Good climbing gear storage ideas do two jobs at once. They keep your rope, shoes, and rack in a dry, environment-controlled spot so everything lasts, and they make it quick to grab your kit and get out the door. Keep your gear out of the damp and away from direct sun and it’ll stay strong for years. Here are 23 climbing gear storage ideas to steal for your garage, closet, or gear room.
1. Customized Book Shelf Heaven
Drop the shelf heights, add a rod for hanging jackets, and build in a couple of drawers, and a plain bookshelf turns into a solid home for your climbing gear.
If this was my garage or gear room, I’d be proud to show it off to everyone who came to visit.
2. Ready To Climb Bag
This is probably my favorite way to store gear. It isn’t a visual masterpiece, but it makes it easy to grab your stuff and climb without any extra prep time.
3. A Pallet Of Gear
My favorite thing about this one is that it’s built mostly from a pallet. You can treat the wood with a flame for that burnt look, then add basic hooks to hang your gear. Perfect for a DIY.
4. Frame It
I love how this turned out. It looks like a wall of decor, but it’s actually functional decor you can take down and go climbing with. All you need are some frames, a few nails, and a couple of accent pieces.
5. The Closeted Climber
If you want your climbing gear out of the way and out of sight, a closet keeps everything organized. Pro tip: spray your shoes with Lysol before they go in so your clothes don’t end up smelling like stinky rubber.
6. Ultimate Outdoor Outfitter
If you’ve got a wall like this, there’s no doubt you’re either a serious outdoor nerd or you’re trying to sell gear like a pro.
7. Home Climbing Wall Storage
If I had a home climbing wall, I’d build storage into the back of it for sure. When you don’t need the gear or don’t want to see it, it’s hidden behind a fun, functional wall. If a wall like that is on your list, our home climbing gym designs will give you plenty of ideas.
8. Custom Drawers for Gear
This is a DIY gear drawer that looks like it hangs under a mattress in a van. Either way, you can turn almost any space into a gear drawer by swapping the drawer for two square dowels with rods running between them.
9. Single Bookshelf Rack
Most of us don’t have enough gear to fill a whole wall, but most of us have enough to fill a bookshelf. Plus you can often grab a bookshelf at Walmart for $20, so it barely costs a thing.
10. Just Being Relatable
This is a lot more relatable than most of the polished displays on this list. It doesn’t look pretty, but it takes up almost no space and holds everything you need it to.
11. The Cute Mountain
Some genius on Etsy started making and selling these for climbers who don’t have a ton of gear.
If your rack is on the small side, a cute mountain with carabiners is a great option.
12. Shelf and A Basket
It doesn’t take much to build a super organized gear space. All you need is a shelf, a basket, and a strip to hang everything. And if you rent, it only costs you 8 or so screw holes.
13. Laundry Drying Racks
My grandma had drying racks like this and I always thought they were so cool. Now that I’m older and I see them used to store gear, they’re even cooler.
Plus, you can dry your gear at the same time.
14. The Accent Wall
Turn a nice wooden accent wall into a mount for all your climbing gear. Then the gear itself becomes part of the design for whatever room it’s in.
15. 2x4s and Boxes
This one is super simple. You only need a 2×4 cut down into different sizes and a screw to fix each piece to the wall.
Want to take it up a notch? Sand and stain the 2x4s so they match the other colors in the room.
16. Climbing Gear Work Bench
I like how this work bench is covered in stickers and organizes your gear in a small footprint. It’s personal and useful, which is perfect.
17. The Mobile Rack
One of my dreams is to live in a van with my wife and travel the states on climbing trips. I imagine our gear storage will look pretty much like this. If you’re building a kit for road trips, our list of gear that’s worth the weight is a good place to start.
It fits perfectly, and you never have to worry about forgetting your gear when you drive to the crag. Just make sure you grabbed the right van.
18. The Clean Pallet Look
Earlier we showed you a pallet that was stylized to match the climber’s personality. This one is more like what you’d find on the side of the road with a “for free” sign taped to it. Well, maybe it’s been sanded down.
19. Basic Peg Board Design
A basic pegboard is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to display your gear and keep it organized between sessions. This picture looks like it’s inside a house, but it would work great in a garage too, as long as the garage is climate controlled.
20. Under The Stairs Strips
No matter how much gear you have, there’s wall space somewhere you can use. Here, a couple of 2x6s go on the wall under the stairs, where it’s too low for pictures but just tall enough for your kit.
21. Hanging Hanger Rods
Even if you don’t have a shelf or two perpendicular walls for a rod to span, this proves you don’t need them. Just bolt some carabiners to the wall and hang a rod between them for a simple gear display.
For extra security, run a bit of cord through the middle of the rod from one carabiner to the other so nothing comes unhinged.
22. Roll It In A Tarp
This is probably one of the most popular ways to store gear. All you need is a tarp, and if you want straps, grab a rope bag with a built-in tarp. It’s also a smart way to keep your rope clean, which matters for caring for your climbing rope over the long haul.
Most climbers just let the gear dangle in the bag, but if you want more order, there are tarps made for climbing gear with loops and pockets to organize everything.
23. Anchor Climbing Gear Rack
This is an actual product built to help you store your climbing gear, and it looks really stable. My gear could use the stability, since I fall every time I use it.
Choosing climbing gear storage ideas that fit your space
The best climbing gear storage ideas are the ones you’ll actually use. If you’ve got a big garage, go for a wall or a pegboard. If you’re tight on space or you rent, a $20 bookshelf, a closet, or a rope bag and tarp will do the job. Whatever you pick, keep the gear dry and out of direct sun so it lasts, and give dirty pieces a quick clean before they go away. If your belay device needs some love, here’s how to clean your GriGri before it goes back on the rack.
Once your gear is sorted, the next step is using it more. We send one short climbing drill every week that takes about 15 minutes, and it’s free. Level up your climbing with 15 minutes of training and we’ll drop the next drill in your inbox.
Frequently asked questions
Where should I store my climbing gear?
Store it in a dry, environment-controlled space that stays out of direct sun and away from damp. A closet, a climate-controlled garage, or a shelf indoors all work. Keeping gear out of heat and moisture is what makes it last.
What is the easiest DIY climbing gear storage idea?
A pegboard or a few 2×4 pegs screwed to the wall are about as simple as it gets. A $20 bookshelf works too, and a pallet with basic hooks is a fun DIY if you want a bit more character.
How do I keep my climbing shoes from stinking in storage?
Give your shoes a quick spray of Lysol before you put them away, especially in a closet. That keeps the smell off the rest of your clothes and off your gear.
How should I store gear for van life or the crag?
A mobile rack that fits your van keeps everything in one spot so you never forget a piece on the drive out. A rope bag with a built-in tarp is another easy, packable option for road trips.
Do I need a lot of gear to make a storage display worth it?
Not at all. If your rack is small, a single bookshelf, a cute mountain with carabiners, or a simple wall strip holds everything you need without taking up much room.
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