Here at Tahoe Mountain Sports we understand you can’t bring everything with you while traveling and some of the things you can bring are often forgotten at home. Nothing beats remembering exactly where you put your sleeping pad and realizing it’s 1,000 miles away at home. Fortunately, we’ve got you covered on the basics with our outdoor gear rentals.

The “Bear” Necessities
Bears are not found everywhere in the world, but they are out-and-about here in Tahoe, and part of being a responsible hiker or camper is protecting your food from bears and vice-versa. Get yourself a Counter Assault Bear Keg for your trip. For many local campsites and thru-trails a bear canister is required. This canister will store up to eight days worth of food. It’s easy to use and can be stored in your backpack. A bear can is also a good idea if you plan on leaving your campsite unattended to keep bears, or pesky squirrels and birds, from getting to your food supply.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgdMG8WQU7o

Those brown bear cubs wanted my fish near the Kenai River in Alaska back in 2008 while hitch-hiking around the Kenai Peninsula. I turned the camera on just as they began changing direction. You won’t find brown bears in Tahoe, but the local black bears are just as troublesome, and will often return to your camp after you’ve scared them off to give your grub another shot. Why is this video relevant if there are no brown bears in Tahoe? Maybe it’s not, but it’s still pretty cool.

In addition to carrying food you will need to take drinking water. The altitude around the lake can dehydrate you fast and you will crave fresh water. There are some lots of drier areas, including stretches of the Tahoe Rim Trail where water is hard to come by, so don’t be caught without a water filter.  Be sure the water you are drinking is safe and bacteria-free. Our affordable water filter rentals will help you stay well nourished and maintain energy for your trip.

The Fun Stuff
Have SUP, will travel! The Inflatable Stand-Up Paddleboard from Boardworks is the newest addition to our rental fleet.  Available for 3-hour and 24-hour rates, this durable inflatable SUP board deflates to fit in to the included, convenient backpack for remote access and easy transportation. The Shubu (Show Up and Blow Up) is a great alternative for SUP enthusiasts that can’t easily transport a full hard-board. The backpack will carry the paddleboard (deflated), the foot pump and a collapsible SUP paddle, and actually wears rather comfortably on your back. Ready to grab, go and get to the beach!

Capture the Moment
Tourism in Tahoe varies from winter to summer but the objective remains the same. Get outside and play! Whatever your adventure may be, rock climbing, mountain biking, skiing, stand up paddling, kayaking, fly fishing or site-seeing around the lake, save those memories with the ION Air Pro-Wi-Fi Camera. Rent this camera for the day and get all the mounts and memory you need to capture your experience and take your bragging rights to the next level. The ION allows you to instantly share HD video from your smart phone or tablet and post it to Facebook, YouTube, emails and more! You can also review your footage after filming, whereas other POV cameras have to be connected to a computer before viewing. Here’s an example of some mountain biking footage shot on an ION Air Pro WiFi:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqiEUY3jhyU

What you didn’t know you needed
There are seemingly endless opportunities to explore from quick day hikes to spending two-weeks on the Tahoe Rim Trail or in Desolation Wilderness. When your sense of adventure urges you off the beach and on to the trail we’ve got your back! Men’s and Women’s Specific Backpacks are available for rent in a variety of sizes to fits your needs. We even rent Child Carrier Backpacks. Fully adjustable to fit mom or dad, these innovative packs function as a gear hauler and as a comfortable seat for your little one – rentals come equipped with a sunshade to protect their sensitive skin. This way they can sit back, relax and enjoy the view while you hike comfortably with the weight of a child plus trail supplies on your back. Rent a backpack in Tahoe and get out into our countless acres of beautiful wilderness!

A beautiful view from our local trail network behind Kings Beach.

For your Campsite
As comfortable as they are making tent floors these days (“ahem!”), your sleeping bag alone may not be enough to rough it on some of the more rocky terrain that the Sierras provide. Stop in and grab a sleeping pad so you can spend the night actually sleeping! Inflatable sleeping pads make a big difference because they can pack down really small and they fit easily into a pack without adding a lot of weight.

All around the lake there are amazing campsites, so it’s tough to fight the urge to go out and camp. We offer tent rentals for up to four people. Try out some of the newest technology in tents with a Nemo tent rental. Don’t forget to pick up a camping guide book to help you pick out the perfect campsite in Tahoe!

Have fun this summer and don’t let a lack of equipment be the reason you don’t have tons of fun! Our outdoor gear rental process is fast and easy. You can call ahead (530-546-7001) to check availability and to reserve equipment.

Note: Multiple day rentals get a 10% discount. We also offer winter gear rentals like snowshoes and poles, backcountry ski gear and avalanche safety equipment.

Counter Assult Bear Keg Food Container
MSRP: $84.95
Buy Now

Deuter ACT Lite 45+10 SL – Women’s Backpack
MSRP: $179.00
Buy Now

Boardworks SHUBU Inflatable Stand Up Paddleboard – 10ft. 7in.
MSRP: $1049.00
Buy Now

Introducing the 2013 TMS / Boreas Gear Pack Tester Team:

Dan Hutchinson - Erawan 70
As an avid traveler, mountain biker, hiker, boater, volunteer and student I have a demand for quality backpacks in my everyday adventures. I’m a stickler for functionality and versatility. This summer alone I will be traveling to South Africa to install solar panels at a local community college for my internship, hitting the main stretch of the Salmon River in Idaho and living out of a backpack/bag for the remaining months of summer while playing in and out of the Sacramento and Lake Tahoe area, including a couple of side trips to Downieville’s legendary single track.

Danielle Horton – Erawan 50
I’ll be traveling Australia’s east coast for four weeks then heading over to Fiji’s Yasawa Islands for an additional week of adventures. I would be taking the pack with me as I go hiking and rappelling in the Blue Mountains and snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef. I think this trip will be the perfect opportunity to test the pack’s light weight, durability and versatility as I take it on planes, trains, buses and boats.

Alex Von Der Mehden – Sapa Trek
I am an Eagle Scout in Troop 707 and we go on at least two trips per month in every kind of condition. Being that it is the summer, we have many more. When I am not on these trips I will be at home on my own adventures: free-ride mountain biking, kayaking on the Russian River, fishing, hiking, and having a blast, all with that pack on my back. I would be honored to put this pack through the paces of a summer of an Eagle Scout.

Throughout the summer these courageous testers will be embarking on grand adventures with their adventure travel packs, giving them the ultimate “real world” challenge. Will these Boreas backpacks hold up against the vigor of our gear testing team? Regardless of the outcome, this test will only help to improve the outdoor adventure industry.  Stay tuned as the summer progresses and the testers return from their travels with feedback about their new backpacks.

Boreas Sapa Trek
MSRP: $219.95
Buy Now

Boreas Erawan 50
MSRP: $149.95
Buy Now

Boreas Erawan 70
MSRP: $159.95
Buy Now

My good buddy Mark and I woke at 5:30 on Memorial Day with the goal of climbing and then skiing from the peak of 12,958-foot Purple Mountain. The pyramidal peak, iconic and visible from downtown Crested Butte, offered nearly 3,000 feet of sweet corn skiing – if we could reach the top in time before the late spring sun softened the snow to the point of mashed potatoes and unsafe conditions. A moisture-rich April had given the mountains a serious recharge and conditions had finally settled, allowing for some bigger lines to be skied safely.

Following a fun fjord across the braided Slate River in the 4Runner, we donned hiking shoes and walked up the Daisy Pass road to snow line, around 9,800 feet, and put on our boots. Waterfalls cascaded all around us, and as we ascended up and through a small gorge the sunlight opened to gorgeous views up the valley and all around. Crested Butte is no doubt one of the most beautiful places on earth and we had arrived in time for the goods. A long slog on skins took us to a ridge-line bootpack and some class-3 scrambling put us on top of a nearly cloudless, windless, perfect day.

After a fist bump, photo bomb and shout, we made our way down the lookers-left shoulder, through a choke, and down into the bowl. Mark let me have the first turns down the 40-degree slope and I savored each one, carving effortlessly through the snow. The descent took over an hour, with some super fun sections followed by a long roller to the end of the line. Back in town by lunch and home to Boulder by 7 p.m…pinching myself along the way.

Smith Parallel D Max Sunglasses
MSRP: $128.95
Buy Now

Osprey Kode 30 Backpack
MSRP: $138.95
Buy Now

The North Face Alpine Project Hybrid Hoodie
MSRP: $198.95
Buy Now

This is your chance to try out Salomon shoes and hydration backpacks and take them for test – for free! Shoes and packs will be available to demo starting at 2 pm, and you can run or hike until your heart’s content. There will be a group run and a group hike leaving the store at 5 pm and we will split into groups based on ability level. Come join us for what is sure to be a fun time!

Runners of all abilities are encouraged to participate. Feel free to bring along your four-legged furry friends! The run will last approximately 45-60 minutes, and we’ll make trail directions easy for those who wish to set their own pace. Some of us run fast, others run slow. None of that matters, as long as you go.

We recommend you show up a little before 5 pm – actually, we recommend you show up at 2 pm and start checking out gear right away, but if you can only come for the group run or hike we suggest showing up a little early so you don’t feel rushed while choosing the shoes you want to test.

Click here to view the event on our Facebook page

Click here to view the event on our Meetup group’s page

KAVU Keeper Purse

Reg: $34.95
Sale: $20.95

One of KAVU‘s best selling bags, the Kavu Keeper is either an every day purse or an over-the-shoulder-bag. With five separate storage pockets, you’re sure to stay organized. Plus, the print patterns are absolutely fabulous!

TNF Class V Racerback Top – Women’s

Reg: $44.95
Sale: $22.45

The North Face V Class Racerback Top is perfect for ladies who climb, run, paddle, and enjoy outdoor sports in warm weather. The stretch jersey fabric dries fast and moves with your body, and an internal bra shelf provides great support. The North Face women’s workout gear doesn’t slack on performance or comfort – the V Class Racerback is a great top for active women.

Lole Lanai Halter Top

Reg: $44.95
Sale: $35.95

This Lole swim top is great for a swim in your favorite lake or just riding your cruiser to the deli up the street. It will stay in place through heavy surf and during extreme volleyball matches on the beach. The Lanai Halter Top is fully lined with comfortable stretch nylon and boasts UV protection from harmful sun rays. Every woman can use a good sports swim top, and Lole makes some of the cutest swimwear out there!

Prana Dune Short – Men’s

Reg: $59.95
Sale: 35.95

The Prana Dune Short is a great go-to cotton short for any activity. Appreciate their comfort during a yoga session or after a long day in the water, and boost your style points at the pub or the park. These Prana men’s shorts are so comfortable you’ll end up wearing them several days per week, all summer long.

Kuhl Fugitiv Pants – Men’s

Reg: $74.95
Sale: $48.71

These men’s Kuhl pants are burly, comfortable and scream “style!”. Five well-placed pockets stash your phone, wallet, keys and other items without feeling bulky. Articulated seams at the knees and butt help promote movement when you’re taking big steps uphill or scrambling rocks, but the Kuhl Fugitiv also looks great as a casual pant you can wear from the workplace to the trail and back!

The North Face Pheonix 2 Tent

Reg: $328.95
Sale: $246.71

This ultralight two person backpacking tent is waterproof and has good living space. The Pheonix 2 Tent has double doors and vestibules with space for both people to stay comfortable and store their gear. The rain fly has a small window for watching the weather, and the tent barely weighs over 3-lbs. You’ll love how durable, comfortable, lightweight and weather-resistant this two person North Face tent is!

Gregory Freia 30 Backpack – Women’s

Reg: $128.95
Sale: 58.02

The Freia 30 backpack is a great pack for all-day adventures, with plenty of cargo space for extra layers, food and water, a D-SLR camera, tools and more. Gregory‘s ventilated back system keeps you cool and dry when you hike in hot or humid weather and a hip-hugging lumbar belt moves with you, providing more stability and minimizing discomfort around the waist. Trekking pole loops and an external stretch pocket give you quick access to essentials, and the top-lid opens backwards, which makes getting to your goods easier when you set your pack down.

Hydro Flask Wide Mouth Insulated Growler – 64 oz

Reg: $49.95
Sale: $44.91

Check out this double wall vacuum insulated food grade stainless steel 64 oz wide mouth water bottle. Did I lose you there? The Hydro Flask Growler is the perfect vessel for hauling a half-gallon of your favorite cold beer into the backcountry or on the river. Pour liquid in and out of the wide mouth opening without spilling any sticky or smelly liquids around your campsite or in the car while road-trippin’. The possibilities are endless with Hydro Flask bottles, especially this lightweight stainless steel growler – it’s up to you to be creative utilizing it!

We found more than twenty Gear Of The Year winners in the 2013 Outside Buyer’s Guide that are sold at Tahoe Mountain Sports. It feels good to be reassured we’re carrying the gear you want the most! Here’s a quick rundown of what’s in the mag and in our store.

The following products were chosen by Outside Magazine’s team of testers and may or may not reflect the true opinions of TMS employees.

Best Multi-Day Backpack

The Deuter Aircontact Pro 70+15 was deemed the “best for the heftiest loads” and “most breathable big pack” because its padding and fit system work so well and provide great comfort while ventilating to keep you cool.

Osprey Xenith 88 and Women’s Xena 85
The best all around backpacking backpack that holds tons of gear and is featuristic, plus hugs the hips very well. The heat-moldable hip belts come standard, as with any Osprey backpacking pack, and are great for hauling larger loads.

Best Day Pack or Overnight Pack

The North Face Casimir 36 Backpack is the “best pack for overnights and all day adventures”. With minimalist features, a fast and light design, and one of the most customizable hip belts and torso lengths on the market, this ultralight daypack is perfect for overnight jaunts or bagging peaks from basecamp. Click here to watch the video.

Best Backpacking Tents

The best Tent Of The Year is The North Face Mica FL 2 - a three-season, two-person ultralight backpacker. It weighs less than 3-lbs, sets up in a jiffy and breathes incredibly well. Vertical sidewalls create more comfortable living space and, according to testers, the Mica FL 2 has “the easiest doors to climb in and out of”. Click here to watch the video.

Best Backpacking Sleeping Bag

The Nemo Nocturne 30 spoon-shaped sleeping bag is the best bag yet for those of us who sleep on our sides and want the most comfortable sleep possible in the backcountry. The curves mimic our body shape, a water-resistant footbox protects the insulation from condensation on your tent wall, and the bag only weighs two pounds.

Best Hiking Shoe – Technical

The Salewa Firetail GTX took the top of the podium for best alpine climber this year. A narrow toe box with waterproof and breathable protection is incredibly comfortable, and climbs 5.8 routes with ease thanks to the Vibram outsole and sticky under-toe grip.

Best Trail Running Shoe

La Sportiva Helios – Outside Magazine calls this shoe the “best for long runs in the hills” for guys who strike the middle of their foot yet want a minimalist feel.

Best Climbing Shoe

The La Sportiva Jekyl VS won the “best all around beginner/intermediate climbing shoe” award for 2013. They breathe really well, have a 5-mm Vibram XS Edge sole, and are great for both climbing indoors and on longer granite pitches.

Best Climbing Jacket

The North Face Alpine Project Hoodie has stretch panels under the arms so you can reach high and far for rock holds without exposing your wrists or hips, and the front pockets are accessible while wearing a harness. This soft shell jacket from The North Face also makes for a good spring-skiing jacket, warm layer for running, and just about any other sport in cooler weather.

The North Face Verto Pro Jacket is super lightweight and packs down to the size of a peach. This sport climbing jacket is water-resistant and perfect for those afternoon storms that roll through during late-summer.

Best Backpacking Stove

The favorite backpacking stove of 2013 is the MSR Reactor 1.0L, which works in the heaviest wind gusts, boils a liter of water in 3.5-minutes, and weighs less than one pound. The stove and fuel can fit inside the pot to help save space for lightweight backpacking trips.

Best Water Filter

Platypus GravityWorks 4L water filter works so fast I had to double-check I was using it properly. That’s me talking, not a tester for Outside Magazine or a Platypus sales rep. It’s one of the few items on this list I’ve actually used, and I love it! Just fill it up with water, hang it from a tree, and wait a few minutes. Also check out the Platypus GravityWorks 2L system.

Best Sunglasses For Sports

The Oakley Radarlock sunglasses are lately the best sunglasses for running. They stay in place during wet and sweaty workouts, and the interchangeable lenses (two pairs included) are great for unexpected changes in weather and light conditions.

The low-profile Smith Pivlock sunglasses were called the best cycling sunglasses because they give you the ability to swap out lenses when the light changes, and they’re designed to stay on your face even when you’re sweating bullets and charging toward the finish line.

Best Women’s Travel Clothing

The Icebreaker Villa Dress is the perfect travel dress. Made from merino wool, it won’t wrinkle in your suitcase or backpack and will dry surprisingly fast. The Prana Lahari Halter Top is perfect for swimming and surfing – it stays up when you get tossed over the falls on a big wave or while diving for a volleyball on the beach, and is super cute and comfortable.

Best Action Sports Camera

GoPro, the leader in POV action cameras for years-on-end, just released the GoPro Hero3 Black Edition. With a F/2.8 wide angle lens and a macro lens, 12 megapixels for superior visual clarity, and the option to shoot either in slow-motion or at 30 frames-per-second, you shouldn’t waste your time with other point-of-view cameras.

Best Sports Drink

Nuun Active Hydration Tabs are one of the few formulas that actually taste good, and they’re full of electrolytes with absolutely no sugar! Nuun definitely has good leverage above competitors who are convinced they have the best sports drinks.

Best Headphones For Sports

Finally, earbuds for sports designed for smaller women’s ears! Yurbuds Inspire Women sport earbuds don’t fall out when they get wet, not even in your most active state, and the sound quality is excellent -
especially for the price.

That wraps it up for our 2013 Gear Of The Year award-winners. We have many other products that win similar awards every season, but this post focused solely on those recently highlighted in Outside Magazine. 

Contest Guidelines: Tell us why your father needs a Kuhl makeover! Does he always wear the same pair of dorky dad shorts? Are all his collared shirts spattered with paint?  Post your argument  in a comment on our Facebook wall and @ tag Kuhl’s Facebook Page before midnight on June 11 for your chance to win. Photos are welcome, but be nice. He is your dad, and you’re doing this because you love him. We’ll pick the winner, but we may ask our Facebook fans to help by liking their favorite!

Winner Selection: The winner, to be announced June 12 on our Facebook page, will choose one pair of Kuhl Shorts and one Kuhl Shirt, color and sizing subject to availability. Free shipping to the Lower 48. Winner will be responsible for shipping charges outside the continental United States.

Here’s the winning entry from last year’s giveaway:

“Our awesome cool dad deserves new Kuhl clothes. He has lost 52 lbs. in 14 weeks! This has been really hard for him because he got diabetes a few years ago. He has worked really hard in exercising and eating right and more healthy foods. He looks great! Please choose him  PS – this pic is from last summer BEFORE he lost the weight. We were on a family vacation in Colorado.

Our last Kuhl Facebook contest was a huge success, so let’s keep the free stuff coming! Go to our Facebook Page and tell us why YOUR dad should win.

Kuhl Ambush Cargo Shorts
MSRP: $64.95
Buy Now

Kuhl Rumblr Shirt
MSRP: $59.95
Buy Now

Kuhl Krawlr LS Shirt
MSRP: $64.95
Buy Now

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLFs2LE7IyQ

The North Face Casimir 36

Fast Packing, Peak Bagging and Distance Running Backpack
Volume: 36 liters
Weight: S/M: 2 lb, 4 oz ; M/L: 2 lb, 5 oz
Also comes in a 27-Liter women’s version

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbRIQaI1R4g

The North Face Mica FL

Ultralight Backpacking and Camping Tent
Total Weight: 2 lbs, 5 oz (1.24 kg) Fastpack Weight: 1
Floor Area: 16.9 square feet (1.6 square meters)
Also comes in a two person tent

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3va4R1qhOo

The North Face Hightail 3S

850+ Goose Down, 3-Season Expedition Sleeping Bag
Weight: 2 lbs (908 g)
Pack Size: 9.8 x 19 inches (25 x 49 cm)
Also comes in size Long for people over 5′ 11″

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9e6Ur9b-FVM

Notable Mention: The North Face Mica FL 2 just won the Outside Magazine Gear Of The Year Award! It weighs only 3 lb, 2 oz and sleeps two people comfortably, plus has double vestibules for storing each backpacker’s gear outside yet under-cover.

We’ve teamed up with Nemo Equipment, Smith Sunglasses and Active Junky to bring you another great gear giveaway! Win a summer outdoor package including a Nemo Rhapsody 15-Degree women’s spoon-shaped sleeping bag, a Nemo Fillo inflatable backpacking pillow AND a pair of Smith Mastermind sunglasses. That’s almost a $600 value! Between May 21 and June 12, visit the contest page on Facebook. Enter your first name, zip code and email address – that’s all! We’ll select one random entry after the giveaway ends, who will be contacted via email and notified that their stoke-meter can now rise a few levels.

Here’s what you could get for FREE by simply entering your name, zip code and email:

Nemo Rhapsody 15 Sleeping Bag – Women’s
MSRP: $399.95
Buy Now

Nemo Fillo Backpacking Pillow
MSRP: $44.95
Buy Now

Smith Hemline Polarized Sunglasses
MSRP: $118.95
Buy Now

“Ideas for new products begin with having real experiences in adventure. A passion for adventure is an absolute prerequisite for being part of the team. Welcome to the story of NEMO.”

Award winning Spoon Shape Series sleeping bags:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=el3jZxWkcAM

Lightweight Fillo backpacking pillow:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xizVuWFbvAw

Yes, we sell hammocks. And tents. But our awesome big blue tent is not for sale. Many of these ones are, however: tents and hammocks for sale. We also rent equipment for summer activities, from backpacks to camp stoves to inflatable stand up paddleboards, so check out our Summer Gear Rentals if you’re looking to try something new!

Click here to check the weather cam in Kings Beach. It’s in our upstairs window (8331 N. Lake Blvd) and it looks down on Hwy 28 (North Lake Blvd) and out toward the lake.