Plano StowAway 3600 Waterproof Stow Tackle Box, IPX7 Waterproof Rating, Review
Our verdict
The Plano StowAway 3600 costs $18.99 and carries an IPX7 waterproof rating, a specific spec none of the other bait storage options in this comparison list. Its 4.2-star average across 69 reviews is the lowest here, but 200-plus units sold last month shows steady demand at a low price.
Check price on AmazonBest for
Anglers who want a genuinely waterproof tackle box for keeping lures, hooks or small gear dry on a boat or in wet weather, and who are comfortable with a lower review count than the established competitors.
Skip if
Skip it if review volume matters to you, since 69 reviews is far thinner than the thousands behind the Flambeau 3003 or Frabill 4501, or if you need bait storage rather than a dry box for tackle.
Our scorecard
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Owner rating4.2/5
4.2 average across 69 owner ratings
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Popularity1.2/5
69 owner reviews, fewer than most models here
The overall score is owner satisfaction weighted by how many reviews back it, so a high rating from few reviews counts for less. The bars below show where this model stands against the other fishing gear and tackle we track in this category on price, popularity and size. Context, not marks against it, and our read of the data, not a lab test.
Overview
Dropping a tackle box in a foot of bilge water or leaving it out in a downpour is the exact scenario the Plano StowAway 3600 is built around, since it carries an IPX7 waterproof rating on the label. That rating is a specific, testable standard, IPX7 covers temporary full submersion under defined conditions, rather than a vague marketing phrase like water resistant.
Priced at $18.99, it sits well above the Flambeau 3003's $4.79 and the Frabill 4501's $9.95, but far under the Marine SS212's $49.99. At that price, it lands in the middle of this bait storage and tackle box comparison on cost alone.
Where it falls short is review history. Its 4.2-star average across just 69 reviews is both the lowest rating and the smallest sample size of any product in this set, well behind the Flambeau 3003's 10,700 reviews at 4.5 stars or the Frabill 4501's 1,900 reviews at 4.7 stars. Still, 200-plus units bought in the past month matches the pace of the pricier Marine SS212, suggesting steady if not explosive demand for a box built around one specific, verifiable claim rather than a long buyer history.
Pros
- IPX7 waterproof rating, a specific submersion-tested standard not listed for any other product here
- Priced at $18.99, under half the cost of the $49.99 Marine SS212
- 200-plus units bought last month, matching the pace of the pricier Marine SS212
- Compact StowAway form factor suited to organizing tackle rather than just bulk bait storage
- InStock and readily available at the listed price
Cons
- 4.2-star average is the lowest rating among the bait storage options compared here
- Only 69 reviews, a small fraction of the Flambeau 3003's 10,700 or the Frabill 4501's 1,900
- No material or weight specs listed beyond the waterproof rating
- Costs nearly four times the $4.79 Flambeau 3003 without the review history to back the premium
Performance notes
The headline spec here is the IPX7 waterproof rating, which under the standard means the box is rated to survive temporary full submersion, a meaningfully higher bar than boxes simply described as water resistant or splash proof. In practice that matters most for anglers storing lures, hooks or line in a boat where standing water or a wave over the gunwale is a real possibility, rather than for someone who just wants a tote for the garage. No weight, material or capacity specs are listed for this unit beyond the waterproof claim, so buyers comparing pure storage volume against the Frabill 4501 or Marine SS212 will not find that detail on this listing. At $18.99, the price reflects a mid-tier tackle box rather than a specialized aerated bait container like the pricier options in this category.
What buyers say
A 4.2-star average is the lowest of the group, and with only 69 reviews behind it, that average is built on a much smaller sample than the Flambeau 3003's 10,700 or the Frabill 4501's 1,900. Small review counts can shift more with each new rating, so the 4.2 figure carries less statistical weight than the others in this comparison. That said, 200-plus units bought in the past month is a real demand signal, on par with the similarly priced Marine SS212's 200-plus, even though that product costs over two and a half times as much. The pattern suggests a box that sells steadily on its waterproof claim even without a long track record of reviews yet.
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Frequently asked questions
What does the IPX7 rating on the Plano StowAway 3600 mean?
IPX7 is a formal waterproof standard indicating the box can survive temporary full submersion, not just splashes or rain. It is a more specific claim than water resistant, and none of the other bait storage products in this comparison list a waterproof rating on their specs.
Why does the Plano StowAway 3600 have fewer reviews than the Flambeau 3003?
The Flambeau 3003 has 10,700 reviews built up at a rock-bottom $4.79 price, while the StowAway 3600 has 69 reviews. A smaller review count does not necessarily mean lower quality, but it does mean less accumulated buyer data to check before purchase.
Is the Plano StowAway 3600 meant for bait or for tackle?
The listing describes it as a tackle box built around an IPX7 waterproof rating, which points to storing lures, hooks and small gear rather than live bait. Buyers wanting an aerated live bait container should compare it against boxes built specifically for that purpose.