sports lockerHaving a mechanism to store your belongings in a public space like a pool or a recreations centre is very important. Some spaces with public transport also use these mechanisms for the comfort of their passengers. They have quite a history and have been in use for various purposes from school, clubs and even in banks. However their functionality and design has changed overtime suit various purposes.
These locking cabinets such as the sport lockers for sale or recreational centre cabinets have come a long way. They are moving away from the customary designs of the 1960′ and are becoming more focused on the user.
Traditionally they were very cramped spaces that usually smelled bad and often uncomfortable. The manufacturers or the facilities that used them paid little attention to the customers who use them. The earlier models focused more on catering to a larger crowd of people or a group. Less emphasis was given to thinking of designing a space that took in to consideration personal space. It is said that these conventional cabinets were modeled after school sports rooms therefore focused very little on the segments of populations that use them for recreational purposes. Not anymore, today more and more people are opting for personal space when it comes to locking cabinets. There has to be a degree of cleanliness, a showering area, men’s and women’s sections and they have to be appealing.
In the earlier days the material used for manufacture was also very basic. You would most likely find the metal or steel lockers alternatives for sale modeled after schools. These were mostly common as they cost less to manufacture, however if a pool or water related activity is around, they are bound to rust and get damaged, so it was not a very sustainable solution. Though they are considered very popular and come in various colours and shapes they are said to be a costly investment down the road. However there are many more options available now days that are trending. Such as;
- Phenolic : they are a form of plastic and fiber lockers that are fast replacing the metal versions. They are proven to be more durable that the predecessors however since there is a paper filler that is used, there tends to be mold issues if it gets damaged.
- Wood: these have been in use for centuries and can give a classic and designed look to a place, however when manmade wood products are used they tend to chip and get damaged fast. Especially in spaces that come in to contact with water.
- Laminated: these tend to be the most durable. They won’t dent, rust or have water damage.
- High density Plastic: these by far are the best available in the market today. They are considered strong and scratch / dent proof. Because it is made of plastic they are resistant to many of the water damages other materials face.
Therefore the future of the public or recreational space cabinets need to be made with attention to detail, material used & design, giving more private space and functionality as well as easy maintenance.
