Ethan Metzger
As a part of our mission to help more members of our community get outdoors, The Mountaineers has a Gear Library to provide low cost, high-quality gear to individuals, families, and organized groups. In an effort to build sustainable programs, we are updating our Gear Library pricing and membership structure.
The highlights
- Members pay a one-time fee for unlimited, 6-month* access to the Gear Library.
- We offer tiered pricing and invite members to choose the level of membership that best fits their needs and budget.
- All of our gear is available to any lender. We encourage lenders to take a course or have experience before borrowing gear for snow travel.
Note: Gear Library memberships purchased before August 17, 2022 will be grandfathered into a 1-year membership and remain active until they’re due for renewal.
Membership Levels
Mountaineers members receive a 20% discount on Gear Library memberships. Consider becoming a Mountaineers member if you aren’t already! If our pricing does not work for you or your organization, please email gearlibrary@mountaineers.org to ask about scholarships.
Basic Membership: $65 ($52 for Mountaineers members)
- For individuals who want to try renting, or who only plan to rent once.
- This level helps us maintain our fleet of gear.
Standard Membership: $130 ($104 for Mountaineers members)
- For individuals who plan to rent 2-3 times over the course of a season.
- This level helps us cover the cost of staffing.
Sustaining Membership: $195 ($156 for Mountaineers members)
- For individuals who plan to rent monthly, or families who plan to rent once or twice during a season.
- This level allows us to maintain our current operations.
Supporter Membership: $260 ($208 for Mountaineers members)
- For families who plan to rent 3+ times during a season, or partner organizations renting for a large group (5+ people).
- This level allows us to invest in program expansion.
Rental Procedures
- Gear must be reserved in advance. Requests should be submitted via our MyTurn reservation platform at least 5 days before you’d like to pick up items, whenever possible. Gear may be reserved up to 45 days in advance and our default loan length is 7 days.
- Gear must be picked up and returned at our Seattle Program Center during a scheduled appointment time. You will select a gear pick-up time when submitting your reservation, and you will schedule a return appointment during gear pick-up.
- You are responsible for bringing your gear back clean and dry. The Mountaineers will wash any clothing items in between rentals. Please follow the relevant Gear Library After-Care Instructions for all items.
- You are responsible for gear that is lost or damaged due to negligent use. You'll receive an invoice for the cost of replacement or repair, in accordance with our Gear Library Replacement & Repair Price List. If needed, we are happy to work with you on a payment plan or to discuss volunteering in lieu of payment.
We love to see pictures of our gear in action and appreciate any photos you can share! Please send pictures to gearlibrary@mountaineers.org.
Learn more about the Gear Library and our rental procedures through our optional Gear Library Orientation. This short, self-paced online orientation is strongly recommended for new Gear Library members.
