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Gear

Caltech and JPL affiliates can rent outdoor gear from the Caltech Y and borrow specialist equipment from the Alpine Club.

Bouldering at Horse Flats

How to borrow gear

Gear loans are for Caltech and JPL affiliates.

Members outside Caltech and JPL need to bring their own gear.

General gear from the Caltech Y

The Caltech Y rents tents, sleeping bags, stoves, snow gear, and other equipment. Most items cost about $1 per day, with pickup and return at the Y during business hours.

Rent from the Caltech Y Caltech and JPL affiliates only

Specialist gear from the Alpine Club

The club lends climbing, ice, and packrafting gear directly. Submit the reservation form at least 48 hours before you need it, and our Gear Officer, Forrest McCann, will confirm the reservation.

Request club gear Caltech and JPL affiliates only
Donate gear

Bring your own fuel, batteries, ski wax, and other consumables, and return borrowed equipment in working order. Popular items are often booked out before long weekends.

Garmin inReach: SOS and preset messages are included. Other messaging may be charged. The cost of a backcountry rescue is the responsibility of whoever triggers it.

Caltech Y gear

Rented from the Caltech Y.

Camping and backpacking

  • Tents, sleeping bags, and stoves
  • Bear canisters

Snow

  • Snowshoes
  • Ice axes
  • Crampons (strap-on)
  • Avalanche beacons, shovels, and probes
  • Snow pickets and a snow saw
  • Touring skis and a splitboard, with skins, bindings, and poles
  • Ski wax kits, including iron, edge tuner, scraper, and brush

Climbing

  • Helmets
  • Crash pads for bouldering

Communication

  • Garmin inReach satellite messengers
  • Rocky Talkie two-way radios

Other

  • Trunk-mounted bike rack

Alpine Club gear

Borrowed from the club through the reservation form.

Trad climbing

  • Two trad racks — Black Diamond C4 doubles, nuts, nut tool, prusik, and an ATC Guide
  • Wide gear — Black Diamond C4 #5 and #6
  • Small gear — Black Diamond C3 #00 to #1

Ice and alpine

  • Automatic crampons
  • Ice tools (Petzl Quark, hammer, and adze)
  • Ice screws
  • Crevasse rescue kits — Microtraxion, pulley, Tibloc, and locking carabiners
  • Four-season tents

Packrafting

  • Kokopelli packrafts with paddles, PFDs, a helmet, and a pump

Check the Caltech Y website for current availability.