Camp Trunks

Durable steel camp trunks offer several advantages over soft bags. Hard camp trunks are convenient for living out of, and they're strong enough to sit or stand on top of to reach the top bunk. 

With their sturdy construction and multi-functional design, camp trunks double as reliable storage and practical furniture, giving campers versatility throughout their stay. Whether used as a seat, a step, or simply a space-saving organizer, these trunks are built to handle the demands of camp life with ease.

Hard camp trunks have a solid rectangular design to optimize space, letting campers bring everything they need in as small a package as possible. A hard camp trunk fully opens for ease of access, helping campers find whatever they need for the next adventure. Hard trunk exteriors also protect fragile items from damage and keep out moisture more effectively than duffel bags. 

Soft duffel bags have their proponents, but many of their purported advantages can’t stand up to the rigors of summer camp. Straps theoretically ease transport, but the bag is often too heavy for young campers to lug around anyway. Duffels have a lower upfront cost, but frequently don’t last more than one summer. While bag after bag is thrown out due to rips, tears, water damage, and broken zippers, your camper will use the same hard trunk summer after summer, and can even take it with them to their college dorm someday. 

Duffels and backpacks are easier to shove into a corner if your camper wishes, but the situation doesn’t arise as often as you might expect. Hard footlockers facilitate social interaction as a bench and a tabletop for card games, so campers won’t want to push them away. Bags may have more pouches and zippered spaces for organization, but a hard camp trunk with accessories can be equipped similarly. 

In the long run, this makes a footlocker much more useful at summer camp than a soft duffel bag. We still recommend packing a small duffel bag or backpack to make the most of hikes and other outdoor journeys, but that just complements the trunk!

While a hard footlocker will always be the best camp trunk, we also offer a soft trunk for campers who cannot go the hard trunk route, such as those flying to their camp destination or attending a camp that doesn’t allow footlockers. Explore our collection of soft camp trunks for more information.

C&N Footlocker camp trunks are the Gold Standard trusted by families and camps across the United States. All of our trunks are manufactured in Boyd, Wisconsin using premium, cabinet-grade wood and rugged U.S. Steel armor for long-term durability. Nickel-plated steel hardware, like the handles and the lid stay, ensures top-notch construction that will stand up to whatever your camper throws at it. 

C&N Footlockers have an external weight capacity of up to 1,800 lbs, so your camper and all their friends can jump on it without compromising the trunk or the items inside. Our trunks are also fully compliant with Prop 65, the 1986 California law requiring disclosure of toxic chemicals above prescribed safe harbor levels to ensure consumer safety. We’re proud to be the most camp-recommended trunk brand and strive to improve our reputation with every summer camp journey.

Constructed for the long run, our American-made trunks are built for the demands of frequent camp use. Our trunks will also last generations into the future, far beyond your camper's sleepaway camp years for other adventures like vacation travel, college semesters, and home storage.

Trusted by parents for decades, the C&N Steel Footlocker is the ultimate travel essential and best camp trunk. When you pack with us, you’re packing with the best—so your camper is ready for their greatest summer yet!