I’m sure it’s been discussed before, but What is everyone’s recommendation on a trapping basket or bag?

Bucket

I prefer a bag because it doesn't tip over like a bucket-


For tradition, I'll use my basket for Beaver trapping-

I use tool bags from Home Depot. Make sure you pick one that is long enough.

I use both, A bag when working land sets and a basket on my water line. Eric

To reach the tough spots only accessible by foot before hard water season, I’ve only used an old Canadian Military pack….(an Argo will change that next week…lol). Holds four 330s and all the basics, then my hands are available because I’ll need both and one is usually holding an axe. I regret that I didn’t buy a plastic pack at last years NTA national just to try because the price was unbeatable…..

Hern, that basket looks like its seen some miles.
What a great patina on it.

If you use baskets, what mods do you do to increase its functionality?

I added holders for my hatchet and hammer and a few clips to clip wire and other incidentals on. I also have a dual pouch for my pliers and wire cutters. Eric

What bags are those and how long are they?

Got a nice handled husky tool bag from Home Depot. Holds my bait and lure, hammer/digger, screens, trowel, other stuff I use for land sets.
After I’m done setting I ditch the hammer and just carry the trowel and bag for remakes. I walk most of my line from parking on road and walking in. Leaving the hammer makes it a bit lighter.
I trap about 10 farms for coyotes, cats, and coon.
Jim

Dave Dressler bag. Local guy, out of production. Perfect size. I'm trying to get Dave to make more. Said material & time isn't cost efficient.

Thanks.
My ole basket was dried out. A few years ago, I treated with Vegetable Oil, inside and out.
I used a paint brush.

Vegetable Oil restores dried baskets as seen below-

I like the heavier bags myself. They dont go crunch if they fall off something or get stepped on. Your lure bottles might.

I use bucket w/pouches or bag for my dryland trapping & a large pack basket for my walk-in beaver lines

This

Gorgeous basket.


I was thinking about something like that. The large pouches seem like they would be good for holding baits and lures.

What I ended up getting is this:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GK4TUH4



As a beginner trapper, it holds all the tools that I currently have. Maybe a seasoned trapper would outgrow it, but I think I'll always want to keep my tool bag that I'm lugging from trap to trap as light as possible. I wanted something that's not too heavy, with a nice shoulder strap to lug around, made from good weather-resistant materials. I like the open top for easy access, and there are plenty of pouches to organize tools. There's a removable internal divider that I like, but my sifter won't fit unless I remove the divider, so I need to decide if I'm going to carry the sifter separately or not.

If I ever decide to go with something bigger, I'd probably go for one of those electrician's toolboxes with the open top, something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000EDRTQG

For you more experienced trappers, do you have any thoughts on these?

I had to hike to all my sets when I lived in NY as I trapped public land. I used a wooden pack basket, and it worked fine. Could carry 5 or 6 traps, waxed dirt, hammer, driver and accessories. I carried lures/baits in a small bag. Was a bit challenging when I trapped beaver, as more than a couple 330's made it really heavy. Footholds and drowning weights were a long day to set up.

I just moved out west, and I will be trapping at my work (500 + acres). I have a side by side to get me within 200 yards of wherever I will be setting a trap or snare, so I think the pack basket will still work. Advantage is, it won't have to be nearly as heavy when I go to make sets!!

I’ve used pack baskets, plastic buckets, plastic buckets with lure holders on the outside, the compartmented cleaning tote with a handle in the middle and this year I’m trying a trapping bag from No BS lures.

The cleaning tote worked about the best of the previous options I’ve tried, but I drive by most of my coyote sets with the pickup.

I still use a pack basket when I need to be away from the truck aways.

I have a Loring pack basket attached to an old external back pack frame.
It's probably overkill for what I do, but I've had back issues for years. Carrying a bag pulls me to one side and causes issues for me pretty quickly.