{"id":2468807,"date":"2019-11-01T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-11-01T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.outsideonline.com\/uncategorized\/how-to-store-outdoor-camping-gear\/"},"modified":"2022-05-12T13:16:11","modified_gmt":"2022-05-12T19:16:11","slug":"how-to-store-outdoor-camping-gear","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.outsideonline.com\/outdoor-gear\/tools\/how-to-store-outdoor-camping-gear\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Store Your Summer Gear This Winter"},"content":{"rendered":"

As much as it hurts to admit, summer is over.\u00a0<\/strong>The aspens are nearly bare, frost has ravaged the tomato plants, and it\u2019s time to put away your fair-weather gear. But if you don\u2019t do it right, you might find things\u00a0covered in mold or damaged by creasing when you\u00a0take them\u00a0out in a few months. Here\u2019s what you need to know to prevent\u00a0surprises before next spring\u2019s\u00a0first camping trip.<\/p>\n

Vent Your Tent\u00a0<\/h2>\n

It may seem counterintuitive, but\u00a0<\/strong>you need to set up your tent before putting it away. Check for rips or broken zippers, and hand-wash any caked-on dirt with diluted soap (not detergent). Then\u00a0let it air out somewhere shady. Unfold tent poles as much as possible to preserve the shock cords\u2019 elasticity. Once it\u2019s clean and dry, store it flat and away from animals in a temperature-controlled area, like the back of a closet. You can also loosely roll the tent,\u00a0just don\u2019t store it in a stuffsack. Justin Bradshaw, a rental-gear associate at Atlanta-based High Country Outfitters<\/a>, says that packing a tent tightly can cause creasing and weak spots.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Unpack Your Pad<\/h2>\n

As you did with the tent, wipe down your sleeping pad with a soapy cloth, then rinse it with water. You\u2019re aiming\u00a0to get dirt and your own stink off it, as well as any bug repellent, because deet\u00a0can break down the exterior. If it\u2019s\u00a0inflatable, use a hair dryer\u00a0or a pump to inflate and deflate your pad\u00a0a few times, which will flush moisture from the interior. Let the pad dry in a shady spot. Once dry, store it unfolded or loosely rolled\u00a0and partially inflated with the valve open, if applicable.<\/p>\n

Stash (Not\u00a0Stuff) Your Sleeping Bag<\/h2>\n

If your sleeping bag is smelly, you can wash it<\/a>\u00a0in cold water in a front-loading washer (top loaders may rip the fabric) with gear-friendly soap. Use Nikwax Down Wash Direct<\/a> ($11) for down and a gentle, unscented detergent for synthetics.\u00a0Then\u00a0run it in an unheated dryer with a tennis ball to restore loft. If it smells OK, just unzip your sleeping bag all the way and put it in a shady spot to make sure it\u2019s entirely dry: hang it over a rack or chairs to make sure that both sides get air. Like the tent, store it loose\u2014in a mesh storage bag like REI\u2019s Sleeping Bag Storage Sack<\/a> ($18) or a king-size pillowcase\u2014in a cool, dry place.<\/p>\n

Hang Your Hydration Bladder<\/h2>\n

Even if you empty your hydration bladder, there\u2019s often moisture left inside, which is why Bradshaw uses a <\/strong>modified coat hanger to store his. Cut a plastic hanger in half\u00a0<\/strong>to get a hanging storage device that will encourage airflow\u00a0(be careful of sharp points), or purchase the CamelBak\u2019s\u00a0Reservoir Dryer<\/a> ($12). If the bladder does mildew, he recommends cleaning it with a gallon of hot water mixed with a teaspoon of bleach. You can also freeze it to slow the growth of mold.<\/p>\n

Blow Up Your SUP<\/h2>\n

Like tents, inflatable watercraft, like SUPs<\/a>, kayaks, and canoes, should be set up completely and left to dry. Their PVC walls can break down in sunlight, however, so find a spot that\u2019s shady or indoors. Then\u00a0let its air out\u00a0until it\u2019s about a quarter inflated, and store it out of the elements. Bradshaw says that people like to fully deflate and roll their boats up\u00a0during the winter to save space, but this puts pressure on the seams, leading\u00a0to tears. Inflatable watercraft\u00a0stored in a roll\u00a0might only last a season or two, he says, while one that\u2019s stored partially inflated can last decades.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It’s time to put away your fair-weather gear, and you have to do it right.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":114968,"featured_media":2404362,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"uuid":"8f3aa444760ffe3f96048ab378670c07","footnotes":""},"categories":[2565],"tags":[2608,2849,2634,2878,3252,2984,2804],"byline":[2299],"ad_cat":[],"legacy-category":[],"class_list":["post-2468807","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tools","tag-camping","tag-evergreen","tag-hiking-and-backpacking","tag-paddling","tag-stand-up-paddleboards","tag-tents","tag-weather","byline-philip-kiefer"],"acf":[],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"How to Store Your Summer Gear This Winter","url":"https:\/\/www.outsideonline.com\/outdoor-gear\/tools\/how-to-store-outdoor-camping-gear\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.outsideonline.com\/outdoor-gear\/tools\/how-to-store-outdoor-camping-gear\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/23\/philip-basics-gear-storage_h.jpg","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/23\/philip-basics-gear-storage_h.jpg"},"articleSection":"Tools & Tech","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"wyu"}],"creator":["wyu"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Online","logo":"https:\/\/www.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/favicon-194x194-1.png"},"keywords":["camping","evergreen","hiking and backpacking","paddling","stand up paddleboards","tents","weather"],"dateCreated":"2019-11-01T00:00:00Z","datePublished":"2019-11-01T00:00:00Z","dateModified":"2022-05-12T19:16:11Z"},"rendered":"