Storing your kayak clothing properly can save you from headaches down the track. Damp gear, mildew smells, and stretched-out fabrics are a real pain when all you want to do is gear up and get back on the water come warmer months. Whether you're doing short paddles around Sydney Harbour or heading out to chase waves, looking after your gear between seasons makes it last longer and feel better every time you use it. The middle of June is a good time to start packing away the clothing you won’t need until things heat up again.
Sydney’s climate brings its own storage challenges. One day it’s cool and dry, the next can feel sticky and a bit warm. These swings can affect how your gear holds up, especially if it’s stored in an area prone to moisture or unexpected warmth. By planning things out with even a few simple steps, you can avoid unpleasant surprises when it’s time to unpack again. Here's how to get your kayak clothing clean, organised, and stored the right way between seasons.
Cleaning and Drying Your Gear
Getting your kayak clothing ready for storage always starts with a thorough clean. Dirt, sand, sweat, and saltwater can slowly break down materials, especially if your clothing has any synthetic fibres or waterproof coatings. Each time you finish up a long season or feel like you won’t be using your kit for a while, give it all a proper wash so you’re not dealing with odour or damage later on.
Here’s a simple way to prep your gear:
- Rinse items in cold water to get rid of sand and salt
- Use a mild detergent that won’t wear away technical fabrics
- Avoid fabric softeners as they can affect how water-resistant clothing works
- Wash by hand if you can, or use a gentle machine cycle if needed
- Hang everything out to dry, but keep it out of direct, harsh sunlight
Drying thoroughly is just as important as cleaning. Moisture left in a wetsuit liner or under the hem of a spray jacket can turn into mould faster than you might expect. One tip is to let your gear hang in an airy space for a full day before folding or packing it away. If you’ve got clothes with thicker neoprene or layers, make sure seams and pockets are totally dry. Don’t rely on a quick once-over or assume it’s fine just because it feels dry to the touch.
Choosing the Right Storage Location
Once your kayak clothing is clean and completely dry, the next step is deciding where to put it. This matters more than most people realise. A bad spot can undo all the work you’ve just done in cleaning and drying, which means you might end up needing to replace gear long before you should have to.
Look for a place in your home that ticks these boxes:
- Cool and dry
- Protected from direct sunlight
- Clean and free from insects or pests
- Away from heaters, windows, or pipes that might cause damp
Car boots, sheds, or garages might seem like an easy go-to, but these places can often trap heat and moisture, especially over Sydney’s mild winter. A spare room closet or wardrobe with a bit of air flow is typically better. If you’re short on space, use a fabric storage bin or breathable hanging bag, not plastic tubs or sealed boxes. These can trap humidity and cause mildew even if your clothing started off fully dry.
If your gear smells musty or seems damp when you pull it out a month later, something’s gone wrong with the storage environment. It's worth taking a few minutes now to reconsider where to store key pieces before you get into the habit of just stuffing them out of sight. Think of it as setting your future self up for a smoother start to the next season.
Organising Your Kayak Clothing
Once you’ve sorted out where to store your kayak clothing, the next thing is figuring out how to keep it organised. Shoving everything into one bin or drawer might seem quick at the time, but it won’t take long before it turns into a wrinkled mess. Worse, some items could get distorted or damaged, especially if they’re left crushed at the bottom.
It helps to divide your gear by type and weight. Keep light items like rash vests and synthetic tops separate from bulky ones like drysuits or neoprene pants. If you’ve got room to hang heavier pieces, do that instead of folding them. This keeps their shape better and avoids unwanted creases that can weaken material over time. Wetsuits, paddling jackets, and thermal liners should always be hung using wide, padded hangers to prevent stress in the shoulders.
Here are a few ways you can neatly organise your kayak gear:
- Use soft storage bins made from breathable fabric to stop moisture build-up
- Separate bins for warmer layers and quick-dry items make them easy to find later
- Label containers or storage spaces with item types so you’re not rummaging every time
- A hanging wardrobe organiser with shelves is great for garages or spare rooms
- Avoid vacuum sealing. It saves space but isn't kind to technical fabrics
If you like to keep all your paddling gear in one place, make sure clothes aren’t stored with wet or damp items like paddles, gloves, or spray skirts. Even a little trapped moisture can make well-stored clothing end up smelling stale or feeling sticky by the time you pull it out. Keeping things clean, sorted, and separate will save plenty of time when you’re getting ready for a new paddling season.
Seasonal Maintenance Checks
While your kayak clothing is packed away, it’s smart to give it the occasional look-in. Months can fly by, and a quick check now and then can help stop problems before they become bigger ones. Material doesn’t just break down the moment you’re not using it, but storing something incorrectly or letting small damage go unnoticed can make certain items less comfortable, or even unsafe, later on.
Do a maintenance check at the start or end of each season, or whenever you plan on taking your items back into regular use. Start with the seams and ends of sleeves or legs. These spots often show the first signs of wear. Look out for loose stitching, flaking inner linings, or hard patches around the neck and wrist seals if you use semi-dry gear. These are early signs that your clothing may start leaking during your next paddle.
For water-repellent gear, you might notice it's no longer shedding water the way it used to. That wetting-out effect doesn't always mean you need to replace it altogether, but it could be time to reapply a specialised treatment. You can find these in paddling or outdoor shops, and they’re easy to use as a spray or wash-in product depending on your preference. Re-treatment works best when clothing is freshly cleaned and fully dry.
Even storage gear like bins or covers needs an inspection. Zip pulls, clips, bags, and hangers can all break down over time, especially in humid weather. Making a habit of checking it all once or twice a year means your setup stays solid without surprises when you come back to it.
Make the Most of Every Season
The small effort you put into storing your kayak clothing now pays off every time you head back out on the water. Clean, dry, and properly stored gear is more comfortable to wear, performs better, and lasts much longer. With Sydney’s mix of chilly mornings and sunny afternoons through winter, a bit of sweat or damp stored in the wrong spot can quickly lead to bad smells or damaged fabrics.
Being organised doesn’t have to mean filling your cupboard with high-end storage systems. It just means making sure every piece of clothing has its place and gets the care it needs, even when it's not in use. From light thermals to heavier insulated layers, giving each item attention can make every future paddling session smoother and simpler.
When it's time to get back out there, you'll be glad all your kit is ready to go. Clean, dry, and organised, with no frantic rinses, last-minute fixes, or unpleasant surprises in sight.
Extend the life and comfort of your gear by making sure everything is clean, dry, and stored properly before your next paddling trip. If you're after clothing that keeps up with changing conditions on the water, explore our full range of kayak clothing designed for both performance and comfort. Nordic Kayaks NSW is here to help you paddle through every season with confidence.