3600 vs 3700 Tackle Boxes: Which Size Fits Bank Fishing?
By The Gear Audit Team | Research checked October 13, 2026
The quick buying answer
Choose a 3600 for a focused walking load; choose a 3700 when you need a broader layout and have checked bag fit. Our compact starting choice is the standard Plano EDGE 3600 (PLASE360). The standard Plano EDGE 3700 (PLASE370) suits a larger selection organized in one tray.
Buy for the day’s tackle and leave space for water, tools and clothing. Size-family numbers do not guarantee dimensions across brands or thin/deep variants; compare the exact models below.
Choose the day’s load before choosing a box
A bank-fishing bag has to carry more than tackle. Set aside the space you need for water, tools and clothing, then decide which tackle will actually come with you. The larger box is useful when it solves a specific storage problem; empty space is not a reason to bring more gear.
You want a tray for the tackle you expect to use today, and you carry it inside a small backpack or shoulder bag. Start with the smaller footprint if the contents fit without piling hooks and lures together.
You need more room to lay out tackle, or want to replace several separate trays with one. Choose the larger footprint only after checking the bag opening, usable interior space and room for your other essentials.
Keep an existing setup that works. A sound box and an ordinary backpack may already cover your trip. Buy a replacement when you can name the problem: the tray does not fit, the intended tackle is cramped, or you need a documented feature your current box lacks. This comparison is about storage and carry fit, not which tackle will catch more fish.
Two standard-depth Plano EDGE boxes compared
We use two boxes from the same series to keep the size decision clear. Both are the standard utility models, rather than EDGE Terminal, Flex, Thin or Deep versions.
| Buying detail | EDGE 3600 standard | EDGE 3700 standard |
|---|---|---|
| Exact model / SKU | PLASE360 | PLASE370 |
| Exterior size, L × W × H | 11 × 7.25 × 1.63 in | 14 × 9 × 1.88 in |
| Layout | Pre-cut, vented dividers for a configurable layout | Pre-cut, vented dividers for a configurable layout |
| Lid material | DuraView clear polycarbonate lid | DuraView clear polycarbonate lid |
| Shared manufacturer features | Dri-Loc seal; WaterWick divider and reusable moisture-wicking packet; Rustrictor-infused base | Same listed features; they are not reasons to prefer the larger size |
| Carry consequence | Smaller exterior footprint; more flexibility around other bag contents | 3 in longer, 1.75 in wider and 0.25 in taller |
| Our starting recommendation | A focused walking load that fits its actual compartments | A broader load that fits both its compartments and your bag |
Specifications: Plano EDGE 3600 and Plano EDGE 3700. Carry advice is our editorial interpretation. The US pages describe configurable dividers without a numerical compartment range; we do not infer a capacity count from a photo.
The extra width matters as much as the length. A bag may accept a 14-inch object yet be too narrow for a 9-inch-wide tray. The taller 3700 also needs more stack space. Conversely, a larger outer box does not tell you how long a lure will fit inside a particular row: walls, dividers, hooks and the lid reduce usable space.
Plano EDGE 3600 standard: start here for a compact walking kit
Best for: a bank-fishing trip where a compact selection fits one tray and you want room in the bag for other essentials.
Make a shortlist of the tackle you intend to carry before ordering. If it fits the smaller layout with the lid closing normally, upsizing can simply consume bag space. A 3600 is also a useful candidate when your current bag has a tray pocket intended for this size family, though the exact pocket and opening still need checking.
Pros
- A smaller footprint to fit around the rest of your load. It leaves more flexibility than the 3700 when arranging a water bottle, tools or a jacket in the same bag.
- A shallower stack for a tight pocket. Its 1.63-inch exterior height is useful when the limiting measurement is pocket thickness rather than bag length.
- A focused trip tray can stay separate from home storage. Carry your selected tackle in this box and leave the rest behind, instead of choosing a bag around the entire collection.
Cons and trade-offs
- Less layout room for a broad selection. Choose the larger box if keeping everything accessible in one layer is already difficult in a 3600.
- Less vertical room for bulky contents. The exterior height is not the internal clearance; a taller lure or accessory may require a different depth, rather than tighter packing.
- Several small boxes can defeat the compact-load goal. If this choice means bringing multiple trays, compare the packed setup with one 3700 that genuinely holds the same intended selection. Account for extra openings and searching as well as bag fit.
Our recommendation
Choose PLASE360 when your day’s tackle fits and the smaller tray makes your existing bag easier to pack. Choose something else if you need to cram contents under the lid, require a deeper compartment, or will end up carrying several small trays to cover one planned outing. A working basic box can be sufficient if the EDGE features do not solve a need for you.
Search Amazon for Plano EDGE 3600 PLASE360
Model search, not a verified individual listing. Check PLASE360 and the standard utility layout; similarly named Terminal or Flex boxes are different products.
Plano EDGE 3700 standard: more layout room, with a larger carry envelope
Best for: someone who needs a broader organized selection and already has a bag with enough usable room for a 14 × 9 × 1.88-inch tray.
The 3700 makes sense when the contents justify its footprint. For example, if your planned load occupies several rows of smaller tackle plus larger lures, a broader layout may let you keep that selection together. Confirm the usable compartments before assuming any particular lure fits; we have not measured internal row lengths.
Pros
- More horizontal room to plan an organized load. The larger envelope is a reason to consider it when a 3600 becomes crowded, while leaving actual divider placement to your tackle.
- One larger tray may reduce separate boxes to manage. If the same selection fits inside it, you can open one tray instead of moving between several organizers.
- More exterior height within the standard pair. It offers a taller envelope than PLASE360 for contents that need it, subject to actual lid and compartment clearance.
Cons and trade-offs
- The larger footprint can dictate the bag. A compact pocket or narrow opening may rule it out even when the bag looks large from outside.
- It competes with other essentials for space. If you only need a modest selection, carrying the extra envelope can make packing water and clothing less convenient.
- Standard depth is still a limit. A 1.88-inch exterior height does not make it a deep box. Increasing from 3600 to 3700 may fail to solve a bulky-item problem.
Our recommendation
Choose PLASE370 when its larger layout solves a specific packing problem and it fits your complete carry setup. Choose a 3600 if the 3700 would force you to replace an otherwise suitable bag for tackle you rarely bring. Choose a different depth or specialized organizer when that is the actual constraint.
Search Amazon for Plano EDGE 3700 PLASE370
Model search. PLASE370 is the standard utility box; check that the listing is not a Thin, Deep, Terminal or Flex model, and confirm quantity and seller before ordering.
A bag-fit check that avoids buying twice
- Read the exact model. Record the SKU, series and depth, not just “3600” or “3700.” Compare the listing with the dimensions in this guide.
- Measure the usable pocket and the opening. A manufacturer’s external bag size does not establish interior clearance. Check rigid boundaries, padding, seams and the zipper opening; allow space to slide the tray out without forcing it.
- Check all three dimensions in the intended orientation. A tray carried upright still needs its full length, width and thickness. If stacking trays, account for the complete stack and clearance for removal.
- Mock up the envelope. Use an empty carton or cardboard at the listed exterior dimensions to check the space demand before ordering. This can flag a bad fit; it does not prove latch clearance or substitute for checking the actual box.
- Pack the rest of the trip load. Put water, tools and clothing in their planned positions. A tray that fits an empty bag may leave an impractical finished load.
Do not buy by “holds four boxes” alone. That statement needs an exact tray size and depth to be useful. A bag intended for standard trays may not hold the same number of deep versions, and a family label does not establish cross-brand compatibility.
Size does not answer every storage question
Both selected EDGE models have the same listed seal and moisture-management features. Plano describes the Dri-Loc seal as maintaining waterproofing when closed, the WaterWick packet as moisture-wicking, and the Rustrictor base as rust-preventative. Those are manufacturer claims; neither is a reason to pick a larger tray, and this guide does not establish a numerical waterproof rating or corrosion performance.
Small loose hooks, split shot and swivels present a different question from fitting the outer box in a bag. Divider configurability alone does not prove those items will stay separated during an upright walk. If keeping tiny parts separated is essential, check an exact organizer’s internal closure design rather than choosing solely by tray size. For soft baits, follow the bait manufacturer’s storage and material-compatibility instructions; a clear lid or water seal is not evidence that every bait can be mixed loose inside.
Buying FAQs
What is the difference between 3600 and 3700 tackle boxes?
For these standard Plano EDGE models, the 3700 is 3 inches longer, 1.75 inches wider and 0.25 inches taller. Its exterior is 14 × 9 × 1.88 inches versus 11 × 7.25 × 1.63 inches for the 3600. Check the exact model elsewhere: these dimensions do not apply to every box with the same family number.
Which size should a beginner choose for bank fishing?
Start with a 3600 if the selected tackle fits and it leaves room for the rest of the load in an existing bag. Move to a 3700 for an identifiable layout need, after checking bag fit. Being a beginner does not determine the size; the actual tackle and carry setup do.
Will a 3700 box fit in a 3600 tackle bag?
Do not assume it will. The selected 3700 needs a larger envelope in every dimension. Use an explicit compatibility statement for the exact bag and tray, or check usable interior space and the opening. External bag dimensions alone are insufficient.
Are two 3600 boxes smaller than one 3700?
Two PLASE360 boxes stacked need a nominal 3.26 inches of exterior height before extra clearance; one PLASE370 is 1.88 inches tall. The stack keeps the smaller footprint, but that does not automatically make it easier to carry. Compare the actual orientation, contents and bag pocket.
Does a 3700 hold a guaranteed number of lures?
No capacity count follows from the size number. Lure length, width, hooks, divider placement and lid clearance affect what fits. We do not turn the manufacturer photo or external dimensions into a lure-count promise.
Sources, research method and limits
We checked the current US manufacturer product pages on October 13, 2026. Model identity, exterior dimensions, divider design, lid material and named features come from Plano. The buying recommendations and packing examples are our editorial interpretation. We have not hands-on tested either box, measured usable internal compartments, or tested bag compatibility, tackle migration, latch durability, water ingress or corrosion protection.
- Plano EDGE 3600, PLASE360 — exact standard model, dimensions, shared features and manufacturer photo.
- Plano EDGE 3700, PLASE370 — exact standard model, dimensions, shared features and manufacturer photo.
The US pages specify a polycarbonate lid but do not identify the base’s exact resin, give a numerical compartment range, or publish the usable internal row dimensions. We leave those details unclaimed. We do not use specifications from the separately named StowAway, Terminal, Flex, Thin or Deep products to fill gaps. Amazon links are searches because an exact individual US listing has not been verified; no price or customer rating is quoted. See our methodology.
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