Camping is a great way to escape some of the stresses of your everyday life. There are few better ways to relax than unplugging from our Facebook and other social media addictions and communing with nature. One of the keys to a successful camping trip is your gear, and properly storing your camping gear when you aren’t using it is crucial to maintaining it. Here are some tips for storing your camping gear.
Tips for Storing your Camping Gear
- For the sake of convenience, you want to be able to keep all your gear in one place. If you’re passionate about camping, chances are you’ll quickly find yourself with more gear than you know what to do with in your home. Organizing your camping gear in a self-storage unit will not only free up space in your home, but also allow you to keep all your gear in one convenient location.
- Before putting any of your gear into storage, you’ll want to clean it thoroughly. Dirt, mud and grime can break down surfaces over time, and might also be a lure for rodents and/or insects. As you clean your gear, you can also take inventory of any repairs that need to be made. Be proactive. Making repairs as you notice their need will prevent small damages from become large damages over time, and you won’t have to deal with it before your next camping trip.
- After you’ve cleaned all your gear, make sure everything is dry before putting it in storage. Moisture can foster the growth of mold and mildew, which at best will leave your gear smelling foul and could force you to replace an expensive backpack, sleeping bag or tent. Vacuum sealing is a great way to seal gear made of cloth from moisture (additionally it will keep your gear from putting off any smells that might attract mice or insects).
- Remove the batteries from your flashlights, lamps, radio and any other electronic gear. Batteries will corrode over time. Removing them ensures your electronics will still be operable the next time you want to use them. Put the batteries in a box and keep it with your gear so you won’t forget them on your next trip.
- All your cooking gear should be cleaned thoroughly and stored in an airtight container. This again will ensure no unwanted critters get a whiff of your gear and come for a visit. If you’re using a camp stove, it should be thoroughly cleaned and stored in the case it came with (bags/cases designed for camp stove storage are available anywhere camping supplies are sold). The fuel should not be stored with the stove. Keep the fuel canister in a well-ventilated area.
Storing your camping gear properly is important to ensure that it remains in peak condition when you need it. If you take care of it, it’ll take care of you!