Founded in 1890, Hansen Bros. Moving & Storage the parent company of Portabox has successfully weathered many history-changing events including the Great Seattle Fire, WWI, the Spanish Flu of 1918, the Great Depression, WWII, the 2008 recession, and 9/11 among many other public crises. We are taking the current COVID-19 threat very seriously and will promptly adhere to any and all directives from local, state and federal government officials. Hansen Bros. and Portabox have been categorized as an essential industry business (moving & relocation) within the current mandate established by Washington State Governor Jay Inslee.

As essential services, we will maintain normal operations until such time as either company management determines we must close our offices or we are directed to do so by a governmental authority. We are taking extensive precautionary measures including the adoption of all CDC guidelines and the establishment of our own policies intended to minimize health risks for all customers, employees, contractors, vendors, and community stakeholders. We are proud to be able to support the needs of our customers during this crucial time but are prepared to quickly change course as required.

Stay safe together with Hansen Bros. and Portabox

The COVID-19 crisis is fluid and there are many uncertainties and factors outside of our control that may, with little or no advance notice, impact our delivery of moving & storage services. Please be aware the current crisis could potentially result in small inconveniences such as a delayed project start time or significant inconveniences such as the complete rescheduling of services.

Although there are many unknowns to be navigated, you can be certain that Hansen Bros. and Portabox will be timely and transparent in our communications regarding servicing your moving & storage needs, and our professional relocation consultants will work diligently to offer creative solutions in the event your project is impacted by the current health crisis.

Steps We're Taking:

  • Company-wide Implementation of all precautionary measures recommended by the Center for Disease Control (CDC).
  • Office staff and crews are being monitored daily for symptoms and/or known exposure by management and asked to go home, contact their healthcare provider, and self-quarantine as directed. Staff that experience symptoms and/or aware of exposure when not at work have been directed to stay home and notify their supervisor.
  • Office staff and crews are receiving daily briefings on precautionary measures and have been directed to follow them on and off the job.
  • Office staff and crews are being instructed to maintain appropriate “social distance” of 6 feet minimum between one another, customers, and all other people.
  • Office staff and crews are being provided with appropriate hand sanitizer and surface disinfecting supplies. They have been directed to disinfect truck cabs and moving equipment between each move to the best of their ability. These supplies will continue to be replenished as we are able, based on availability from retailers.
  • We are limiting visitation to our branch offices. If you wish to purchase moving boxes or supplies, please simply call in your order and we will happily deliver to your vehicle outside.

We are all in this together.  The team at Hansen Bros. and Portabox is proud to continue offering our services in accordance with the necessary precautions outlined above. We are here to make the process of storing belongings seamless & safe for you.

Tips for packing camping gear for a longer trip

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Packing for a trip is always a draining process – but the stakes are even higher once you have to pack for a camping trip. Especially if that trip is going to last for a few weeks. Being outdoors and spending your days in nature is something that you will remember for the rest of your life. But before you can start making those incredible memories, you first have to accomplish one very important task – packing camping gear for your upcoming adventure.

Clearly, the first step will be to retrieve the gear from your Ballard self-storage containers. We assume that you have placed your gear in a self-storage unit someplace – at least, that’s what most people do. What you pack and how much you pack will be based on the location of your trip. Camping in cold weather is certainly different from spreading your tent in a tropical area. However, there are some general rules all people should follow. So, before you hit the road with a map in hand, make sure you read our article from top to bottom. It will certainly help you pack only the necessities which will make it much easier to move around and enjoy your trip completely.

A group of friends on a camping trip.
Spending your nights over an open fire will be an incredible experience.

You will become a fan of minimalism

Camping is all about surviving in the wilderness and making good use of the things you have at your disposal. It is for that reason that you should pack light when going on a camping trip. Besides, wouldn’t you feel much more comfortable when traveling light as opposed to the alternative? So don’t hesitate to leave your fancy gear safe and sound in your self-storage in West Seattle. Leave your spacious tent and portable coffee maker at home. Instead, bring a hammock, and try to perfect the art of coffee cooked over an open flame.

Packing camping gear in one bag

There’s one rule of thumb you should have in mind when packing gear for a camping trip – each person should only carry one bag. That means that all of your toiletries, clothes, and personal items need to fit into one that bag. Luckily, campers all around the world have figured out smart ways to make the best use of that one bag. They use:

  • Packing organizers – make it very easy to locate everything inside the bag.
  • Toiletry kits – fit all of your toiletries in one place.
  • Packing cubes – the perfect place for your underwear and accessories.

We here at PortaBox Storage might not be professional campers, but we can tell you one thing. If you can’t carry your bag for five minutes, you won’t be able to sustain a week in nature. So perform a little test before you go out in the wild.

Create a packing list containing only the essentials

We have already established that it will be necessary to pack only the essential items in your camping bag. If you want to pack your camping gear on the morning of your departure, chances are good that you will end up forgetting something. That’s why you should create a packing list that will contain only the essentials – and you should do it days before your trip. It will be much easier to follow a checklist than to constantly go through the list you have in your mind and that you haven’t put on paper.

A packing list to use when packing camping gear.
It is very easy to pack once you know what you need to bring with you.

But what’s considered essential when going on a camping trip?

If this is the first time for you to go on a camping trip, then we can definitely understand your confusion. You might be a pro in tasks such as organizing, decluttering as and packing your home office – but you have no idea what to bring for a camping trip. Luckily, we are here to be of assistance.

  • Clothes and footwear that will correspond to the climate and terrain.
  • Enough water to last for the duration of your trip.
  • A headlamp.
  • A sharp knife that can clean trout and other types of fish (should you happen to stumble upon any).
  • Fire-starting material
  • A few rolls of toilet paper
  • Bug spray
  • A first aid kit

Notice that we didn’t mention any food on the list of the essential camping items. As we all know it, food is what gives us fuel and energy which pretty much makes it an essential item in daily life. However, what you will pack for your camping trip and how much you will pack, depends on many circumstances. Are you going car camping or backpacking? Will you have a stove or a fire pit? How many people will you have to feed? The answer to these questions will tell you how much food to pack for your upcoming trip.

A campfire with pots and pans over an open fire.
Cooking over an open fire might be hard at first – but you will get the hang of it.

If you dare, we suggest you try cooking like civilizations before us. That means cooking over an open fire with only a few pots, pans, and utensils for your family members. There’s really no need to bring anything more than that – otherwise, you’ll find yourself buried in bags that you will have to carry around. Not much of a vacation, is it?

Have some space left over after packing essential camping gear?

Then you can feel free to add a couple of comfort items, such as a good book, a telescope, or an extra pair of shoes. Clearly, this would be the ideal case scenario – the scenario you should aim for when packing camping gear. However, you shouldn’t get your hopes up. You might not have a lot of space left over once you pack all of the essential items. Imagine how much room the pots and pans will take. Now add every other item that you will need in the upcoming period. Once again, always ensure that you can actually carry your backpack. Otherwise, you are just setting yourself up for failure. Good luck and have fun on your camping trip!

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I shopped around and could not beat the price. But, what really impressed me was the driver's concern and attention for my things - that was the icing on the cake. I'll recommend you to my friends.

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LYNNWOOD PORTABOX

2902B Lincoln Way Lynnwood, WA, 98087