HART 24 Gallon Storage Box

Basics

• A decent option for a Storage Box
• Other than the lid being blue, rather than black, wall thickness leaving room to be desired, and no Pressure Release Valve (for opening after it has cooled, or your altitude has changed) , it checks about all the boxes
• Main Advantage is it’s about 28 USD Each
  • For this you get:
    • 24 Gallons Capacity at 150lb Max Load (although uncertain on if it could really take that/if that load needs to be perfectly balanced over misc tools thrown in there etc)
    • Opaque (Not always great, but longer longevity due to UV Resistance of the Carbon Black etc, and privacy / some security by covering up valuables if that counts
    • Stackable (not specified how tall/how stable, but better than Footlockers / standard boxes etc
      • Probably not AS great as a properly interlocking system such as Milwaukee Packout or Rigid Pro Gear 2.0 boxes erc, but “good enough” for stationary, indoors, storage
    • A Gasket
      • This is marketed for “Waterproof”-ness, although due to the lids being concave, and thus accumulating (rather than “shedding”) water, this is a bit doubtful
      • For Humidity, Dust, and POTENTIALLY Smoke etc this seal is probably more than enough though, and surely beats out boxes with no seal
      • Main downside is it feels like some sort of foam, rather than a constant Silicone or TPE material etc
      • Which may be good for inconsitant surfaces such as Weather Stripping etc, but for smooth and properly designed surfaces this SHOULDN’T be needed
      • Also has me somewhat concerned about long term durability (with Rubber Reversion or Microplastic shedding/flaking being longer term concerns
      • It DOES have a smooth-ish surface though; it is not some unfinished open cell foam etc
      • And again, this is the Walmart special in the 30 USD bracket, not a Pelican Case etc
    • It also has lock slots, granted as with all these plastic boxes, this only falls in the “ Keeping an Honest Person Honest ” level of security, as a Razor Knife could cut these boxes open, much less an Oscillating Tool or Reciprocating Saw etc, still though a nice feature
    • Also has 6 latches; these could be a BIT thicker, uncertain on long term durability, but they do lead to even squishing of the seal, unlike some boxes with only 2 latches than can be pryed up
    • The lock slots, and some groves make it PROBABLY work alright from a Design for Tiedown / Design for Load Securing perspective, but it could be better in that regard
• One “feature” (if it can be considered that) is that unlike even more expensive boxes, such as the Rigid Pro Gear 2.0 line etc, it does NOT reek of Offgassing Plasticizers and thus has no concerns in all thay
  • While Dyes/Additives are not disclosed, it’s probably LDPE or HDPE (will check label later)

External Links

• The Walmart Listing for this product
  • They also offer smaller/larger boxes, but this box is a good “sweet spot” short of ESPECIALLY bulk things that may need a Custom Hardshell Case such as a MIDI Keyboard etc
  • Essentially these can make the “unit load” for Storage
    • ALTHOUGH they are a bit too bulky for non (mini-) van vehicles
      • I need to do a test in my hatchback with all the seats folded down, but yeah.