One of the most significant barriers to getting outdoors is the lack of quality gear. We want to fix that. The purpose of the Gearbank is to provide quality outdoor gear to the community at an accessible cost. The Gearbank is located at Strawberry Hill Park.

Location

Strawberry Hill Park
7666 NE High School Rd
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110

What gear do you have?

• 2-person Tents
• 3-Person Tents
• 4-Person Tents
• Adult Foam Sleeping Pads
• Youth Foam Sleeping Pads
• Backpacks (35-82L) from trusted names like Osprey, REI, North Face, Black Diamond, and Jansport
• Men’s and Women’s Trekking Poles
• Youth and Adult Snowshoes
• 17.5” Specialized Hardrock Mountain Bikes
• 19” Specialized Hardrock Mountain Bikes
• 21“ Specialized Hardrock Mountain Bikes
• Bear Cans
• Hippocampe Beach and All – Terrain wheelchair

How do I reserve gear?

Gear bank rentals can be secured by contacting the Outdoor Program Manager, Stacey Stoner at staceys@biparks.org or call 206-883-5768.

Hippocampe wheelchairs are available to rent at no cost. They are currently being managed by the Adaptive & Specialized Rec Dept. More information about the offroad wheelchairs can be found here.

Reservations should be made one week to two months in advance of the rental date. Rentals with-in 7 days may be possible assuming there is adequate equipment and staff available. Refunds, minus a $10 administrative fee, will only be issued for cancellations made at least 7 days in advance of rental start date. Any rental within the 7 days will not be refunded. See our website for full refund details. www.biparks.org.

Do I have to pay?

We’re huge fans of free gear, but we have to charge a minimal fee to ensure our gear rental program is sustainable. We also charge a refundable deposit to ensure our equipment is treated correctly and can be used by many other outdoor enthusiasts for years to come.

FAQs

How do I select a backpack?

Backpacks are chosen based on the user’s size and the amount of gear needed in the pack. We have various packs in various sizes to accommodate kids and adults. A 45-65L pack will be sufficient for most 3-6 day backpacking trips. We will happily assist you in selecting a pack that fits you and your trip once you arrive at our Gearbank!

What size mountain bike should I get?

Generally, a 17.5” bike should fit someone between 5’2” and -5’7”. A 19” bike will fit someone between 5’7” and -5’11”. A 21” bike will fit someone between 6’-6’3”.

How big are the tents?

A 2-person tent is made to sleep two people cozily. If you’re camping with someone you don’t know well or who has stinky feet…well, then maybe opt for the 3-person.

• REI Half Dome 2+ Floor Dimensions: 92” x 56”
• Marmot Racer X 2 Floor Dimensions: 92” x 54”
• Marmot Grid 2p Floor Dimensions: 88.6” x 43.3”
• Mountain Hardwear Viperine Floor dimensions: 94” x 72”
• REI Half Dome 4 Floor Dimensions: 92” x 92”

What size snowshoes should I get?

The 22” Evo snowshoes will fit people above 5’2”. The 19” Shift snowshoes will include those between 4’6” and 5’5”. The Tyker snowshoes are meant for small children. The closure system on the snowshoes is sufficient to fit over the vast majority of boots. It’s unlikely that you’ll be too large for our snowshoes. With our detachable tails, our snowshoes can hold up to 250 pounds and still perform well. Putting more than 250 pounds on the MSR Evo snowshoes means you will sink a little more, but that’s about it.

Cancellation and Refund Policy

• Cancellation requests made seven days or more before the rental begin date will receive a full refund, minus a $10 administrative fee
• Cancellation requests made less than seven days before the rental begin date will not receive a refund unless a doctor’s note is provided. In that event, a refund will be granted, but a $10 administrative fee will be assessed.
• Cancellation requests made after the rental end date will not receive a refund, even with a doctor’s note.
• Rentals canceled by the Park District will receive a full refund.
• No refunds are provided for gear that is not picked up or that is rented but not used.
• Refunds will be in the form of a credit to the renter’s household account unless a check is requested.

Questions?
Contact Stacey Stoner
Outdoor Programs Manager
206-883-5768
staceys@biparks.org