The adventure is over. Everyone is home, tired, hungry and very ready to stop thinking about equipment.
So the backpacks are put down. The outdoor gear makes it as far as the garage or store room. Shoes are left somewhere near the door and anything that doesn't urgently need attention is quietly designated a problem for another day.
Understandable.
Unfortunately, “another day” has a habit of arriving just before the next adventure.
Storing outdoor equipment properly starts before anything reaches its usual shelf, hook or container. A short post-adventure routine means you're not unpacking the previous trip while trying to prepare for the next one.
The first 30 minutes
Don't worry about organising immediately. Start by separating what has come home with you.
Needs attention now: Anything wet, damp or requiring prompt attention.
Needs checking: Equipment that may have been damaged, heavily used or caused a problem during the trip.
Ready to return: Items that can go straight back to their usual storage place.
Doesn't belong here: Food, clothing, rubbish and the inevitable assortment of things that somehow ended up in the wrong bag.
This first sort stops everything being put away as one large collection.
For the care of specialist outdoor equipment, always follow the manufacturer's instructions before longer-term storage.
Do the equipment debrief
Before you forget, take five minutes to think about what actually happened on the trip.
Did something break?
Did you discover that a piece of equipment no longer fits?
Were there items you carried all weekend and never touched?
Did you borrow something because you didn't own it?
Was there equipment you couldn't find before leaving and ended up buying again?
This is useful information. Deal with it while you can still remember the answers.
Don't store unfinished jobs
This is one of the easiest ways to make the next outing more difficult.
A broken strap doesn't improve while sitting in a cupboard. Neither does equipment missing a component. If something needs repairing, replacing or investigating, separate it from the items that are ready to use.
Create a small action area for anything outstanding, but give it a deadline. Otherwise, you've simply created another form of storage.
Once the job is complete, return the item to its proper place.
Put equipment back according to its next use
Outdoor gear often overlaps. A backpack might be used for hiking and camping. A cool box might come to the beach, a picnic or a weekend away. A folding chair could be used for almost anything.
Instead of trying to create overly precise categories, group equipment in a way that reflects how your household uses it.
Frequently used gear deserves easier access. Bulky or occasional items can occupy less convenient positions. Smaller accessories should be contained so they don't disappear amongst larger equipment.
And leave some room.
Storage that only works when every item is positioned perfectly becomes frustrating very quickly.
Before you close the door
Take one last look.
Is everything that has been stored ready to use again?
Have the items requiring attention been kept separately?
Can you reach the equipment you're most likely to need next?
If yes, you're finished.
Go and put your feet up.