Where to Rent Camping Gear (and Why You Should)

Does REI Rent Camping Gear? It’s Complicated.

Founded in 1938, REI has been outfitting outdoor lovers for nearly 90 years and renting camping gear for over 30. If you are willing to pick up your gear in-person, the rental process is extremely simple—from the rental portal, just enter the zip code closest to where you want to pick up your rentals, choose the closest store, and then scroll down to find the “Rentals menu” box. Hit the “Select Dates” box in the upper righthand corner, then browse the list of gear that’s available. Unfortunately, while this program was once available at most REI locations, it’s now only available at about a dozen stores. If you live in New York City, for example, the closest REI store that will do rentals is nearly 1,500 miles away in Boulder, Colorado.

Still, if the program is available near you, it’s an extremely good deal. Many locations offer curated camping kits at extremely affordable prices, with further discounts for REI Co-Op members. For example, the REI Basic Backpacking Kit, which contains supplies for two people to backpack comfortably (including one tent, two backpacks, two sleeping bags and pads, camp chairs, headlamps, and a stove), starts at $276 for the first night for non Co-op members ($185 for members), with an added $54 per night for each additional night ($36 for members). Given how easy the rental system is to use (and how cheap it can be for REI members) it’s worth checking whether there is a location offering rentals near your destination before looking at other options.

Source: https://www.fieldmag.com/articles/camping-gear-rental-guide