Best Places To Rent Outdoor Gear In Baltimore

Baltimore is known as an urban city, however there are quite a few parks and trails within and just outside of the county that make outdoor adventures both affordable and accessible to anyone living in the area. As fun as a camping, skiing, hiking, biking or rock-climbing adventure sounds, though, most people don't own the kinds of equipment needed in order to truly pursue these activities. Fortunately for the good people of Baltimore, there are a number of outlets that will rent you the gear you need at prices you can afford.

H&H Outdoors 
424 N. Eutaw St.
Baltimore, MD 21201
(410) 752-2580
www.baltimoresoutdoorstore.com

H&H Outdoors is a military surplus store that carries a surprising variety of equipment. Not only does it handle every conceivable kind of item one might want for a camping experience, but it also sells outdoor apparel for skiing, hunting, construction and even military and police. H&H matches its apparel line with accompanying equipment. It also has a full line of paintball products. As far as rental equipment goes, H&H is happy to rent a variety of tents, including domes, cabins, screen houses, EZ ups, Eureka, party tents and camping and backpacking tents. With a staff that's knowledgeable of the rigors of the outdoors, they can easily help you select the right equipment and tents to use on whatever kind of adventure you intend on having.

Towson University Outdoor Adventures
Burdick Hall
291 University Ave.
Towson, MD 21204
www.towson.edu/adventure

One of Baltimore's finest locations for higher education is also one of Baltimore's best community resources. The Towson University Outdoors Adventure, sponsored by Campus Recreation Services, offers courses in rock-climbing, education clinics and free gear rentals to anyone who has a One Card. Enroll in any of its adventure and outdoor training courses to get the professional experience you need in order to take on the great outdoors, and enjoy the perks of being able to utilize the climbing wall and get your rental gear for free.

Princeton Sports
6239 Falls Road
Baltimore, MD 21209
(410) 828-1127
www.princetonsports.com

In the winter months, outdoor enthusiasts set their sights on the slopes. As a county, Baltimore is fairly flat, however there are a number of attractive ski slopes within easy driving distance of Baltimore. The problem with these locations is that the prices they charge on-site for ski rentals are massive. Fortunately, Princeton Sports has a solution for that: rent your skis or snowboards local, then hit the slopes. Princeton's staff will help you with the fitting, and send you off with one of its very attractive weekend rental packages. You can also try a season lease, which will allow you to keep your equipment during the entire ski season before you have to return it. The shop also rents junior equipment, so the kids can pitch in and enjoy the winter fun.

Related: Best Outdoor Gear Stores In Baltimore

The Scout Shop
800 Wyman Park Drive
Baltimore, MD 21211
(410) 338-0144
www.baltimorebsa.org

If there's any group that understands outdoor gear rental, it's the Boy Scouts of America. Proudly equipping troops to venture through the wilderness for generations, BSA has the knowledge and experience to get you and the youngsters out into nature in style. Since most troops can't conveniently buy equipment for each and every scout, shops like The Scout Shop exist not only to sell the finest in boy scouting gear, but also to rent to entire troops for holiday or weekend adventures. If you are a scout master or parent to a scout, or if you simply want to check out the best in adventuring gear for kids, stop by the shop and talk to any of the professional staff.

The Hub/C'Ville Bikes
827 Frederick Road
Catonsville, MD 21228
(410) 747-7433
www.cvillebikes.com

Biking has always been a favorite outdoor activity, and with the increasing versatility and design of modern bicycles, it is rapidly becoming one of the most popular ways to enjoy the back roads, backwoods and nature trails of the country. Catonsville is one of the best locations in the Baltimore area to go and experience nature trails, and The Hub exists to equip locals and visitors alike to enjoy these trails in style. After the staff has assessed your biking needs and demoed a few models for you, they will put you on the road with any bike you choose for a flat rental cost of $60/day. Once you've gotten a chance to ride, and you just can't give up this cycling machine, The Hub will let you put your rental cost toward the purchase of the bike.

Related: Best Hiking Trails Near Baltimore

Joel Furches is a freelance writer and researcher for The Examiner and Logos Software, and also manages his own catalog of writing on Hub Pages. Joel is on the board of directors for Ratio Christi. He has a bachelors in Psychology and a Masters in Education.