Storing Camping Gear for Winter So It's Ready in Spring

The last trip of the season ends, the gear goes in a pile in the garage, and in April you open the tent bag to the smell of mildew and a headlamp full of leaking batteries. An hour of work now saves a lot of money in the spring.

01Tent

• Dry it completely. Set it up in the yard or garage, or drape it over chairs, until every seam is dry, including the floor and the rainfly. A tent packed wet will mildew, and mildew stains and smell don't come out.
• Clean it. Shake out the dirt and pine needles. Wipe off mud with a damp cloth. No washing machine and no harsh soap.
• Store it loose. In a big breathable bag or bin in a dry place, not tightly rolled in its stuff sack for months. Not in a damp basement or a hot attic.

02Sleeping bags

• Never store them compressed. Packed tight all winter, the insulation loses its loft and the bag gets colder. Store it loose in a big cotton or mesh storage sack, or hang it in a closet.
• Air it out first, and wash it only per the maker's instructions.

03Sleeping pads

Store self-inflating pads unrolled with the valve open, under a bed or behind a couch, if you have room. Air pads can be stored loosely rolled with the valve open.

04Stove and fuel

• Clean the stove and let it dry.
• Fuel canisters: cool, dry place, away from heat and away from where people sleep. Check the label.
• Propane cylinders: store them outdoors, upright, with the valve closed. Never inside the house. Check your local fire code for garages and sheds.
• Liquid-fuel stoves: follow the maker's directions about emptying the fuel bottle.

05Batteries and electronics

• Take the batteries out of headlamps, lanterns, radios and anything else. Alkaline batteries left in for months can leak and ruin the device.
• Portable power stations: charge them partway and top them up every few months; check what the maker recommends. Keep them out of freezing temperatures. See portable power stations for camping.

06Cooler, water jugs and filters

• Wash the cooler and water jugs, dry them completely and store them with the lids open, so they don't get musty.
• Dry your water filter per the maker's instructions and keep it where it won't freeze. See how to keep your water from freezing at camp.

07Make a list while you remember

As you put things away, write down what broke, what ran out and what you wished you had. That list is your spring shopping list, and the start of a holiday wish list. See the camping gift guide.

If you own a camper, it needs its own checklist: winterizing a camper or RV, step by step.

Photo by Mikewildadventure on Pixabay.

Related: Cold-Weather Hammock Camping: Underquilts Explained