About Rent-A-Hike

Rent-A-Hike is a Knoxville-based outdoor gear rental service designed to make hiking and camping in the Smokies simple, affordable, and stress-free. We provide curated kits that include everything a beginner, visitor, or casual hiker needs—clean, organized, and ready for quick local pickup.

How It Started

Rent-A-Hike was created by Daylin Templet, a UTK student and outdoor enthusiast who saw a clear gap: people wanted to explore the Smokies but felt overwhelmed by the cost of gear, the time it takes to prepare, or simply not knowing what to bring. As both a founder and a frequent hiker, Daylin recognized how much gear ends up unused, discarded, or purchased for a single trip. Rent-A-Hike was built as a solution that removes the guesswork, reduces waste, and replaces confusion with confidence and convenience.

What We Provide

Each Rent-A-Hike kit is:

• Curated by experience level

• Cleaned and inspected after every use

• Beginner-friendly and easy to understand

• Packed with essentials only—no unnecessary gear

• Available for fast pickup in Knoxville

Our goal is to help customers spend less time preparing and more time exploring.

Sustainability Matters

A major part of our mission is reducing outdoor gear waste. Rent-A-Hike operates on a circular model: rent, return, refresh, reuse. By extending the life of gear, we lower environmental impact and offer an eco-friendly way to experience the outdoors. Used gear can also be purchased at a discount for those wanting long-term equipment without the full retail price.

As founder, Daylin intentionally designed Rent-A-Hike to promote sustainable habits—giving people access to quality gear without encouraging unnecessary buying, clutter, or landfill waste.

Why Knoxville?

As the gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains, Knoxville is full of potential hikers—students, families, tourists—who need easy, affordable access to quality gear. Rent-A-Hike supports the local community by making outdoor experiences more accessible to everyone, especially beginners and visitors who want a stress-free way to explore.

Our Core Values

Accessibility: Outdoor adventure should be available to everyone.
Simplicity: We remove barriers that complicate getting outside.
Sustainability: Reusing gear reduces environmental impact.
Community: We serve Knoxville, UTK students, and Smokies visitors.

Looking Ahead

Over the coming months, Rent-A-Hike aims to expand kit options, form partnerships with local organizations, and provide more trail guides and resources. Our mission is to become the region’s trusted, beginner-friendly outdoor gear solution—helping more people explore the Smokies one adventure at a time.