Researched & Fact-Checked

How to store backpacks long term

By Marcus Hale, Lead Pack Research Editor · Published September 14, 2026, 6:03 PM ET

Direct Answer

Store hiking backpacks long term clean, completely dry, loosely packed with straps released, and in a cool, dark, low-humidity space such as a closet — never damp, tightly compressed, or in an attic, garage, or car trunk. A dry pack stored this way can sit for months without developing mold or losing foam cushioning.

In plain English

When a backpack sits unused for months, three things can hurt it: dampness, heat and sunlight. Dampness grows mold, heat can weaken the glue and coatings in the fabric, and sunlight slowly breaks down the material.

So the plan is simple. Wash it, dry it completely, empty every pocket, loosen all the straps, and put it somewhere cool, dry and dark, like a bedroom closet. Places that get very hot or damp, such as an attic, a garage or a basement, are the risky ones.

It is a bit like putting away a winter coat for summer. If you hang it up clean and dry in a closet, it is ready to wear next year. If you leave it damp in a hot garage, you may find it musty or damaged.

a step demonstrating: How to store backpacks long term, hands and gear only, no face

The long-term storage routine is the same whether a pack sits idle for one off-season or several years: wash it, dry it completely, empty it, loosen it, and put it somewhere stable. Skipping any one of those steps is what turns "long-term storage" into "damaged pack."

Before it goes into storage

Wash the pack with mild soap and let it air-dry fully — a pack stored even slightly damp is the leading cause of long-term mold growth, covered in more detail in how to wash a hiking backpack. Empty every pocket and the hydration sleeve, since leftover food residue attracts pests and feeds mold over a long storage period. Loosen every strap — compression, sternum, load lifters, hipbelt — so foam padding and coated fabric aren't held under tension for months or years at a stretch.

Man loosening every strap and buckle on an empty pack

Where it should sit

Row of packs on a closet shelf in a cool room

Location	Suitable for long-term storage?	Why
Closet shelf, spare room	Yes	Stable temperature, low humidity, no direct sun
Climate-controlled storage unit	Yes	Same conditions as an indoor closet
Attic	No	Heat swings degrade coatings and adhesives
Garage or car trunk	No	Heat, humidity, and UV exposure combine
Basement	No	Often damp enough to encourage mold

Checking on it periodically

A pack in long-term storage benefits from an occasional look, especially in humid climates — a quick check for a musty smell or visible mold every few months catches a problem early rather than after a full season of damage. Before the pack comes back out for a trip, run through a full pre-season check: zippers, buckles, webbing, stitching, and a water-bead test to confirm the coating still needs no attention, covered in how to waterproof a hiking backpack.

Hand testing a foam shoulder pad for dampness

What the sources cover, and what they don't

Detailed long-term storage advice is thin in pack makers' published guidance. Deuter is the clearest: after cleaning with lukewarm water and a pH-neutral soap, it recommends storage in a well-ventilated, dry place.¹ The location table on this page (closet yes; attic, garage and basement no) is sensible reasoning that follows from that principle, but no source in our research tests specific rooms.

Sunlight is better documented. REI advises drying packs in shade or indoors because UV light can degrade the fabric,² and Nikwax says UV exposure destroys water repellency and reduces fabric tear strength.³ A window-side shelf that gets afternoon sun is a poor spot even if it is dry.

Drying before storage is where most problems start. Gregory says to air dry packs away from heat and direct sunlight with zippered pockets open.⁴ Leave the zippers open in storage too, so any trace of moisture can escape.

Storage and your warranty

How you store a pack can affect whether a warranty covers it. Gregory's guarantee excludes damage from improper cleaning or storage, and Gregory notes that foam padding will permanently compress over time with use.⁵ Loosening straps is still good practice, but it won't stop that natural aging.

Paperwork matters as much as the pack. A dated receipt is required for any Hyperlite warranty claim,⁶ and Kelty requires proof of purchase from an authorized seller.⁷ ULA asks that warranty returns be cleaned, or it charges a cleaning fee.⁸ Tucking the receipt in a zip bag inside the pack's lid pocket solves the first problem years later.

Waking a pack up after storage

Before the first trip of the season, run the bead test. Deuter's version: drop water on the fabric, and if it soaks in rather than beading, re-waterproof it.¹ If you do reproof, Nikwax says gear treated with its tent-and-pack spray should be air dried only and allowed to dry fully before use or storage,³ so do it days ahead of a trip, not the night before.