Plano GoNow Box: A Tougher, More Customizable Storage Solution

If you’re active on social media, you may have seen videos of the Plano GoNow Box. I attended the launch event in Dripping Springs, Texas, to learn more about what sets it apart and who it’s a good fit for. One thing’s for sure—this is no ordinary plastic storage solution.

Plano GoNow Box Overview

Plano is known for its molded plastic storage solutions. I’ve been fishing for more than 40 years, and I can’t remember a time I didn’t have Plano products on my boat. They also make storage solutions for your garage or outdoor pursuits, and I use several in those applications as well.

But the GoNow box is very different from what you may be used to. It’s built to thrive in tougher outdoor environments. The design team had camping, hunting, and fishing in mind when they built it, but I’m also looking at it with an eye on professional tradesmen, lawn care/landscaping crews, and farm and ranch applications.

Element-proof Durability

The durability of the GoNow box is eye-opening compared to what I’m used to seeing from Plano. Officially, it can support up to 300 pounds. Unofficially, it held 600 pounds without collapsing. Even at the launch event, we had a 250-pound guy jumping on the small box without breaking it.

There are a couple of reasons for such a high weight capacity. For starters, it’s made with thicker walls. If you compare it to something like a Sterilite tub at Walmart, it’s noticeably thicker and more rigid. The lid also has a more rigid structure underneath it.

While it can support a lot of weight, it’s not built like a cooler’s lid that won’t budge. The lid has some give to it, similar to the Yeti GoBox. So, while you can stand on it, it’s not as good as a quality cooler if you’re thinking about using it as a casting platform on your boat or stepping up to address your crew before they head out on the jobsite.

Thanks to a gasket, the GoNow is element-proof. Technically, it doesn’t have a certified IP rating, but it won’t allow dust or water inside the box. We had these boxes out fishing on the Guadelupe River and all over the Lone Star Ranch, plus surviving the “gentle” touch of airline ground crews as they were loaded and unloaded. There wasn’t a bit of water, dust, or other debris that came in uninvited.

Interior Organization

On the inside, you’ll find a divider and an organization tray. Whether you buy the large or small size, the divider splits the bulk storage area in two. Note that the dividers are not interchangeable between the two sizes.

The tray looks like many others you find in rugged storage boxes or coolers. But one helpful difference is that its dividers are removable. If you’re in construction, you can keep accessories like bits or reciprocating saw blades separate from your power tools below.

Where the Plano GoNow Box steps up even more is with underlid storage. Currently, you can add a cutting board or MOLLE board.

If your ambitions are in the camping, hunting, or fishing scenes, the cutting board makes a lot of sense. The top of the lid on the small GoNow has ridges to keep it from sliding around. The large box has three sides covered on the left and right, but it can slide across the top from one side to the other. It hints that there may be a larger cutting board option for that box down the road.

While the MOLLE board can be helpful for your recreational activities, it’s also the more relevant of the two for work. If you have MOLLE-compatible boxes, that’s great, but it’s okay if you don’t. You can take items like Plano’s StowAll Zip Pouches that have hang holes and secure them to the panel with a couple of zip ties.

Exterior QuickLink Attachments

On each corner, you’ll notice rubber bumpers that look similar to the raised overmold on power tools that protect your work material. These are actually plugs that pop out and open up external accessory attachment points.

As of the initial launch, there are three QuickLink accessories: a bottle opener, a cup holder, and a rod holder. However, you can bet there are more on the way. Some 200 accessories have been discussed already, so we’ll just have to wait and see which ones Plano prioritizes.

Installing the attachments is simple. You line the back of the accessory with the hole and pull it down to lock it in place. The bottle opener is the oddball of the group, though. You need to pull up to install that one.

Don’t worry about inclement weather, water splashing, or dirt. The interface drops straight down to an opening at the base. You can even wash it out. Nothing that gets in through those holes can enter the interior of the box.

Designed to Transport

Plano did three really smart things when it comes to transporting GoNow Boxes. First, they have non-slip feet. You can stand on it in your boat, load it in the back of your truck, or set it in your trailer. As long as the feet are connected to the surface, it’ll stay put.

Of course, that’s not very reassuring when you’re off-road. To deal with times when you’re driving across the ranch in an ATV, bumping along a jobsite, or braving a windy day on the bay, there are strap holes in the top to help you lock the box down.

GoNow Boxes are also designed to stack with each other. When you set one down on another, you can feel the feet settle into place in the corners. Plus, two small boxes can sit side-by-side on a large box.

They don’t lock into place the way modular tool box systems like Milwaukee’s Packout do. Keep those strap holes in mind, though. When you stack GoNow Boxes, those holes line up so you can strap a set together.

Additional Features

• Dual-hinged Lid: Open the box from either side, or remove the lid entirely
• Locking Tabs: Use a standard padlock on any or all four of the corners
• Optional Lid Keeper: Store gear on top of the lid with an adjustable bungee weave

Plano GoNow Pricing, Options, and Compatibilty

To kick things off, there are two GoNow Box sizes, and each comes in OD Green, Gray, or White colors. The small boxes are $99.95, and the large boxes are $149.95.

Here are the accessories that are available with the initial launch:

• Bottle Opener: $19.95
• Cup Holder: $19.95
• Rod Holder: $19.95
• Cutting Board: $29.95
• MOLLE Board: $29.95
• Gun Cleaning Rest: $29.95 (NOT for turning the GoNow into a shooting bench)
• Lid Keeper: $29.95

If you would like a pre-built kit to save some money, there are three options that run $169.95 and use the small box as its foundation:

• Hunt
• Fish
• Camp

Additionally, the GoNow was designed to work with a number of Plano products:

• StowAll Zip Pouches
• StowAll Packing Cubes (small, medium, and large)
• Field/Ammo Boxes (medium size)
• StowAway Tackle Trays (3500, 3600, and 3700)

Should You Buy It?

Looking at the entire package, the Plano GoNow is a compelling outdoor storage solution. In general terms, it’s more versatile than most rugged storage systems with a customizable approach that gives it a wide appeal.

If you’re used to Plano storage products, the price is higher than you’re probably used to. But as a premium rugged storage system, that’s not a surprise to me. When I compare it to products like Yeti’s GoBoxes, Plano is in a really interesting place that’s clearly an upgrade from cheap boxes, but half the price of a Yeti.

So, would I use and recommend the GoNow? Absolutely.

But is it for everyone? Not necessarily.

If you hunt, fish, and camp, it’s a no-brainer. You’ll love it over basic plastic storage, and your budget will appreciate the price compared to high-end competitors.

I also really like its potential for farm/ranch and lawn care/landscaping. These are sectors that can benefit from rugged storage, but where modular tool box systems can be overkill or simply aren’t the right design.

For professional tradesmen, it’s a bit more of a toss-up. For those of you who have tons of gear, build out job-specific loadouts, require the most durable boxes, and/or lean on interlocking boxes with a wheeled base, GoNow isn’t in a position to compete with Milwaukee Packout, DeWalt ToughSystem, Flex StackPack, and other modular systems.

On the other hand, GoNow’s easier pricing, combined with Plano’s accessories and compatible products, has very real potential. For some Pros, it could be a standalone solution. For others, the large box is a solid option for storing larger gear that won’t fit in your modular system.