Buyers Guide: Sports Equipment Storage

Whether you are a sports professional or amateur, many types of sports often involve various types of costly and often bulky equipment, clothing gear and supplies.  In particular, sports and outdoor activities, such as bikes, ATVs, fishing, snowboarding, skiing and golf, can be quite expensive and require adequate storage of all the related equipment. In this case, you may find that a dedicated outdoor storage unit will be ideal to keep all the sports equipment together.

Suitable storage facilities may be especially useful to sports and leisure centres, community centres, nurseries, schools and colleges, sports and golf clubs as well as for homes with enough outdoor storage space.  However, the main factor that will help you to make your decision will depend on the type of sports equipment that needs to be stored.

Here, we will give an overview of the key points to look out for a range of different outdoor sports activities and their storage requirements.

ATV/ Quad Bikes

Quad biking is great for those who like an exciting adventure outdoor sport.

Quad biking is great for those who like an exciting adventure outdoor sport.

Quad biking is a popular sport for those who enjoy the speed, freedom and the thrill of the ride.  But this popularity has a downside, with Quad bike theft increasingly common in the UK.  Because of this, quad bikes are known as “hot property” by the UK police.  So when getting an ATV, always make sure you have considered your bike security options

Size: The main concern here would be if the dimensions would be suitable to store your vehicle.  Look at the height of the unit, as well as the width and depth.  Shelves and hooks are an additional benefit to store your vehicle accessories.

– Accessibility – Look for units with easy large double door access, with ramps if possible in order for you to be able to drive your vehicle straight in

– Security:  With the number of quad bikes being stolen rising by 83% last year, make sure you have maximum security for your off-road vehicle.  As well as standard chain locks and ground anchors, a metal ATV storage unit would provide the most security.  If your existing garage or storage unit does not come with a robust security locking system, consider investing in additional locks and alarms to protect your property.

Power supply – An electric supply for recharging your vehicle and accessories is a bonus, so look out for any units, which have a power, supply option.

Ventilation: This would be quite important; your ATV needs somewhere cool and dry especially after being driven.  Be careful about wooden sheds as they may not be as safe as metal sheds, and are susceptible to damp and rotting over time.  In comparison, metal storage units are rust and weatherproof.

Asgard’s RecommendationThe Quad Bike Storage Unit

Fishing

Tha Catch of the Day!

Tha Catch of the Day!

Any keen angler will know how valuable fishing rods, reels and accessories are to the sport so need to be stored properly when not in use.  The main concerns for Fishing tackle storage would be the following areas:

Horse riding is great fun for all ages.

Although owning or caring for horse may be geat fun for people of all ages, Looking after horse usually means plenty of equipment – horse tack, clothing, including the bridle, saddle, bit, girths, cinches, saddle pads, lead ropes, halters, whips, stirrup irons and stirrup leathers, horse boots, the list goes on!  The main concerns for horse tack storage would be the following areas:

– Size:  This would depend on what you intend to store in the storage unit, so make sure you consider a sizable storage unit with plenty of storage space.  Check the height of the unit, as well as the width and depth before you buy.

– Storage – With so many different equipment, organisation is key.  It might also be worth checking to see the unit comes with additional saddle racks and shelving to ensure your equipment is stored safely and securely.

– Security:  As your equipment may be left outdoors in the farm or field, make sure you go for a Storage Unit that offers you maximum security. It is worth checking to see the security level on the storage unit before you buy.  We would recommend you to choose metal storage units as they can provide the most security, compared to wooden sheds.  If your storage unit does not come with a robust security locking system, consider investing in additional locks and alarms to protect your property.

– Ventilation: A Horse Tack storage unit will come in handy when storing a range of horse riding related gear and equipment.  Keep in mind that saddles, bridles and stirrups, and other items made of leather needs storing somewhere dry with a good circulation of air, as sealing it in an airtight box will cause condensation and mould.  This is especially important when storing in wooden sheds, as they may be susceptible to damp and rotting over time.  On the other hand, opt for galvanised steel metal storage units that guarantee to be rust and weatherproof.

Asgard’s Recommendation – The Trojan Horse Tack Storage Unit

♣ Skiing and Snowboarding

Winter Sports are cool!

Skiing and snowboarding and other winter activities tend to be seasonal sports, so unless you’re one of the lucky few who ski year-round, there comes a time at the end of every winter season when skis and boots must be tucked away in storage. Properly storing your snow gear in the off-season in a safe and protected manner will help you the following winter with equipment ready and prepped to hit the slopes.

Size: The main concern here would be if the dimensions would be suitable to store all your bulky snow equipment, as well adequate shelving and hooks to maximise the storage space available.  Look at the height of the unit to store your skis upright, as well as the width and depth.

Security: Winter sports gear is often quite expensive, and the combined costs of all the equipment will often add up to more then you think.  So it’s worth checking to see the security level on the storage unit before you buy.  We would recommend you to choose metal storage units as they can provide the most security, compared to wooden sheds.  If your storage unit does not come with a robust security locking system, consider investing in additional locks and alarms to protect your property.

Ventilation: Due to the nature of the sport, most equipment is quite hardwearing and durable.  However, before storing it for long periods of time, ensure it is clean and dry before putting it away.  This is especially important when storing in wooden sheds, as they may be susceptible to damp and rotting over time.  On the other hand, opt for galvanised steel metal storage units that guarantee to be rust and weatherproof.

Asgard’s Recommendation – The Trojan Skiing/Snowboarding Storage Unit

Equine Crime Rise

Equine crime is a real problem, especially in rural areas and every year hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of horses, ponies and equipment are stolen. These thieves specifically target stables and rural premises as they can be generally low on security and isolated.

Recent news stories have highlighted the scale of this problem. At the end of December 2012, £25,000 worth of horse tack was stolen from a Lincolnshire stable and early in January 2013 more than £50,000 pounds worth of tack were found in a property raid in Oxfordshire.

Det Sgt Steve Birchill from the Thames Valley Police said “[The thieves] are going round the areas and taking advantage of the fact that places are left unoccupied or unlocked”. Police are warning and urging people to take greater care in protecting their items.

Keep your horse and tack safe

Keep your horse and tack safe

How to keep your horses and tack secure:

Horse security

  • Freeze marking – This will permanently mark the horse on the saddle patch with a unique number and registration papers.
  • Hoof marking – Brand your postcode onto the horses hooves, this will need redoing as the hoof grows.
  • Micro-chip – Get a micro-chip implanted by a vet. The signal will help you locate your horse if it is stolen.
  • Horse passport – make sure your horse passport.

Stable yard security

  • Secure your stable yard with fences, hedges and gates
  • Make sure gates are changed and fitted with anti-lift locks
  • Put theft warning signs on display
  • Fit security lighting, alarms and even CCTV

Tack security

  • Postcode stamp all items.
  • Make sure your tack is always locked away when you aren’t around.
  • Saddles and bridles should be locked to their racks.
  • The doors to your tack room should be reinforced with steel and heavy duty locks.

If you are looking for a secure way to store your horse tack, the Asgard Tack Storage Box offers the best security for your tack.

“Very heavy unit, very strong.  We have had it 1 month and already our horse has kicked it.  Still standing though”

Asgard Tack Storage Box

Asgard Tack Storage Box

This is an incredibly strong metal storage unit, weighing in at 17.5 stone and made from strong weatherproof steel. It has been fitted with a tough 5 point locking system and pick resistant locking mechanism to help prevent tack theft. This tack storage box has also been approved by the Loss Prevention Certification Board to Level 1, which may help to reduce insurance premiums. Visit the Asgard website for more information.