If you are a competitive archer, backyard shooter, bow hunter, rifle hunter, or just general outdoorsman, you will know that your gear can tend to take up a lot of space. This is especially true for hunters, where your clothing, stands, and all manner of accessories can quickly become unmanageable.
Before you know it, your gear could be taking up space in three closets, part of your dresser, under your bed, a whole half of your garage, and every cubic inch of your truck. For many of us, we would even have gear laying on the kitchen counter and coffee table, too.
If you're anything like me, or my father before me, or my father's father before him, you possess a significant amount of outdoor products.
That could include anything: Bows, arrows, arrow components, crossbows, rifles, shotguns, pistols, knives, ammunition, hunting clothing, hunting accessories, cases, flashlights, treestands, tree saddles, backpacks, duffel bags, boots, optics, tools and anything else you could possibly imagine.
You may be reading this and thinking, "I have more junk laying around than you could possibly imagine." That might very well be true. You could have whole rooms completely filled with not-so-organized stashes of gear. I know I have seen my fair share of garages, sheds, trucks, and 'man caves' that could be classified as a hoarder's dream.
It doesn't have to be that way.
Rugged, Affordable, and Secure
The logical choice to keeping your gear clean, organized, and dry would be some nice totes. Maybe your standard box store clear plastic totes just don't suit your aesthetic, though.
Fortunately for all of us, we offer MTM's Gear Crates and Utility Boxes. If you want 'totes' with a little bit more heft, that include O-rings, roller wheels, and customizable interior compartments, then check out MTM's equipment HERE.
If you are looking for a dedicated 'garage-to-truck-bed' mobile gear crate, then the MTM 'Mule' Mobile Gear Crate is exactly what you should have your eyes on. With a spacious exterior size of 43.5" x 14.7" x 11.5", coupled with the interchangeable interior compartments, lid trays, and exterior wheels, this beast can comfortably house most of the gear you might need on any given outdoor adventure - everything you won't be storing in your backpack, anyway.
Soft and Away from the Elements
Hunting clothing - may we always have too much and yet never enough. Whether you have thirty-eight pairs of hunting socks of various thicknesses and lengths, enough sets of base layers to outfit every guard at Siberian prison, or so many bibs that you find yourself storing lighter pairs inside of heavier ones, one thing is for certain; you could use a better way of keeping track of it all.
Whether your soft gear sits in your shed, garage, or closet throughout the offseason, you want to utilize the proper storage for whatever you currently have lying around.
If you just need an affordable and collapsible tote for your undergarments, base layers, hats, and gloves, then Muddy's Collapsible Gear Tote might be the perfect closet solution for keeping it all managed.
If you are storing your coats and pants in the garage and don't want to run the risk of odor and moisture getting to them, then the waterproof duffel bags from First Lite, Sitka, Muddy, and YETI might be the move. They can pack anywhere and they'll keep your clothing away from any foreign elements when not in use.
It's the Little Things that Count
If you happen to have your gear stored somewhere that isn't necessarily moisture or weather proof - a shed, your truck bed, etc. - and you want to prioritize certain pieces over others, then Muddy's Waterproof Dry Bags might be necessary. They come in 10L, 20L, and 30L sizes and can easily keep your valuables protected from the elements regardless of their location.
For the more serious gear - as in those small items that absolutely cannot get knocked around or rained on - YETI has you covered. Their LoadOut GoBox brings IP65 and IP67 ratings as well as their Defender II material to ensure no amount of dust, dirt, water, or weight can get to your essentials.
Whether that be your phone, batteries, hard drives, or anything else you might need in the field. While it might be designed for rugged field use, there's no stopping you from throwing your tech up on a shelf in your garage in a GoBox, too.
If there are certain pieces of your soft gear you'd like to keep organized and separated from the rest, perhaps in the case of a wall of waterproof duffel bags outlined above, then you can always use the Void Bag Set from Mystery Ranch.
You get a 1.5L, 3L, and 7L of your chosen color, and they seamlessly fit into your travel bag, duffel, or crate to ensure the smaller of your gear doesn't fall to the bottom, get lost, or break.
Something to Keep Your Eyes On
This goes without saying, but those of us with access to a garage, shed, or general workspace enjoy keeping our tools on display - both for the utility of quick-access organization and the desirable aesthetic.
When it comes to your bibs, coats, packs, stands, and bows, there are few items as reliable yet as simple as the good ol' gear hook.
You can screw them into your workshop wall, into the closet at hunting camp, or inside the door to your garage with ease and they provide a simple way of keeping your gear separate while maintaining a distance from the dirt, moisture, and critters commonly found on the ground.
Whether you are looking to accessorize your property and need the 10-pack, or you just need a single hook for your bow in the garage, the HME Bow and Gear holder will do the job. If you happen to grab the 10-pack and have a few left, take 'em out to the stand on your next hunt and keep your gear within arms reach there, too.
Final Thoughts
So, whatever piles of gear you may have lying around, maybe grab a few of the things in this article come the Spring and tidy up a bit. It'll make getting ready for future adventures quicker and easier, and you might end up having the coolest garage, shed, or man cave out of anyone at the hunting camp because of it.
(This one was for you, disgruntled significant other of messy outdoorsmen/women)
