A garage wall with a shelf with fitness equipment, and another with folded towels. On the wall, various items like dumbbells and basketballs hang on Gladiator Wall Hooks.

5+ CREATIVE WAYS TO USE GARAGE HOOKS

Garage hooks often don’t get their due for how easily they can help organize a space by freeing up your floor, maximizing wall storage, and storing tools and equipment in an accessible manner. Tool hooks are often associated with hanging tools and long-handled shovels, but they are also useful for storing shoes, bikes, and weights. This article explores the types of garage storage hooks, their uses, and installation tips.

An organized garage. A bike, a snowboard, and tennis rackets hang on Gladiator Wall Hooks. There is also a Gladiator Storage Unit with a medicine ball, bin of balls, and other items. Near the floor is a Gladiator Basket with balls and folding chairs hanging on Gladiator Wall Hooks. An organized garage. A bike, a snowboard, and tennis rackets hang on Gladiator Wall Hooks. There is also a Gladiator Storage Unit with a medicine ball, bin of balls, and other items. Near the floor is a Gladiator Basket with balls and folding chairs hanging on Gladiator Wall Hooks.

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THE VERSATILITY OF GARAGE HOOKS

When organizing your garage, you can use tool hooks in various ways. While some uses may seem obvious and are more common, there are others that people don’t even consider. 

Let’s review some of the useful but less common ways that people use garage hooks.

Tool Hooks to Organize Hand and Power Tools

Hang your tools on a garage wall to keep them organized and accessible, while also ensuring your workbench is clear. Smaller tool hooks are often suitable to hang hand tools, like hammers and screwdrivers. For organizing and storing bigger power tools, such as hedge trimmers, use bigger tool hooks with a heavier weight capacity (50 lbs or higher).

Bike Storage

You can free up floor space by hanging a bicycle horizontally or vertically on your garage wall. Remember to select a heavy-duty tool hook that can accommodate your bike’s weight. 

Hooks specifically made for hanging bikes are common and are typically equipped with features that prevent dents and scratches, allowing you to hang your bike securely. Gladiator brand has a variety of bike hooks, like this Advanced Bike Storage 3.0. This hook features a push-lock mechanism that allows you to quickly, easily, and securely hang bikes.

On a garage wall, bikes hang on Gladiator Wall Hooks. Also on the wall are a grey bin, bicycle helmets, and an ice scraper. There's also a shoe rack, and next to hanging items is a Gladiator Storage Unit. On a garage wall, bikes hang on Gladiator Wall Hooks. Also on the wall are a grey bin, bicycle helmets, and an ice scraper. There's also a shoe rack, and next to hanging items is a Gladiator Storage Unit.

Lawn Equipment and Shovels

Organize and store your long-handled tools by hanging them on your wall. You can even get a bulky wheelbarrow out of the way with a double hook, like the Dual Hook from Gladiator brand. This can help keep your lawn equipment and shovels easily accessible, especially when you need to quickly shovel the snow off your driveway or want to rake the leaves in your yard.

Extend your Mudroom

You can get more out of your garage by using it to store items that typically go in your mudroom, or even by using it as an extension of your mudroom. 

Here are some ways to use hooks in a way that will help your garage act as a second mudroom:

  • Garage hooks can easily hold jackets and scarves.
  • A hanging basket can store winter hats and gloves. 
  • A boot rack, like one from Gladiator brand, can help store shoes and wet boots, keeping your floors clean. 

The Entryway GearTrack® Pack is great for pet gear and grab-and-go items.

Clothes like a hat, hoodie, and vest hang on Gladiator Gear Tracks on a wall. Clothes like a hat, hoodie, and vest hang on Gladiator Gear Tracks on a wall.

Sports Equipment Storage

Organize and store your skis, fishing rods, helmets, bags, and more by hanging them with garage hooks. A basket can help store hard-to-hang items, like basketballs, golf balls, and footballs. If you're a baseball family, the Gladiator® Tool Hook can hang multiple baseball bats.

Home Gym Equipment

Garage hooks can be a great storage option for kettlebells, dumbbells, weight plates, and resistance bands. Try using the 24” Wide Mesh Basket, or another large basket, to store foam rollers and yoga mats. By using two hooks, like this Wide Hook from Gladiator brand, you can store large medicine balls safely. Always confirm your hook’s weight limit before using it to store any heavy weights.

Ladders, Hoses, and Extension Cords

Neatly store all extension cords and hoses by wrapping them around garage hooks. This may help prevent the tangles that sometimes happen when they are stored messily in a cabinet or drawer. You can hang ladders vertically on a utility hook, like this one from Gladiator brand, to avoid them cluttering the floor and ensuring that no one trips over them.

On Gladiator storage solutions like gear tracks, hang a ladder, rake, broom, hat, hose, and footstool. On Gladiator storage solutions like gear tracks, hang a ladder, rake, broom, hat, hose, and footstool.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT GARAGE STORAGE HOOKS

A garage hook must be installed properly to be effective. Before installing your hooks, confirm that you are picking the right wall type and weight capacity for your hooks.

Review Your Wall Types

It’s important to make sure you are choosing the right wall type for your hooks. Studs or anchors may be required for heavier garage storage hooks to support the extra weight. You can consider installing the hooks on a wall system rather than right onto the wall. Select Gladiator® garage hooks are compatible with Gladiator® Wall Systems, allowing you to easily install and reposition the hooks.

A few of the most common wall types in a garage are: 

  • Drywall
  • Masonry
  • Wood

Drywall is installed by nailing sheets into wooden studs. The wall between the studs is hollow and thin. You must always locate the studs before installing anything into the drywall. If you don’t, you may harm electrical wiring or end up with a less secure and possibly dangerous installation.

Wood and masonry do not typically use studs. This may allow for more flexibility in where you can install garage hooks. Masonry, however, may require hardwall garage hooks that can grip the material. To achieve a secure foundation for your garage hooks, try installing Gladiator® GearWall® Panels or GearTrack® Channels to your masonry.

Hanging on Gladiator Wall Hooks and storage solutions are mallets, a level, a shovel, a saw, hoses, and an apron, among other items. Next to these items is a Gladiator Storage Unit with one door open. Hanging on Gladiator Wall Hooks and storage solutions are mallets, a level, a shovel, a saw, hoses, and an apron, among other items. Next to these items is a Gladiator Storage Unit with one door open.

Use the Correct Weight Capacity

It’s imperative to only use garage storage hooks with the correct weight capacity. While small hooks can work for lighter items, they may not be able to handle heavier items like a weed wacker or lawnmower. Before using a hook, double-check its weight capacity. 

Review the weight capacity and some potential usage ideas for hooks offered by Gladiator brand.

WEIGHT CAPACITY TYPE OF HOOK USAGE
Small (5-10 lbs per hook) J & L, Loop, Fishing Rod Keys, coats, tools, small hand tools
Medium (15-25 lbs per hook) Foldaway Hanger, S, Cradle, Scoop, Tool, Twin, Wide Outerwear, towels, long-handled tools, cords, skateboards, kayak paddles
Large (30 lbs and above) Big, Deep, Dual, Utility Gardening tools, ladders, lawn equipment, snowboards, sawhorses, lawn chairs, sledgehammers

INSTALLATION TIPS

In addition to choosing the right weight capacity and wall type, use these tips to ensure you’re getting maximum efficiency out of your garage hooks.

TIP 1: CONSIDER THE SHAPE OF THE ITEMS

Always give thought to the shape of the items you are looking to store. If you plan to hang items horizontally, ensure that there’s enough room in between the hooks. Additionally, confirm there is enough room above and below the hooks if you plan on installing them on top of each other.

TIP 2: HANG HOOKS WITH ANCHORS OR SCREWS

Anchors and screws are not necessary for every hook, but using these items can help secure hooks more firmly and safely to the wall.

TIP 3: NEVER OVERLOAD HOOKS

Even if some hooks are capable of holding up to a certain amount of weight, you should never stack heavy items on top of each other. It’s recommended to distribute the weight properly to avoid overloading the hooks.

SHOP GLADIATOR® GARAGE STORAGE HOOKS

A garage that's organized with Gladiator storage solutions. Two Gladiator Cabinets hang on the wall. There's a Gladiator Workbench with a stool. Hanging on Gladiator Wall Hooks are a mallet, a hose, and gloves. Next to the workbench is a Gladiator Shoe Storage under clothes hanging on a Gladiator Gear Track A garage that's organized with Gladiator storage solutions. Two Gladiator Cabinets hang on the wall. There's a Gladiator Workbench with a stool. Hanging on Gladiator Wall Hooks are a mallet, a hose, and gloves. Next to the workbench is a Gladiator Shoe Storage under clothes hanging on a Gladiator Gear Track

Gladiator® garage tool hooks can provide an excellent storage and organization solution for your garage. Each hook is made with durable steel construction and has weight capacities ranging from 5 lbs to 50 lbs. Gladiator® garage hooks are compatible with Gladiator® Wall Systems. They lock securely in place and can be repositioned with little effort on Gladiator® Wall Systems. These hooks come with features like vinyl tip padding to help prevent your items from getting scratched or dented, and lock tabs to secure the hook to the wall. Not to mention, there’s a Lifetime Limited Warranty*. 

Shop Gladiator® garage hooks to keep your gear organized and your garage floor clutter-free.

*For complete product and warranty details, visit Gladiatorgarageworks.ca