4 Things to Rent Instead of Buy in Minneapolis

One thing that makes Minneapolis unique is the variety of nature found within its urban boundaries – limestone bluffs, waterfalls, public gardens, river walks, greenways, parks, and lakes with miles and miles of waterfront trails.

With so many opportunities to get outside, there’s only one downside. Most of us don’t have all of the gear we need to try every outdoor experience. To help you get started, here’s a list of four things you should rent instead of buy to sample all that Minneapolis has to offer.

Paddling gear rental

In the early days of fall, there’s still plenty of time to get out on the water with paddling gear rentals. Wheel Fun Rentals, found at various lakes and parks throughout the city, rents everything from single and double pedal boats and kayaks to stand-up paddleboards and canoes.

If you rent paddling gear at Lake Bde Maka Ska or Lake Harriet, you can experience the city’s chain of lakes, which offer gorgeous scenery in every season.

Another place to rent paddling gear in Minneapolis is REI. They offer canoes as well as hard-shell, and inflatable kayaks, and paddleboards. Need a car rack to transport your paddle gear? They rent those, too.

Camping and hiking gear rental

Camping in Minnesota requires a lot of different gear, but do you want to buy it before you know whether you even enjoy camping? Don't invest before you're sure! This is where renting hiking and camping equipment is a smart option.

The Center for Outdoor Adventure through the University of Minnesota offers various gear for rent – like tents, sleeping bags and sleeping pads. Plus, you can rent hiking and climbing equipment from them as well.

Another local option is Wooded Nomad, which has a library of high-quality camping equipment available. From backpacks, sleeping gear and tents to lighting, cookware and outdoor chairs, they’ve got it all. To make it easy, they also offer gear bundles ranging from just a tent and sleeping bag to everything you’d need to camp out of your car, including lanterns, Yeti brand coolers and kitchen sets.

Finally, you can rent a wide variety of camping and hiking gear at REI and pick it up at their Bloomington location.

Now that you’ve rented your camping equipment, it’s time to head out to any of the more than 5,000 campsites in Minnesota.

Bike rental

Fall is a lovely time to enjoy a city bike ride and get a close-up view of the changing fall colors. Don’t own a bike? There are several bike rental options available. 

You can rent bikes from Wheel Fun Rentals, with locations at Minnehaha Falls and lakes Bde Maka Ska, Harriet and Nokomis. Bike options vary by location but include everything from mountain and tandem bike rentals to surreys, choppers and quad sport bikes.

Another option is to rent an electric bike. Renting an Ebike is more expensive but is a great way to try this style of biking before investing.

Related Reading: Ride Hennepin County

Sporting goods rental

Minneapolis has gained a reputation as an excellent city for golf, but what if you only play occasionally, or are a complete beginner with no gear?

ClubHub offers premium golf club rentals available for delivery in Minneapolis. Just order the clubs you want to rent online and pick them up at your destination. Then, ClubHub schedules a UPS pick-up at the end of your rental.

Fishing more your style? Minneapolis Parks has 14 recreation centers that offer free loaner tackle through Fishing in the Neighborhood. Just contact your local recreation center to find out if they have tackle equipment available. As part of this program, they also offer educational kits for kids.

What will you rent first?