Eagle Creek Pack It Mud Box Review
Mud Box size Medium- Top view
Eagle Creek is well known for their line of products that can turn any unorganized person into an organizational pro with a few simple pieces from their Pack-It line. I own a few of these pieces and use them regularly for road and air travel to keep things separated and easy to find. This summer, I have been testing the Pack-It Mud Box and have been nothing short of please with its’ performance thus far.
For starters, the Mud Box was the missing item in my collection. I needed something to put sweaty running/hiking clothing in while traveling and unable to do laundry. Prior to receiving the Mud Box, a plastic grocery bag was my typical go to. On a trip, you often have to pack and re-pack your bag multiple times, the Mud Box made this simpler because we could keep the clean and dirty things easily separated without risking the dirty from making all the clean appear or smell as if they were dirty. The Mud Box accomplishes this odor and slime control by incorporating thermoplastic urethane-coated polyester fabric. The Mud Box is water resistant and feels well made- there is a window to help you see what is in the Mud Box over the top portion, but I typically had to open it up to remember all that was crammed into the space. Opening up the Mud Box is a cinch thanks to two way zippers (2 of them) that open along a U shape. In simpler terms, the Mud Box opens 3/4 of the way around and makes getting things in and out quite simple. There is a large grab loop on the top of the Mud Box that helps you retrieve it out of your pack with ease.
The Mud Box is available in two different sizes, small and medium. The small Mud Box features a capacity of 7L or 424 cu inches, while measuring 8″ x 12″ x 6″. The size medium Mud Box measures 14″ x 10″ x 6″ and features a capacity of 16.4L or 1000 cu inches. I have been testing out the medium sized Mud Box and recently took it on a trip to Costa Rica for 10 days of hot-humid fun. I was able to place two pairs of running shoes (size 9.5 women’s and 12.5 men’s) and all of our sweaty clothes from our days on the trail/beach into the Mud Box with some room to spare. Each time we arrived at a new place, I unpacked the Mud Box to allow things to breath a bit, to prevent mold, and was amazed that every time I opened my pack nothing was smelly or damp in the main compartment of my pack, only the contents of the Mud Box. The Mud Box did a great job of separating, however I still recommend getting things out of the box as soon as possible to prevent permanent a stench with your gear.
On a quick trip to a family reunion, I used the Mud-Box to house my flip flops, running shoes, running and swim gear. I had room to spare and the Mud-Box fit with ease into my standard rolling carry on. I feel that this organizational piece will come in handy for many more trips to come.
Fortunately, separation of your gear does NOT come with a steep price either. The smaller size retails for $22.50, the medium size retails for $27.95. Both fair prices in my book; having clean-dry clothing is well worth it.
