When you do a lot of camping, then it makes sense to buy all of your own camping essentials since it saves you money in the long run. However, there are times when it makes sense to rent the camping equipment instead of buying and taking your own with you.
Obviously, the best reason for renting the gear is if you do not do a lot of camping. Renting makes it easy to get all the things that you need, while knowing that you are getting good, quality equipment that will make the trip a success.
The reason that regular campers might want to consider renting is that it offers a great way to test out some gear that you might be interested in purchasing for yourself. Some rental places even give you a discount if you want to turn something you rented into something that you own.
Where To Rent Camping Gear?
Probably the easiest place for most people to get their rental equipment is the local REI store, or any other outdoor outfitter shops in your area. This is my preferred way to renting because you can see and inspect everything in-person, as well as ask any questions that you might have about the gear. EMS stores, as well as local independent outfitter shops, are more great places to shop for rentals in-person.
If you do not really care if you can inspect all the items first, then ordering everything that you want to rent online is another way to get your gear rented for your trip. There are several different online companies that offer this service, which each operating a bit differently. Some only allow you to order the items that you need on a piece-by-piece basis, where others lets you book an entire equipment package that gives you pretty much everything that you need. I find that the package places tend to have better overall prices since you get so much for the money with them. Of course, if you already have some items that you’ll be taking, then one of the à la carte rental options might make more sense – especially if you are just testing out something before you buy it.
Some of the places I’ve found that offer online camping equipment rentals include:
One thing that you’ll want to pay attention to if you’re renting from one of these online companies is how you return the gear to them. Some of them include the return postage cost in the rental fee while others require that you pay the postage cost out of pocket. The reason that this is important is because this stuff can be heavy if you’re renting a lot of items at once. So be sure to factor that potentially high cost into your overall budget when preparing for your trip.
James says
Totally agree, thanks for promoting rentals! If folks are in the San Francisco area, they can rent up to 1 hour before a trip (super spontaneous) and get optional delivery with Last Minute Gear (www.lastmingear.com)