If you love the outdoor lifestyle in Central Texas, you no doubt appreciate the area’s easy access to lakes, rivers, trails, and campgrounds. Storing your gear in a self-storage unit helps keep your home clutter-free but allows you to access your outdoor gear when ready for your next adventure. Storing your gear smartly and organized makes spontaneous adventures faster and stress-free. Today, we will share our top organizing tips, storage hacks, and best gear setups to help you create a ‘grab-and-go’ storage system in your storage unit.
Why a ‘Grab-and-Go’ Storage System Makes Sense in Central Texas
The weather in Central Texas allows residents to enjoy year-round outdoor fun. The need to work around busy schedules means having gear ready to go saves time and makes it realistic to quickly head off on an outdoor adventure when you find yourself with a free day. Self-storage units help keep your home free from clutter while keeping equipment accessible. This clutter-free environment is especially beneficial if you are someone who has invested in a fair amount of outdoor gear over the years, which may take up too much space in your home. You can choose a self-storage unit to fit the amount of gear you currently have and then start to organize it to make it easy to get what you need and head out on an adventure without delays.
Group Gear by Activity Type
One of the easiest ways to group gear is by activity type. We recommend creating separate bins or shelves for each adventure category. Camping gear can be grouped to include tents, sleeping bags, propane, lanterns, and other items you’d need for a night away. If you enjoy fishing, place tackle boxes, rods, bait coolers, and licenses in one area. You may use items for tubing and water fun more in the summer months, so group together inflatables, pumps, river shoes, and waterproof bags in one spot. Finally, hiking and everyday adventure items such as backpacks, water bottles, first aid kits, and trekking poles can all live together in another part of your storage unit. To avoid digging for items in a rush or mixing up your gear, label everything for the activity you use it for.
Use Clear Containers and Vertical Storage Racks
To help quickly identify content, opt for stackable, clear plastic bins. These allow you to see precisely what is inside each bin without searching for an item when you are in a rush. If you can customize your self-storage unit, consider adding hooks or wall-mounted shelves. These are ideal for storing kayaks, paddles, or bikes and help you to use your storage space effectively. Place small items like headlamps and fire starters in labeled pouches or toolboxes. You won’t have to worry about them missing; they’re safely stored to avoid damage.
Prep a Ready-to-Go Essentials Bag
Prepare a ready-to-go essentials bag to make your life even easier when you want to head out on a spontaneous outdoor adventure. Your go-bag should have all-season essentials such as sunscreen, bug spray, spare batteries, a first aid kit, a flashlight, and trail snacks. Keep this bag in an easy-to-access spot so you can grab it and head out the door. Remember to replace items like snacks after each use so that they’re ready to go again the next time you want to explore Central Texas more.
Rotate Gear by Season
Each season, take a short time to rearrange your storage unit so that it’s ready for the months ahead. In the summer, store cold-weather items, such as blankets, jackets, and thermal gear, in the back of the unit. You won’t need these unit the weather cools down again, when you can pull them back forward. Move water gear and coolers to the front in the spring and summer for quick access. You will use these items more at this time of the year, so you want them ready to take out at any time.
Choose the Right Storage Unit
When choosing a storage unit in Central Texas for your outdoor gear, there are a few factors to consider. We recommend finding a drive-up unit, which makes loading and unloading your larger pieces of gear easy. Suppose you have a lot of electronics or weather-sensitive gear that you want to put in storage. In that case, we recommend a climate-controlled environment, which can help protect your items and avoid damage when placed in a storage unit for an extended period.
Depending on the amount of equipment and gear you want to store, consider the size of the storage unit you rent. The good news is that units are available in every shape and size, with larger ones ideal for storing bulky outdoor equipment. Our team will be happy to advise you about the amount of equipment you can store in each unit and work with you to ensure that you find the perfect storage solution for your needs.
Creating a ‘grab-and-go’ storage system will help you enjoy faster weekend getaways, no more gear chaos, and peace of mind knowing everything’s in one place. We encourage you to get organized now so that you are always ready for your next Central Texas adventure. It’s a great way to keep your home clean and tidy while keeping your storage gear safely stored away all year round. Once you’ve reserved your unit, we encourage you to take some time to organize a ‘grab-and-go’ system that will make it easy to get out and make the most of everything Central Texas has to offer. Reserve a unit today with Amy’s Attic Self Storage and build your grab-and-go system!
