DU Gear Garage

About

The DU Gear Garage offers a way for DU students to venture out into the Rocky Mountains without having to buy expensive and bulky gear on their own. We offer low-cost rentals for any student at DU, along with resources and information about the best hiking and backpacking trails near campus, Leave No Trace and safety in the wilderness.

COVID19 UPDATE

In order to maximize the health and safety of our staff and peers, the Gear Garage will NOT be renting any gear out for the Fall Quarter. Please check back to see updated decisions regarding Winter and Spring Quarter rental ability, as these will be assessed as we learn more. However, the Gear Garage will be hosting several small, in-person opportunities to explore local trails for day-hiking trips as well as trail restoration and maintenance trips. More info will be posted on our weekly newsletter and the Center for Sustainability social media channels.

 

What We Rent

The Gear Garage has a variety of items to help make your outdoor trips easier and more accessible:

  • Camping
    • 2-4 person tents
    • Sleeping bags
    • Sleeping pads
    • Tarps
    • Coolers
    • Large two-burner stoves
  • Backpacking
    • Large packs
    • Backpacking stoves
    • Pots and pans
    • Rain covers
    • Water filters
  • Hiking
    • Snow shoes
    • Day packs

Our full inventory can be found on our website. 

What We Do Not Rent

While we want to provide all the gear you need to have a fun and exciting outdoor adventure, there are some pieces of gear that we do not rent out to students as a matter of safety and liability:

  • Ski gear
  • Climbing gear
  • Helmets
  • Ropes
  • Bicycles

How to Use the Gear Garage

  1. Plan Ahead. Our inventory is almost completely booked every weekend, so we are unable to accommodate day-of rentals or last-minute additions. We’d love to help outfit you for your trip, so please make sure that you have made your reservation in time for us to fulfill it.

  2. Reserve Your Gear Online. All reservations need to be received by Wednesday at midnight. Head on over to our website and let us know what you need to make your weekend trip perfect.

  3. Get Some Cash. Each item that you rent comes with a $5 rental fee. That means if you rented three things, you will pay $15 for the weekend. Unfortunately, we can only accept cash for these rental fees. There’s an ATM in Centennial Halls that you can swing by on your way up to our office in Centennial Towers.

  4. Pick Up Your Gear. Gear pickups are from 10 am-4 pm on Thursdays. We’re located at the Center for Sustainability, which is on the first floor of Centennial Towers. Someone will be here to help you find your stuff and collect your money. If you’re going to be late or need to come get stuff early, please let us know.

  5. Take only Photos, Leave only Footprints. We hope you have the best time while you’re out enjoying the amazing wilds of the Rocky Mountains. Remember to be a responsible backpacker, hiker or snow-shoer: pack out whatever you packed in, don’t harass wildlife, don’t pick wildflowers and generally treat the land with respect so that others can enjoy it like you got to.

  6. Clean Your Gear. If it rained, please let your gear dry out before you pack it up and give it back. If you got it muddy or nasty, please try to clean it the best you can before returning it. If you cooked food in one of our pots, please wash the food out before returning it. Like the mountains, more people can use our gear if treated with respect.

  7. Return Your Stuff. Please return your gear on Monday during business hours. We’d appreciate the time to prepare things for the following weekend.

Group Rentals

The Gear Garage's mission is to help get more people outdoors and foster sustainable use of our natural areas. We offer discounts and accommodations to like-minded organizations who partner in our mission. If you are an organization associated with DU that may fall into this category, send us an email at geargaragedu@gmail.com

  • Camping
    • 2-4 person tents
    • Sleeping bags
    • Sleeping pads
    • Tarps
    • Coolers
    • Large two-burner stoves
  • Backpacking
    • Large packs
    • Backpacking stoves
    • Pots and pans
    • Rain covers
    • Water filters
  • Hiking
    • Snow shoes
    • Day packs

Our full inventory can be found on our website. 

What We Do Not Rent

While we want to provide all the gear you need to have a fun and exciting outdoor adventure, there are some pieces of gear that we do not rent out to students as a matter of safety and liability:

  • Ski gear
  • Climbing gear
  • Helmets
  • Ropes
  • Bicycles

How to Use the Gear Garage

  • The Gear Rental Process

    1. Plan Ahead. Our inventory is almost completely booked every weekend, so we are unable to accommodate day-of rentals or last-minute additions. We’d love to help outfit you for your trip, so please make sure that you have made your reservation in time for us to fulfill it.

    2. Reserve Your Gear Online. All reservations need to be received by Wednesday at midnight. Head on over to our website and let us know what you need to make your weekend trip perfect.

    3. Get Some Cash. Each item that you rent comes with a $5 rental fee. That means if you rented three things, you will pay $15 for the weekend. Unfortunately, we can only accept cash for these rental fees. There’s an ATM in Centennial Halls that you can swing by on your way up to our office in Centennial Towers.

    4. Pick Up Your Gear. Gear pickups are from 10 am-4 pm on Thursdays. We’re located at the Center for Sustainability, which is on the first floor of Centennial Towers. Someone will be here to help you find your stuff and collect your money. If you’re going to be late or need to come get stuff early, please let us know.

    5. Take only Photos, Leave only Footprints. We hope you have the best time while you’re out enjoying the amazing wilds of the Rocky Mountains. Remember to be a responsible backpacker, hiker or snow-shoer: pack out whatever you packed in, don’t harass wildlife, don’t pick wildflowers and generally treat the land with respect so that others can enjoy it like you got to.

    6. Clean Your Gear. If it rained, please let your gear dry out before you pack it up and give it back. If you got it muddy or nasty, please try to clean it the best you can before returning it. If you cooked food in one of our pots, please wash the food out before returning it. Like the mountains, more people can use our gear if treated with respect.

    7. Return Your Stuff. Please return your gear on Monday during business hours. We’d appreciate the time to prepare things for the following weekend.

Group Rentals

The Gear Garage's mission is to help get more people outdoors and foster sustainable use of our natural areas. We offer discounts and accommodations to like-minded organizations who partner in our mission. If you are an organization associated with DU that may fall into this category, send us an email at geargaragedu@gmail.com

Guided Day-Hikes for Beginners

While many people come to Colorado and the University of Denver seeking to take their outdoor exploration to the next level, we recognize that there are those out there who do not have any experience with wilderness exploration, hiking or spending time in the mountains. We also know that it can be intimidating to dive into mountain hikes if you are unfamiliar with the terrain and do not know what to expect. For this reason, the Gear Garage hosts quarterly guided hikes through popular spots in the Rocky Mountains for beginners. Absolutely no experience is necessary; we will show you everything you need to know!

Our student guides are highly qualified, with many years of experience with wilderness guided trips, wilderness first aid and outdoor leadership experience. The hikes are carefully chosen to meet the abilities of our beginner hikers and offer a safe and fun environment to get to know fellow students and learn how to conquer the mountains like a pro.