We can all agree that the good weather is all but over and that means it’s time to start thinking about summer sports equipment storage. Considering good quality sports equipment isn’t cheap, you need to follow best practices to ensure everything stays in excellent condition until the next season.
Leaving it on the floor in the garage or garden shed with little to no security is not the right way. To help you keep your summer sports equipment in good condition, whether it’s golf clubs, stand up paddleboards, kayaks or bicycles, these sports equipment storage tips can help.
Preparing For Summer Sports Equipment Storage
A lot can go wrong with sports equipment storage, especially if you don’t adhere to a few simple guidelines. If you’re not careful, bugs, rodents and dust could damage your expensive equipment, not to mention damp and packing things incorrectly.
With the high cost of repairs or replacement, we highly recommend following this guide on preparing and storing sports equipment. Regardless of what you want to store, always clean and service everything before packing it away.
How Do I Prepare My Bicycle For Storage?
Bicycles require maintenance to perform better and last longer so before putting it in storage, here are a few simple bicycle maintenance checks you need to do. If you’re storing your bike long-term, this becomes even more important.
- Keep your tyres inflated otherwise it could cause lasting damage if left flat
- Clean and oil the chain
- Spokes should not be loose and have equal tension
- Keep screws, nuts and bolts tight but not too tight
- Wipe the frame to remove dirt and mud making sure it’s dry before putting it away
- Inspect the frame for signs of structural damage, especially near the weld spots or on the bottom bracket
- Wipe down saddle, tyres and handgrips
- Inspect brake pads and wheels for wear or damage
What’s The Best Way To Store A Bicycle?
Whether your choice of sports equipment storage is the garage or a storage unit, it’s best to keep your bicycle suspended from the ceiling or the wall. At home, set up horizontal wall mounts which are ideal for bicycles (and garden tools) but before making any changes to a storage unit, find out if the facility will allow it. Here are some easy bicycle storage tips:
- Don’t store your bike in damp locations for longer than a week as this could cause corrosion, especially the chain
- Heat and sun can also degrade the plastic and rubber parts
- If you have any sort of electrical device on your bike, cold temperatures can reduce the battery life
- Repeated freezing and thawing can loosen and even crack bike parts
- Cover your bike even when it’s stored inside as small insects and spider webs can stick to the bicycle chain and other oiled components
How Do I Prepare Golf Clubs For Storage?
Golf clubs might seem robust but if you don’t follow the right sports equipment storage advice, they too can get damaged beyond repair. It may be tempting to put it in the cupboard, garage or the boot of your car after a few holes but this is not ideal. Considering the cost of golf clubs, it’s best to take good care of them as indicated by the preparation tips below.
- Use warm water, soap and a worn-out cloth to clean your golf clubs
- A tee is handy for cleaning the grooves on your wedges and soapy water for the grips
- Constant exposure to cold won’t damage the head or shaft but could dry out the grips and cause them to harden or crack
- Store in a corner somewhere out of the way to avoid being knocked about causing dents or scratches
- If your golf bag came with a rain cover, place that over the top of the bag for extra protection
What’s The Best Way To Store Golf Clubs?
Golf bags should be stored upright, in a dry, climate-controlled environment and never in a room with poor insulation. A damp environment is also a big problem, such as an unfinished basement or garage. You can buy covers for your woods and drivers for added protection from scrapes, dirt, debris, dust, and dings. The best place for your golf clubs is either in the house or a self storage unit.
Can I Store Golf Clubs In The Car Or Garage?
Keeping your golf clubs in the boot of your car may be convenient, but it’s a mistake many people make. The humidity and heat can easily cause the clubs to rust and render them unsalvageable which is just a waste of money. It can also cause the glue in the handgrips to break down and ruin the epoxy connecting the clubhead to the shaft.
If you plan on storing your golf clubs in the garage this winter, only do so if there’s no moisture problem in your garage. Remember, high humidity can lead to rust but since the heat build-up in the average garage isn’t often a problem, you shouldn’t have to worry about resin breakdown as you do when the clubs are stored in the boot.
How Do I Prepare Paddle Boards For Storage?
Before we go into paddleboard storage, here are a few important steps to prepare for sports equipment storage:
- Wash and dry your stand up paddleboard first
- Remove any internal moisture (for inflatable stand up paddleboards)
- Keep the stand-up paddleboard away from heat
- Make sure you store it off the ground
What Is The Best Way To Store Paddle boards?
A decent garage is probably one of the most convenient storage places for paddleboards, kayaks and canoes. The temperature is stable with no direct sunlight and you can keep it off the ground by installing paddleboard racks. You can also keep all your paddleboard gear and accessories close by so you don’t lose anything during winter.
- mount racks on the walls or ceiling
- make sure its weight is supported at multiple points along its length
- use wide nylon straps or make sure your padded rack supports it on all sides
- avoid pressure points
- don’t strap it down too tightly as you would when transporting it with your car as it could deform over time
Using Rafters For Sports Equipment Storage
As handy as racks may be, many garage walls are filled with tools, bikes and other stuff hanging around. If that sounds like your garage, why not use the ceiling? When using rafters, you have a better weight distribution and the pressure points are no longer a concern but remember to remove the fins from your board for safety.
There is one downside to this particular paddleboard storage method is the weight of carrying it, putting it on and taking it off. If this is a problem for you, rafters are a better long-term sports equipment storage solution.
If you are not using hooks, racks or rafters, we recommend storing your paddleboard upright. A creative way of storing your SUP is to use it as a decorative piece in the living room or elsewhere using wall mounts or a single rack.
Storing Paddle boards Outside
Not everyone has room to store paddle boards and if home décor or the garage is out of the question, you need to keep it outside. There’s nothing wrong with that as long as you follow the guidelines below:
- Protect your SUP from rainfall and any other type of water
- Avoid putting it in direct sunlight
- No direct heat or wind
- Lift it off the ground to avoid scratches and falling over
- Protect it from the elements with a cover, such as a sunshade, shed, or under a patio
- Board bags are also great for protecting your board from direct moisture
Can I Store My Paddle board Inflated?
Inflatable paddleboards are more convenient for off-season sports equipment storage as you can easily deflate and pack them away. These boards are made of PVC layers with drop-stitch woven fibres connected to the top and bottom layers which offer great stability and rigidity.
If you have space to store your inflatable paddle board inflated, keep it away from sunlight, the floor, moisture, and excessive heat. However, it’s best to deflate the board a little to accommodate rising temperatures in the room which could cause the air inside to expand.
Remember, even if your board is stored in a cool place away from direct sunlight, it will still lose air pressure every day. No matter how you decide to store your inflatable paddleboard, deflate it at least a little to make sure it stays protected.
Recommended: Tips For Storing Canoes And Kayaks
Sports Equipment Storage At Space Centre
If you don’t have space or the facilities at home, a self storage unit can help. Using Space Centre for your sports equipment storage is a smart, simple and affordable choice. All of our units are clean, dry and secure with prices guaranteed for 12 months. There is also no deposit and no hidden costs.
Our storage facilities in Stroud, Cheltenham/Gloucester, Stonehouse and Bristol are conveniently located near major access roads with indoor, outdoor, small, medium and large units. We have 24-hour CCTV while each unit has a smoke detector and you are the only one with a key so make a copy in case you misplace yours.
Have you recently transformed your garage with storage and shelving? Have you found more creative and interesting sports equipment storage methods? Let us know and perhaps we can share your ideas on our Pinterest Boards.