What do you do with camping gear, kayaks, and other large items when you’re not using them? Storing bulky outdoor equipment and sporting goods takes a little creativity at times. Follow these helpful tips for organizing your sporting equipment this winter and throughout the year.
Designate a Storage Spot
When it’s time to get outside and enjoy the fresh air, you don’t want to waste time searching for your equipment. Designate a spot in your home or garage that will be dedicated to your camping gear and sporting equipment. It could be the corner of a room or a spare bedroom closet, any place that is not used for storing other items. You’ll spend less time going from room to room trying to find things and more time enjoying the great outdoors!
Declutter First
Do you have piles of backpacks or sleeping bags that you haven’t used in years? Are sporting goods such as balls and gloves neglected and stashed in the corner because you don’t need them anymore? Before you decide how to get organized and store your bulky outdoor equipment and sporting goods, go through it all and determine what can be given away or discarded and what you really need now.
Use Bins and Shelving
One of the most creative and easily accessible ways to store and find your equipment is to go vertical. Stack bins on top of each other, with their open sides facing you, so you can see their contents. If you are particularly handy, you can build a wooden frame around the tower of bins to make them even sturdier. Attach hooks to the frame for hanging fishing rods or other lightweight equipment.
If you don’t have a lot of wall space for the towers, consider hanging bins from the ceiling. Install brackets on the ceiling so you can slide the bins in and out easily. Label the bottom of the bins so you can quickly identify which ones hold camping equipment or pool accessories.
You can repurpose an old bookcase or build new shelves for storing helmets, hiking shoes, skates, and other sports equipment. Each section should be dedicated to a particular sport or outdoor activity so you’ll know just where to find what you need when it’s time to get outside.
Secure Equipment with Bungee Cords
Bungee cords can be very useful for holding in bulky items that won’t sit still on a shelf. You can use studs on your garage wall, for example, to create a flexible storage area for soccer balls, basketballs, and other sports balls. String three or four bungee cords between a small top shelf, secured to the studs above the storage area, and the bottom shelf close to the floor, to make a kind of cage. Everything stays inside and can be easily pulled out when you’re ready to play.
Optimize Closet Space
Another option for holding balls is to use a large laundry basket tucked inside an extra closet. You can also place storage shelves or bins inside the closet to keep them out of the main traffic area. Install some rubber coated hooks and ladder hooks to hang ski poles and ice skates safely. Use a sweater hanger or attach baskets to the back of the closet door for extra storage options inside the closet.
Suspend Large Items from the Ceiling
When there’s no room for larger items such as kayaks and canoes inside a closet or on a wall, look up! You can suspend bulky outdoor equipment from the ceiling with specially designed, strong hooks. Consider a pulley system so you can easily access the kayak when you’re ready to hit the water. Ceiling racks are also excellent solutions for sleds and toboggans.
Take Advantage of Off-Site Storage Options
Storing bulky outdoor equipment and sporting goods in the off-season is easy when you take advantage of off-site solutions. Storage facilities such as the secure, climate-controlled warehouse at Fox Moving and Storage Knoxville will keep all of your kayaks, camping gear, and sports equipment safe and ready for you to use when the weather is just right and the outdoors are calling you to get outside and get active.
Contact Fox Moving & Storage Knoxville for Help with Your Next Move
Fox Moving and Storage Knoxville is your locally owned and operated, professional storage and moving solution. When it’s time for you to move, within Knoxville or across the country, we will help you organize and plan your move to make it more successful, so you can stress less. Call Fox Moving & Storage Knoxville today at 865-437-5555 and let our professionals take care of every aspect of your storage needs and your next move.