Updated Sep. 25, 2024
Looking for a new garage storage system to organize and lock away your most valuable tools? We installed and tested the Gladiator Flex Cabinet System in our own garage for a full year. Here’s how it went.
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Organizing your kitchen, living room, and other interior areas of your home can feel like they are of the utmost importance—and they are. Still, many people often neglect their garage space, which shelters cars and regularly catches overflow of household items (I’m guilty of flinging things into my garage). Installing a garage storage system can make more space for parked cars and give you more room in your home. Shelving and cabinet systems in the garage can hold power tools, extra household supplies, holiday decorations and more.
But it’s no secret that garage storage systems can be pricey. Plus, with so many options on the market, it can be hard to know which systems to spend your money on. Luckily, our editors recently tested the best garage storage systems in their very own homes, and we landed on a favorite: the Gladiator Flex Cabinet system.
The Gladiator Flex cabinet system is a multipurpose, adjustable storage solution made of welded steel. The system holds an impressive 2,350 pounds of weight and includes seven fully adjustable shelves that fit within the cabinets. The cabinet structure is 30 inches tall and includes two wall cabinets and two base cabinets, all 24 inches.
The Gladiator brand is aptly named for a reason—this garage storage solution is made to be extremely durable with its welded steel construction. It can withstand dings, dents and scrapes from garden tools and more.
The fully adjustable shelves have a sleek, modern design with recessed handles and soft-close doors. You can keep items safe by locking them up with the system’s two-point locking mechanism on all wall and base cabinets and the three-point locking mechanism on all tall cabinets. There are even cable management holes with a protective grommet to keep wires from getting damaged so you can keep your garage workspace neat and tidy.
Mary Henn/Family Handyman
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You might think of soft-close doors and recessed handles as luxury features you’d find in an indoor closet system—and you wouldn’t be wrong. But this system brings those sought-after indoor features out to the garage. All cabinets have soft-close doors for quiet opening and closing and recessed handles that look streamlined and won’t stick out to snag tools or scratch cars.
The Flex Cabinet System IV can hold up to 2,350 pounds of weight when items are distributed evenly throughout the system. That means this system can hold your heaviest tools and machine-powered lawn equipment. If you’re not using it for tool storage, that’s an ultra-heavy capacity for household items you need to store in the garage.
The system’s welded steel construction makes it exceptionally strong and durable. It is made to last for years and withstand any elements that may otherwise cause warping and bending. The Gladiator system we began testing almost a year ago still looks and feels as good as new. Plus, its durable powder coat finish offers corrosion resistance.
All cabinets and doors on the system have locks, and the unit has a set of keys. Once locked, the doors aren’t easily pried open. Each door has either a two or three-point locking system, so there’s more than one lever on each door that keeps it in place when locked. If you need to lock away potentially dangerous equipment or sharp tools, you can do so without worry.
A year ago, I began testing the Gladiator Flex cabinet system. Actually, I gifted the Gladiator Flex cabinet system to my mother because I did not have my own garage at the time. (Flash forward to a year later, and I wish I had the Gladiator Flex for myself!) However, my mom is a handywoman in her own right and desperately needed a storage system to hold lawn and garden equipment, power tools, paint and supplies.
When I asked if she’d help me test the system a year ago, I did not anticipate it being one of her favorite gifts from me. The system arrived via delivery personnel; while they did not assist with assembly or installation, they did hand deliver the system to her garage. Note: If you order the garage storage system from Wayfair, you can add professional assembly service for an additional cost.
We installed the system ourselves, which wasn’t difficult. The frame of the unit was already built, so assembly (if you can call it that) was as easy as installing the shelves and hanging rack and making sure various screws were tightened.  The unit arrived in great condition, with no flaws or imperfections. The most difficult part of the installation was mounting the unit to the wall. The unit should come with a mounting kit. The most difficult part about mounting the unit was ensuring it was level and secure, but once that’s done, it is ready to use.
After we mounted the unit using the wall-mounting bracket, we loaded it with supplies that needed storage. Immediately, we were impressed by how much the unit can hold, and we were both wowed by the locking system, which is great for keeping items safe and out of reach in homes with young children. Stowing away nail guns, hand saws, and other potentially dangerous tools can be done worry-free with this unit. You’ll just want to remember where you keep the key!
My mother loves the sleek, modern design of the metal cabinets with its powder-coat finish and recessed handles. She also loves that the doors on the cabinets stay quiet while opening and closing. Thanks to the soft-close doors, you don’t have to worry about waking anyone up or having the dogs bark while tinkering around in your garage late at night.
In addition to the convenient locking feature, we love that the Gladiator brand offers a wide range of garage storage products. For a customizable feel, you can shop compatible gear tracks, other matching accessories and storage units with wheels, drawers and built-in workspaces from the brand.
Family Handyman Shopping Editor Mary Henn goes the extra mile when it comes to reviewing products. When recommending a product to the consumer, she wants to test it in her own home first—whether drilling into the wall, digging into the yard or unloading heavy appliances. When writing this piece, she didn’t have her own garage to use for testing, so she called on the help of family members. She was present to deliver, install, and use the system. She also checked in monthly to report any new findings or issues with the garage storage system. That way, you can make consumer-informed decisions based on real-life testing before you buy.
Whirlpool, a long-time trusted American brand, makes Gladiator cabinets.
We pulled reviews on the Gladiator Garage Storage Cabinets from Wayfair, Lowe’s and the Gladiator site. With many five-star reviews, buyers note the outstanding quality of the system, ease of setup and durability. Many reviews also mention the large upright cabinet as an added perk and great for hanging work clothes for any outdoorsman or construction pro.
Additionally, reviewers note that because of the quality of the product, the doors don’t require manipulation to lock them. While we didn’t test the workbench ourselves, many other buyers say they love the addition of the Gladiator workbench, which fits perfectly on top of the two smaller cabinets.
When it comes to customizing your Gladiator Garage Storage System, you can mix and match the number of cabinets you want. You can also choose which color system you want and whether you want additional features and accessories like a workbench top, wheels, bins, baskets and more. You can shop for additional accessories separately at Wayfair.
Without a doubt, I would recommend the Gladiator Garage Storage System to anyone looking for garage storage solutions. It is a bit pricey, but you pay for what you get—and typically, garage storage systems aren’t cheap. The secure locking feature can be difficult to find across garage storage units from other brands, and the quality of Gladiator systems is unmatched. Plus, hardware stores like The Home Depot and Lowe’s carry Gladiator products, which make them widely accessible no matter where you’re located.
Mary Henn/Family Handyman
A sleek garage storage solution with locks on every door
You can shop the Gladiator Flex Cabinet System at Wayfair or from hardware stores like The Home Depot and Lowe’s. We got the Gladiator Flex Cabinet System IV from Wayfair for $1,600, but prices will vary depending on which system you get and which accessories you choose to add.
Originally Published: September 25, 2024
