Kitlender
Kit Lender is a privately held, bootstrapped outdoor gear rental company founded in 2014 in Stowe, Vermont, shipping premium-brand ski, triathlon, and camping apparel directly to customers' travel destinations across the United States, supplemented by a 2026 hospitality partnership with Benchmark Resorts & Hotels.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersVermont, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Kitlender does
Kit Lender (operating as Kitlender) is a privately held, bootstrapped rental company founded in 2014 in Stowe, Vermont by Forrest Shinners. The company ships premium-brand outdoor gear, apparel, and accessories directly to customers' destinations - primarily ski resorts, hotels, and vacation rentals - for use during travel and returned via prepaid shipping labels. Its core operations span three verticals: Snow+Ski (the original and largest category), Tri+SWIM (triathlon and water sports equipment), and Camp+Hike (camping and hiking gear), with a catalog described as containing 414+ items across activity types and age groups.
The underlying technology is an online e-commerce rental platform integrated with destination-level logistics (FedEx-based shipping and returns) rather than a brick-and-mortar rental counter model. Inventory is composed of authorized rental inventory from more than 20 premium outdoor brands including Patagonia, The North Face, Obermeyer, Helly Hansen, Burton, Spyder, and Arc'teryx. The platform's product structure emphasizes bundled kits - e.g., Complete Outerwear Kit, Complete Outerwear with Boots Kit, and Stay Warm Kit - simplifying selection for families and travelers. Pricing is usage-based daily rental with tiered discounts from the 4th, 8th, and 15th day, a three-day minimum on most ski items, and buy-only SKUs (base layers, accessories) plus electronic gift cards from $5 to $2,000.
Revenue is generated primarily from per-day equipment rental, supplemented by one-time gear sales (including try-then-buy conversions) and gift card revenue. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via the kitlender.com storefront (self-serve browsing, rental-date and destination selection, checkout), supported by SEO, Instagram, and a blog. A new B2B channel opened in January 2026 via a strategic partnership with Benchmark Resorts & Hotels (under Pyramid Global Hospitality), introducing an Adventure Concierge service delivering rentals to guests at five US ski destinations. The company operates with 11-50 employees, has not raised institutional capital, and has not publicly disclosed revenue.
Kitlender firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Kitlender
- Legal name
- Kit Lender
- Website
- https://www.kitlender.com/
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Kit Lender is a privately held, bootstrapped outdoor gear rental company founded in 2014 in Stowe, Vermont, shipping premium-brand ski, triathlon, and camping apparel directly to customers' travel destinations across the United States, supplemented by a 2026 hospitality partnership with Benchmark Resorts & Hotels.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Kitlender industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Outdoor Gear Rental Services
- NAICS
- Recreational Goods Rental (532284), Sporting Goods Retailers (45911), All Other Consumer Goods Rental (532289)
- SIC
- Services-Miscellaneous Equipment Rental & Leasing (7350), Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores (5600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Adventure & Ecotourism Equipment Rental & Outfitting (Gear Rental, Guided Support) (THAAAAAN)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Camping, Hiking & Backpacking Gear Retail (CRAMAMAA), Outdoor Travel Gear (Duffels, Packs, Dry Bags) Retail (CRAMAAAI)
Keywords
Where Kitlender is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Vermont
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Kitlender business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Equipment Rental: Core revenue stream from renting outdoor apparel and equipment. Customers pay per-day rental rates with tiered pricing that decreases for longer rental periods. Minimum rental periods apply (e.g., 3 days for ski gear). Gear is shipped to destination and returned via prepaid shipping labels.
- Gear Sales: Retail sales of outdoor equipment and apparel. Some items are available for purchase after rental use, allowing customers to buy gear they liked at prices below retail. Also includes base layers, socks, and accessories sold as buy-only items.
- Gift Cards: Electronic gift cards sold in denominations from $5 to $2,000, providing flexible gifting options for outdoor enthusiasts.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Complete Outerwear Kits - Daily rental with tiered pricing |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Gift Cards - Fixed denomination cards |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Stay Warm Mountain Essentials Kits - Buy Only |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Kitlender product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Kitlender rents premium brand outdoor gear and apparel (ski/snowboard outerwear, triathlon and swim gear, and camping/hiking equipment) and ships it directly to customers' travel destinations, including hotels, resorts, and vacation rentals. Customers select curated kit bundles for specified rental periods, receive free shipping and returns, and have the option to purchase rented items below retail price.
Product overview
Kit Lender is a multi-season outdoor gear and apparel rental service offering three core product lines: Snow+Ski (ski and snowboard clothing and equipment), Tri+SWIM (triathlon and swimming gear), and Camp+Hike (camping and hiking equipment). The platform operates on a direct-to-destination model, shipping rentals to customers at their travel locations with free shipping and returns. Featured products include Complete Outerwear Kits (with and without boots), Stay Warm Kits, and seasonal lease options. The company partners with premium outdoor brands including Patagonia, The North Face, Obermeyer, Helly Hansen, Burton, Spyder, and Arc'teryx to provide branded rental gear.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Snow+Ski Rentals Ski and snowboard clothing and equipment rental service delivering premium outerwear, boots, gloves, and goggles directly to destinations for winter outdoor activities.
- Tri+SWIM Rentals Triathlon and swimming gear rental service providing tri kits, watersport equipment, and swim apparel for competitions and recreational water activities.
- Camp+Hike Rentals Camping and hiking equipment rental service offering shelters, kitchen gear, backpacking kits, trekking poles, and camping furniture delivered to outdoor destinations.
- Gift Cards Electronic gift cards sold in denominations from $5 to $2,000, delivered electronically for gifting outdoor gear rentals or purchases.
- Gear Sales (Buy-Only Items) Retail sales of select outdoor items, including base layers, socks, accessories, and Stay Warm Mountain Essentials Kits available for one-time purchase (no rental option), as well as try-before-you-buy purchase of rented items at below-retail prices.
Quantifiable outcome
- Rent gear at 90% off retail price - customers avoid full purchase cost of premium outdoor equipment
Companies that use Kitlender
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Kitlender technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Kitlender partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Benchmark Resorts & HotelsflagshipPartnership to offer guests premium winter apparel rentals paired with curated itineraries at five select destinations including Bend (Oregon), Vail (Colorado), Park City (Utah), Manchester (Vermont), and South Lake Tahoe (California). The program features gear from brands like Patagonia, Spyder, and Burton, with an Adventure Concierge coordinating apparel selection and delivery to properties. Launching January 13, 2026.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Kitlender competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Black Tie Ski Rentals: Premier door-to-door ski and snowboard rental delivery service that ships equipment directly to vacation destinations, sharing Kit Lender's destination-delivery model and premium positioning in winter travel apparel and gear.
- Ski Butlers: Delivers ski and snowboard rentals to lodging properties at major North American resorts - the closest head-to-head competitor to Kit Lender's hotel/resort concierge delivery model for winter travel gear.
- Ship Skis: Door-to-door ski and luggage shipping service that solves the same customer pain point (avoiding airline baggage fees for bulky gear) and competes for the destination-delivery ski customer.
- evo: Action sports retailer (ski, snowboard, camping) with in-house rental programs at resort locations; directly overlaps with Kit Lender's premium-brand outdoor gear assortment and seasonal rental demand.
Emerging players
- Outdoorsy: Peer-to-peer outdoor gear rental marketplace (RVs, campers, etc.); operates a different model (P2P) but addresses the same 'rent instead of buy' use cases for outdoor adventure equipment.
Broad incumbents
- REI Co-op: Largest U.S. outdoor co-op retailer with nationwide store footprint, rental programs at select locations, and broad assortment of the same premium brands Kit Lender rents (Patagonia, North Face, Arc'teryx).
- Backcountry: Premium outdoor e-commerce retailer carrying the same brand partners (Patagonia, The North Face, Arc'teryx) and used-gear program; competes for the same affluent outdoor consumer Kit Lender rents to.
Regional players
- Sports Basement: West Coast outdoor and sporting goods retailer with seasonal rental programs (ski, camping) serving California/Nevada markets - overlapping product assortment and ski-rental use case on a regional basis.
Others
- LugLess: Door-to-door luggage and oversized-item shipping service addressing the same traveler's 'don't want to check bulky gear' pain point - direct substitute for one half of Kit Lender's destination-delivery value proposition.
- The North Face (VF Corporation): Brand owner of one of Kit Lender's core inventory partners; operates direct DTC and renewed/used programs that could vertically integrate into the rental channel Kit Lender services.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Kitlender social profiles
Digital presenceKitlender financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Kitlender leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Kitlender funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Kitlender M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Kitlender
What does Kitlender do?
Kitlender rents premium brand outdoor gear and apparel (ski/snowboard outerwear, triathlon and swim gear, and camping/hiking equipment) and ships it directly to customers' travel destinations, including hotels, resorts, and vacation rentals. Customers select curated kit bundles for specified rental periods, receive free shipping and returns, and have the option to purchase rented items below retail price.
Is Kitlender a public or private company?
Kitlender is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Kitlender founded?
Kitlender was founded in 2014. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Kitlender based?
Kitlender is headquartered in Vermont, United States, in the North America region.
How does Kitlender make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Equipment Rental is the primary driver. The others are gear Sales and gift Cards.
Who are Kitlender's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Black Tie Ski Rentals, Ski Butlers, Ship Skis and evo. Outdoorsy is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are REI Co-op and Backcountry. Sports Basement is listed as a regional player. Others are LugLess and The North Face (VF Corporation).
Does Kitlender have an API?
No public API is recorded for Kitlender.
What industry is Kitlender in?
Kitlender's product category is Outdoor Gear Rental Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAAAAAN, Adventure & Ecotourism Equipment Rental & Outfitting (Gear Rental, Guided Support), with a secondary code of CRAMAMAA, Camping, Hiking & Backpacking Gear Retail. Its NAICS code is 532284 and its SIC code is 7350.