Eastside Gear Library is a community lending library for outdoor equipment — removing financial barriers so every Eastside resident can get outside and explore.
"Nature isn't a luxury. It's a right."
Eastside Gear Library was founded on a simple belief: the cost of a tent or a backpack shouldn't determine whether a family gets to spend a weekend under the stars.
Our specific purpose is to promote physical health, environmental stewardship, and equitable access to nature by operating a community lending library for outdoor recreational equipment — thereby removing financial barriers to the outdoors for residents of the Bellevue-Redmond area and surrounding communities.
We're surrounded by mountains, lakes, trails, and rivers. The Cascades start practically at our doorstep. Eastside Gear Library exists to make sure everyone — regardless of income — can experience it.
From Tiger Mountain to Cougar Mountain, from Lake Sammamish to the Snoqualmie Valley — this region is one of the most outdoor-rich places in America. We're here to make it truly accessible for all who call the Eastside home.
Everything we do flows from these commitments.
Time outdoors improves mental health, reduces stress, increases physical fitness, and builds community bonds. We believe every Eastside family deserves regular access to these benefits — not just those who can afford expensive gear.
Shared gear means less production, less waste, and a lighter footprint. By keeping equipment circulating through our community instead of sitting unused in garages, we collectively reduce our environmental impact.
Quality outdoor gear costs hundreds — sometimes thousands — of dollars. That financial barrier shuts too many people out of the trails, rivers, and mountains surrounding us. We're tearing that barrier down.
No complicated sign-up. No gatekeeping. Just gear when you need it.
Eastside residents register for a membership. No income verification — just proof you're local.
Browse the collection and reserve what you need. Check availability and plan your adventure.
Grab your gear during library hours. Borrow for 7–14 days, with extensions available.
Return it clean and ready. Every return makes the next person's adventure possible.
We're still finalizing our membership model — and we're committed to making sure cost is never a real barrier. Whether that's a sliding scale, a pay-what-you-can model, or something else entirely, affordability is at the core of everything we design.
Sign up to be notified when membership opens, or get in touch if you have ideas on how we should structure it.
Stay in the loop ↗Pricing will be community-informed and barrier-free.
Whether you want to volunteer your time, donate equipment, or just stay in touch — we'd love to hear from you.
We read every message. Seriously.
We'll get back to you soon. Thanks for wanting to help — it genuinely means a lot.
We're an early-stage community project, which means your involvement right now makes an enormous difference. Pick a lane: