Review: Rambl Gear Organizer

It happens every time: rushing to get to the trail, or the rock, or the river, you toss all your stuff on the seat and roll out. And then it all rolls out, every time you turn or make a hard stop: water bottle slams into the floorboard, bear spray tumbles to the side, energy bar slides off... somewhere. At the trailhead, you open the passenger door and half your gear spills out like a scene from Fast Times at Ridgemont High.

Thankfully, Ramble Gear Co., an outdoor company based right here in Bozeman, has addressed this ongoing irritation with its Gear Organizer ($249), a handy-dandy gear-keeper that straps to your seatback and keeps all your stuff secure.

Big pockets, medium pockets, small pockets... this organizer has 'em all. The materials are heavy-duty—500-denier Cordura fabric, burly YKK zippers, and strong, stretchy mesh—so you don't have to go easy on it. Stuff the thing as full as you want with as much stuff as you can gather, then grab a couple carabiners and hang even more stuff off the lash points. Quick-release buckles allow you pull it from the seat and transfer it easily to a topper window, roof rack, or tree branch. For river trips, storage at the house, or just convenient transport, the whole thing can be rolled up and buckled like a sleep pad.

Given the variety of compartments, it's clear that the Rambl folks have thought of everything—for example, the bottom mesh pocket is sized just right for a rain shell, while the large stash pocket conceals higher-dollar items, protecting them from a would-be burglar. All in all, the Gear Organizer is itself a great piece of gear, one that will make your outdoor excursions far less frustrating.

Available at ramblgear.com; $249.