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This Overlanding Accessory Should Be in Every Car on the Road

The headrest trash can is a humble, handy accessory worth its weight in gold.

a trash can hanging on the back of a head rest in a carBlue Ridge Overland

By Hayley Helms

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If you’re ever really, really bored one day, Google “where do people put trash in their car?” Car trash is about a mundane topic as they come but you’ll be surprised by the novel, unexpected and downright strange ways folks — especially Reddit users — deal with food wrappers, tissues, plastic water bottles and apple cores.

Drivers who have ever gone overlanding, spent an extended amount of time in your car for a camping trip or road trip, or I don’t know, driven madly across the California desert, understand the annoyance and frustration that results from having too many candy wrappers … and not enough cupholders to stuff them in.

Trailer Trash

There are plenty of inventive and clever ways the overloading community has addressed the more subtle aspects of the extended vehicular excursion, but one of my favorites is the headrest trash can.

There are some products that hold a special place in our hearts, like dad’s hand-me-down leather jacket or that vintage t-shirt you scored a few years back. My own headrest trash can is right up there with my favorite pocket knife, jeans and socks; the amount of love and respect I have for it simply cannot be overstated.

There are a few overloading companies that make their own version of the headrest trash can, but my favorite is Blue Ridge Overland’s model.

The Headrest Trash Bag is made with vinyl-coated polyester truck tarp, and attaches to the headrest via a single webbing strap clip. The key thing about this strap is that the trash can also detaches easily, so when it’s ready to be dumped out or needs a deep clean, there’s no fumbling with tons of straps or annoying closures.

I’ve had my headrest trash cans for a few years now, and my car and our overlanding rig have never been tidier.

There are a couple small pockets on the front of the trash bag, although truth be told, I’ve never put anything in them — but I could see them being useful for trash-adjacent items like dog poo bags or vinyl gloves. This particular trash bag isn’t waterproof, strictly speaking, but I’ve never had a leakage in mine, and I’ve tossed smoothie cups, coconut water cans and all sorts of liquids in there.

I’ve had my headrest trash cans for a few years now, and my car and our overlanding rig have never been tidier. No more crushed up straw wrappers, chip bags or napkins in my side compartments and cup holders; now I have somewhere to put my road soda without spilling it. (Just kidding.)

Other Affordable Options

If you can’t wait to get the Blue Ridge Headrest Trash Bag, there are other options available — I have another headrest trash can in my daily driver. It’s not the same quality as the Blue Ridge version in my family’s overlanding rig, but it gets the job done and is just as easy to clean.

There are headrest trash cans with lids and without them. However, I prefer without a lid, because having an open top reminds me there’s trash in the bag, and I empty it more frequently.

But, if you have backseat passengers frequently and don’t want to offend them — or you’ve got a curious dog — you may want to opt for the closed can.

Hit the (Dirt) Road

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