Camping Gear on Rent in Pune: Tents, Sleeping Bags and Mats

Most camping plans around Pune start the same way. Someone finds a lakeside spot near Pawna or a clearing on the way to a Sahyadri fort, the group chat gets excited, and then somebody asks who actually owns a tent. Usually nobody does.

You don't need to buy a full camping setup for two or three trips a year. Renting camping gear in Pune gets you a tent, sleeping bags and mats for less than the price of one decent dinner out. Here is what it costs, what to pick, and how to keep the gear in good shape.

Camping gear on rent in Pune: current prices

These are the live listings on the Pune camping gear page at the time of writing:

Item	1 Day	3 Days	5 Days	7 Days
2-person tent	Rs. 250	Rs. 500	Rs. 750	Rs. 1,000
3-person tent	Rs. 300	Rs. 600	Rs. 1,000	Rs. 1,200
Sleeping bag	Rs. 200	Rs. 400	Rs. 600	Rs. 700
Sleeping mat	Rs. 50	Rs. 100	Rs. 150	Rs. 180

A couple going out for one night pays Rs. 250 for the tent, Rs. 400 for two sleeping bags and Rs. 100 for two mats. That is Rs. 750 for the whole setup. A group of three pays Rs. 1,050 for a night with the bigger tent.

What each item actually does

The tent

Both tents are water-resistant, come with a removable rainfly, and have mesh windows for airflow. The rainfly is the outer sheet that goes over the top. On a dry winter night you can leave it off for a better view and more air. During monsoon or on a dewy night near a lake, put it on.

Both come with poles, stakes and guy lines. The guy lines are the ropes that pull the tent tight. People skip them, then the wind picks up at 2am. Use them.

The sleeping bag

The sleeping bag on Rentux is rated for 15 to 20 degrees C. That suits most camping near Pune from October to March, and summer nights at higher spots. It packs into a drawstring compression sack, so it fits in a normal backpack. If you are heading to the Himalayas or anywhere that drops near freezing, this is not the bag for that trip. Check our guide to gear for a winter Himalayan trek instead.

The sleeping mat

This is the item people leave out and regret. The mat is 12mm EVA foam with a water-resistant surface. It does two jobs: it cushions you from rocks and roots, and it stops the cold ground from pulling heat out of your body all night. A sleeping bag alone on bare ground is a cold, lumpy night. At Rs. 50 a night, just take one per person. We wrote a whole piece on why the sleeping mat matters if you need convincing.

2-person or 3-person tent?

Tent sizes are optimistic. A "2-person" tent fits two adults lying down with very little room for bags. A "3-person" tent fits three adults the same way, or two adults with their backpacks inside and space to sit up.

• Couple, light packing: 2-person tent.
• Couple with big bags, or you want space: 3-person tent. It is only Rs. 50 more a night.
• Three friends: 3-person tent, and leave bags in the vestibule or under the rainfly.
• Four or more: two tents. A mix of one 2-person and one 3-person often works best.

Good spots to camp near Pune

Pune is lucky for camping. Within a couple of hours you have lakes, forts and forests. Popular choices include the Pawna lake area, the Bhandardara and Igatpuri belt, and the plateaus around Rajmachi and Lonavala. Many of these have organised campsites that rent tents themselves, often at a markup and with little choice. Bringing your own rented gear lets you pick where you pitch, as long as the site allows it.

Check local rules before you go. Some forts and forest areas do not allow overnight stays, and some lakeside land is private. When in doubt, ask the nearest village or the campsite owner.

Add the trekking gear if you are hiking in

If the campsite is a hike away rather than next to the car, you'll want a few things from the Pune trekking gear page as well:

• A head torch for Rs. 10 a day. Phone torches drain your battery and leave you with one hand.
• A Forclaz Travel 100 backpack for Rs. 40 a day, big enough for a sleeping bag and a night's clothes.
• A fleece jacket for Rs. 30 a day. Even in October, nights at altitude near Pune get cold.
• Trekking poles at Rs. 15 a day if the trail is steep or muddy.

Our trekking gear price guide for Pune lists the full range.

Rent vs buy

A basic tent, two sleeping bags and two mats bought new will run into several thousand rupees, and cheap tents tend to leak the first time it really rains. Then there is storage. A tent that lives in the back of a cupboard for eleven months grows mould if it was packed damp.

Renting a full two-person setup for one night costs Rs. 750. Even at four trips a year you spend around Rs. 3,000, with no storage, no drying, no maintenance. Buying starts to make sense once you camp most months. For everyone else, renting is the easy call. Our post on renting vs buying trekking gear goes deeper.

How to book camping gear on Rentux

1. Pick your items on the Pune camping gear page and choose how many days.
2. Send an enquiry. Rentux passes it to a lender in our rental community in Pune.
3. The lender confirms availability for your dates, pickup or delivery, and any deposit.
4. Pick up the gear a day before if you can, so you can check it at home.

Before you leave: a quick checklist

• Pitch the tent once at home. Ten minutes in the living room saves thirty minutes in the dark.
• Count the parts. Poles, stakes, rainfly, guy lines, carry bag.
• Carry a ground sheet or tarp. It keeps the tent floor clean and dry.
• Pack it dry. If the tent is wet in the morning, shake it out and let it air before packing, or tell the lender when you return it.
• Keep food out of the tent. Dogs, monkeys and ants will find it.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to rent a tent in Pune?
Rs. 250 a day for a 2-person tent and Rs. 300 for a 3-person tent. Longer rentals are cheaper per day: a week costs Rs. 1,000 and Rs. 1,200.

Can I rent a sleeping bag without a tent?
Yes. Every item is listed separately, so rent only what you need.

Is the gear good for monsoon camping?
The tents are water-resistant with a rainfly, which handles normal rain. For heavy monsoon downpours, pick a spot with drainage, avoid low ground and carry a tarp.

Is camping gear available in other cities?
Yes. There are camping gear pages for Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai and Gurugram.

Got a spot picked out? Put the tent, bags and mats together on the camping gear on rent in Pune page and send your enquiry.