Tackling Storage for Seasonal Sports Equipment

Sporting Heroes

We Irish love our sport – watching, coaching, supporting and playing. According to a 2022 EU survey, we’re more likely than the vast majority of other Europeans to play sport or exercise at least five times per week.

Gold medal to Ireland, then!

Gearing Up

There’s many benefits to playing sport both physically and mentally, so it’s well worth finding something you love and getting stuck in. For many, that means sports which require equipment – from something as simple as garden goals or a tennis net and rackets; to something more specialised like kayaks and paddles or skis and snowboards. Maybe you’re into mountain climbing or fishing? Or you’re the team coach responsible for big nets of balls, practice goals and a teams-worth of jerseys and bibs? 

Having the right sporting gear can really enhance your enjoyment but what do you do with it during the off-season when it’s just too muddy for five-a-side or there isn’t a flake of snow to be found this side of the Antarctic?

Or what if there’s something you’ve always fancied trying – orienteering, deep sea angling – but you’re not sure what to do with all the gear? 

How to store your seasonal sports equipment is a whole new ball game … and it’s where self-storage can be the winning move.

Self Storage is a Winner

There’s a wide variety of reasons why your self-storage is best for storing your seasonal sporting equipment. Firstly, it keeps your home decluttered – nothing quite like tripping over a ski pole every time you need to go out the front door, or telling visitors they can’t come because there’s a canoe in the spare bed. Although Uncle Bob did hint about Christmas this year …

It also means that your gear – which won’t have come cheap – is secure and safe in more ways than one and far less likely to get damaged or stolen, all the while being accessible to you should there be an unexpected sunny day on the river, or a sudden blizzard on the local hills. 

Once you’ve decided that self storage is the way to go, then your next decision is how you’ll use your storage unit.

Be Prepared

Failing to prepare is preparing to fail, according to Coach, so making all the right moves before you hit the off-season is a surefire way to hit the ground running next time you use your sports equipment. 

Keep it Clean: Wash your equipment in hot soapy water or wipe down with a clean rag. Disinfecting everything can keep it free of mould and mildew, and prevent curious pests from taking up a hobby of their own.

Cover Up: Cover any exposed equipment with a sheet or keep in containers with a tightly sealed lid. 

Let it Down Gently: If you’re not using a climate-controlled unit, then temperature will, of course, fluctuate. If balls have too much air in them, they can warp and go out of shape which will trounce the bounce so deflate them halfway at least.

Don’t Go Batty: Keep your wooden sports equipment dry and away from sunlight, and store them upright.

Life Cycle: If you’re storing a bike, keep your tyres inflated, clean and oil the chain, tighten the spokes, screws, nuts and bolts and inspect the brake pads and wheels for any damage.

Hole in One: As a keen golfer, you’ll be well used to keeping your clubs clean and dry. Avoid humidity to win the war against rust, and keep them upright to avoid tangling, dinging and damage. 

Can-oe do it right?: Canoes and kayaks have similar preparation requirements for storage. Both need special care and attention specific to what they’re made from, including fibreglass, plastic and epoxy-coated wood. For a wooden trim, loosen the screws in the gunwales to prevent cracks and always clean and do maintenance first to save time for your next foray onto the water. Make sure there’s not too much pressure on the hull and that they’re stored to offer the maximum support and weight distribution.

Future Proofing

Expensive sports equipment can last a long time if it’s cared for properly so it’s well worth investing time and money into looking after them correctly.

Self-Storage is an ideal environment for keeping the gear safe that keeps you fit and active – practical in terms of cost and space saving.

And who knows – take care of those golf clubs or that cricket bat properly and you could sow the seeds for a whole generation of sports stars to come!

“Unlock the freedom of extra space. Get in touch with Storage World today or get a quote online.”