How to Store Your Ski Gear
Be a Ski Storage All-Star with These Ski Equipment Storage Ideas
Unless you’re lucky enough to ski every day, leaving your skis and gear stashed by the front door or in your car is less than ideal. It’s important to have an out-of-the-way but easy-to-access ski storage method for optimal equipment care, winter lulls, and the off-season. These ski equipment storage ideas can help you get your gear organized and ready for the next powder day.
Outdoor vs. Indoor Ski Storage
The amount of gear you own, the space available, and whether or not you consider your skis “part of the family” (as we do in my house) will determine whether outdoor or indoor ski storage makes the most sense. If you have space inside, there are three primary indoor ski storage options: a gear closet, an entire gear room, or the basement or garage.
Ski Gear Closet
Unless your house has a gigantic walk-in closet, using a small closet to store your gear will require creative organization. A ski closet is a good option for skiers who:
- live alone and own one to three pairs of skis
- are the only person in their family who skis
- suffer a season-ending injury in mid-to-late December and don’t want to be reminded of what they’re missing by watching their skis gather dust.
Gear Room
If you have a house with multiple skiers or more than a few pairs of skis, a closet may not cut it. Turn a spare room into a gear room/ski storage room if:
- you own more than three pairs of skis, plus different boots for different skis
- you have a significant other whose collection of ski equipment rivals your own and/or you’re working hard to make sure your kiddos are little gnar shredders
- out-of-sight ski storage just isn’t your style—you’d rather display your gear in your own little ski museum
Basement and Garage
When there isn’t enough space upstairs to dedicate to ski storage, your basement is a good alternative. If your basement is unfinished, use a dehumidifier or careful packing to protect your gear from moisture (nobody has time for rusting edges!).
Garage ski storage may be the best option for the off season, or if there’s just no way to fit your ski equipment indoors. Because a garage may be uninsulated, pack your boots, helmet, and small gear into an airtight plastic container, and keep your skis in a case that protects them from humidity.
Ski Racks
If you only have one or two pairs of skis, a ski storage rack is probably not necessary. However, if you hoard skis the way my husband does, or your entire family skis, then a ski rack can be a life saver … or at least a space saver.
Types of Ski Racks
There are two ski storage rack designs—vertical and horizontal—and neither is necessarily superior. Choosing a rack depends on what kind of space you’re working with and which aesthetic you prefer.
When space is limited, a vertical ski storage rack is ideal. If, like me, you happen to live in a very old house with horsehair plaster walls and oddly spaced studs, a vertical rack is also a better choice because it’s not bearing the weight of your skis (rather than actually supporting them, it simply holds them in place, upright)—meaning less stress on your wall. If space is no object and you know your wall can support it, a horizontal ski storage rack is a fine way to display (I mean store) your precious planks.
No matter which ski storage rack you choose, be sure to lay down a boot tray or some scrap carpet to protect your floor from melting snow drips and, if using a vertical rack, to give the tails of your skis a little cushion.
Ski Boot Storage
A shelf in your gear closet, the top of a cubby storage unit, or a sturdy shoe rack are all great ski boot storage options. The best method for in-season storage of ski boots, though (if you can afford it, money-wise and space-wise) is on a boot dryer that doubles as a ski boot storage rack, like this model from GearDryer.
Ski Pole Storage
Since they don’t take up much room, ski poles are the easiest part of your ski ensemble to store. If you’re using a vertical ski storage rack, simply hang your pole straps on the ends of the dowels (you could do this on a horizontal rack, too, it just won’t look as clean). You can also lean them upright in the corner of a gear closet or lay them on the closet floor if you’ve got enough space. My preferred method of ski pole storage is a cheap over-the-door towel rack—the kind with hooks—which also doubles as a great place to hang up wet hats, gloves, ski helmets, and goggles.
Smart Ski Accessory Storage
Proper storage of helmets, gloves, and safety gear helps them last longer. Follow these final ski equipment storage ideas to get the most out of your gear, season after season:
Hats & Gloves
Keep your skiing accessories together in a dedicated drawer, bin, or basket so you never have to worry about where they are. Just make sure you don’t put them away until they’re totally dry!
Ski helmets and goggles are perfect candidates for bin or cubby storage. Store your helmet and ski goggles in the protective pouches they come with to protect against dings and scratches. Again, make sure everything is dry before storing.
Avy Gear
For the backcountry skiers among us, keeping your avy gear organized is a must. Dedicate a bin or drawer for your probe, beacon (remember to remove the batteries when storing), shovel, and any other safety equipment you have in your avalanche safety kit. Keep everything in one place—including fresh batteries—so that you don’t forget a critical safety item on the way out the door. This is also a good place to store your skins to make packing up for a successful backcountry tour a cinch.
Smart storage makes it easier to get on the mountain fast when conditions align, and assures that all of your gear is ready and in good condition when the next season arrives. Whether you share an efficiency apartment or live in a spacious suburban palace, there’s a ski storage solution that will protect your gear while getting it out of your way.
Born and raised in New Hampshire, Ashley Peck’s early adventures exploring the woods behind her home proved the gateway to an adulthood as an avid hiker, mountain biker, climber and trail runner. When Ashley isn’t writing or wandering around the mountains, find her daydreaming about future trips or trying to convince her Australian shepherds that neither she nor her cats need to be herded.