As everyone knows, moving home can be incredibly stressful and tiring. But it’s even more tiresome when you need to move large items of furniture or delicate equipment, and relocating sports equipment ticks both of these boxes.
Most gym equipment is bulky, heavy and easily damaged, so you need to think ahead if you’re planning on moving fitness gear. In this guide, we’ll provide some expert tips on perfect packing for a stress-free move.
Take Inventory of What You Have
The first step is to understand what sports equipment needs to be relocated, so you can plan whether you can handle it by yourself or if you’ll need professional help. Light items like yoga mats, free weights and exercise balls will be easy to package up and shift yourself, but awkward gear like rowing machines or golf training equipment may benefit from professional guidance. This can help ensure that nothing gets damaged in transit, and experienced movers can work with your schedule, ensuring your items are kept safe every step of the way.
Review and Reduce the Items You Need to Move
While you’re packing your belongings, it can be a good time to purge what you have and downsize. There may be items you no longer need or hardly ever use, or you might simply be moving to a smaller space and may not have the room for everything anymore. Your relocation will be all the easier if you’re only moving what you really need. So, think about what you use regularly and consider donating or selling the rest.
Being more selective about any bulky items you’re packing up will also help you plan your packaging requirements. Opting to use eco-friendly packaging materials for your move is increasingly easier with items such as honeycomb cushioning paper and dissolvable packing peanuts sturdy companions to brown paper and cardboard boxes. These alternatives to traditional plastic and bubble wrap will still keep your belongings safe, without harming the planet in the process. Just remember that some of the items you’ll be moving will be heavy, so be sure that any packaging being used can support the weight.
Pack Everything Properly
The way you pack your belongings goes a long way to preventing damage, especially when relocating sports equipment which can be expensive. Start by cleaning everything thoroughly, so it’s sanitary. You can then use towels or blankets to wrap smaller items and prevent them from shifting in boxes—be sure to label the boxes as “heavy” to avoid them being mishandled. Packing in towels will also prevent scratching or dents.
Thick boxes, plastic bins or crates are the best solution for storing weights and disassembled items, while cardboard boxes can be used for smaller items like boxing gloves or tennis balls. Lastly, if you’re handling the move yourself, you may want to rent a hand truck to make the process of getting heavier equipment out of the house easier and less physically demanding.
Disassemble Bulky Items in Advance
Many large items of fitness equipment like treadmills, ellipticals and weight benches are oddly-shaped and heavy to move in one piece, so if you can disassemble them beforehand, it will make moving them much more manageable.
Detachable parts that make the shape awkward, like handles and weight plates, can be taken off and packed carefully in a box. Just be sure to label everything so you know how to put it back together again, and photograph each step of the disassembly process to save your future self some time.
Learning how to disassemble components of sporting equipment, such as a bike or paddle board, can equally help if you’re planning an active trip abroad this year. Keep all bolts and screws together in a small bag, and taped to a piece of the equipment, so it doesn’t get lost during transit.
Know Your Limits
Doing it all yourself may seem like a great way to save money, but it can put you and your sports equipment at risk. Gym equipment can be incredibly heavy and without the right moving techniques, you could do some serious damage.
Hiring professional movers, like the team here at PODS, can ease the stress of the event. We can handle heavy or bulky items safely, and have the necessary knowledge and equipment to make the transportation process smoother, so your gym equipment arrives at your new home in one piece.
Protect Your New Space When Relocating Sports Equipment
It’s also very important to not cause damage to your new home the moment you arrive, so protecting floors and walls during the moving process is essential. Large items like treadmills and recumbent bikes can cause scratches and dents if they’re not handled properly, so use mats and furniture slides to avoid any unfortunate accidents.
Try to plan out where items will go in the new space, so you know exactly where you’re placing each piece of equipment. This not only makes the move smoother but prevents you having to later lift and resituate heavy items, which can be physically demanding. With the right layout, measured in advance, you’ll avoid unnecessary frustrations or scrapes to walls and doorframes, and everything will slot into place seamlessly.
Moving can be daunting, particularly if you’re trying to get large, bulky items to a new place. However near or far you are moving to, being prepared will make the process so much easier and safer. For customizable solutions tailored to your move, contact the team at PODS today, and let us help take the stress out of moving.