If you take care of things, they last.
Well, the same holds true with your outdoor equipment. As quality camping gear can be a bit pricey, properly storing and organizing them will keep your equipment stay in good shape so that you can get the most use out of them for a relatively long time.
Preparing for a camping trip when all your camping gear is all over the place is frustrating, and it will take you a while to get everything ready. Worse, you might arrive at your campsite late and already exhausted even before setting up a camp. To prevent this from happening, get organized and store your camping gear at home properly!
If you want to be ready for your next wonderful time in the wilderness in no time, organize your stuff in your storage area. Here are some helpful tips on how to properly store your camping gear like a doomsday prepper.
Clean your gear
So, how do you store your camping gear at home like a pro? Remember to begin with this cardinal rule: clean and repair your hiking and camping stuff before packing and storing it.
Remember that tents need to dry before being tucked safely in one place, lest they become moldy or rotten the next time you use them. Also, remember that air clothes and sleeping bags must be washed and dried before storing. Cookware, camping utensils, and dishware must be cleaned and kept in resealable bags. Give your boots some love by giving them a good clean, too.
Keep them together
The most important thing to remember is to keep all your stuff together. If you have a garage, this is probably an ideal spot for storing your camping gear. You can most definitely protect your gear’s longevity by keeping it properly in a cool, dry place like the garage, where you can install shelves and hooks for storing your camping gears properly.
Tons of other stuff is kept in the garage. So, if you’re maintaining chemicals and pesticides in your garage, be mindful of them and keep them as far away from your camping gear as possible. Chemicals might accidentally get spilled on your tent fabric or sleeping bag liner and make it altogether unusable.
If you’re wondering how you can store your camping gear in a small apartment, a little ingenuity in making a DIY gear closet or setting up shelves in a small corner inside your crib will do wonders for you. Also, invest in high-quality portable and stackable bins and categorize items to put on each container so you can maximize your floor space.
You can also stash your outdoor gear in a rack or spare shelves in the basement of your apartment building— just give them a check from time to time to make sure critters are out of their way.
Storing all your camping gear in an easily accessible place will make unpacking and packing less stressful and a breeze the next time you’re ready to head out on an adventure in the great outdoors again.
Make a Gear Inventory
What if your home is without a garage for properly storing all your camping gear? That shouldn’t be a problem! To organize and store your camping stuff properly, just have enough storage bins to keep all your equipment.
A pro tip is to use bigger bags and containers for large outdoor gear like tents, hammocks, and foldable chairs, among others. Use smaller ones for storing small items such as stoves, water filters, first-aid kids, headlamps, etc.
Keep an inventory list of items that go together in one bin. Have the list placed securely inside the bags and on the lids of the containers.
Voila! The next time you go out on a camping expedition, just simply load all of your bags and containers into your car and be on your way while being assured that you’ve got everything covered.
Upon returning from your trip, ensure everything is properly cleaned and dried before stashing these babies away in their designated bags and containers again. Refer to your list to make sure the items go in their rightful places. Easy, right?
Let go of some things.
No matter how much you treasure your belongings, there’s no denying the inevitability of you outgrowing some of them.
Whether you’re storing your camping gear in a garage or somewhere in a small apartment unit, decluttering stuff you no longer use or will allow you to locate the things you need quickly.
Not only that but decluttering your abode will also ease your stress by creating more physical and mental space.
Sort through your stuff and pick out the items you need and frequently use from those you are no longer utilizing, then decide if you’re ready to part with them. You may opt to give away some to your friends or family members who like outdoor adventures, or you can sell your used items that are still in good condition for a lower price.
Letting go of some of your outdoor equipment will create room for newer ones in your storage area, especially if you live in a smaller space.
Guard your gear against moisture
Moisture is not your camping gear’s best friend. The PU coating on your tent will break down and become sticky because of too much moisture. Not only that, but moisture will also bring mold and mildew to the fabrics and damage your electronic gear—which is the last thing you want to happen to your costly outdoor gear, right?
Want a simple solution? Just throw in some desiccants to where you store your camping gear— such as little silica packets that come with almost everything you buy from stores, which will help absorb moisture from the air to keep your stuff nice and dry.
Remember, making sure everything is totally dry is at the top of the list of answers to how to store camping gear at home properly.
Use your vertical spaces wisely.
Placing everything on the floor of your storage area will make it difficult for you to move around. Why squeeze everything on the floor of your garage or one corner of your apartment unit when you can make use of vertical spaces such as hanging shelves and hooks for hanging packs, inflatable sleeping pads, sleeping bags, and clothes?
You can also mount a curtain rod or steel pipe in the middle of two multi-shelf racks so you can hang your clothing and camping gear when you are out on closet space.
Having a system for hanging and storing your camping gear make things accessible and easy to find. You can also help ensure your outdoor equipment will last longer when you take your time to clean, dry, and store your camping gear properly. Plus, you won’t have to fork out a few extra dollars every camping season!
