With two divers in the house, gear cleaning/drying/storage can get a bit messy. Being organization-lovers, we headed to IKEA in search of a solution for an all-purpose Dive Locker.
When we saw the Algot storage system at IKEA, our thoughts immediately went to “this would be perfect for dive gear.” With customizable shelves, drawers, and racks at an afforadable price, we were able to quickly sketch out our desired design.
I wanted a “his and hers” set up, where we each had space to hang wetsuits, BCDs, fins, regulators, and the smaller clothing articles such as hoods, gloves, and socks. The plastic pegboard seemed a perfect backdrop addition to the initial setup, and with a few alterations to the original Algot system, we were on our way to pick up the parts.
The original Algot system was priced at $140. We added some baskets ($25) and a few extra shelves, making our total just shy of $200. Considering that the standard 6′ garage rack runs between $75-$150, we considered this a big win.
The most time consuming part of our setup was mounting the rails for the racks. To ensure a sturdy frame, on each rail we used 2 heavy-duty dry wall anchors (for weight up to 250lbs) that we purchased at Home Depot. The remaining anchors were medium-duty (rated up to 163lbs). On occasion we got lucky and were able to mount on a stud.
Once the rails were mounted, it was an easy matter of placing the shelves in the order we wanted them to fit. Part of the Algot design that I liked was the ability to add features to each shelf – such as the clothes rail under the top shelves.
We added some mesh baskets and a waist-high shelf in the middle, as well as a pegboard, for tools and infrequently used items (such as the mesh dive bags for our gear).
We initially placed a shoe rack on each side, but then adjusted it – as you’ll see later on.
Next to the main set-up, we placed one additional rail with the added baskets ($5 for the rail, $4 for each basket) – these we use for weight storage, extra mask storage, and other knick-knacks that fit well in the smaller baskets.
After diving Sunday morning, we came home to rinse gear and hang it on our new storage system. We found it was actually easier to have like-items grouped together, rather than do a “his and hers” set up. A few tubs placed underneath to catch water droplets, and boom!
If you’re like us, and you want one stop shopping for all your dive gear but you’re unwilling to completely DIY and/or spend hundreds, I highly recommend IKEA and the Algot system.