Bloomington startup Quiptu makes outdoor adventures accessible by renting equipment

Editor's note: This story has been updated to clarify Quiptu's partner opportunity with Camptown, Inc.

Bloomington resident Mark DeLisle has hiked Grand Canyon National Park, boated on Lake Monroe and snorkeled around the U.S. Virgin Islands. He spends a lot of time outdoors.

DeLisle said it’s a hassle to find outdoor gear to rent and inconvenient to travel with it. A Bloomington startup named Quiptu aims to make the outdoors more accessible for locals and visitors alike.

“It’s an awesome idea that these guys have thought of — kind of to be the Airbnb of equipment,” DeLisle said.

The Outdoor Industry Association reported in 2020, 53% of Americans ages 6 and older participated in outdoor activities at least once. Quiptu, launched June 1, is currently available in several cities in Indiana, including Bloomington, Indianapolis, Lafayette and South Bend. It is also available in four cities in Colorado.

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DeLisle has a 15-foot paddleboard/kayak listed on the site. A relative of one of the founders recommended he try Quiptu.

“It looked like a really good way to make use of the board since I only use it from time to time,” he said.

Co-founder and CEO Josh Roche came up with the idea during a biking trip across 50 miles of Montana with a friend. Roche said he didn’t have the necessary gear for the trip, having to borrow, ship and put together a bike when he got there.

Outdoor gear is expensive. The equipment for his trip would have been about $1,800, Roche said, which he didn’t want to buy for a week-long trip. Quiptu is designed for users to avoid having to buy expensive gear and not have to worry about transportation and storage.

Quiptu is a green company, Roche said, meaning users are encouraged to reuse the items they already own rather than buying new ones.

“We want to take care of this planet,” he said.

From an idea to an app

Roche works with co-founder and COO John Laughlin, Roche's brother-in-law. The night before Roche's wedding, he, Laughlin and head of marketing Ben Kirby discussed and decided to pursue the idea of renting equipment.

“We went from ideation to product in eight months,” he said. “We really care about each other and it shows in the work that we put out.”

The platform is user-friendly and easy to use, Quiptu user Ian Ramsdell said.

“As an outdoorsman myself, I appreciate the ability to gain money on my hobby when I’m not using it,” he said.

Ramsdell said he loves doing outdoor activities with his wife and son, who doesn’t enjoy fishing, but likes to go hiking

“We’re happy to be able to instill a love of the outdoors in my son,” he said.

Ramsdell said he may use the money he gains from leasing out his kayak to invest in an upgraded one in the future.

The platform allows users to protect themselves, Ramsdell said. For example, he has an auto-inflate life vest that costs $80 to recharge. If it’s activated in a non-emergency, the leaser will be charged for the cost to recharge the vest.

Quiptu gives users suggestions for pricing their equipment, since many are unsure how much to charge, Roche said. Owners also can deliver their items for an extra fee.

“We just would love to help facilitate, get more people outside,” he said.

If an area, such as Griffy Lake, requires a permit for outdoor activities, the owner must have the permit before lending their items to another Quiptu user. For safety in water sport activities, owners must rent out a life vest and paddle, for no additional cost, when loaning items like paddleboards and kayaks.

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Roche said Quiptu partnered with Camptown, Inc., a non-profit organization in Indianapolis whose goal is to help kids experience outdoor adventures, for its launch event on June 1, and hopes to continue partnering with the organization. The platform also partners with local distributors of equipment like Bicycle Garage Indy.

In Bloomington, where more than 40,000 students attend Indiana University, Quiptu provides an opportunity to explore outside after classes or on weekends without buying outdoor gear.

“It's a much cheaper alternative to get people to engage in the outdoors without having to like, fully jump in,” he said.

Patrick Laughlin, Roche's brother-in-law and John Laughlin's brother, is a third-year graduate student at Indiana University.

Quiptu is a good fit for the community, Patrick Laughlin said, because it makes the outdoors more accessible to people who can’t afford expensive gear. He thinks this platform will benefit students like him who don’t have the equipment, space or money to participate in outdoor activities.

Patrick Laughlin said he’s wanted to go mountain biking and kayaking with his friends during his time at Indiana University, but hasn’t been able to afford the equipment, instead opting for activities like hiking.

“It’s a good way to get outside,” he said. “I feel like the more time I spend outside, the better.”

Reach Luzane Draughon at ldraughon@gannett.com or @luzdraughon on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Marketplace 'Quiptu' lets users lend, rent outdoor activity equipment