Portable Wardrobe | Weight, Shelving, Construction Materials

Economical, compact, and available in a number of different materials, portable wardrobes are the perfect accessory for temporary living quarters or as additional storage areas for a full house. When shopping for a portable wardrobe, be sure to consider how much shelving you need, the durability of the material of the unit, and the total weight of your accessories and garments.

The amount of shelving and how it is arranged will impact how efficient and usable your portable wardrobe is. Most portable wardrobes are designed so that one half or more of the vertical space is left open so that clothes may be hung, while a series of drawers along the side allows for the storage of shoes or other smaller items. If you are primarily going to be storing clothes that need to be hung, make sure you buy a unit that has the maximum amount of space for vertical hanging, just as if you are primarily storing shoes, buy a unit with shelving designed to easily accommodate multiple pairs of footwear.

Denim or Cloth: Denim or cloth portable wardrobes are among the least expensive available. Usually, these portable wardrobes come with a zipper that can close up the entire front panel. However, this style of wardrobe does not necessarily last the longest, due to its soft exterior. While stylish, it is also the most likely to rip or tear.

Plastic: Plastic portable wardrobe closets usually have solid edges and a firmer front panel, although some wardrobes utilize a cloth front. The durability of a plastic based unit as opposed to a cloth based unit is much higher, although they will not outlast a metal portable wardrobe. Plastic versions usually are priced mid-way between the cloth and metal versions.

Metal: With cleanly defined edges and a solid frame, these are the most durable wardrobes on the market. They also tend to be the most expensive.

How much do your clothes weigh, and how much weight can your wardrobe hold? Cloth units are ideal for lightweight summer garments and shoes, while metal wardrobes will be able to support your entire line of winter jackets and high quality leather boots. Before purchasing portable closets, figure out roughly how much weight you will be expecting it to carry. If you have a fairly heavy assortment of garments, buying a metal wardrobe is a much better idea than a cloth version.