Why ‘Buy’?
Quality hiking and backpacking gear is expensive. This cost can grow exponentially when you’re inexperienced and unsure of what gear is going to work for you. It is not uncommon for individuals to buy gear, find out it doesn’t work well for them and then find themselves repurchasing gear. Others buy gear, then find out they don’t like backpacking or hiking. If someone doesn’t have friends that they can borrow gear from, they may find themselves in this scenario. A good way to avoid this is situation is using a rental company.
Over the years my friends and I have rented gear for snorkeling and winter hiking from a local university – gear such as wetsuits, fins, masks, snowshoes, crampons and ice axes. It was a great way for all of us to gauge our interest in snorkeling and winter hiking before investing in gear. For me personally, it helped me figure out which crampons, snowshoes, and ice axe I would eventually purchase. In the end using rental gear saved me some money and frustration.
This past June I hiked the High Sierra Trail. Being my first multi-night trip in a few years, my family wanted me to be able to communicate with them while I was on the trail. Unfortunately, the university I usually rent from does not offer anything capable of doing this. After a Google search and reading some reviews, I decided to contact LowerGear.com.
First Impressions
LowerGear offers a variety of gear including:
- Backpacks – expedition packs, child carriers, lightweight packs
- Tents – famiy-sized car camping tents, ultralight backpacking tents, 4 season extreme conditions tents
- Sleeping – sleeping bags, liners, pads
- Navigation – 2-way satellite communication device, GPS
- Cooking & Food Storage – bear canisters, pots & pans, stoves
- Hydration – filters, bladders, water treatment
- Kayaks – kayaks, transport accessories
I talked with Dallas (the owner) for a few minutes about my the features I wanted and my expected use. We determined that the Delorme InReach Explorer was the best fit for my needs. After we got through the formalities of the transaction – security deposit, shipping details, ect, Dallas asked me about my itinerary. Turns out that Dallas had a wealth of information about my trip, as well as other trails in the area, and had some useful tips!
A few days later, the Delorme arrived at my house. The package included a short “Quick Start Guide” put together by LowerGear, and return shipping label. After looking through documentation, I had my account setup and was testing the device within a few minutes. After my trip was over, I put the Delorme back into the same box, taped it up, put on the shipping label and sent it back. Within a few days I received a confirmation that it was returned.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I was impressed and very happy with the service provided by LowerGear.com. I plan to use them for future needs and would not hesitate to recommend them to other hikers and backpackers. In summary, LowerGear is:
- very knowledgeable about the equipment they rent and it’s usage.
- owned and well-operated by outdoor enthusiasts. They have an easy, streamlined process to receive and return gear.
- a customer-first organization. They wanted to ensure I had the gear that was the best fit for my needs, not sell me on the most expensive piece of gear they rent.
| Disclaimer: LowerGear.com waived the rental fees for the Delorme InReach Explorer. Hiking Geek paid all usage fees with personal funds. |
