Build your own Go Box

There's an incredible sense of freedom that comes with knowing you have what you need to go pretty much anywhere and do anything at anytime. And there's immense satisfaction when what you need fits in a box.

What is a Go Box?

A Go Box is a box to keep in your car or van with all the essentials you need to get away quickly with minimal faff and effort. Keep it in your boot, store it under the bed, have it waiting by the door. No more excuses that you can’t find your head torch, no forgetting to replace your gas, no leaving your Ti mug at work: when the opportunity to get out presents itself, you'll be ready.

Essentials for the polymaths Go Box

The beauty of a Go Box is that you pack it and forget about it. When the time comes to call on it, chances are that you have the basics you need, no matter what activities you end up doing. Loading your Go Box with dual use products lets you cover many bases.

• Shelter
• Cooking System
• Luggage
• Clothing
• Tableware
• Lighting
• Accessories

Shelter

Eliminate the friction of getting out the door. By pre-loading your GoBox with great general purpose camping kit, you will be ready when opportunity comes knocking. Of course if you need a more specialised piece of kit, at least you will have a visual prompt to make the substitutions.

• Tent: If you want to take a belt and braces approach to your Go Box, having an independent Soloist shelter will ensure you never find yourself homeless.
• Sleeping Bag: A general purpose 3-season bag is the most adaptable bag to keep in your Go Box.
• Sleeping Pad: Our Airo 120 sleeping mat might be short, but it will comfortably get you through a couple of nights at short notice.
• Camping Pillow: Enjoy the benefits of being prepared with a comfy camping pillow.

Cooking System

• The Brukit all-in-one camping stove is more than a match for whatever culinary creations you’re concocting! It’s light and compact enough to take on any adventure, yet powerful enough to get a right good meal on – just don’t forget to pack a gas canister too!
• The Alipots 4-piece pan set stacks together like a set of Matryoshka dolls to give you the maximum amount of pan for the space! The lids of the 1 and 1.7 litre pans double up as frying pans. If there is a chance you will be catering for other hungry mouths, a pan set will win you friends.
• The MyMokka basecamp espresso maker for brewing up and getting your coffee fix in the outdoors, perfect for your Go Box!
• Non-perishable snacks and instant meals just in case you don't make last orders.

Luggage

• The one rucksack with many uses. The Gourdon is simple, waterproof and tough. Whether cycling, hiking, paddle boarding or climbing, chances are you can carry it in a Gourdon.

Clothing

• Unless you are based in the sunny Alps you are probably used to remembering your waterproof jacket, but how many times have you got to your destination without your waterproof trousers? Get them in your Go Box and make wet legs a thing of the past.
• If you are not sure what the weekend has in store for you, pack Koulin Trail Tights - you can walk in them, run in them, cycle in them and even paddle in them.

Tableware

• It may seem like a luxury, but a lightweight camping table like the Splitta does wonders for your camping comfort and weighs less than 400 grams – so there’ll be no more crying over spilt tea!
• Having forgotten cutlery on more adventures than I’d care to remember. Having a dedicated Go Box cutlery set (like the TiMigos or Bamboo Cutlery Roll has saved the day on multiple occasions!
• A Slurp enamel camping mug is a pretty handy thing to have around camp. Tea, coffee, water or wine Slurp will take it all. Alternatively, if you want to take your drink out with you, the Insulated Flask 350 keeps it warm until you’re ready to drink it.

Lighting

• Head torches are invaluable as soon as night falls! You can’t go wrong with a Viper LED headtorch
• Packing a lantern for camp helps you avoid shining your head torch into your mate’s eyes. Something small, light, and magnetic like the Lampray has become a Go Box staple at AKHQ.
• Don't forget your devices need charging. If you are heading off-grid having a Juice power bank battery in your Go Box will give you the reassurance you can recharge when needed.

Accessories

• Bin bags - vital for making sure you leave no trace.
• Kitchen roll and tin foil - ideal for wrapping up your lunch for the next day.
• Loo roll – well you never want to be caught short do you!
• A corkscrew or bottle opener (need we explain?)

What's in an Alpkit Go Box?

The Alpkit team includes paddlers, climbers, runners, bikers, hill walkers, and everything in between. That means that our Go Boxes all tend to be tailored to whatever our vice happens to be! Everyone tends to have their Go Boxes in the car on a Friday ready to Go Nice Places at the weekend, so here are a couple of activity focussed Go Box ideas for inspiration:

Ready, steady, Go Box!