Best Climate-Controlled Storage
Live in an area with high humidity, brutal heat or harsh winters? Then you probably shouldn't be stockpiling your most precious mementos and antique furniture in the backyard shed. Instead, consider renting a climate-controlled unit from one of the companies from our list below. Security features like gate access, alarms and cameras that are constantly recording are another reason to ditch the shed and get a unit instead.
These 10 climate-controlled units were selected by our featured panelists and contributors and voted on by readers as the best of the best.
1. Prime
With the temperature set between 55 and 80 degrees, the units at Prime Storage protect your items from extreme fluctuations. Prime has locations across the U.S. and Canada, many of which give 24-hour access so that you can grab your stuff when it's most convenient for you. The virtual manager system and app also provide a quick way to reserve your unit and then make your month-to-month payments.
2. U-Haul Storage
Keep your family photos safe in one of the climate-controlled units at U-Haul Storage. The majority of these are located in a multistory indoor facility, though you may find a few in outdoor or drive-up locations. Each unit is kept between 65 and 85 degrees, and some U-Haul sites even offer first-month discounts if you use a one-way equipment rental to move your items in.
3. Clutter
Completely reimagining storage solutions, Clutter is a modern, full-service storage company. You can hire Clutter to come to your home and pack your belongings, and it will create a photo inventory of each item that it organizes into its warehouses. When you need one of those items, simply tap the items in the photo catalog to have them delivered back to your front door.
4. Go Store It
Located in areas known for harsh winters and blazing hot summers, the climate-controlled units from Go Store It can keep your vintage records and instruments protected. Its sites include surveillance cameras, and employees can help arrange tenant insurance for additional security. After reserving your unit, be sure to pick up some of the packing supplies sold at your Go Store It location to make moving in easier.
5. Price Self Storage
Security features like individual door alarms, keypad access and even cameras in select units make Price Self Storage a safe choice. Choosing a unit here means month-to-month leases, no deposits and competitive rates. Instead of calling or showing up on site, check out rates on the website, which is where you'll find the lowest price; the company frequently runs discounts on the first month's rent, too.
6. Extra Space Storage
As the largest operator of self-storage facilities in the country, Extra Space Storage has over 3,500 locations across the U.S. Thanks to on-site resident managers (who live on property), alarmed units and floor-limited access, you'll never feel apprehensive about the precious items you choose to stash here. And if sustainability is important to you, a large portion of the company's stores use solar power.
7. CubeSmart
CubeSmart offers many features you'd expect from a climate-controlled storage unit: free rent for the first month, remote access via a mobile app and around-the-clock video recording. But one thing that sets the company apart is the offer of a free moving truck (if available) for up to four hours on move-in day. It's just one less thing you'll have to think about as you manage all the other details.
8. Public Storage
One of the longest operating storage companies in the U.S., Public Storage has locations in over 40 states. From leather to wood, temperature-sensitive materials maintain their quality in these heated and cooled units that are usually open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Be sure to call for a free reservation and the chance to get your first month's rent for just $1.
9. StorageMart
At StorageMart, patrons are encouraged to make reservations online to ensure they get their climate-controlled unit of choice and for exclusive discounts. Need help determining what size you should rent? The Self Storage Calculator can help with that. Whether you need a closet-size unit for seasonal decor or one that's 300 square feet to hold all your home's belongings, you'll find a range of options here.
10. Compass Self Storage
Keeping things cool when it's hot and things warm when it's cold, the storage spaces at Compass allow you to declutter your house while preserving everything from holiday decorations to one-of-a-kind collectibles. Though it may vary by location, these units are open to customers day and night, so you can access your belongings after office hours.
About Newsweek Readers' Choice Awards
Our nominees are editorially driven with contributions from a panel of travel experts. The final list is determined by Newsweek editors. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For more details, read our terms and conditions. For any questions, please see our FAQs or email us at readerschoice@newsweek.com.
Our Featured Panelists
Ava Roxanne Stritt is a top authority on luxury travel and is called the most influential person in the world regarding spa travel. Followers of @SpaTravelGal will tell you she is responsible for transforming the idea of a spa day into a wellness adventure! Her passion for unique experiences has carried her around the world from "taking the waters" in Europe's thermal spas to hiking waterfalls in the rainforests of Ecuador for a massage surrounded by hummingbirds. She is the founder of Spa Travel Gal and a member of the Society of American Travel Writers and Wellness Tourism Association.
Susan Lanier-Graham is founder and publisher of Wander With Wonder, an award-winning online travel journalism magazine. She has authored more than 75 books and hundreds of magazine articles while traveling the world over the past three decades. Susan's work has appeared in a variety of publications, including various AAA publications, TravelandLeisure.com, Hotels.com, Modern Luxury, WHERE publications, Fairmont.com, Marriott.com and more. Susan is a member of Society of American Travel Writers, International Food, Wine and Travel Writers Association, and North American Travel Journalists Association. She is also a Certified California Wine Appellation Specialist.
Newsweek contributors speak from a variety of backgrounds and offer expertise in a wide range of subject areas.