Gear
Borrowing, renting or buying used
An overview of borrowing and rental schemes for outdoor equipment in Norway — from BUA and Skattkammeret to local schemes. Plus places to find used gear.
There are several reasons to stop and think before you get new equipment. As well as being good for your wallet, borrowing and renting are more sustainable. If you have a canoe in the garage that gets used once a year, lending or renting it out can mean it is used many times as often. Across the country there are borrowing and rental schemes that mean fewer people need to buy new, and that the equipment is used more times.
For more expensive equipment — canoe, kayak, wind-resistant tent (vindtelt), mountain skis (fjellski), randonée gear — renting is often cheaper than buying, if you are not going to use it often.
Places where you can borrow or rent equipment
| Provider | Area | Type | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| BUA | National | Free | A national lending scheme found in several places. Cannot be booked in advance. |
| Skattkammeret | National | Free | Run by Kirkens Bymisjon, with lending schemes in many towns. |
| Frilager | Rogaland (expanding) | Rental + free for schools | Rental in Rogaland. Schools borrow free of charge (covered by the municipality/county). |
| Pinsj | National | Rental | Buy/sell used + rental from private individuals. |
| Hygglo | National | Rental | Rental from private individuals. |
| Finn.no | National | Rental + used | Norway’s largest marketplace. Also brokers rental from private individuals. |
| Vandre | Oslo (expanding) | Rental | Rental of outdoor equipment. |
| Gratis utlån Oslo | Oslo | Free | The municipality’s overview of all free lending schemes in Oslo. |
| DNT ung Sogn og Fjordane | Sogn og Fjordane | Free (DNT ung member) | DNT ung members (under 26) borrow free of charge. Skis and avalanche equipment. |
| Systrondsbui | Sogndal | Free | Free lending for residents of Sogndal, run by the volunteer centre (Frivillighetssentralen). |
| Bre og fjell | Sogndal | Rental | Ski and equipment rental. |
| Intersport Sogndal | Sogndal | Rental | Ski and equipment rental. |
Used equipment
Used equipment is cheaper and more sustainable. Some of the equipment sold used has only been used a couple of times. Choose quality — good brands last a long time, and you often find solid things at a fraction of the new price.
| Place | What it is | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Finn.no | National marketplace | Norway’s largest website for selling used equipment. |
| Fretex | Charity shop | Online shop and physical shops in the largest cities. |
| DNT Stavanger, Bergen, Oslo | DNT shop corners | A dedicated corner for used clothing in the shops. DNT ung holds Green Friday in November — swap and buy. |
| Pinsj | Buy/sell/rent | Used marketplace + rental. |
| Tise | National marketplace | Similar to Finn. |
| Facebook groups | Main group, Hvitserks Bruktmarked | Countless groups for outdoor equipment. |
| Hekta på tur | Used marketplace | An online shop for outdoor equipment that has started a used marketplace. |
| Forsvarsbrukt | Used equipment from the Armed Forces | Clothing and equipment from the Armed Forces. Much of it good quality. |
Learn more
What to pack · Rucksack · Footwear · Sleeping bag · Sleeping mat · Repair and maintenance
Text: Snuitide (2022), revised 2026.
Sources: Local borrowing and rental schemes as of 2022. The lists are updated when we discover changes — let us know if you spot anything that is no longer accurate.