Rent Or Buy a Tent For Camping
If you go camping, you are most likely going to be needing a tent of some kind. Unless you perhaps borrow a tent or go camping with someone who owns one, you’ll need to get one somehow. Today at some popular camp grounds there is actually the option of renting a tent and other camping equipment versus buying it. many people swear by renting camping gear, but does it make sense for you? Are there times when you should rent over buying or is buying always make the most sense?
The first thing that you should consider is the frequency that you camp. If you got once a month, you are realistically going to need your own equipment. Tents are pretty cheap and it’s hard to justify renting one if you use it frequently. If you camp once a year or less, look at renting your equipment as you aren’t going to be able to take care of it properly.
Another consideration is your means of travel. If you are going somewhere by car, you can bring along all your gear. If you are out of state via a plane, renting your tent will be easier. Now if you are flying and camping out for months, like I did in New Zealand, renting makes no sense.
If renting a tent in your area is extremely cheap or makes the cost of the camp grounds cheaper, you might consider doing that instead of buying. Many places prorate charges if you rent and camp there.
Sometimes you can rent and it will help you find out which one you want to buy. Get a few different experiences in different tents to know which one you might really want. You may find the model or size you though was perfect is too big or too small. renting let’s you try several before you decide.
If you have limited space at home and can’t store your equipment like a tent, renting does make some sense. In something like an apartment, you don’t have much space at all, even with tents being small.
Although in almost every circumstance buying is the cheaper option, a rented tent is maintained for your properly. These tents will be cleaned up for you and be properly waterproofed. There won’t be very many that are in bad shape. If you don’t maintain your tent properly, it’s going to be junky and leak quite a bit.
