Last year I decided to convert our son’s bedroom closet into my gear closet. His room was in transition after he left for college and there was no clear purpose for the space. That and the fact that my wife keeps everything else so tidy made me realize that I could save a lot of time searching for things if I consolidated my outdoor gear into this one space.
If you're like me, you probably have items all over your house. You may store kayaks and larger gear as well as some seldom used boxes of camping items in your garage. You might have your technical clothing hanging with your jeans and workout clothes. Your climbing gear and sleeping bags might be in a stairway closet and your hydration system and trail snacks could be in a pantry.
As I considered this project, I gathered all my gear and sorted it into categories that would then be stored together for efficient trip preparation. Sleeping systems (pads, bags, tents, ground clothes) were in one pile. Hats, gloves, socks, bandanas were in a small pile. Day packs, hydration systems, water bottles in another. I noticed my wife Margie smiling with curiosity; she loves an organized house.
I gathered all of my trail shoes, boots, insoles, hip-waders in one pile and my cooking gear and stove in another and consolidated my trail snacks into a small bin, grabbed my climbing bag with ropes, cams, shoes and harnesses and piled my multiple backpacks in the corner. I also consolidated all my rain gear and coats. Items not so easily categorized, like binoculars, gaiters, crampons, hand warmers, knives, headlamps, sunscreen, bug repellent and such went into a large container all together; I would figure them out later.
My son’s closet is your typical closet with several shelves and three hanging areas. I hung my bags and packs, and stored the bins of adventure items on shelves and the floor of the closet. I put all the sleeping pads and tent on the top shelf and made room at the front of the closet for a large travel bin into which I throw things for an outing.
Margie stopped in to take a look at my progress again and smile. Receiving one of her smiles is never a bad thing.
The travel bin is stocked with several items that are routine: a dry t-shirt to change into after coming off the trail, spare socks, bandanas, a knife, and a baseball cap even though I regularly use a Tilley hat for all outdoor activities. I keep a small bag of sun protection, DEET and hand cleaners in this bin as well. These are the items I wouldn't want to forget. When I plan for a specific trip I grab the additional items I need and put them in this same travel bin.
This worked well for several trips and I was pretty happy with the time savings and ease of finding my gear. Margie was pretty happy as well.
After about a year of using this system, I've recently reorganized the closet to better suit my needs. Regularly used gear bins are together and close to the travel bin and those items not routinely used are higher or further to the back of the closet. I reorganized my climbing and mountaineering gear so that all of it is together. I also have a small area for items my wife or daughter might need (warm sweater or wools socks). I throw them in my pack just in case they get cold on a hike or didn’t bring extra socks or enough layers.
An added bonus my wife appreciates is that now when I leave at 4:30 AM on a Friday or Saturday I don’t disturb her by looking through our closet for that last-minute item. I can head to the guest room closet to find the item with the lights on; and my “knocking around” won’t wake her.
Organizing the night before a trip has become easier as well. I don’t have to remember where I last put something (assuming I stored things after my previous trip). Checking and cleaning gear is easier. If I had more space (and gear) I might hang some of my climbing protection or other items and not keep it in a bin or duffel. It would probably be easier to see and select if it was visible. My compact gear closet is beneficial due to the consolidation and organization, if not the display.
And now that my son is doing his own camping and trekking, it simple to explain where the tent and boots and gear are located. He might call on a Friday afternoon and I just tell him to go to the gear closet.
With all my gear and performance clothing in one place, I realized how much I have invested in all that stuff. Maybe I don’t need to take advantage of the next sale at the outdoor store. It probably wouldn’t fit in the closet anyway.
So, if you haven’t already designated a closet in your house for such a purpose, consider creating your own gear closet. Your family and/or roommates will appreciate your organization and you won’t be that person who forgot their spare socks, sun screen, hat or rain gear next time you head into the wilderness.