How to Store Camping Equipment

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By beckylyn
User-Submitted Article

Article Rating: (2 Ratings)

The way camping equipment is stored is critical to ensuring your investment is protected and it will last season after season.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Step 1

Find a cool, dry place in your home to store your camping gear. Shelves in garages or basements work very well. Designate a number of shelves in the same area of your storage space for the camping gear.
Step 2

Start with organizing your items. Use rubber bins with lids to group smaller items like flashlights, lanterns, cooking supplies, bug spray and first aid kits together.
Step 3

Place larger items, like tents, air mattresses, sleeping bags and cots in their original boxes or on their own on shelves. These items generally work best on the lower or middle shelves.
Step 4

Place items you have organized in rubber bins on shelves. These items generally work best on middle and higher shelves.

Tips & Warnings

Tents should always be stored on their sides, in their stuff sacks. Never store tents standing upright.
Save the original packaging for tents, air mattresses, etc. The boxes make them easy to store.
To maintain the shape of backpacking packs, store them standing upright. Do not crush the tops to fit them between two shelves.
When storing sleeping bags, make sure they are in their stuff sacks. Never store a sleeping bag that isn't in a stuff sack to avoid bugs, dust and other foreign objects getting inside.
Label the outside of storage containers with the contents.
Group similar items together to make it easier to find what you are looking for. For example, camping pots and pans get stored with plastic silverware and paper napkins.
Store heavier items on lower shelves
Store lighter items on higher shelves
Never try to lift an item that is too heavy for you. Ask for help if necessary.
Use a ladder when necessary to access higher shelves.