Gear Libraries Are Rewriting The Rules Of Outdoor Travel In Europe

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Across Europe, a quiet shift is changing how people prepare for outdoor holidays—travelers are borrowing or renting outdoor gear instead of buying it, much as people borrow books, sometimes for free.

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights.

Alex Ledsom is a France-based contributor who covers travel.

Jul 15, 2026, 03:40pm EDT

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Gear libraries offer a great way to travel sustainably and light—rent or borrow your equipment for free.

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Outdoor holidays often start with a shopping problem, so it makes sense that organizations and companies are filling that space with gear libraries—by lending you the necessary gear for holidays, so you don’t have to buy it, store it and possibly never use it again.

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