XscapePod allows campers and backpackers to spend more time outdoors

August 17, 2017

Spare the investment, storage, hassle of assembling camping/backpacking gear with this concierge service

PORTLAND, OR– XscapePod, LLC is announcing its formal launch in the Portland-Metro area as an on-demand backpacking and camping equipment rental resource. The company, founded by Portland resident and outdoor enthusiast Nic Parrish, has been in its pilot phase of operations for the last three months.

XscapePod is just the latest service to breakthrough in the Sharing Economy, with the goal to make camping gear accessible to outdoor enthusiasts with limited space, budget, and time to plan.

A recent PricewaterhouseCoopers study on the Sharing Economy stated that 86% of people familiar with the sharing economy agree it makes life more affordable, and 83% agree it makes life more convenient and efficient. Major disruptors like AirBnb (vacation rentals) and Lyft (ride sharing) have already made consumers realize the benefits of a Sharing Economy.

When it comes to camping, there have long been three choices: purchase all the gear, borrow from friends, or rent from a retailer; none of which are great options.

XscapePod is reinventing the way camping gear is rented by offering four pod configurations. Each pod includes all the essential gear in one place, for one low price, delivered directly to the customer’s door. The service is perfect for local residents and tourists alike, looking to explore what the State of Oregon has to offer beyond the city limits.

“Our aim is to make it as easy as possible for anyone looking to explore the outdoors to do so without committing to hundreds, or even thousands of dollars in costly equipment,” Parrish says. “With simple booking via our website, and door-to-door delivery, we’re not just delivering camping gear—we’re delivering a premium experience”

The Happy Glampers pod—pictured —is configured for two campers. It rents for $80 per day, and comes with quality gear made by reputable outdoor brands, valued at over $1,000 if purchased separately. Here is the full equipment list:

Kelty 2-3 Person Tent
1x Men’s Sleeping Bags (3-season +15℉)
1x Women’s Sleeping Bags (3-season +15℉)
2x Therm-a-Rest Sleeping Pads
2x Stuff Sack Pillows
2x Camp Chairs
Water Sterilization
2x Petzl Headlamps
Coleman Propane 2-Burner Camp Stove (fuel included)
2x Mess Kits
GSI Cooking Utensils Kit
GSI Fry Pan
French Press
Cooler
1-Gallon Collapsible Water Storage
Marshmallow Skewers
Coleman LED Lantern
First Aid Kit
Complimentary 16oz Water Bottles

In addition, there are two pod configurations for backpacking: Solo and Tandem; as well as an add-on pod called Tyke, which provides all the gear needed for a small child to join the adventure.

Parrish, who has been an avid camper all his lift, assembled these pod configurations based on his outdoor experiences. He has personally vetted all of the gear on his own adventures, which vary from ultra-light backpacking in the Smoky Mountains, paddling in the Boundary Waters, fishing in the Adirondacks, Hiking the John Muir Trail, Surfing both coasts, skiing A-basin, or rafting rivers in the Pacific Northwest.

The XscapePod team will have a vendor booth set up at the Alberta Street Fair on August 14,^,2017.

In the future, XscapePod sees an opportunity to assist campers and backpackers with planning their entire journey, from picking a site or route, coordinating transportation and food, and even dividing costs amongst friends.

What customers are saying about XscapePod:

XscapePod was perfect for my weekend camping trip to Crater Lake. I don’t have a lot of space to store all the gear needed for a camping trip. Enter XscapePod, which made the trip a breeze and all I had to worry about was not forgetting food and beer! I’ll be booking a Pod again for sure! – Adam S

XscapePod is the ideal service for the urban camper! Being able to rent everything (and I mean everything) aside from our food and clothes made our camping trip in Redwood National Park so comfortable and really fun. Highly recommend! – Erika E

We used XscapePod on our last trip to Lost Lake near Mt. Hood. They were great to work with and made it easy to go camping for a few days. The XscapePod itself had everything we needed for a great trip – Julian I

All the gear was in excellent condition, and most of it seemed brand new. I could not have been happier with my experience! – Tom K

For more information about XscapePod, please contact Steve Miller at steve@xscapepod.com