in its lineup, but the Legacy is by far my favorite among the ones I’ve used. Thanks to the carry options, I can either sling it over my shoulder or haul it by my side. It’s made of a heavy duty polymer with Carhartt’s branded Rain Defender water repellent. This thing is definitely durable! I also like the zippered end pockets as well as the small side pockets (which are usually packed with random drill bits, screws, and washers), not to mention the main compartment is quite roomy.
Ariat Unisex Backpack
I love this backpack because it’s perfect for easily hauling some of my more valuable items, such as my laptop or tablet, or a backup pair of sunglasses that I don’t want crushed. It measures 18 inches tall and 11 inches wide, with a depth of a hair over 6 inches — really the perfect size to fill it and not feel awkward or overly weighed down. It’s got great pockets (including spots for water bottles) and an attachment point on the outside for a riding helmet. When I don’t have something too valuable in it, I’ve slapped the bag around a bunch, and it has held up nicely!
Merrell Range Duffel
Merrell delivered a durable and truly versatile duffel bag with this one. I keep tons of cold-weather gear in mine. This duffel is made from polyester with a durable, water-resistant tarpaulin bottom fabric, plus I like the leather trim, sturdy zippers, and metal hardware — it doesn’t have a “cheap” feel to it in any way. At 22 inches by 11 inches, it’s big! It’s able to carry up to 55 liters worth of gear.
Dickies Durable Canvas Work Bag
I don’t always need to have a huge bag for my farm gear, and that’s where this little dude that’s constructed of rip-resistant canvas from Dickies comes into play. Super strong. I repeat — super strong! The stitching is well done, the materials are tough and durable, nice application of webbing, and it makes great use of a main pocket with some added compartments. It measures 16 inches long.
Duluth Pack Outdoor Wanderer
Just to be clear, this is a Duluth Pack, which shouldn’t be confused with Duluth Trading Post. But it does carry with it the kind of quality that you’d expect from gear made in the far north. It’s made of rugged canvas — and is truly more of a hiking pack, though I love it for its easy top-load approach to access gear quickly and its many pockets. For example, it has covered water bottle pockets and nice, flexible straps. Still, it’s important to note that this is, by far, the most expensive pack on this list!
What to look for in a farm gear bag?
Durability: This is always going to be first on the list, because no one wants something that’ll fall apart within the first month. But durability isn’t just about slinging a bag in and out of the pickup — it’s also about holding up to moisture and having strong footing in case it catches on rocks or sticks during a project.
Accessibility and functionality: Not to big, not to small. Find a bag sized for the gear you have (or need to have), but it also has to have everything organized in a way that works. Screws, nails, fence staples, and small tools aren’t going to work well in a bag that has one big compartment and nothing else. Plus, you may need to consider if you want a backpack or a more traditional-style duffel for toting around your property.
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