Summer Storage Solutions for Your Families Outdoor Gear

Summertime is full of beautiful sunshine, days in the pool, and a whole lot of outdoor gear! Whether your family is into canoeing, biking, fishing, or ATVing, there is a ton of equipment involved with any outdoor activity or sport. The majority of this gear is not tiny and can be difficult to store away when not in use. If you’ve got a massive garage, then you’re lucky, but most people need a particular storage system to house their gear properly.

If your family has more outdoor gear than you know what to do with this guide will help you solve the storage problem. 

Sort through everything

Before you start building massive storage sheds or purchasing a bunch of trunks, sort through all your outdoor gear to see what you’re working with. Assess how much you use each item and if it’s worth keeping, or maybe worth selling or donating. Kids often outgrow toys, and they can build up over the years, without even realizing it. As a general rule, if you’ve not used it in a year, it can probably go. Beyond that, check the condition. If items are broken or ruined, then there’s no point hanging on to them. Otherwise, toys that are in near perfect condition can always be sold online or donated to charity. 

Camping and beach gear

If your family is big into camping or frequents the beach, then you’ll have a lot of smaller items that need an organized storage solution. They are likely in boxes during the off-season, but in the summer, you need them in an accessible place. Consider a storage bench, with a hinged top that can double as outdoor seating. It will be easy to grab your stuff as needed and keep it organized. Use smaller totes, or containers, to separate your gear into relevant sections and store them in the benches. 

Larger gear (Canoes, kayaks, ATVs, Bikes, Surfboards)

For larger equipment, it’s not so easy to just hide it away. Outdoor gear is often bulky and dirty, making it tricky to store. The ideal situation is to have a large permanent garage with ample storage space, but sometimes this isn’t possible. With a bit of creativity, you can find ways to store your outdoor gear during the summer, ensuring you and your family get lots of use out of it. 

Consider the following extensive storage solution that are both versatile and functional. 

• Portable garages 

Portable garages will do the trick to store sizeable outdoor gear during the summer, and even the winter! They are weather tight and can protect your equipment from the different elements, while still allowing quick access as you need things. You can get many different sizes depending on what you need to store, and you can install it where ever you like. The best part is that having your items in plain sight will encourage you to get out and use them. 

• Other alternatives 

For flat items, such as a surfboard or a kayak, first, consider any space that you have in your home such as in a basement or attic. This will ensure your items stay dry and safe all year round, and don’t get in the way of other bigger items that you use more often. If you don’t have any room in your home, turn to your outdoor solutions. 

You can slide them under your deck to keep them out of the way. A deck will protect your equipment from sun damage but still allow enough ventilation to prevent mildew or mold. Alternatively, you could place them in a shed. Why not add a hook to your shed wall and place your surfboard on it for easy access?