Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

REI’s Gear Rental Program Will Change How You Experience the Outdoors

Back when I lived in Seattle, my favorite way to spend a rained-out weekend was to visit the REI flagship store. With its lofty ceiling and echoing vastness, it was truly a cathedral to adventure in the great outdoors. Everywhere you turned, a new opportunity presented itself. I inevitably left with at least one or two new things to speed me on my next expedition, and a covetous knot in my stomach over other products I’d seen. I spent the rest of the day thinking about the awesome kayak, the ultra-light tent, or the ingenious camp stove that I didn’t pick up.

Alas, I wasn’t well-versed enough in the REI brand to know that I could have experienced all this awesome outdoor gear any time, without dropping a ton of money on it, thanks to REI’s outdoor gear rental program.

rei rentals gear tent
REI

Further Reading

Since its inception nearly 100 years ago, REI has been so much more than an outdoor adventure outfitter. The company is defined by a community passionate about protecting, preserving, and enjoying nature. Along with a traditional advocacy mission that sees the company donating to wilderness protection and cleanup initiatives, the company has organized innovative programs that bring people together in the embrace of nature. Back in 2016, REI’s D.C. flagship store hosted United Outside, a 100-day program designed to help people disconnect from the turbulent political climate and reconnect with one another. In 2018, their new store openings in Tennessee and Illinois were celebrated by donating thousands of dollars to local nature preservation and restoration projects.

As of 2015, the company had invested $4.2 million in more than 300 local, regional, and national nonprofits working to care for and improve access to more than 600 inspiring outdoor spaces, and awarded $410,000 in grants to nonprofit programs that engage young, diverse populations in the outdoors.

rei rentals gear kayak
REI

However, there’s no better form of advocacy than giving people a chance to experience the thing you’re advocating for. And that’s exactly what the REI rental program is all about.

REI’s gear rental program has been around for a while, but was limited to its bigger locations along the West Coast, but as of this year, the company committed to doubling the size of its rental program, expanding it to stores from coast to coast. In addition to offering rentals at more stores, REI is expanding the range of gear offered for rent. That means new types of items, but also more of the top-quality brands sold at REI.

There’s no better form of advocacy than giving people a chance to experience the thing you’re advocating for. And that’s exactly what the REI rental program is all about.

Word on the street is that much of this commitment has to do with responding to the needs of a millennial clientele. For a cash-strapped generation desperate for the refreshing solace of time in nature, REI’s gear rental program offers a “sharing economy”-style solution for getting away from it all and reconnecting with their sense of adventure.

And for compulsive buyers like me, the program also offers an opportunity to test out the gear before you buy it. Does the heel lift bar really make that much of a difference to your snowshoeing experience? Is the extra-thick sleeping pad worth the extra money (and the extra space it takes up in your pack)? Do you really love stand-up paddleboarding enough to invest in one of your own? Now you get to try it and find out.

rei rentals gear snow
REI

Peter Whitcomb, head of REI’s rental program, acknowledged that price and storage space can be barriers to getting outdoors. “At REI we believe in the transformative power of spending time outdoors. Offering rental gear makes it that much easier for people to learn a new hobby, check out new gear, connect with friends, and get outside.”

There are 114 stores in 30 states from Alaska to Alabama that can set you up for any kind of adventure your heart desires, from camping to cycling to snow sports — some even offer car racks and boats for rent. Gear rentals are available to all, but REI Co-op members get a discounted rate. Some store locations will carry more of certain types of gear than others, so make sure to call ahead or visit the store’s website to find out whether they have what you’re looking for. If there’s an outdoor adventure you’ve been waiting to take, but you hesitated because of the cost of entry, hustle to your nearest REI store and get outfitted.

To learn more, or to see the gear rental prices, click here.

Editors' Recommendations

Chelsea Batten
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Chelsea Batten is a writer, photographer, and Kerouac groupie. One of the original digital nomads, she was seduced from life…
Can You Go Outdoors During a Self-Quarantine or Shelter-in-Place Order?
social distancing park walk dog coronavirus

The novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, is clearly here to stay for a while. With more than 4,300,000 cases worldwide and over 1,400,000 cases and counting in the U.S., cities and states around the country are taking drastic measures to curb the spread of the infection. These include closing restaurants, bars, and other businesses, implementing lock-down orders, and calling on citizens to practice social distancing and self-isolating at home to flatten the curve and prevent our healthcare system from being overloaded.

But even for the purposes of public health, being cooped up inside all day can be difficult, which begs the question: Can you go outside during a self-quarantine? What about during a shelter-in-place order, which more locations are adopting? If so, where can you go and for how long? Could you go to a national park? Can a group of people go outdoors as long as the individuals maintain the proper distance from each other? In this article, we’ll answer your questions about going outside during a global pandemic. While the information provided here is up-to-date as of the time of publication, please check the Centers for Disease Control website and your local health authority to stay on top of changes and updates.
My state or city is currently under a shelter-in-place order. Can I go outside?
Shelter-in-place is defined as “finding a safe location indoors and staying there until you are given an ‘all clear’ or told to evacuate.” This term is generally applied to active shooter situations where there is an immediate threat, which is why it’s a bit of a misnomer for the current COVID-19 pandemic. Yes, you should absolutely stay inside and away from others as much as possible, but that doesn’t mean you are banned from leaving your home. As long as you are not currently infected or suspect you might have been exposed to infected individuals, you can still go outside. Many governments that are implementing shelter-in-place orders actually encourage people to go outside occasionally for their mental and physical health.

Read more
8 Coolest Things We Saw at Outdoor Retailer + Snow Show 2021
Outdoor Retailer

The Outdoor Retailer and Snow Show 2020 landed in Denver last week with a packed house of retailers, brands, designers, pro athletes, and yours truly at The Manual. The aisles were filled with attendees milling about as the biggest brands in outdoor recreation showed up to preview the newest gear, apparel, footwear, and equipment for fall 2020 and winter 2021.

Here is the coolest stuff we saw.
Vintage
Fjällräven Expedition Series

Read more
The Best Cyber Week Deals on Outdoor Gear
black friday 2019 outdoor deals

Cyber Monday is over, but Cyber Week is still here, which means your favorite brands and gear stores are hosting huge online sales. We're rounding up the best of these Cyber Week deals to help you get the most out of your next adventure. We'll be focusing on sitewide sales from top retailers — REI, Backcountry, Columbia Sportswear, The North Face, and the like — but we'll also highlight discounts on specific essentials such as tents, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, camp cookware, water filtration systems, outdoor apparel, and much more.

Outdoor activities do not have to be expensive hobbies. There are high price tags on high-quality gear, but sales like the ones you'll see this week mean you can stockpile new goodies without emptying the bank account. Do you want to spend more time in the backcountry? Check out deals on backpacking gear. Is there a trip on your bucket list? Start thinking about what you'll need and take advantage of these discounts. No need to head to the store — you can find them all right here.
Best Cyber Week Deals on Outdoor Gear

Read more