18 Clever Storage Solutions

Above left you see the delighted grin of Steampunk Cyborg 002, who craftsman Simon Roy says is "here to raise hell!" Really? He looks more Weeeee! than Muahahaha! to me. Issue 002, like Roy's other Steampunk Cyborg Jewelry Boxes & EDC Organizers, is made of sustainably sourced North American maple and black walnut. He's a modular bot box with detachable eyes (so careful with him) which you can also flip around to create different looks.

Most of the organizers have 4 drawers for storing jewelry, EDC, and perhaps small maker craft pieces that will help you and Steampunk Cyborg 002 team up to take over the world.

Briefcase full of batteries?! That's almost as good as cash or cocaine totally legal CBD oil! And we're not talking 140 batteries tossed in all willy-nilly to tumble into entropy like the ones you currently toss in a shoebox or junk drawer; this battery storage box is an organizational dream, with individually cut holes to cradle all of your favorite juicer-uppers snug as a bug in a rug:

Seems like it's always easier to make a mess than it is to clean it up. And while there are plenty of items out there to prevent the former - bibs, sippy cups, condoms - and help with the latter - vacuums, washing machines, Harvey Keitel - EZSTAX is a rare jewel that does both. An organizer comprised of stackable interlocking dividers, EZSTAX keeps clothes and documents stored, tidied, and separated without consuming extra space, and without disturbing items above and below when you need to remove something from a divider in the middle.

RotopaX, available in 1, 1.75, 2, 3, and 4-gallon capacities, are modular cells that mount to motorcycles, ATVs, SUVs, your mom's back, and trucks. They hold backup fuel, water, or any number of emergency preparedness supplies. RotopaX fuel containers carry EPA and carb compliance thanks to their 3-layer roto-molding process and a plastic barrier material that meets the US Government's permeability requirements. Cells are also suitable for carrying water or storing dry necessities, such as tools and first-aid packs.

The Urban Storage Unit, or USU (pronounced "oooh-sue"), provides up to 1,000 pounds worth of additional storage for people with assigned parking spots in apartment and condominium complexes.

USU takes advantage of one of the few areas within urban multi-family buildings not already consumed by your or someone else's crap: the air above the hood of your car. Available in 91" or 98" widths, each aluminum container installs on a steel base within the confines of a standard parking space. On the outside USU is fitted with a 2-point keyed metal lock and welded seams to protect stored belongings. Inside awaits an empty box ready to cuddle a pile of your precious sporting goods, tools, Motown vinyl collection, and flux capacitor parts measuring up to 91"/98" wide x 36" deep x 30" high.

WALI - not to be confused with WALL-E, last robot on earth and star of the 2008 cinematic smash hit of the same name - is a wall outlet shelf that I'd put under the category Lifehack, right alongside the toilet paper holder with phone storage shelf. It's certainly not necessary, and maybe not even a "How did I ever live without it?" type of product like Glad Press'n Seal Food Wrap and a bidet are, but I bet once you have it you'll get tons of use out of it.

You're 10 minutes away from 12-gauge cold rolled plate steel. Console vaults are truck / SUV console safes that slide in and secure to factory console bolts. Welded tab and notch seams, a 3-point, pry-resistant locking system, and rear locking pins just like those used on bank vault doors add to the impenetrability of the safes' hardy steel composition. Once your valuables are inside, parking lot window smashers and punk kids from the neighborhood aren't getting jack back out.

No matter how many Jr. Bacon Cheeseburgers Jack promises them.

The KeySmart is a keychain designed to hold between 2 and 100 keys tidily, compactly, and jingle-free. It will fit and fold out of sight almost any key found at your local hardware store, plus car keys, car fobs, keychains, and other accessories with an included attachment.

Handmade in Chicago, KeySmart organizers have an "S" design that stores keys neatly in a stack hidden inside its pair of aircraft aluminum plates and stainless steel hardware. Adding/removing keys is simple with the use of a coin and a few hand cranks. Distinguishing which key is which will require a little more left brain activity, or the help of a Sharpie.

At first glance, Kradl seems to be regressing. A manual bike lift? A storage system requiring you to hoist your bicycle up to the ceiling of your garage without the assistance of electricity or ropes and pulleys? What is this, Old Tech Tuesday?

Nay, says Kradl, it's Low Tech Tuesday. The company describes its bike lift and storage system as a simplification of the process and effort typically required to rack your bike to a ceiling or rafters. Kradl uses a harness to that attaches to your top tube or wheel, and then a release cord and lift mechanism to take on the heavy lifting of pulling your bike up to its base, and securing it overhead.

Volkner Mobil RVs don't come with a Mini-Cooper, but if you want to make highest and best use of the motorhomes' center built-in car storage, I'd highly recommend getting one. Volkner says a new Fiat 500 would work too. And that's just in their Performance Perfection model, shown above. Go for the upgraded Performance motorhome, and your motorgarage will accommodate a Porsche 911, BMW i8, Mercedes C-Class Cabriolet, Ferrari, "or whatever" according to Volkner. Loading and unloading takes just a few minutes, courtesy of the hydraulics supporting the extension and retraction of the vehicle platform.

Though not as visually slick, the Volkner 800 - Adventure Line and 920 - 1200 HG models also have mid-size vehicle and recreational equipment storage chambers with slide-out ramps at the rear.