Outdoor equipment sharing platform makes camping more affordable

Currently seeking funding on Indiegogo, The OX is a subscription service for borrowing outdoors gear such as tents, kayaks and fishing equipment.

There are many possessions that go unused in everyday life that could be of use to someone else instead of sitting in the garage, something that peer-to-peer lending sites such as Share Some Sugar attempt to remedy. Camping equipment in particular spends a lot of time taking up space in people’s homes, yet can be prohibitively expensive for others to buy just for one trip. Currently seeking funding on Indiegogo, The OX is a subscription service for borrowing outdoors gear such as tents, kayaks and fishing equipment.

A trip to the countryside can cost in excess of USD 1,000 for those that don’t already own the necessary equipment. Members of The OX pay a flat annual fee of USD 100 to join the site’s basic package, which gives users unlimited access to a wide range of outdoor items. The first item borrowed for a single trip is covered by the membership fee, and any extras are charged at ten percent of their MSRP. Equipment is rented by the week and can be booked up to 48 hours before members need it and delivered to any location they like. As well as taking advantage of the hundreds of products in The OX’s own inventory, the site hopes to include a community sharing marketplace if its funding is successful.

Watch the video below to learn more about The OX:

Members can pre-order a subscription to the site on Indiegogo until 26 June. Are there other specialist items that could be lent out in a similar way to bring down the cost of entry for hobbyists?

Indiegogo: www.igg.me/at/usetheox