Edited by: Kenneth Reaves
Reviewed by: Michael DarmontLast Update:
The Rundown
Best Overall: Rodeel Fishing Tackle Backpack (Click here to view)
“The best tackle boxes make your life easier in a number of ways, and this one checks all the boxes. Plenty of space, comfortable to carry, and any parts that break can be replaced.”
Best Premium Option: Elkton Outdoors Rolling Fishing Tackle Box (Click here to view)
“For the pier fishermen or the guys who never seem to bring enough with them, the roller tackle box from Elkton has it all. Bring multiple rods ready to fish and all the gear your heart desires, all easily rolled behind you or carried on your back.”
Best Budget Option: YVLEEN Fishing Tackle Boxes (Click here to view)
“Sometimes the simpler the better, and on a budget, it’s hard to beat buying a couple of solid divider boxes. If you go lighter on gear, you can organize your lures and other pieces in these boxes, throw them in a backpack, and head out to fish.”
No matter what kind of fishing you plan on doing, you need a good way to carry your gear with you. From leader materials to lures, all of that gear is much more useful when it is organized, easy to access, and kept out of the elements. That’s why choosing the right tackle box is important for any fishermen.
You want to find a tackle box with enough storage space to carry everything you need on you. You also want it to be comfortable to carry, and have some built-in features to protect your gear like rust-resistant inserts, waterproof storage, and replaceable parts.
Like any other kind of fishing gear, there are tons of tackle boxes to choose from. We’ve put together this list of the best and most versatile tackle boxes available, so you can make a good choice no matter what kind of fishermen you are.
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Table of Contents
Best Tackle Boxes
Here’s our shortlist of the 8 best tackle boxes:
- Best Overall: Rodeel Fishing Tackle Backpack
- Best Premium Option: Elkton Outdoors Rolling Fishing Tackle Box
- Best Budget Option: YVLEEN Fishing Tackle Boxes
- Best for the Lure Connoisseur: Flambeau Outdoors 3 Tray
- Best for Premade Gear: Reaction Tackle Fishing Tackle Bag
- Most Versatile: Plano A-Series Tackle Bags
- Smallest Tackle Box: Goture Waterproof 2-sided Fishing-Lure-Boxes
- Best for Organization: Plano Angled Tackle System
Rodeel Fishing Tackle Backpack
Best Overall: Everything you could ask for in a tackle box carried on your back.
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KEY FEATURES
- Tons of storage space
- Hands-free rod carrying
- Durable and comfortable thanks to padded straps
The best tackle boxes make your life easier in a number of ways, and this one checks all the boxes. Plenty of space, comfortable to carry, and any parts that break can be replaced. No matter the type of fishermen you are or what kind of fishing you’re doing, this Backpack is a great choice for a tackle box.
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Tackle Box Features
With the backpack comes four large storage boxes that stack and fit inside. It makes organizing and caring all of your lures and gear simple, and easy to carry with you.
It has padded straps and a back piece to make sure it’s comfortable to wear all day. The rod side rod holders, plier carrier, and extra pockets make it a breeze to bring everything you need with you.
Elkton Outdoors Rolling Fishing Tackle Box
Best Premium Option: Rollers for the pier, straps for the hike.
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KEY FEATURES
- Handle and wheels to roll bag behind you
- Rod holders and external pockets
- Take up to 26.5 lbs of gear with you
For the pier fishermen or the guys who never seem to bring enough with them, the roller tackle box from Elkton has it all. Bring multiple rods ready to fish and all the gear your heart desires, all easily rolled behind you or carried on your back.
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Tackle Box Features
What makes this bag stand out from others is the handle and wheels for rolling like a piece of luggage. Able to hold 26.5 lbs of gear, the wheels are perfect for rolling out onto a pier for the day. If that isn’t your thing, the bag has straps to carry on your back if you need to hike.
With four rod holders and space for five large tray boxes, you’ll have no problem organizing and bringing every bit of gear you need on your trip. Extra pockets and a top storage section top off the storage space with room for snacks, drinks, pliers, and fish grabbers.
YVLEEN Fishing Tackle Boxes
Best Budget Option: Useful whether you use a bag or not.
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KEY FEATURES
- Removable dividers for different size lures
- Fits in almost any backpack
- Water-resistant to keep hooks from rusting
Sometimes the simpler the better, and on a budget it’s hard to beat buying a couple of solid divider boxes. If you go lighter on gear, you can organize your lures and other pieces in these boxes, throw them in a backpack, and head out to fish. These small organizational boxes by YVLEEN are a simple and easy way to organize your gear.
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Tackle Box Features
The box has five fixed compartments, with the rest able to be moved around thanks to removable dividers. This lets you get the right size compartment for your lure or tackle.
The boxes are made from non-toxic PP materials, are water-resistant, and hold up well to being dropped. The latches are brightly colored to quickly find them in low-light conditions and the divider organization is second to none.
Flambeau Outdoors 3 Tray
Best for the Lure Connoisseur: For the old-school fishermen who love their extending tray tackle boxes.
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KEY FEATURES
- Lets you view and access all gear at one time
- Hardshell protects against drops or rough boat rides
- Multiple tray configurations to fit your needs
The classic 3 tray tackle box is still a go-to design for many fishermen. If you tend to use multiple different lures in one trip, and decide on what to use on the water, this is a great choice for you. Its design allows you to see and grab all of your options at once, making it easy to come up with a plan.
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Tackle Box Features
Whether you go with the 1,2, or 3 tray configuration, these tackle boxes are set up to lay all of your lures out at once. It has plenty of space for lures both small and large, all measly carried with the handle on top.
The hard exterior of the box protects all of your gear inside, while standing up to drops and rough handling with ease. The large open space in the bottom is perfect for leader material and tools you’ll need to bring with you as well.
Reaction Tackle Fishing Tackle Bag
Best for Premade Gear: Throw your premade leaders into the pouches, and you’ll be ready to tie on in a flash.
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KEY FEATURES
- Multiple pouches hold premade leaders, lures, and other gear
- Pouches are waterproof when sealed properly
- Lightweight and small fold-up design
Some fishermen need or want as much gear as they can bring, but others don’t want to lug around big heavy tackle boxes. If you make leaders in advance of your trip or only need a small gear selection, these binders are the perfect way to pack light for your trip. Leaders, lures, and rigs can all be easily organized in the Reaction Tackle Fishing Tackle Bag
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Tackle Box Features
The outer binder folds up to save a lot of space when carrying it or bringing it along with you. Inside are multiple plastic pouches, all of which are waterproof. They are puncture-resistant and waterproof, making them ideal for carrying premade leaders, metal tools, and lures you don’t want to rust.
Plano A-Series Tackle Bags
Most Versatile Tackle Box: With a configuration for every need, the tackle bags from Plano are a great choice for any angler.
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KEY FEATURES
- Multiple styles and sizes to choose from
- Padded straps for comfort when carrying them
- Internal dividers, tackle box trays, and extra pockets let you bring everything
Whether a backpack or a bag is your style, Plano A-Series Tackle Bags have you covered. All of their bags are designed to hold multiple tray boxes for tackle, pockets for gear, and padded carrying straps for comfort.
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Tackle Box Features
Regardless of which style you choose, all of these bags have similar features, with the backpack having the most total space. All of the straps and back sections are padded to make them comfortable to carry on a hike or during the day.
Each bag is designed to fit multiple Plano box trays, letting you organize your tackle and lures and have easy access to it all. The only thing these bags are missing is the rod holders.
Goture Waterproof 2-sided Fishing-Lure-Boxes
Smallest Tackle Box: With the small sizes able to fit in your pocket, these are the ultimate way to pack light.
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KEY FEATURES
- Waterproof rubber ring to keep out moisture
- Double-sided to double storage spaces
- Multiple sizes, with the smallest being able to fit in a pocket
For fishermen who only want to bring along a few lures or pieces of gear, this box is perfect. With adjustable partitions to fit different size lures, you can pack light and have all your gear on-hand and in your pocket. This waterproof lure box is perfect for fly fishermen and anyone who wants to pack as light as possible.
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Tackle Box Features
The boxes open on a hinge to reveal compartments on each side. This doubles the number of spaces for lure and gear, while keeping it all contained in a small package. Around the box is a rubber ring that makes the inside waterproof when closed, keeping all of your gear from being exposed to excess moisture when you aren’t using it.
The best part of this box is that it comes in three sizes, with the smallest perfect for fitting into a vest or cargo pocket. It makes sure you won’t have to worry about any lure hooks poking you through your clothes when carrying them this way.
Plano Angled Tackle System
Best for Organization: Whether you leave it in the garage or on the boat, this tackle box organizes and protects your gear, and is ready when you are to fish.
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KEY FEATURES
- Angled boxes and door make sure boxes don’t slide out
- Hard exterior protects gear from things bumping into it
- Plenty of gear compartments to meet your needs
This Plano Angled Tackle System is best when mounted onto your boat. It has all the compartments and spaces you need to bring your tools, floats, lures, and tackle with you on your trip. Its design also keeps your gear from sliding all over the place when you’re en route to the fishing hole.
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Tackle Box Features
The angled boxes and door on the front keep the boxes in place when you’re in motion, making it ideal for fishing from a boat. The exterior compartments also snap on and hold to achieve the same results.
Able to fit three large boxes and having multiple compartments gives you plenty of space for all your gear. In addition to this, the hard exterior protects the box and your gear from being damaged if you or anything else bumps into it during travel.
What to Look For When Choosing the Best Tackle Box
Storage Space
The first thing to consider when choosing a tackle box is how much storage space the box has. While it may be tempting to buy a box with the most space, it’s important to consider how much gear you actually take with you on a trip. Buy a box that has plenty of room for your tools, tackle, lures, and anything else you need. Buying an appropriate-sized box will allow you to bring everything with you without becoming a hassle or a burden.
Material
What material your tackle box determines a few things. Hard boxes are resistant to impacts but can leak. Soft bags are usually more comfortable to carry, but you’ll want to use plastic box trays inside of them for gear. Look for high-grade polyester, PP materials, and polyethylenes when choosing tackle boxes, as these are much more durable. Any sort of bag with waterproofing is also a plus as you’ll inevitably get caught in the rain or drop it in the water.
Features
There are a few features that you should make sure you look for when you go to purchase a tackle box. You need some kind of waterproofing or water-resistant liner/materials to keep your gear from rusting. Removable inserts in trays are always handy to make sure you can fit your lures into the spaces. Before you buy and if you have the chance, check that the zippers, latches, and Velcro all hold tight so you won’t be spilling your gear everywhere as well. Also, check on hard boxes that they aren’t broken or cracked.
Questions & Answers
Tackle box or tackle bag?
Whether you go with a box or a bag is a matter of preference. When you go with a bag, your best bet is to use box trays to organize your gear inside the bag. Choose whichever style is more comfortable for you to carry and matches your needs the best.
Pull out compartments or removable ones?
Removable compartments are generally a better choice than pull-outs. This is mainly because you can replace them easier if necessary and accessing your gear is also easier. If you go with pull-out compartments, try to go with extending trays like the old-school tackle boxes, as those give you access to all of your gear at once.