Cost of Shipping Equipment vs Renting It

[Lorenzoid]

It might depend on what "a few solid trips each year" means. If that adds up to more than, say, two weeks of dive holiday, I would buy my own gear. There are certainly other reasons to bring one's own gear, such as familiarity and assurance of quality and maintenance, as others have said. But from a purely economic perspective, I can see how a person who dives very little each year might come out ahead by renting gear for those infrequent dive holidays.

It can be a difficult decision for casual holiday divers looking to maximize economy above all else. Unless you're talking a low-cost carrier like Ryanair, most international flights allow you at least one checked bag for no additional cost, and the weight allowance is usually sufficient for a holiday diver's gear and clothing.

 

[bradells]

I have two thoughts on diving and travelling.


$40 for a second bag is really nothing to bring all my equipment (minus tanks) for any kind of diving I would do. I do this for dive trips.

For trips where there may be some diving, I'll just bring my fins, mask and BT. I end up paying an extra $10-30 for every day of diving to rent gear.

It all depends on the trip really. Carrying just a backpack with minimal gear trekking around a country, vs lugging around a few pieces of luggage full of dive gear.

BRad

 

[Manika104]

I'm with Claymore, I have a 4lb carryon which holds everything but my fins and it never weights more then 20lbs. I did my first 50 dives with rented equiment and the last trip to tobago sent directly to my LDS upon returning home. As my husband and I dive more off the beaten path we noticed the quality of rental equipment went down significantly and now we never travel without our own equipment. Worth every penny and with creative packing you can avoid all extra charges.

 

[t4e]

never, for a moment did i regret the decision to own all the gear
we rented for about the first 30 dives just to get an idea what we like, i would never go back to rentals, even if i had to pay excess luggage

 

[TMHeimer]

Regarding the packing: I can't recall if I was allowed two "free" checked bags (I quote free because you think you're getting something great--something that was a given years ago), or one free. I took a second smaller suitcase inside the standard big one--figured I'd need it to fit the added shells I collected. There isn't a whole lot to bring if it's warm water--which it was in Panama. Body suit takes no room. I took open heeled fins and wore socks--no boots to pack. These fins I FOUND and are way too small anyway for boots. I made strategic use of my buldging carry-on, which even housed some of my 12 pounds of weight. BCD in suitcase. I also took the reg, mask, reef gloves, goody bag, etc. Everything but the tanks. The clothes I packed were almost non-existant.

But yeah, it of course may be better to rent if you only do a week or two diving each year. I mean with that few number of dives it takes a long while for rental costs to cover all the gear you would've bought. You could take the "saved" money on purchases, invest it, then later on buy all new gear with the profits....

 

[KeithG]

Rental pales in comparison to your own gear.

Gear comes first. Clothes come next. You can always buy more clothes when you get there. Everything you really needs fits in a carry on and 1 checked bag. Pay for the bag if you have too.

This always works except when you get caught in a snow storm in Newark on the way home and all you have is sandals, shorts and t-shirts. I hate new jersey.

 

[TMHeimer]

Rental pales in comparison to your own gear.

Gear comes first. Clothes come next. You can always buy more clothes when you get there. Everything you really needs fits in a carry on and 1 checked bag. Pay for the bag if you have too.

This always works except when you get caught in a snow storm in Newark on the way home and all you have is sandals, shorts and t-shirts. I hate new jersey.

Well....Newark....hey hey hey. Once you pass through Joisey Customs anything goes. But seriously, what were you dressed like when you originally left the GTA?

 

[KeithG]

Well....Newark....hey hey hey. Once you pass through Joisey Customs anything goes. But seriously, what were you dressed like when you originally left the GTA?

Shorts,t shirt & sandals. I was GOING on vacation. It all seemed fine at the time.

---------- Post added May 12th, 2014 at 11:08 PM ----------

Well....Newark....hey hey hey. Once you pass through Joisey Customs anything goes. But seriously, what were you dressed like when you originally left the GTA?

It was not all bad. We did find some neat little confused restaraunts in the Ironbound. A Spanish restaurant with a great port list. And a Portuguese restaurant with a great sherry list. Okay. They were pretty confused about their identity. Geat food. Wrong wine list.

 

[kwinter]

Although I almost always take my own gear, there are some advantages to rental gear like regulators. If there is a problem with a rental reg, they give you a different one. If there is a problem with your own reg, you will probably end up with a rental anyway since servicing your reg might not be an option. Whatever you decide, take your own mask, fins and boots. You will be a lot more comfortable.


Please pardon any typos. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[TMHeimer]

Shorts,t shirt & sandals. I was GOING on vacation. It all seemed fine at the time.

---------- Post added May 12th, 2014 at 11:08 PM ----------


It was not all bad. We did find some neat little confused restaraunts in the Ironbound. A Spanish restaurant with a great port list. And a Portuguese restaurant with a great sherry list. Okay. They were pretty confused about their identity. Geat food. Wrong wine list.

You arrived at Pearson Airport in winter in shorts, etc. for your flight to the tropics? If not, where were your warmer clothes when you got to N.J.?