Ski and snowboard summer equipment storage!
Off season storage is extremely important and can make your equipment last and perform longer. Find out what you can do to protect your investment.

Boots
If you want your boots to fit properly for next season, proper summer storage is very important. When you use your boots, moisture is created inside them. If this moisture is left unattended, it can make your boots stink or worse, turn to mold. Start by removing your liners from your boots. Clean the inside of your shells with a damp cloth. Mild soap and water can be used if necessary. Next, remove the insoles from inside your liners. You can spray both with slightly warm water to get them damp. Then with a sponge dipped in mild soap, wipe your insoles (top and bottom) and the inside of your liners to clean them. Then with clean water, wipe everything clean of any soap. Try to avoid any repeated rubbing in one area on your insoles or liners as this can damage them. Never put your liners or insoles in the washer or dryer. If you have a smell that this cleaning doesn't remove, there are many products available in stores that can help remove it. 

Let air dry for at least a day then put everything back together and (this is important) buckle or lace your boots closed!  If you fail to do this, the material in your boots start to take on a different shape. This will mean your boots will not fit as comfortable next season. Buckle or lace them snug enough to keep your boots in the proper shape. Do not over tighten as this can stretch the material of your boots over the summer.

Do not store your boots on a basement floor, in a crawl space or an attic. Any environment that is damp or has high heat will harm your boots. They should be stored standing upright in cool dry area of the house like a closet. It's also a good idea to put a plastic grocery bag loosely over your boots to keep out any dust that might acquire over the summer. This helps keep them clean. 

Skis and boards  
Your equipment should be stored free of salt, dirt, grime with a fresh coat of wax. The best way to do this? Have your skis or boards tuned at the end of the season! This is the perfect way to store your equipment and they'll be ready to go the next season. You'll also have fresh coat of wax on your bases which will be absorbed into the bases over the summer making them more durable. Applying a thin coat of wax on the edges will protect the metal from any moisture and rust.

Your skis and boards should be stored standing upright on the tails in a damp free environment. A garage, damp basement or attic is not a good place for summer storage. Dampness and heat harm your gear. The basement may work if it is dry. A great storage place would be a closest corner in the house.

Do not store skis or boards hanging from their tips in a rack over the summer. This can harm them.
Do not store your equipment in a bag. Bags rarely get cleaned and they trap moisture which will deteriorate the bases and edges.

Bindings
Manufactures say all you need to do for storage is make sure they are clean. Do not change your binding tension! This was something that was recommended back in the 60's and 70's but manufactures now design bindings to have tension. If you release the tension, this causes the springs to expand and not release the same.

Back to our home page