Buckets o' gear

“Took a sick day today and got bored after awhile watching bad movies on HBO while feeling lousy, so I followed up on a suggestion a TTer made last time I was home alone for a day: I cleaned out closets and nooks, and sorted out gear. Emptied out packs of residual gear, too. Managed to fill two storage containers with stoves, cook pots, water bottles + filters + bladders, first aid supplies, rain gear, head lamps, Hennessy Hammocks, a couple days' worth of dehydrated food, etc. Packs, tents, sleeping bags in place next to the storage containers. Now I could be ready to head for the trail in about 15 minutes, if I don't get in any debates with myself over what to take.

Did find my old BSA mess kit. Only thing missing was the plastic cup and the canvas cover. But the little aluminum kettle and lid were there, and in exceedingly great shape for being 38 years old. The fry pan & dish look brand new, because the kettle was the only thing I ever used much even then.”

“I do stuff like that all the time with my gear.

In my office/gear room all my gear is out and I know where everything is at.

It looks real cool.

8)”

“I prefer the method where i have everything laying around in total dissarray, where it takes me 3 days to remember where i put everything and get packed up for a trip.
The best is when i can't find what i need 10 minutes before i'm out the door, running around frantically tearing everything apart, "where's my rain gear."
i'm sure u know how that goes”

“Wow, that is amazing, pekka. How did you manage to get all your gear in two containers? I can't get all my backpacks in one tub.”

“simer190, you must have watched me before almost any type of trip. There is always something that has managed to find a hiding spot.

bacpac, the "small stuff" is in the containers (each about 16"W x 30"L x 24"H), and the bulkier items, such as "unstuffed" sleeping bags & pads, tents and packs are stacked nearby. But I probably will look for a bigger container for the packs and tents.

Clothes are a whole 'nutha category and fill several containers of their own. A few straggler items probably remain (my first internal-frame pack and tent await cleaning in the basement), and some food supplies are boxed in the basement pantry. There is also the gear that's good for emergencies that I keep in each car (rain suit, headlamp, multi-tool, etc.). And this doesn't include all the paddling and cycling gear. But that will be next. And not too far down the road, after young-uns pass 18, do not collect free bedroom, maybe I can finally get one room upstairs sorted out into a gear room/office. Hard to even shuffle things around to reorganize now beyond what I just did without temporarily stepping on someone's toes.

All in all, a big improvement after realizing I had camping/BPing gear in every room of the house (bathroom included) from the basement to the second floor.”

“I just checked out the Hennessy Hammock and that thing is a must!!!!!!!!!

I am so getting one!!!!!

Oh JOY!!!!!

8)”

“crazy mike, if you live alone, you can put a couple eye-bolts in wall studs and use a Hennessy indoors. Won't even have to put the fly on!

on the main subject of the thread, though, anyone have favorite storage tubs/containers that have proved best for their gear inventory?”

“Thats a good idea!!!!!


8)”

“There used to be a thread called "Stuff Storage" but I think it went to thread heaven after the upgrade. So I'll talk about my gear room here.

It is a whole corner of the basement (about 8' x 10') consisting of three large shelving units, a few stacking bins, two extra-large Rubbermaid boxes with hinged lids, a table with laundry baskets on top & underneath, a clothes rack, and some nails on the rafters.

My sleeping bags (10?) are unstuffed in the Rubbermaid boxes, clothes divided into fleece, underwear, shells, socks/hats/gloves/etc. in the bins & laundry baskets, also some jackets & wetsuits hanging on the clothes rack. Backpacks hanging on nails. Tents & duffel bags in laundry baskets, with the larger tents leaning in a corner. Cooking gear & food on one shelf unit, "accessories" such as water bottles, flashlights, headlamps, etc. in individual bins on another shelf unit, miscellaneous (air pumps, head nets, binoculars, fishin' tackle, frisbees, doggie gear, etc.) & cosmetic items in bins on the third shelf unit.

I also have the obligatory "stuff sack full of stuff sacks" and a box of repair kits & "extras" like sleeping bag straps, boot laces, cord locks, & buckles from discarded gear. I have a card table in the middle of the area for stuffing, organizing, fondling & weighing things. I know this sounds like I am an overly acquisitive gear freak but keep in mind that I sometimes take groups of children camping in addition to regularly outfitting a family of four for various seasons & conditions. My gear room makes it fairly easy to organize everything & find it when I need it, and keeps my gear from migrating all over the house.”

“I have managed to use one of my nicest laminated wooden canoe paddles as a wall decoration in the living room , and have the hooks to put up my wife's favorite of the same. Haven't figured out how to decorate with BP gear yet. I do keep the Coleman fuel(white gas) in the garage at least.

The room I have in mind at our house is upstairs and was a sewing room for a former owner. One wall is widely spaced shelves that held fabric projects and sewing gear, currently occupied by magazines and general crap. The rest of the room is filled with all sorts of junk, including a rolled up futon. I see it all going away and tidy assortments of gear taking over.”

“Just got a bunch of new gear from STP!

Can't wait to get it.

8)”

“A few weeks ago I wanted to finish a roll of film, so I took pictures of my gear. It's kind of embarrassing, but could be useful for the insurance if my house burned down or I was robbed.”

“Hey thats a good idea.

I might just do that.


8)”

“I'm going to video tape my stuff. The whole house and especially the gear closet, lol.”

“I bet that would look cool by the way Sass how much use did birch get out of the snowshoes?

I know we did not get that much snow this year.

It's kind of a bummer.

8(”

“We could each do a pic like the one for The Complete Walker, where Colin Fletcher has his whole kit laid out, except we would lay out everything we've got, not just what we take on a trip.

The Air Force used to do pics like that, where a fighter-bomber such as the F-105 would have the full array of weapons it could be fitted with laid out neatly in front of it. Talk about awesome gear selections.”

“I could never be trusted in the Army or anything like that.

8)”

“like backpacking?”

“LOL - How low can I get?”