Wondering whether you can rent a camping tent?
The answer is yes. You can rent a camping tent; today, many campers opt to rent their camping gear.
Personally, I’m a big fan of renting tents, especially when I’m flying with my camping gear.
I usually struggle with the logistics of bringing my camping equipment on flights, and rental gear has been an amazing alternative.
And in this guide, I’ll take you through a detailed guide on renting a camping tent.
Table of Contents
5 Reasons to Rent a Camping Tent
I mentioned that logistics are the main reason I usually consider renting a rent over buying or carrying one.
But that’s not the only reason you should rent a tent.
Here’re five more reasons why most campers opt to rent a camping tent.
·If you’re a beginner
If you’re just starting camping, I imagine you don’t have the resources to drop off a new tent, so renting one would be a great option.
Personally, that’s how I began my camping journey. I didn’t have the basics of camping, so the rental gear was the only option.
The good thing with camping tent rentals for beginners is they get a taste of sleeping under the stars without any commitment.
It’s a great option if you’re still undecided whether camping will be for you.
·You rarely camp
If you only camp intermittently, I don’t see the need to invest in a tent.
Camping gear can be expensive, and so is maintaining it.
So, renting one would be more economical and convenient if you don’t camp regularly.
I did this when I was in high school. I knew I wouldn’t be camping again for the next four years due to school commitments, so I opted to rent rather than buy.
·You want to try a new tent
If your tent is already wearing out and you need to try a new one, renting would be a great option.
It particularly makes sense if you’ve several camping tent options in mind and are undecided about which one to choose.
Renting will allow you to try all your option without committing to any of them. And once you figure out which one fits your bill, you can go for it.
Renting one feels like a trial period. You get a tent’s premium access and features at only a fraction of its price.
·You’ve unexpected guests
If you’re expecting a host of guests for a camping part, it will make sense to rent a larger tent.
Just like you do when you’ve visitors coming around. You don’t go on buying a new tent or seats but hire one from a rental company.
·You don’t have enough money for your desired tent
You could also choose to rent a tent if you’ve not gathered enough money to afford better equipment.
Maybe you’re eyeing a certain tent, but because you don’t have enough capital, you could start by renting one. It’s more economical.
It’s like how some people would choose to use Uber or Lyft before their finances are checked for a new car.
Guide to Renting Camping Tent: What to Look
Renting camping tents isn’t any different from renting regular camping gear or other equipment.
The principles or rather the rental policy of camping tent rentals remain similar.
Here’s a brief of what to look for when renting camping gear.
1) Read online reviews of the rental
It’s always a good idea to read the online reviews of your preferred rental.
It gives you a rough idea of what to expect from the rental company through customer feedback and everything.
In short, the review should give you an honest and bird’s view of the rental and make your decision-making process easier.
2) Rates/Rental Cost
Next, consider the rates for the gear purchases and see whether they make sense.
Ideally, the cost of renting a tent shouldn’t be more than buying one. My rule of thumb is renting a tent should always be less than half the value of the tent cost.
3) Accessories
Also, consider the accessories that your rental tent has or accessories to get you started.
Depending on the type of tent, you might be interested in getting a tent with a vestibule or even extra tent stakes or trekking poles.
4) Consider the terms and regulations
Before signing a rental contract, it’s good to re-look at the agreement again.
See whether the pickup and drop-off points align with your needs. Read through the fine print, and ensure you ask questions about the delay in dropping the tent, extra charges, insurance, damage costs, and everything.
The last thing you want is to get hit with unexpected rental costs.
5) Compare with different rentals
It’s also a good idea to compare different camping tent rentals and see one that offers the best value and bang for your buck.
If possible, asking the family for recommendations would be the best approach. They’ll give you honest feedback and make the decision-making process easier.
6) Inspect the tent
Before you pick the tent, look at it closely, and if there’s an issue, don’t hesitate to raise the concerns so that they don’t ping back on you when returning the tent.
Where to Rent Camping Gear Tents
The best rental should be local. I prefer renting locally because it saves me from the shipping costs.
While some awesome websites provide shipping, canvas wall tents are bulky, so they can quickly add the prices.
You should only consider shipping your rental tents if no local ones are available.
Some of the popular local tent rental options include:
REI
REI has a nationwide presence with up to 168 locations in 39 states.
It’s one of the easiest ways of renting your camp tent, especially if you need it ASAP.
REI backpacking gear rental offers different camping packages and may come as individual items or as an entire camping kit.
Nextdoor
Aptly named Nextdoor, this is a community for specific neighborhoods.
It’s a free option for members and is one of the most trusted websites for borrowing and renting.
Craigslist
You could choose to d a quick search Craigslist to see if anyone within your locality or camping destination is willing to rent out their backpacking tents, sleeping bags, camping stove, or any gear.
Forums
Finally, you could post on the popular camping forums to see if anyone would be willing to rent their tent.
I love using Reddit for this.
Online Options
You could choose an online rental if there’s no local rental option.
Some of the highly-rated online rentals include:
- Outdoors geek: It has a local pickup point in Denver, but it ships nationwide
- Coozie Outdoors
- Lower Gear Outdoors
- Arrive Outdoors: They’ve a local pickup point in LA but ship nationwide.
Other Ways to Camp if you Don’t Own Gear
Renting a camp tent is a flexible and low-effort way of accessing camping gear without commitment.
However, there’re also other ways you could spend your night under the stars, even when you don’t own equipment.
Rent a Fully-Equipped Van/RV (Car Camping)
If you’re spending your night at a drive-in campsite, I suggest skipping tent rental and renting a fully equipped RC.
A camper van is more accommodative and will come with everything you need for your car camping.
Book a Campsite with a Tent
Alternatively, you could book a campsite with a tent in their package.
Most campsites with such offerings provide a ready-to-sleep tent, like an Air BNB. The tent includes grills, chairs, and a bed.
Buy
If you’re not a fan of renting, you could choose to buy a cheap tent.
The good thing is most camping gear is getting crazy cheap, ad I’ve severally seen campers with $20 glamping tents, which they usually leave at the camping trip festival after it ends.
Wrap Up
Can you rent a tent?
Yes, you can always rent a camping tent, but it’s good to follow due procedures when renting one. I’d also recommend renting locally to save shipping fees and everything.
To sum up, you shouldn’t have any reason not to camp while you can access all your gear at an affordable rental fee.
