Product Review: Daiwa D-Box

By Joshua Bland

When Daiwa first released that they were bringing out a new range of tackle trays I was concerned this could be reinventing the wheel, but my god these are some of the nicest tackle trays on the market. The Daiwa D-Boxes aren’t revolutionising tackle trays, they are fine-tuning them, and I get a sense of the hours of design time put into each one.

So, what do these tackle boxes bring to the table? They are a cumulation of simple but strategic ideas that improve upon an existing concept and make it even better. High-quality recycled plastic does the brunt of the work creating an impact-resistant shell. Backed with a white base they present lures clearly and are perhaps some of the most aesthetically pleasing boxes I’ve laid eyes on.

An area I’ve felt was lacking in the tackle tray market is the dividers. When you first open the box, the dividers come joined together as strips. I was certainly surprised to find small pegs between each one which made separating them a breeze. These sturdy dividers articulate with the seating collars to form a robust locking connection.

The lid has four locking clasps, two at the front and one on each side. I’ve found this serves two functions. Primarily, to create an even and tight seal across the water-resistant gasket. Secondly, it protects against accidental opening by distributing failure across four points. The water-resistant seal on all the D-Box models means that rust, the killer of lure hardware, struggles to take hold. This is a feature I want to see across the market.

The SSU and LSU models feature silicone moulded slits which grip hooks tight. The slits suit the Bait Junkie Jighead range and have the tightest hold on the heavy gauge models. I’ve been a fan of slit foam trays in the past and the invention of this new silicone system makes it harder wearing than ever before. The silicone insert can also be removed for easy cleaning.

Look, I like the D-boxes but how do we make sense of the extensive range? From small – medium – large, shallow – deep there is a lot going on…

The smalls and mediums are your compact options. Ideal for backpack carry and stashing around a kayak. I use the shallows for crabs, blades, and minnow-shaped baits with the medium-shallow being my favourite for the Double Clutches and the Infeet Slippery Dogs. The regular depths are best for small lures with a wide body, I use them for crankbaits like the Infeet Spikes or the Infeet Rollin’ Cranks.

The medium-deep model is perhaps my favourite in the range. It can double as gear storage and lure storage, but I use it for all things freshwater. It organises spinnerbaits, chatter baits, and RPM crankbaits perfectly with its spinnerbait-ready dividers which are rare among tackle boxes in the Australian market.

The large boxes are great big lure and tool storage and are great for throwing in a boat bag. Large pelagic trolling lures suit this style well. 

The silicone moulded SSU and LSU work well with both lure and hook storage. I have the SSU and use it for storage of my light tackle Bait Junkie Jigheads but I’ll be looking to get the LSU for my medium to large jighead sizes.

Overall, I’ve been immensely impressed by such a simple product, and it’s made a big difference in how I organise my gear. If you’re in the market to improve your tackle management click here to check out the range and to find the model that suits your needs. If you already have a D-box show us your organisation skills and tag us on Instagram @DaiwaAustralia, we’d love to see them.