Storage of Gear

[seakayaker]

What are some good options for containers for storing all my gear between trips? I'm currently using a large Rubbermaid Action Packer but it doesn't hold everything and it's not stackable. I have limited space as I store all my gear in my home office so stacking containers would be good.

Thanks!

Seakayaker

[CalebJ]

I have several totes in the basement that do stack, but would need to get a close look at them this evening to get you a model number/brand. That seems to work well in combination with a set of shelves. Amazon has a few options for reasonably priced and sturdy shelving. I just ordered a set of 14x82x48" shelves for $90 that can be rolled around. That should work well for storing sleeping pads on top with adjustable shelf height for other gear below.

Edit - the totes we have are similar to these:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Mainstays...-of-8/55489780
An 8 pack of 18 gallon totes is $40, and you could probably stack at least 4 high so you could get a lot of sealed storage space in two columns.

[Leo L.]

I'd highly recommend boxes (totes, as you may call them) that are transparent, so you can see from the outside what stuff is inside.
Like the ones I'm using for older office stuff and most of my climbing/hiking gear:
https://www.ikea.com/at/de/p/samla-b...ent-s69903214/

[CalebJ]

I think that's this one on the US website:
https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/samla-box-clear-90102971/

[trailmercury]

https://www.menards.com/main/storage...95-c-12667.htm

These are great because the lid sections stay attached when bin is open, and they are stackable.

[CalebJ]

https://www.menards.com/main/storage...95-c-12667.htm

These are great because the lid sections stay attached when bin is open, and they are stackable.

I just came back to post something similar - the integrated lid might be a good idea.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/HDX-27-G...NE-5/205978361

[trailmercury]

I have used both and the integrated lid is a huge difference.

[shelb]

I just came back to post something similar - the integrated lid might be a good idea.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/HDX-27-G...NE-5/205978361

I have used the plastic 18 gallon totes from Walmart (good for cheap storage), the clear ones (WONDERFUL to see contents..even though I also label the outside), and the integrated ones (more expensive but durable). In climate controlled areas, the first two work well; however, when we stored things in an unheated storage unit, these were brittle and broke apart as Leo L. noted. The integrated ones have been holding up fine for us in unheated storage.

[Leo L.]

@CalebJ:
Wait, half the price than in the EU?
OK, you have to buy the lid separate, but still...

The boxes work just fine, only downside is that the plasticmaterial is becoming quite brittle when cold.
I have most of my storage in an unheated loft and broke some of them while manipulating them clumsily when really cold.

[fastfoxengineering]

Duffel Bags > Totes for space saving. Less stuff = less storage needs.

[trailmercury]

Duffel Bags > Totes for space saving. Less stuff = less storage needs.

fastfoxengineering = hiker trash!

I mean that in the most endearing way possible.

[fastfoxengineering]

fastfoxengineering = hiker trash!

I mean that in the most endearing way possible.

All you need is two duffel bags. If you have anymore... you got too much stuff lol!

[Slo-go'en]

Gear closet. And that's not everything. Sleeping bags are under my bed, jackets and clothes in another closet.
I really should get rid of that giant -20 hollow fill bag from the late 70's and maybe I really don't need 11 packs...
SAM_5048.JPG

[CalebJ]

Gear closet. And that's not everything. Sleeping bags are under my bed, jackets and clothes in another closet.
I really should get rid of that giant -20 hollow fill bag from the late 70's and maybe I really don't need 11 packs...
SAM_5048.JPG

I wish all my junk would fit in a closet... It's expanded into the guest bedroom at the moment. Maybe with a second set of shelves I can bring it back to one area in the basement again.

And yet somehow there's always a piece of gear I want to add to the collection for a particular purpose.

[MtDoraDave]

All of my camping and hiking gear has been in a small closet in my living room since I started accumulating it. Now it doesn't all fit, and my fiance and I are moving into a new house. She has made it clear that in the new house, my camping/ hiking gear can either be in the shed, the workshop, or the garage... So I'm either going to have to build a closet in the workshop, or get good, strong, stackable totes.
I don't want to store my down sleeping bags/ quilts in totes though, for fear they'll get funky ...where do you guys and gals store your down sleeping bags?
The two I have currently are in their large storage bags on top of the dresser in the spare bedroom.

[Leo L.]

...where do you guys and gals store your down sleeping bags?...

We have a huge wardrobe in the sleeping room, half of it for my wife, the other half for me.
My wife's half is stuffed full of clothes and has one tiny top compartment reserved for the one down sleeping bag she owns.
My half is full of all the sleeping bags I own (including the ones I occassionally lend to her) and has one or two compartments left for the few clothes I own.

[steady123]

When you get married your fiancee get a promotion to wife. You get a demotion to husband. When you have kids, your wife gets a promotion to mother. You get another demotion to Dad. Your gear (as did mine) will be evicted to the location where neither your wife/mother nor your children frequent. My gear is stored in trash bags in the basement. It is unfinished. My treasured possesions are safe.

[JNI64]

I must have way to much stuff. Since my daughter and her husband moved out I took a whole room as my gear room. She left a long short dresser with lots of drawers so utilizing the drawers , 1 has homemade stoves, 1 has fire making stuff, 1 hasmaps etc. And I have them labeled. Closet full of hiking clothes, boots , winter gear etc. Nice having a whole room dedicated to all my hiking crap.

[4eyedbuzzard]

All of my camping and hiking gear has been in a small closet in my living room since I started accumulating it. Now it doesn't all fit, and my fiance and I are moving into a new house. She has made it clear that in the new house, my camping/ hiking gear can either be in the shed, the workshop, or the garage... So I'm either going to have to build a closet in the workshop, or get good, strong, stackable totes.
I don't want to store my down sleeping bags/ quilts in totes though, for fear they'll get funky ...where do you guys and gals store your down sleeping bags?
The two I have currently are in their large storage bags on top of the dresser in the spare bedroom.

What? You're a WB member and you don't have a dedicated gear room?! My two sleeping bags get stored in their large manufacturers bags on the top of my gear shelf which is 36w x 18d x 72h. A couple of packs, a tent, and a hammock, are the next shelf down. All the rest which includes some books and guides goes in cardboard boxes on the bottom two shelves. But I'd never store stuff in a non climate controlled space - especially in a climate like Florida. Humidity and changing temperatures leads to mold and mildew, insects, animals looking for nesting material, etc.

[Tabasco]

As an official Empty Nester, I have a dedicated gear room.