Once your camping trip is over the task of storing your camping and survival gear still needs to be tackled. I can almost hear you groaning! Still, it’s best to tackle this chore as soon as you arrive home. This way you’ll get it done and won’t be tempted to leave it undone (as many campers do) – for days or even weeks! If you use common sense it doesn’t have to be an unpleasant experience.
The best thing to do before you leave on your trip is to make an inventory list for all your gear. After you return home and start storing your camping and survival gear you can check each item off as you unpack it. Make notes for each item that needs to be repaired for the next trip. If any items need to be replenished add them to a second list. You can also add any items you wish you had taken on the trip but didn’t.
Storing your camping and survival gear may seem like a lot of hard work when you would rather be relaxing. While camping gear is durable it can also get damaged in a variety of ways. The last thing you need is to unpack your gear for the next camping trip only to find it damaged and unusable. Storing your gear high up in a dry area will help protect it from insects, rodents and mold.
Before storing your camping and survival gear make sure it’s free from moisture. If the materials get frozen the items can be damaged by expansion. In very cold temperatures certain items can crack, even when dry. So make sure you store your items in an area where they are protected from temperature extremes. Also make sure they are not in contact with any moisture source such as from a leaking roof.
Make sure that all your camping gear is clean and free from food particles. The smell of food will attract rodents who can quickly gnaw into your tent, sleeping bags and other bedding. If any of your gear smells of food wash it before you store it. Vacuum sealers make ideal solutions for storing your camping and survival gear until next camping season.
Remove the batteries from your flashlight, lamps, radio and other electronic appliances. Taking the batteries out will prevent corrosion and leakage. You can simply store the batteries separately in plastic containers. When it comes to storing your camping and survival gear make sure that all your gear is packed where it will be easy to find each item when you need it next time round.
When storing your camping and survival gear keep all related items like cooking utensils in airtight containers and make sure they are all very clean to avoid attracting rodents. You can store items in labeled cardboard boxes for easy access or vacuum pack your items separately or in groups.
Make sure that any gear that needs to go in for repairs or needs to be replaced is stored along with the rest of your camping gear so that you don’t forget it when you pack. When you follow the easy guidelines above, storing your camping and survival gear will be a snap. Well, almost!