SUBW has an extensive selection of gear that can be borrowed by members for club trips. We maintain a current list of gear available to borrow in our Gear Catalogue. Please note that this gear is for official club trips only and must not be used for private endeavours. To borrow gear, you will also have to pay a gear deposit.
Buying T-Shirts/Badges
Signing up to the next posted gear night is the easiest way to buy SUBW merchandise.
When and how to borrow
Gear nights are advertised on the walks programme. Usually, they are on Thursdays in the late afternoon / early evening, but keep an eye out since dates and times change depending on people’s availability.
If you want to borrow equipment, sign up for the gear night so the gear officers know that you are coming. Gear borrowing requests will not be entertained if you don’t sign up for the gear night.
The gear locker is in the Wentworth Building. Instructions to meet up for a gear night are posted in the trip description, usually it is in front of the USYD Merch Store in Wentworth Building.
Please keep in mind that we run on volunteer time; our efforts are not free. We spend time cataloguing, examining, auditing and discussing gear, replacing it periodically – all of this costs an immense amount of time and money which does not grow on trees or bushwalking tracks and certainly does not flow out of creeks, rivers, streams or down waterfalls.
4 Simple Steps to Borrow Gear
- Sign up and come to a gear night
- The gear officer will hand you the gear you want to borrow. If you have questions about how to use them, this is the time to ask. Sometimes, gear officers might ask you for details of the trip you’re going on, so they can provide you with equipment best suited for the trip.
- Inspect the equipment. Make sure it’s fit for purpose and not damaged.
- Pay the gear deposit.
Gear Deposit system
When borrowing gear items, the gear officer will collect a deposit amount from the borrower. This will be recorded in our ledger. Upon return of the item(s) in good condition, the deposit amount will be returned on-the-spot in full.
There are three categories that gear will be placed into to determine the deposit amount. The following is a non-exhaustive list of examples of items that fall into the three categories:
Large and/or expensive items
- Tents
- Sleeping bags
- Sleeping mats
- Harnesses
- Helmets
- Descenders
- Ropes (5 m or longer)
- Backpacks
- Hammocks
Small items
Items not on this ‘small items’ list most likely fall under the ‘large items’ category.
- Carabiners
- Slings
- Non-bushwalking gear (e.g. barbeque or social event items)
- Pegs (if borrowed individually)
- Torches and headlamps
- Cooking items (e.g. pots and stoves)
Exempt items
This list is at the discretion of the Gear Officer. Expect most items that are cheap, replaceable, or in poor condition to fall in this category.
- Gloves
- Batteries
- Cooking gas
Deposit Amounts
Costs of each item category are as follows:
- Large items: $40 base + $10 for each additional item
- Small items: $10 for each item category
- Exempt items: no deposit required
If you are borrowing large items, the first item will be a $40 deposit, and any subsequent items will be an additional $10. Small items are $10 per category. Examples of the small items by category rule:
1 carabiner – $10, 2 carabiners – $10, 1 carabiner & 1 sling – $20, 2 carabiners & 1 sling – $20, 2 carabiners, 2 slings, & 1 torch – $30
Example Scenarios
Some scenarios to get an idea of expected deposit amounts:
Scenario A: I need a tent
|
Item: |
Tent |
|
Cost: |
$40 |
Total: $40
Scenario B: Camping trip
|
Items: |
Tent |
Sleeping Bag |
Sleeping Mat |
Backpack |
|
Cost: |
$40 |
$10 |
$10 |
$10 |
Total: $70
Scenario C: Extended camping trip
|
Items: |
Tent |
Sleeping Bag |
Sleeping Mat |
Backpack |
Pot |
Stove |
|
Cost: |
$40 |
$10 |
$10 |
$10 |
$10 |
|
Total: $80 (pots and stoves fall under the same category)
Scenario D: Canyoning trip
|
Items: |
Harness |
Helmet |
2 Carabiners |
Descender |
Safety Sling |
|
Cost: |
$40 |
$10 |
$10 |
$10 |
$10 |
Total: $80 (2 carabiners are the same category)
Deposit payment
Deposit payments may be made by:
- Cash (There is a Commonwealth Bank ATM in Wentworth Building)
- Bank Transfer at the discretion of gear officers
Returning gear
You can only keep the gear for the trip you borrowed it for and must return it during the week after the trip. Please return your gear on time because if you don’t, there might not be enough for the trips next weekend. If you have another club trip coming up the weekend directly after, please email the gear officers or the committee so we can extend your loan. You can only keep the gear if the trips are on consecutive weekends; otherwise, please return it so someone else can use it.
While on the trip, treat the gear as if it were your own. Keep it clean. Don’t abuse it. Pack carefully to avoid damaging it inside your pack, and use it carefully outside so it isn’t unnecessarily scraped or damaged. Before you return the borrowed gear, please clean it up. Wash the sleeping bag liner, open the tents at home to let them dry, and air the sleeping bag in shade. There’s no need to wash the sleeping bag. Returning clean, dry gear free of dust and debris keeps them in good condition for the next person.
The same goes for returning gear- sign up for a gear night, hand us the gear, and we will refund you the deposit.
We do our best to check the state of each item, but please tell us if you notice any damage or flaw, it’s important for the safety of us all! Regular wear and tear is part of the game, and we usually don’t ask for money back.
Club gear is to be used at your own risk
While we do our best to make sure everything we lend out is in its best condition and is fit for purpose, we cannot accept responsibility for damages incurred due to the usage of our gear. This includes water or fire damage, items being scratched up or lost in the bush, or items damaged by animals. You are ultimately responsible for the safe usage of club gear, eg. inspecting the conditions of a tent or backpack, carrying a sleeping bag with a temperature rating appropriate to the trip, sealing a dry bag properly, etc.
If you are checking in club backpacks for a flight, always double-bag them to avoid damage to their straps. You can use a duffel bag, Osprey Airporter, or an IKEA bag. Remember to place your gas stove in the checked bag, as they cannot be taken with you as carry-on.
Certain equipments require extra training to be used safely. Our gear officers may not have the expertise in giving advice specific to those equipment. You are responsible for consulting the user manual/technical notice and always using the equipment under supervision from the trip leader. Improper usage can lead to serious injury or death. Activities involved in the usage of these equipment are inherently risky, and you are responsible for your own actions and decisions.
Gear we don’t keep a stock (and alternatives to obtaining them)
We do not stock clothing of a personal nature. This includes rain/shell jackets, down/puffer jackets and thermals. Some clothing can be rented in outdoor shops at popular alpine walking destinations, eg. Cooma, Jindabyne, Hobart, Launceston, but the best option is to buy your own.
We have no wetsuits. You can rent them in surf shops near the city. Examples include Decathlon Bondi. You can also find them for cheap on Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree, Op shops in Eastern Suburbs, or ask around your family or friends. If you plan to go on 3 or more canyoning trips, buying your own second-hand wetsuit will make more sense.
Gas canisters can be purchased in Bunnings, Decathlon, or major outdoor stores in the city.
Private trips
Club gear may only be used on official club trips. No gear may be borrowed for private trips.