Sad to say, its about time to put some things away for the winter. And you want to be sure that when you get them out in the spring, theyre not covered in mildew or weakened from poor storage choices.
REI Hobitat Tent
Hobitat TentFor sleeping bags, the best way to store them is as loosely as possible in a large cotton bag. Pillow cases are okay, but I tend to think larger bags purpose-made for storing bags are better. Theyre around $10 at and other stores (these days most bags come with one).
Give tents a similar treatment. The best thing to do is set them up and then clean them off with a sponge and some lightly soapy water (use a little Dawn, for instance). Do not put them in a clothes washer. Then let them dry thoroughly. No clothes dryerit will cause the waterproof coating to de-laminate. Then, simply store them loosely packed in a breathable bag. Dont roll them up or stuff them tightly. Just drape them into a bag. And put them in a cool, dry place for the winter, along with your sleeping bags.
If you can, store the poles fully deployed. That will take strain off the shock cord inside the poles and help it to last longer.
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