What’s not to love about camping, really...aside from the bugs?! Gorgeous scenic nature, ample clean fresh air, sleeping under the stars (actually seeing the stars in the night sky), campfires, s’mores and quality time with friends, family or yourself (if you’re camping solo). Sounds pretty awesome!
There is one part of camping that is not always viewed as ‘awesome’ that we want to talk about in this blog, and that is having to pack up and store camping gear and equipment in-between uses.
Yes, it’s sad to have a camping trip end (unless the bugs are eating you alive), but it can be daunting to have to unpack, clean everything and put everything away. Why? Because when you camp you tend to have a lot of stuff, and it may not always be specific to camping. Camping and outdoor activities go hand in hand – fishing, kayaking, canoeing, hiking, biking, etc. So, in addition to your traditional camping gear, you may also have a canoe, a pair of kayaks, lifejackets, paddles, fishing gear, hiking boots, hats, binoculars, hydration packs, mountain bikes, helmets, just to name a few things. Outdoor activities also mean exposure to nature and the environment, so things are wet, dirty, smelly, muddy, sandy, or damaged, so stuff needs extra attention when the camping season is over. Your stuff can be just as covered with sweat, sunscreen and bug spray as you are.
That’s a lot of stuff to have to go through, clean, pack up, put away and store properly. We bolded those last 2 words because they are very important. Storing your camping gear and equipment properly will help you:
- Keep it in good repair in between uses, preventing unnecessary and avoidable damage and costs to repair or replace.
- Have what you need when you need it – nothing is more annoying or frustrating than realizing after a 4-hour drive into the middle of the woods, that you left your flashlights, batteries or mosquito netting at home.
- Be more prepared for your next camping trip - with everything clean, organized and in good repair you can get on the road faster, and be confident you have what you need.
Here are Expert Tips for Storing Camping Gear:
Tip 1: Clean & Fully Dry It Before Storing It.
- This is the most important tip we can share with you because not properly cleaning and drying camping gear and equipment is the quickest way to ruin or damage it.
- Damage can range from stains, tears, foul odours, mold, and mildew.
- Sleeping bags – Always read the tags for how to care for your sleeping bags. While some can be washed on a gentle cycle and hung to dry, others are best cared for with a visit to the dry cleaners.
- Sleeping pads or air mattresses – These are often best cared for by handwashing with warm soapy water and hanging out to dry.
- Tents – These are often filled with sand or caked on mud. A hose is a fast and easy way to clean a tent. Be sure to sweep it out first, and after hosing it down, allow it to dry fully. If there are any sticky spills on the inside, use warm soapy water to try to remove them.
- Portable camping stoves – Refer to the owner’s manual for how to best clean and care for these. If you do not have the paper copy, go online – it’s likely posted on the manufacturer’s website. Overall, wipe them down and make sure there is no food residue. Also, always disconnect the fuel source and store separately from the portable stove.
- Backpacks – These get just as dirty as you do when camping. Clean them by washing them in warm soapy water. After a thorough rinsing, hang them to dry.
- Hiking boots – When you invest in good hiking boots, you need to care for them so that they continue to give the support and protection from the environment that you purchased them for in the first place. The best way to care for hiking boots is to follow the care instructions suggested by the manufacturer (we know we say this often, but they made it, so they know how to best care of it). In addition to removing dirt and stains with products that do not harm or deteriorate the fabric and materials they are made of, you also want to ensure that they remain waterproof. Using the wrong products could compromise this.
- Hydration equipment – Staying hydrated is important, and so is taking care of the filters and bladders that comprise your hydration equipment. These are in constant contact with water and if you do not take the time to clean, sanitize and dry them, mold and mildew can grow inside, which can make you sick.
Tips 2: Organization is Your Friend.
- Designate a place in your home or garage for all your camping storage needs. Having stuff stored in all different places, increases the chances that you will ‘lose’ stuff or forget stuff when you camp, which is a headache and hassle.
- Organize your camping items by use. This makes it easier to find things next season and keeps together what goes together. Similar to when you pack boxes for a move, putting the toilet paper in with your photo album box (because it fit), doesn’t help you out when you need to use the washroom. Here are some examples of ways to organize your camping supplies and equipment:
- Shelter - tent, tarps, pegs, rope, canopy, dining tent, hammock, camping chairs etc.
- Sleeping - sleeping bag, air mattresses, sleeping pads, blankets, pillows, etc.
- Cooking - portable stove, firestarter, matches, utensils, dishes, pots, tinfoil, etc.
- Lights & Power – flashlights, batteries, lantern, portable solar system, solar powered charger, etc.
- Toiletries – hand sanitizer, toilet paper, wet wipes, facial tissue, sun screen, bug spray, portable toilet bags, etc.
- Emergency – whistle, first aid kit, first aid book, latex-free gloves, antibacterial wipes, duct tape, scissors, multi-tool with knife, pain relief meds, antihistamines, emergency fire starter, waterproof containers and bags, spare warm socks, etc.
- Heavy duty plastic totes and bins are perfect for organizing your gear and are a safe, clean, and dry storage solution. There are so many sizes and colours, that you’ll be able to find the right sized bin for camping storage needs, but also get creative with your organization (e.g., red bin is emergency stuff, green bin has cooking stuff, blue bin is for shelter stuff…). You can even take things one step further and organize the contents of a bin with smaller containers and transparent bags or pouches.
- Once your backpacks are clean and dry, they can also be used to store things, and the same organizational tips we shared above apply. Just make sure you do not stuff them until they are busting at the seams and zippers, as that causes unnecessary wear and damage.
Tip 3: Labels & Lists Make Everything Better.
- This is one of our favourite tips, and something we always share with our self-storage customers because it makes finding what you need super-fast and super easy.
- Label the bins, even if they are colour coded, so that it is 100% clear what each bin is for.
- List the contents of what you have in each storage bin (bags or bear barrel) and affix that to the outside of the container. You can make your list waterproof by keeping it in a clear binder sleeve (sheet protector). Simply secure the binder sleeve to the container lid or side with duct tape, leaving the top opening free (that is where the paper slides in and out). Once your list is ready, simply slide it into the plastic sleeve. This also makes it easy to change out the list in between campaign trips or make notes on it during a trip (like buy new AAA batteries).
Tip 4: How You Store It Matters.
- A dry storage location is always ideal for camping gear. Garages may have more room, but they can be damp so storing inside your home in a basement, closet, crawl space or even attic may be more ideal. Basements can also be damp, so, if possible, using a dehumidifier will help keep your camping gear in good standing.
- Sleeping bags & pads – These are best stored hanging up or laying them flat, especially if they are higher-end sleeping bags. Rolling them up tightly and putting them back in the sacks they came with is not great for the insulation. If neither of these storage options are possible, loosely roll up your sleeping bag or sleeping pad and tie a rope around it or place it in a breathable bag. Remember to avoid plastic bags as this traps moisture which can cause mold and mildew.
- Tents – Avoid unnecessary strain, wear, and tears in the fabric by folding it loosely and storing outside of the bag or sack it came in. When you roll it up tightly, which is necessary if you want to get it back inside the bag they came in, along with the poles, the fabric rubs and get poked and prodded. Depending on the quality of the tent, it’s age or frequency of use, or if mud or sand has not been removed prior to storing, this can wear it down or cause tears.
Tip 5: Maximize Space.
- Go vertical wherever you can - shelves, a peg board with hooks and rope, wall and ceiling hooks, etc. This is a fantastic way to utilize space and maximize small and large spaces. Using vertical space also helps you keep items off the floor, which helps prevent damage and gives you space to still move around and not trip over your stuff.
- Shelving units with adjustable shelves are great for stacking bins and storing loosely folded gear. As the shelves are adjustable, you can adjust them however you see fit to meet your camping storage needs as they change over time.
- Tall laundry baskets or trash bins are inexpensive options to store tent poles, trekking poles, paddles, fishing nets and poles, and camping chairs. Always make sure that your items can breathe and are not crammed in too tight because things could rip and break.
- If camping is synonymous with fishing, you may have more than one fishing rod so consider a wall mounted rack for these. They are not only affordable, but they are a fantastic way to keep your fishing rods from getting broken, especially expensive rods and those special ones that help you catch lots of really big fish. 😊
- Depending on the space, you may have room to install a curtain rod between 2 shelves or a shelf and a wall, which will give you space to hang up sleeping bags, sleeping pads, bags and outerwear.
Additional Camping Storage Tips:
- Consider putting a few packets of desiccant inside each camping storage bin to help to keep everything dry.
- If you are not an avid camper and your gear stays packed up for long periods of time in-between use, make it a habit to check on it a couple of times to make sure it is dry, and no rodents or pests have gotten into it.
- Always be decluttering your camping stuff - Over time you will collect lots of stuff, and your camping style may change. You may find that you have things you no longer need, use, or fit into. This is a great chance to toss anything broken and also sell or donate duplicate items that are in good repair or things you no longer need or use.
We hope you find these camping storage tips useful, and that they help you keep your camping gear and equipment in good condition until your next camping adventure. For more helpful tips & tricks, advice, or a good laugh, keep up with our blog and like or follow us on Instagram & Facebook.
Choose Storage Solutions for Your Seasonal Storage Needs
Running out of space at home and looking for a fast and affordable place to store your camping gear or other seasonal items so you can make room for your camping equipment at home? Consider renting a self-storage unit at Storage Solutions! We make renting convenient, simple and quick! You can rent 24/7 online through our website.
Not sure what size self-storage unit rental you need? No problem! You can check out our sizing & pricing page to help figure out the right sized storage unit to rent and for added convenience, visit our YouTube channel to watch online tours of our Milton self-storage facility and Woodstock self-storage facility, and the different sizes and types of storage units available for rent.
If you have questions about self-storage or want help renting a unit from one of our friendly self-storage experts, email, text or call us!
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