Whether your hobby is camping, hiking, cycling, skiing or one of the many other outdoor activities, you more than likely have an assortment of equipment and gear that take up a lot of space in your home when not being used.
Unfortunately, the weather in the UK doesn’t allow adventure-seekers to partake in these activities all year round, which means that your equipment probably spends the majority of the year cluttering up your home, sheds and a garage. And if you are storing your non-utilised outdoors equipment at home, are you doing so correctly to keep it in tip-top condition?
5 best practices for storing your gear during the off season
Easy access
When the weather eventually does decide to play along, the last thing that you want is to have to search around for your gear in all sorts of different places.
When you pack it away for the off season, make the effort to be organised and systematic.
You should aim to find a safe and secure place to store your equipment, too, that is both out of sight and easily accessible. Perhaps you can put a bike in a bag or skis in a bag and push them under the bed.
Bike and ski storage solutions keep equipment neat and tidy but out of the way, too.
Can you set aside a cupboard or a few drawers for storing winter outdoors clothing in the summer and summer outdoors clothing in the winter?
Invest in a self storage unit
Sometimes there is simply no space in the home, or perhaps you prefer to keep your cupboards and the underneath of your bed clear of clutter. Self storage units have become an increasingly popular solution to extending the home space.
Self storage offers a cost-effective solution to storing gear off season. Facilities are often conveniently located, offer a variety of different sized units, are easily accessible and offer optimum security. What better way to pick up your camping gear than on your way to the country?
Categorise your gear
Whether you store your gear in the home or a self-storage unit, it’s essential to categorise and compartmentalise your items. This process will make collecting your gear more efficient and dismiss any uncertainty of where you last placed certain items.
This is especially important for smaller bits and pieces that can easily get lost.
Handy tip: Use labelled plastic containers to categorise your gear neatly or store them in different coloured dry bags. A bike could be stored in a large plastic bag or skis placed in a travel ski bag.
Clean your gear before packing away
It’s extremely important to clean your gear immediately after use and even more so before packing away for storage during the off season. Dirty gear attracts pests and creates mould.
If you are planning to store skis or bikes, make sure they are serviced and stored away in the best condition possible. Always ensure that you give your gear a thorough clean and make sure they dry properly before packing them away.
Protect your gear
Protecting your gear obviously means that it will last longer and stay in better condition. Make use of containers for the smaller pieces and use old linen and/or towels to cover bigger equipment to prevent any scratches.
Many items such as camping gear and other equipment come with covers, so be sure to use them.
Make sure bikes, for example, are oiled and that items such as skis and snowboards are waxed and serviced. And then store them in bike bags and ski bags to keep them dry and dust-free.
Following these five tips will help maintain the quality of your equipment so that you can enjoy them in the outdoor space for years to come.
- Thanks to Sandra Morris for the tips.
