GT: How to lovingly store your summer gear
While we always get a wee bit sad at the end of any season, be it summer or winter, but once it’s clear that our biking, climbing, camping, or skiing season is over, we like to methodically go through all our gear to organize, clean, store, and inventory. It feels good to get everything properly sorted, and by storing things carefully, we prolong our beloved gear’s usable life.
Yeah, we’ve all been guilty of stuffing a sleeping bag in its stuff sack, leaving it for six months, and finding it in a sad, scrunched-up, semi-smelly state next time we take it out. But we can do better, and maybe this handy little guide will do the trick reminding a few folks to stow their summer goods properly.
Sleeping bag
Let’s start with that ol’ sleeping bag. You love it. It’s your summer under-the-stars snuggle buddy. So don’t just stuff it for the winter in a state of post-campout mank.
First, give your sleeping bag a proper wash. Body oils, grease, and other residue are all bad for the fabric and compromise performance over time. Read your bag manufacturer’s instructions online for washing instructions—it’s something you can do at home easily. You might just want to pick up a sleeping bag-specific cleaner like Nikwax to get the job done properly.
Then, dry your sleeping bag alllllllll the way. Not one ounce of moisture can remain in that sucker before storage, or you’ll find a mildewy mess next time you get your bag out. And finally, place the bag in a large, breathable sack like an extra-large pillowcase or mesh laundry bag. This way, it can sit in storage in its full fluffy mode, which preserves the bag’s insulation loft (and its ability to keep you warm on your next adventure).
Tent
Your tent also doesn’t want to be stored long-term in its stuff sack, which can crease and weaken the technical fabric. Give it a proper clean and shake-out, then gently and loosely fold the tent and stow it in a much larger bag or box than its stuff sack. Again, a large pillowcase or laundry bag is great. Also, the tension cord inside your tent poles can get strained and kinked if you store your poles fully folded and collapsed. You can ease the tension on the cord by partially assembling your tent poles before storing.
Summer clothes
Clothes are easy to store, right? You just put ‘em in a drawer! … Well, not quite so easy when it comes to performance fabrics. Your nice layers will be compromised over time by dirt, grime, sweat, deodorant, lotion, sunscreen, bacteria, and whatever else you got into. (Spilled coffee in the car? A drippy peanut butter sandwich? Apres beer gone awry?)
Wash all your summer biking shorts, climbing pants, running tanks, bike jerseys, windbreaker jackets, etc. at the end of the season. This gives you the chance to inspect everything carefully as you wash and dry it—find any buttons or zippers that could use a repair, or tears that need mending. You might also realize you have more of something than you need—say, two lightweight rain jackets—and could sell one here on Geartrade.
Once everything is thoroughly dry, it’s time to neatly fold each item and tuck it into a non-dusty place for safekeeping. Your choice of storage bin is up to you and your budget. Cardboard boxes will absolutely do if fancy storage bins feel a little too spendy. However, mice, spiders, and bugs (like wool-eating months) can totally weasel their way in and make themselves at home. Clear plastic bins are awesome (and reusable forever), although if your clothing has the slightest bit of dampness when you store it, you’ll end up with a moldy mess later.
If budget permits, snag a set of clothing-specific storage bins made of fabric. This lets your clothes breathe (no mildew!) while keeping dust and critters out. You’ll have these bins for a lifetime and all clothing you store in them will stay pristine.
Climbing gear
When it comes to climbing gear, it’s not just a matter of keeping your things nice—proper storage is a matter of keeping gear safe and functional. So don’t skimp. Do things right.
Inspect your rope very carefully, end to end, noting that any wear and tear is light and normal. If you see any core shots to your rope, congratulate that rope on its retirement (or cut it into a shorter rope and ditch the damaged part). If your rope has a lot of dirt or grime on it, give it a gentle wash in the bathtub before drying and storing it. Then, don’t hang your rope or tightly coil it—any tight folds or kinks held for a long period of time can negatively affect the rope. Instead, loosely stack it in a rope bag or other large, breathable sack (like a laundry bag). Set it in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.
Give your harness a thorough inspection for any fraying, wear, or weak points. It’s just not worth holding onto a harness you can’t trust. You can also gently wash your harness or brush it clean with a soft toothbrush if there’s any dirt or grime on it.
Store your shoes clean and dry, and away from sunlight. If they’re a little stanky, sprinkle some baking soda inside. Give the soles a good look-over, too. If they’re worn or coming unglued, you can probably still have the shoes resoled to get lots more life out of them.
Mountain and road bikes
If it’s time to stow your trusty steed for the winter, give the bike a little love first. Just as dirt and grime can compromise your clothing and other gear if left too long, they can negatively affect your bike too.
Give your bike a good wash (
we even have a how-to guide here!) and inspect any parts that may be worn or damaged. Winter is the perfect time to order any replacement components, with enough time on your side to find them on sale or UnNew. Then, cozy up on the couch or in the garage with a tasty brew and fix up your bike so it’ll be in rip-roaring shape come spring.
Be sure to share your own summer-gear-storage suggestions with us … we’re all ears. And have a blast out there in the meantime.
Beth Lopez is a seasoned writer and creative director who loves to tell tales of adventure and discovery—and finds writing a powerful way to give a voice to people, causes, and places. Beth runs amok in the Wasatch mountains when untethered from her computer. She believes there’s no such thing as a bad ski day and considers animals her favorite people. Don’t tell her mother about her Instagram mountaineering photos.
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