On our first overland trip 12 years ago, we packed our belongings in used Rubbermaid containers and assorted soft bags we found around the house. In a constant state of disarray, a baseline level of stress was involved when searching for parts, tools, cords, or other essentials. It took almost a decade to realize that spending a little more money upfront saves plenty of time and energy over the course of a long trip. I liken these small annoyances to a small pebble in my shoe—not worth removing for a walk down the block, annoying for a kilometer or two, and painful over a long distance.
Here are three soft cases from Step 22 that have found a home in our pop-up camper, joining the fight to reduce clutter and protect our gear.
Pangolin Mini Tool Roll | $105
Field repairs are inevitable, but having tools close at hand increases our ability to deal with them in stride. Need a venerable zip tie to restrain an inner fender liner? Check. Want Gorilla tape to temporarily repair a cracked headlight housing? Yes ma’am. Looking for a 10-, 12-, or 14-millimeter wrench? Always.
After using the Pangolin Tool Roll for the last five years, I was excited to try out the new Mini. Its svelte size means that it can fit in easy-to-reach places such as under the seat, in the glove box, center console, backpack, or pannier. The roll-out design is familiar and efficient, while the exterior 1,000-denier coated, rugged, all-weather layer (CRAWL) provides protection for both the tool roll and its contents.
I designated my Mini for 12-volt electrical tools. Wire strippers, cutters, and flush cuts fill the roll. Electrical tape, zip ties, and cable tie mounts are stored in one zippered pouch, while heat-shrink, marine-grade butt connectors fill another. Large ratchet crimpers and cutters live in the main compartment. Even when loaded, the paracord and aluminum tab keep the roll closed and compact.
Yes, the roll itself takes up volume, but staying organized on the tool front allows me to use them more often. Even with that frequent use, the YKK EYL zippers and plethora of trademarked fabrics still look like new—minus the dust, dirt, and strewn stripped wire ends, of course.
Pangolin Tool Pouch | $60
Drills, angle grinders, and battery chargers are large, awkwardly shaped implements of service and modification that don’t always fit into a tool case. Usually, these items get placed into random voids, but there is a better way.
The Step 22 Pangolin tool pouch is elegant in its rugged simplicity. I have used a few other products with the 1,000-denier nylon and CRAWL exterior shell, and they have all held up well to constant use on the road. This tool pouch is no different. It proved a worthy home for my impact driver, drill, batteries, and associated charger, but I soon realized there were other (dare I say more important) items (snacks) that could be stored in a relatively large, semi-protective case, complete with a top-edge compression cord to keep everything contained and on lock.
Sure, the full-wrap handles are built to carry heavy loads such as a 1/2-inch socket set, some large adjustable wrenches, the ubiquitous big friendly hammer (BFH), and more, but they also work wonders when the pouch is full of salt and vinnies, nuts, granola bars, Snickers, and jerky. Engage the cover flap, throw a “Do Not Eat” note in the card slot, and chuck an Apple AirTag in the MIL-SPEC mesh interior pocket.
Tiger Trove EDC Pouch | $50
The modern overlander has cords, and lots of them. From phones to computers, GPS devices to cameras, earbuds to flashlights, everything is rechargeable, and Murphy’s law suggests each will require a different charging cable. Almost everyone has hard drives and memory cards for storing those precious memories, and they need a place to live when they’re not in use. Enter the Tiger Trove everyday carry (EDC) pouch from Step 22.
In my case, the fully padded standard-length Tiger Trove EDC pouch is full of cables, an SD card case, earbuds, and a North American to European Type-C adapter. The three mono mesh pockets (one zipper that can be accessed from inside or out, and two open-topped), combined with a plethora of elastic bands, make keeping organized a simple task. I especially like the clever micro SD storage integrated into the zipper pull. I’m not sure what I’d store in there, but I appreciate the option to keep it secret and safe. A hidden AirTag pocket means you can keep tabs on your belongings at all times.
Made with the usual Step 22 quality materials and craftsmanship, it is available in a standard or long length, and in black or MultiCam colorways. Fill yours full of tech items, knives, pesos, lira, or what have you. The EDC pouch works just as well whether lightly loaded or stuffed to the brim.
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Winter 2025 Issue.
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