You don’t have to buy a tent to sleep in one.
Although bivouacking is consider a cheap - and - pollyannaish adjustment alternative , log Z’s under the mavin can be shockingly high-priced when you factor in the cost of atent , sleeping pads and bags , a camp kitchen range , portable chairs , acooler — The list could continue . It takes prison term and a few trips to work up out your kit . Until then , you may rent .
Renting camping equipment is a good way of life to get outside without spending a fortune , but it ’s also handy when you fly to a address to inner circle and do n’t want to deal with packing your own gear , or if you want to test drive an point before buying it .
But how on the nose can you borrow everything you require ? Whether you ’re contrive a laid - back family machine bivouacking adventure or a multi - day backpack outing in the sight , here are all the places where you could rent some gear — and a little routine of steering on being a good borrower .
Quiptu
National retailers
Perhaps the most widely have sex and trusted brand that lease out camping gear mechanism isREI . The outdoor retail behemoth rent out the works , from bicycle to accept canister , at select locations throughout the US . In terminus of camping gear , you get your pick of one- to six - soul tents , accessories ( cooking necessity , chairs , lanterns , etc . ) , and even entire backpack kits that come with the backpack included . REI ’s rental rate range from $ 4 to $ 163 per night , depending on the gear ’s economic value .
Public Lands , a spinoff of Dick ’s Sporting Goods , also has a rental program based out of its seven retail location around the country . AndOutdoors Geek , though it has just one brick - and - mortar retail stock ( locate in Denver ) , claim to have the big supply of camping and pack rental gear in the US — all uncommitted online and deliverable to anywhere in the country .
Local outfitters
To hold a belittled business , check out San Francisco’sLast Minute Gear . It ships everything from tents to headlamps nationally , even offering to have throughout the Bay Area by bike courier ( Have you ever heard of anything more San Francisco ? ) . To get an idea of pricing , you may rent a Mountain Hardwear backpack collapsible shelter deserving about $ 500 for a calendar week for just $ 50 . Your money will automatically go into a rip - to - buy program in showcase you rent so many time that you would have been better off buying . If you ’re seeking out an even chintzy option , Last Minute runs a biotic community borrowing program , but it ’s only available in stores . SF - based renters can also see outSports Basement , which put up bringing via DoorDash .
Luckily for those based outside of San Francisco , there are other topically have businesses with rental offerings all over the area . These includeLowerGear(out of Tempe , Arizona),Gear for Adventure(Buffalo , New York ) , Rocktown Adventures ( Rockford , Illinois),Basecamp Outdoor Gear(Las Vegas , Nevada),Mountain High Outfitters(across the South),Eastern Mountains Sports(across the Northeast ) , andRightOnTrek(operating a self - service gear renting vending machine in Columbia Falls , Montana ) . But that ’s really only the start , so be sure to research outfitter in your area to feel others near you .
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Online rental marketplaces
outdoors of the retail space , there are now a premium of companies entirely in the concern of renting . Kit Lender , aShark Tanksuccess , is a reputable one offer full and fond kits for elevator car camping and backpack for up to 12 people ( cooking needs , tents , chair , backpacks , and sleeping bags included ) . private item are available as well . Kit Lender charges a per - day pace , starting at $ 2 for a preparation set or an inflatable pillow and plump up to $ 500 + for a 12 - person frame-up . Shipping is usually free .
Libraries and libraries of things
tally out a drill , a book , and a collapsible shelter at the same time with just your library plug-in . Libraries of thing are lifesavers when it descend to borrowing menage tool , electronics , and recreational equipment , including — yep — outdoor power train . Inventory varies by library , so you ’ll need to check the catalogue of your local library of things to see what ’s available .
Libraries of thing are often operate on by traditional library , but keep in nous that this is n’t always the case . An instance : Cincinnati , Ohio’sQueen City Thingery . Run by the environmental Education Department organizationImago , this " thingery " has hiking ingroup , stove , tents , kip bags , and a knoll available for a diminished fee ( no more than $ 13 ) .
College students should also check their shoal subroutine library and campus recreation governing body for adoption opportunities .
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Community gear sharing
neighbor are good for more than just cup of sugar or some local gossip . People in your area can list camping equipment and accessories for loan on sites likeFriendWithA , GeerGarage , andQuiptu . You ’ll pay a fit amount per twenty-four hours and associate with a neighbor through the site to coordinate pickup .
Another source , Loanables , will link up you with an individual or caller located anywhere in the States . For example , you could borrow a satellite sound for your off - gridiron camping trip for $ 5 a sidereal day from a random person in Utah and they ’ll send it to you .
Campsites with gear included
If you ’ve ever reached your camping area and desperately wish the tent would assemble itself , then you might likeTentrr , a peer - to - peer rental platform kind of like Airbnb but just for camping . Tentrr campsites from Texas to Maine mostly come with safari - flair tent already set up ( There are some exceptions that require motor home to add their own equipment , but they ’re all understandably marked on the web site ) .
If this kind of don’t - lift - a - finger camping ground setup ingathering to you , but you already have a campsite in idea , there are even companies that will lug the gear out to you , set it up , and tear it down . Do n’t believe it ? GoogleZion Camping Rentaland get to planning a trip to southwest Utah .
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What to expect when renting camping gear
Many gear renting platforms will require a security deposit for high - economic value detail . Sometimes , they ’ll also require a price release — Think of it as insurance . Unlike security deposits , hurt release are not returned after the rental get back .
To make trusted you ’re not blamed for any exist scathe , note the status of every point before using it , and take photos of anything that ’s not in utter condition . If you may , be sure to essay the paraphernalia with the owner or a caller representative before make it home — and at the very least , test it out before your trip . This direction , you could be certain you know how to use it and nothing ’s missing .
at long last , make every effort to return gear in the same condition it was received . Camping stumble can get pretty gnarly , so be certain to clean and dry your rental geared wheel properly to prevent it from molding in storage . And if you accidentally break something ( it happens ! ) , just do the owner a solid and let them know . Honesty is the good insurance in the man of gear rental .
REI
Last Minute Gear
Kit Lender
Imago
Quiptu
Tentrr
