Gear Rental Guide
The choices are rich in Seattle NorthCounty, but whether you’re car camping, skiing, paddling or climbing, your adventures will be oh-so-improved with the right gear and provisions.
Depending on your recreation plans and experience, you can consider options to buy or rent what you need.
Ready? Let’s do this.
CAMPING & HIKING
Retail options abound. Pick up basic camping or fishing supplies at Target or Wal-Mart or head to specialty stores for higher-end gear and knowledgeable staff to guide you, according to your needs.
- Cabela’s, 9810 Quil Ceda Blvd., Tulalip (360) 474-4880 www.cabelas.com
- REI, 3000 184th Street, Suite 952, Lynnwood (located in Alderwood Mall) (425) 640-6200 www.rei.com
- Target, 405 SE Everett Mall Way, Everett (425) 353-3167 www.target.com
- Wal-Mart, 1400 164th Street SW Lynnwood (425) 741-9445 www.walmart.com
While not located within Snohomish County, you have rental options, too, if you plan ahead.
Informed by years of personal experience, the folks at Back 40 offer rentals in pre-made kits for backpacking, car camping and concert camping. They can also create custom-made kits. Reserve well in advance, especially for outdoor concerts; pick up locations are in the greater Seattle area.
Back 40 Outfitters (no physical store; pickup points in Seattle) (206) 414-8407
Phoenix-based Lower Gear has been renting gear to outdoor adventurers for more than 15 years. Go online to choose what you need; they’ll pack it up and ship it to your jumping-off point. If you’re not sure what you need, a live person can assist you by phone. The details: you don't pay rent during the shipping transit time; delivery should be scheduled for the day before you plan to depart; you re-box and ship the rental gear back on the first business day upon your return.
Lower Gear (Phoenix, AZ based) www.lowergear.com (480) 348-8917
www.lowergear.com/camping-packages
REI rents camping and mountaineering gear, including stoves, backpacks, sleeping bags and tents, from its Seattle flagship store only; call ahead to check availability and rates. Gear must be picked up from and returned to the store.
REI 222 Yale Avenue N, Seattle (206) 223-1944 www.rei.com
BIKES
Arlington Velo Bikes, located less than a block away from the Centennial Trail, rents bikes for $15 per half day (4 hours) or $40 full day (24 hours), including a helmet.
Arlington Velo Sport, 401 N. Olympic Ave, Arlington (360) 629-6415 www.arlingtonvelosport.com
Bayside Bikes offers bike sales, service and accessories in downtown Everett. 2707 Colby Avenue, Suite H, Everett (425) 789-1886 http://baysidebikeseverett.com
Bicycle Centres Snohomish moved to a new location right on the Centennial Trail and will offer rentals starting in spring 2019 in addition to sales and service. Riders can take advantage of on-site parking plus an outdoor fireplace and seating area. Rental packages will include a helmet; inquire for current pricing and to reserve.
Bicycle Centers Snohomish, 707 Pine Avenue, 105B, Snohomish (360) 862-8300
Bicycle Centers also offers sales and service in Everett at 4704-A Evergreen Way, (425) 252-1441 and 13027 Bothell-Everett Highway, (425) 337-3509
SNOWSPORTS
Play It Again Sports offers affordable ski and snowboard rentals. Packages run $35 per day for adults and $25-35 for kids, depending on age/size. Call a day ahead to inquire.
16929 Highway 99, Suite 110, Lynnwood (425) 670-1184
115 Marysville Mall Way, Marysville (360) 653-9777
Jakes Hiway 2 Sports rents skis or snowboard packages for the day or the season; you can also take advantage of Jake’s shuttle service to get to the slopes. A one-way trip on a 4x4 bus is $13; ride round-trip for $26. Ski or snowboard rental includes boots, bindings, skis or snowboard. Adults $42/day and up. Youth packages $35/day.
Jake’s Hiway 2 Sports, 118 6th St, Gold Bar (360) 793-9789 https://jakesh2s.com
Stevens Pass Snowboard Shop, also in Gold Bar, can set you up with snowshoes, skis or a snowboard (for purchase or rent). Experienced staff all ride regularly and are familiar with the gear. You can even rent the clothing you need!
Downhill ski or snowboard package: $43 and up
Cross-country ski package: $32
Snowshoes with boots: $34
Snowblades (mini skis) $23
Clothing (jacket, pants, gloves and goggles): $36 adults / $28 youth
Stevens Pass Snowboard Shop, 617 Croft Avenue, Gold Bar (360) 793-0221
https://stevenspasssnowboardsh...
REI rents snowshoes from its Lynnwood location. Call in to reserve or stop by the store in person (no online reservations accepted). Members receive a discounted rate.
Adults: $44 per day; $22 each additional day, plus $100 deposit ($22/$11 for members)
Tweens: $36/$18 with $100 deposit ($18/$9 for members)
Kids: $20/$10 with $100 deposit ($10/$5 for members)
Poles: $20/$10) ($8/$4 for members)
Single day rates apply for pick Friday/return by close on Sunday.
SUP and KAYAK
Adventure Cascades primary offers guided trips (white-water rafting and scenic float trips along the Sauk and Suiattle rivers) but will also rent you kayaks for a self-guided five-mile trip on the Stillaguamish (safe for first-timers!) Trips meet at the Arlington shop and shuttle to the trip location. Guided tours are $95 per person; the self-guided kayak trip on the on the Stillaguamish River is $35 per person.
Adventure Cascades, 120 East Burke Avenue, Arlington (360) 393-6815 https://www.adventurecascades....
Hydrology Stand Up Paddle offers rentals, lessons and tours. Indoor locations include City of Everett at Forest Park Pool and City of Snohomish at Snohomish Aquatic Center.
Four outdoor locations in Snohomish County include City of Everett at Silver Lake, City of Lake Stevens at Lundeen Park, The Port of Everett at Jetty Landing and City of Mukilteo at Edgewater Beach. Rentals and tours are by reservation only at Port of Everett and Edgewater Beach. New for 2019: kayak rentals at Silver Lake and Lundeen Park.
Hourly rentals include introductory instructions, board, paddle, leash and personal floatation device (PFD) included, $20/hour per board plus sales tax. Wetsuits and booties available for an additional $10/hour.
Hydrology Stand Up Paddle (425) 330-4990 www.hydrologysup.com
Lake Roesiger Store rents canoes, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards. Appropriate for beginners; call for hours and rates.
810 S Lake Roesiger Rd, Snohomish (360) 568-7544
BASIC PROVISIONS
Of course, when you’re recreating in the great outdoors, you need to fuel up! Easy-prep or pre-made food like chili, soup, sausages and mac and cheese, along with trail mix, jerky, sandwich and s’mores makings are go-tos. Trying to pack lightly? Purchase freeze-dried meals at Cabela’s in Tulalip or Walmart or REI in Lynnwood; if you have a large group or want to stock up, Costco sells boxed dehydrated meal assortments. Don’t forget to pick up batteries, matches or lighters, stove fuel, sunscreen, bug spray, first aid and other consumable supplies that you may need. And remember, even if your destination has a water supply, it’s always a good idea to bring backup. An average adult needs two liters per day – and much more when you’re active.
Of course, you can purchase ice at most grocery stores and gas stations; for the best prices, stop in at Grocery Outlet (locations in Arlington, Everett and Lynnwood) or Smart Foodservice (formerly Cash & Carry) locations in Lynnwood and Everett.
Cabela’s, 9810 Quil Ceda Blvd., Tulalip (360) 474-4880 www.cabelas.com
Costco Wholesale, 10200 19th Avenue SE, Everett (425) 370-7451; 18109 33rd Avenue W, Lynnwood (425) 697-1062; 16616 Twin Lakes Avenue, Marysville (360) 652-4532
Grocery Outlet, 123 E. Burke Avenue, Arlington (360) 322-6172; 19800 44th Avenue W, Lynnwood (425) 5209 Evergreen Way, Everett (425) 512-9282; 710 SE Everett Mall Way, Everett (425) 353-6224
REI, 3000 184th Street, Suite 952, Lynnwood (located in Alderwood Mall) (425) 640-6200 www.rei.com
Smart Foodservice, 2917 Cedar Street, Everett (425) 339-2628 and 6412 204th Street SW, Lynnwood (425) 672-1886 www.smartfoodservice.com
Walmart, 1400 164th Street SW Lynnwood (425) 741-9445 www.walmart.com
FIREWOOD
Before purchasing firewood, be sure to check the rules and conditions at your destination. Burn bans or restrictions are common in the dry summer months. To avoid unknowingly bringing in pests and disease on your firewood, purchase it locally; at your campground if available, or within a ten-mile range if possible. Refer to sites such as www.recreation.gov for detailed campground information. If your destination campground doesn’t sell firewood, check home improvement, hardware and grocery stores; Bontrager’s Firewood in Arlington also sells by the bundle. Don’t forget a hatchet, firestarter and bucket/shovel (to extinguish your blaze safely).
Bontrager’s Firewood, Michael Bontrager, Arlington, WA (360) 913-8099