How’d I ever get along without my Mountainsmith Modular Hauler 3 System Deluxe? I took this rugged tote with three packing cubes on two road trips this summer, and found it perfect for hauling our camping stuff, sports gear, water shoes, sand toys and more. Much more.

The Hauler is big — it’s 15 by 15 by 25 inches. I knew it would fit a lot of stuff, but this carrier fits a LOT of stuff. The soft sides, made of quilted, water-resistent material, allows for expansion — which means you can stick socks, headlamps and other little items into all the nooks and crannies of the three cubes (which double as totes with handles) that line up inside.

Each interior cube is color coded, so you can assign a cube to each type of gear or different family members. Forget who is “green”? No problem – the zippered lid of each cube is clear, so you can find out at a glance what’s inside.

More highlights: the bottom of the Hauler is waterproof and abrasion-resistant rubber, so I didn’t hesitate plopping it down on parking-lot asphalt, damp forest floor or sandy, wet beach. Each of the four sides of the hauler have reinforced handles, making it easy to carry by yourself or share the load with another person. Compression straps can be used if the bag is not fully packed and you don’t want items jostling around.

My husband was so impressed with my packing for our summer road trips. Typically I fill up five to six assorted duffel and LL Bean tote bags with our gear and toss them in the back of the minivan. The Hauler System kept our trunk 10 times more organized. I could tell him, “I need the yellow cube with the beach towels,” and that was easy to grab out of the hauler and carry separately as its own tote.

I think the uses for this Hauler System are endless. Not only can it be used on road trips to haul anything from sports equipment to snacks, but also as storage of seasonal gear at home.

Purchase the Mountainsmith Modular Hauler 3 System Deluxe Bag at Altrec.com or get it at Backcountry for around 80 bucks.