Tent Rental in Bozeman, MT

Tent Rentals in Bozeman

Rental camping tents for Yellowstone and Big Sky Adventures.

Explore Rentals offers nearly the full line of premium Big Agnes tents. Our tent rental program allows you to safely and comfortably sleep under the stars without the investment of purchasing new equipment, or hauling it on the plane with you.

Whether you are car camping with the family, or going deep into the backcountry- we have a rental tent that will be perfect for you.

How to Choose a Rental Tent:

The first step is to ask a couple of questions: 1) How many people does the tent need to sleep, and 2) Where/ How will I be using the tent. Tents are generally grouped by how many people they sleep and by use. 

As far as the size of tent, as in how many people it can sleep, tent manufacturers tend to push the limits of this number. Big Agnes, our provider of rental tents, is a bit more fair than most other companies. In general, the bigger the tent, the more comfortable. You can fit 6-people in a 6-person tent, just be warned that you will likely have some of your gear on top of you and some part of someone else’s body will be touching you. 

At Explore Rentals, we group our rental tents into three categories: Backpacking, Car Camping, and Shelters. Read more below about the differences: 

Rental Backpacking Tents

Backpacking Gallatin Mountains

Backpacking into a high mountain lake in Gallatin Mountains near Big Sky. July 2018.

Backpacking tents. Backpacking trips are defined by hiking a significant distance into  your camping spot, and carrying all of your food and gear in a backpack. These trips require significant planning and preparation (permits if in Yellowstone), and every ounce/ gram matters because you have to carry everything with you. Backpacking tents tend to be smaller and lighter, and as a result, generally less comfortable. Think of them as a shelter to keep you dry and bug-free and not much more. We offer rental backpacking tents that sleep from 1-3 people. 4+ person tents tend to pack bulky and heavy, so one is often better off having 2 2-person tents rather than 1 4-person tent.

We offer premium rental backpacking tents from Big Agnes. These tents are the cutting edge of technology, and push the limits of design and material strength in order to be as light as possible. Unless if you are actually going backpacking, these tents are probably not your best choice as they are less spacious, more difficult to set up, and the extreme weight savings makes for a less durable tent- unless if it is set up and used correctly. 

Our favorite rental backpacking tent is the Big Agnes Copper Spur UL3. It is extremely light, has a door on each side of the tent so you do not need to crawl over each other to get out, and has 2 vestibules perfect for storing backpacks and stinky boots. The Copper Spur is a super premium tent and extremely well made. When staked and guyed, this backpacking tent is near bomb-proof. 

Rental Car Camping Tents

Tent Rental Bozeman

Big Agnes Tensleep Station-4 on Yellowstone Lake

Car Camping/ River Trips/ Overlanding tents. Most of  our visitors that rent tents fall into this category. This is defined by the need to transport tents and camping supplies only a short distance from a vehicle or a boat to a campsite, and does not need to transport all items at the same time. With this scenario, one is willing to carry a heavier/ bigger tent because it is a lot more comfortable. These tents will comfortably sleep 4 – 6 people (8-person tents are often difficult to set up and sleeping 8-people in one tent is kind of gross), can accommodate cots (a 4-person tent can fit 2-cots, a 6-person 3-cots), and are often tall enough to stand up in- which makes a huge difference when you are putting your clothes on in the morning. These tents are WAY more comfortable than backpacking tents. BTW Overlanding is just a popular term for car camping, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. We do not offer roof-top tents because they 1) are extremely difficult to get in and out of 2) take longer to set up then a regular tent 3) Have to be taken down every time you want to move 4) greatly reduce gas mileage. 

Our rental car camping tents have all proven that they can withstand most Montana camping conditions. When we first started the business, we had inferior rental Coleman and Kelty tents. These tents ALL failed. Poles broken, seems blown out, and tears in material. It is extremely important to understand that there are inherent risks to camping in Montana, and especially in Yellowstone National Park at elevation. When properly guyed out and set up, we have found our tents can withstand some serious winds (30-35mph). That being said, freak summer storms bearing winds of 50+ mph happen- and NO tent (barring extreme 4-season mountaineering tents) can withstand these conditions.

Our favorite rental car camping/ river tent is the Big Agnes Tensleep Station 4. It is the perfect size for 2-people on 2 of the Alps Ready Lite cots (these are a true gamechanger when it comes to comfort). It also has a massive vestibule for gear storage and great ventilation- key for warm summer nights. Although it is a tall tent, we have found when properly guyed out these tents can withstand some pretty nasty conditions. The rental Big Agnes Rabbit Ears is a more affordable option that is easy to set up and much safer in variable Montana weather than anything our competitors offer or that you can buy in Walmart. 

Rental Camp Shelters

Camping Shelter Rental

The Sugarloaf in the Siskyou National Forest

River and Camp Shelters. Now we are talking about some advanced level camping stuff. A couple of years back Big Agnes introduced their Sugarloaf Shelter. We were skeptical at first, but after a couple of uses we have found these to me nearly indispensable for our own river and camping expeditions. These shelters provide protection from sun, bugs, and rain- while still being able to comfortably prepare meals and hang-out. 

Our rental Sugarloaf Shelters are awesome for setting up a camp kitchen, or even to the most extreme comfort, setting up your tent inside the shelter. There is nothing more comfortable camping then being able to leave your tent knowing it will be dew and bug free. These are Gamechangers. The boss has weathered some extreme storms in these with no issues at all. 

River shelter rental

The Sugarloaf shelter makes for a great place to wind down without the bugs.

 

How to weather a storm when camping: 

  • Be prepared! Always fully stake out and guy your tent. In Montana NEVER trust the weatherman! 
  • Always expect the worst, and keep everything that can blow away or get wet protected and secured. 
  • The bigger the tent, the more comfortable you will be. Being cooped up in a backpacking tent for a long storm can test all friendships! 

 

How to Set up Your Rental Tent


 

Setting up Big Agnes Rabbit Ears Tent

Setting up Big Agnes Tensleep Tent

Setting up Big Agnes Outfitter Tent

Rental Spotting Scopes for Yellowstone National Park

Is a Spotting Scope Needed for Yellowstone For those of you that have not had the pleasure to enjoy one of America's greatest national parks, you need to start packing for your trip to Yellowstone National Park. There is a variety of geysers and thermal activity,...

Rental Spotting Scopes for Yellowstone

Rental spotting scopes for Yellowstone, as well as binoculars, and telephoto lenses in Bozeman, MT.

Game Changer: Alps Ready Lite Cot

It has been quite a while that a new camping product has come on the market that is an actual game changer.

September is Here

We now have premium Vortex binoculars and spotting scopes for rent!

Vortex Optics Now Available for Rent

Rental Vortex spotting scopes and binoculars at Explore Rentals in Bozeman.

Rental Backpacks Now in Stock!

By popular request, Explore Rentals is now stocking rental backpacks and trekking poles.

Guying Out a Tent

Guying Out a tent is essential for assisting your tents wind integrity and overall ability to shun the elements.

How to Choose a Sleeping Pad

Gone are the days of a simple closed cell foam pad or a Therm-a-rest that is guaranteed to leak.

Camping in Glacier National Park

Bozeman is an great spot to start your summer adventures!

Camping in Yellowstone National Park

Summer is fast approaching, which means it is time to start planning.

Explore Montana by Camper Trailer

Exploring Montana in the early spring offers its’ own variety of beauty.

New! Yeti RidiCoolers for Rent

yeti coolers for rent

New Rental Gear Has Arrived!

New rental gear from Explore Rentals

Has Summer Made it to Montana?

To answer this question; Almost. This winter in Bozeman has been a "long" one. Ski season was great this year and in some places still is if you are willing to walk a little ways. The last few winters have been relatively mild, making this year feel like it is...

What to do in Bozeman in April and May

April Showers bring May flowers, right? Kind of. Montana does things a little different during these months with its indecisive weather patterns. It’s a shoulder season between ski resorts closing in April and the summer sports opening for full time play. It’s a great...

What to do in Bozeman in November

What to do in Bozeman in November What to do in Bozeman in November? The mad rush is over, for now. There is downtime in Montana for tourist influx.  The Appeal of a Montana summer is over and the skiers are anxiously waiting for the snow reports. It’s currently...

Summer is here and Montana is Open

What to Expect While Visiting Montana We are all very excited to see the change of Montana's other season, winter, into our beloved Summer. This short season is treasured by residents because we can enjoy some of our favorite warm weather activities for a brief...

Three Dollar Bridge Fishing

Three Dollar Bridge on the Madison is one of the most iconic fishing spots in the west. People travel here from all over the world to try their luck. If you are making the trip here is a bit of info that I have learned over the years about fooling these trout. The...

Camping On The Boulder – My First Experience In A Truck Camper

My experience using a truck camper for the first time while spending a weekend on the Boulder River.

Cabin Fever Cure – Spring Float

Cabin Fever Cure - Spring Float Ian Kennedy May 4th 2020Spring is a great time to hit the water. Especially in these times where social distancing is a must. Saturday was the day! A float on the Madison was the cure for being cooped up for weeks! With rods and dogs...

Keeping busy during detention

    Outside Thoughts I'm sure you are aware of our current crisis. Cities and businesses are closing down for the unforeseeable future, and guidelines for keeping distance from each other leaves the individual to wonder what to do on any given day. This Lockdown...

Staying Sane While Social Distancing

It is week two of social distancing here in Bozeman, MT and it seems like every day the same question comes up. What can we do today while still following the social distancing protocol? We have created a list of activities to help keep you sane while social distancing.

Reasons We Love Montana Summers

Seasons come and seasons go. Luckily for us, they come back. Summer in many parts of Montana feels like it can pass overnight. In 2019 it certainly felt that way. Spring and early summer were wet. Flowers and veggies bloomed late. Warm weather didn't start until...

Important Pieces for a DIY Montana Elk Hunt

What you need on your next Montana Elk Hunt Everyone has specific needs while hunting, so my pack and your pack may vary a little. Personally, comfortablility is key. If I don't have a place to stay warm and dry, I will not make it through the hunt....

Smith River April 2019

Life Between Walls April 19, 2019, we arrived at Camp Baker around 7:30am to a couple of small campfires and strangers drinking their morning coffee. After paying our floater's fees, selecting our campsites for the three nights, listening to our safety meeting, and...

Droppin Honkers

On a last ditch effort to knock some geese out of the sky, we headed North towards Great Falls on a hot tip from the boss.

The September Slump

It has been one hard month of hunting the elusive wapiti in the mountains of Southwest Montana.

Sluice Box State Park

I have heard great things about this place, so I had to make my way up there.

Hiking the Tobacco Root Mountains

July has been a warm month in Montana, so we headed up to the Tobacco Roots.

Anthony Bourdain on Montana

Remembering the great Bourdain

Heading North

When warm weather and smoke plagues Southern Montana during the late summer there is only one thing to do…

4th of July in MT

The 4th of July is always a time for celebration and relaxation.

Adventuring around Bozeman, MT

Many people tend to just fly into Bozeman and head elsewhere for adventures.

Springtime Daytrip in Yellowstone

May is a great time to visit Yellowstone National Park. Early spring brings bison calves, ample wildlife, and very few crowds.

Exploring Choteau County

Good food and grand adventures!

Getting Lost – Montana’s Public Lands

This is truly the backbone of all true Montanans lifestyles

5 things to do on your way to Yellowstone

Things to do around Bozeman

Driving the Beartooth HWY

An epic montana drive

Three Dollar Bridge Fishing

Three Dollar Bridge on the Madison is one of the most iconic fishing spots in the west. People travel here from all over the world to try their luck. If you are making the trip here is a bit of info that I have learned over the years about fooling these trout. The...

Cabin Fever Cure – Spring Float

Cabin Fever Cure - Spring Float Ian Kennedy May 4th 2020Spring is a great time to hit the water. Especially in these times where social distancing is a must. Saturday was the day! A float on the Madison was the cure for being cooped up for weeks! With rods and dogs...

Winter Fly Fishing on the Madison

The Madison River, an anglers play ground. Given that average temperatures were in the low 20's with high winds for the last couple of weeks, what should two guys do on their day off? Fish!!!! Yes, Bryce and I watched the weather like hawks for days and finally a...

Summer Fishing in Montana

Summer Time Fishing in Montana  Here in Montana summer time is fishing time. As spring runoff runs its course the rivers in Southwest Montana start to clear up and slow down. This means that the fishing heats up as rainbow, brown and cutthroat trout begin...

Bozeman Raft Rentals

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Winter fishing in Montana

January in Bozeman can be fickle regarding optimal skiing conditions.

First Time Drifter

We took out Explore’s NRS Freestone Drifter and it was perfect for what we needed.

Dog Days of Summer

Here’s some local advice on the waters in Montana

Fishing Report 5/20- Beaverhead River

Most experienced anglers in Montana can be found taking a brief respite from their fishing during this time of the year.

Missouri River – Below the Dams

Recently, a few fisher-folk and I went fishing for Rainbow Trout on the Missouri River.

Walleye or Bust

Any successful fisherman can tell you that somedays the fish just aren’t having it.

First Casts on the Madison

I recently had the pleasure of embarking on my first-day hike and fishing trip along the banks of the lower Madison.

Fish on the Brain

This time of year it is hard to not occasionally have your mind be other places.

Work Work Work Explore Explore Explore. Rinse. Repeat.

First and unarguably most important is fishing.

Yellowstone National Park Anglers

Explore Rentals is doing their part to ensure the safety of anglers in Yellowstone National Park.

Sometimes you have to Improvise

I had the day off and had made plans to take out the water skeeter for some float fishing on the lower Madison.

Mothers Day Caddis Action and Instagram!

Springtime fishing in SW Montana

Upper and Lower Madison

fishing the lower and upper madison rivers

Canyon Ferry Fishing Report

Fishing report from canyon ferry reservoir 2016

Mid-April Canyon Ferry Fishing Report

Canyon Ferry Fishing april 2016

Big Horn Reservoir Fishing Report

Fishing in Big Horn Reservoir

Missouri River – Craig, MT

Fishing near Craig, MT

Madison Valley Sunday April 3rd

April fishing near ennis

Fly Fishing in Montana

Montana is an absolute mecca for the do-it-yourself fly-fishing adventurer. I’ve always been amazed by this unique aspect of Montana, from your average weekend warrior to serious fly-fishing expedition enthusiast, it is incredibly easy to do yourself. At Explore we...

Madison Valley March 25th

Sam’s day of fishing the upper madison river in march

Dianne @ 10/23/2018

Kelsey (I think was her name) was wonderful. She was very helpful and courteous. We were very comfortable in our suburban and relieved to have it when the snows came.

Struan @ 01/10/2015

This is simply the only way to rent in Montana. You are getting genuine, caring personal service, lots of great advice and access to all the outdoor equipment you need. Oh, and the vehicles are great, too. We're from New Zealand and this is a brilliant way to rent...

Marc Greendorfer @ 07/06/2016

I was in the Bozeman area for a few days and needed a rental car to visit some land I bought in a relatively remote area of the state. After checking out the national brands, I came across Phasmid and liked that they had the exact type of vehicle I needed (a Subaru...

Ali Hurwitz @ 06/07/2017

I rented a "road warrior" Outback and camping gear for a spring trip to Yellowstone. You guys were fantastic from start to finish. Great advice on what kind of gear we'd need, which car would work for us. Friendly staff on the phone and inperson - the airport pickup...

Dr. Norman (Tad) Pedigo @ 08/03/2015

What a fantastic customer experience! We thoroughly enjoyed your employees (Laura gets well-deserved kudos, and a new windshield), your vehicle, and your excellent customer service. We will certainly look forward to using your car rental agency for our next trip. Our...

P. Astor @ 07/29/2015

From talking to Will to reserve the vehicle, to being picked up at the airport, to us dropping the vehicle at the airport at 5 a.m., the Phasmid experience surpassed any other car rental experience we've had. While we did not have any...

Tom Herr @ 07/26/2015

This trip of ours was made special by so many means and the service from Will and the Phasmid company was surely part of the experience. He went beyond our expectations to please us and make our stay so memorable. Thank you so much brother and we will be seeing you...

Marbut Family @ 06/15/2015

It was so nice to be able to take a family trip and not be squished. Our trip included Great Falls, Glacier and Yellowstone. We will definetly use Phasmid again for our next family vacation.

Joni Mathis @ 05/05/2015

We were picked up at the airport and taken back to the Phasmid Office to finish paperwork. We were provided with a map of Montana (we were first timers) and given our interests, Will pointed out & marked suggestions on the map. Phasmid staff is kind, caring and...

Spencer Foy @ 03/16/2015

You guys are awesome. SO GLAD I decided not to rent from the big national rental car places. I needed quite a few extras, 2 car seats, a pack-n-play, the works. Everything was on time, in perfect working order, and the entire transaction was as smooth as it possibly...

Victoria Wardle @ 02/23/2015

Phasmid were top notch. The Suburban was immaculate, handled just as it should and we felt very safe in if. Our whole experience was very smooth, from booking to returning the car. All very easy and accommodating. We would definitely recommend you and will use you...

Geoff & Rhonda Taylor @ 02/25/2015

Arrived by bus from Yellowstone and found we'd left a pair of glasses on the bus. Will from Phasmid was willing and helpful in every way, and only thanks to his tireless efforts we can set off in our Subaru Outback for our big wolf adventure, complete with the...

Don Cima @ 01/27/2015

Some say it's scary to go off the beaten path. Our experience with Will and the Phasmida operation is head and shoulders above any other rental, EVER! The whole experience was easy going, friendly, and helpful. Pricing is competitive and an all wheel drive vehicle was...

D. Naples @ 08/18/2014

I highly recommend Phasmid car rental. It is great to know the exact car you will rent (subaru outback) and not have the company change at the last minute to a less desirable model. We have a small child and they had just the right car seat of just the right size for...

Sara Zimmer @ 07/11/2014

Needed some equipment rental but not car rental. Phasmid went out of its way to meet my unique needs, even though I was certainly one of their smaller customers. If I ever have an event here again and need transportation, this will be my car rental company as well.

Carleen Mcosker @ 02/05/2014

Best auto rental we have used in the West. The Outbacks are in great shape.

Doug @ 12/23/2013

We rented a Subaru for a 10 day winter trip to the mountains and it was an outstanding experience from start to finish. Will went out of his way to meet our needs. Definitely recommended!

trisha flynn @ 11/05/2013

We got a subaru from Will for the week we were in Montana and had a blast driving it all around the state. This is a great company and its locally owned, I really recommend Phasmid rentals

Joe Light @ 10/19/2013

Fantastic! Friendly, helpful and punctual. Take our advice and skip the mega monster rental company's and choose this Montana based outfit. We will be back next year!

Anson Wong @ 09/21/2013

My wife found Phasmid Rental on Tripsadvisor as they have good review. I was not 100% sure. However, thanks to my wife, it's by far the best car rental experience that we had. Firstly, Will waited for us at the airport to pick us up at almost 11:00 at night. Then the...

Charlie @ 08/26/2013

I came for the Bear Spray & stayed for the rental! Don't go anywhere else. Customer service is not an oxymoron here. Was looking to rent bear spray for a trip to Yellowstone. I had already rented a car from a national chain but ditched it after speaking with the...

J.R. @ 08/11/2013

It was a pleasure doing business with Phasmid and meeting you both, Will and Emily-Ann. The Subaru fit my needs perfectly and ran great. The addition that I could get equipment and supplies from you was a very nice extra and the price was great! I hope your business...

Olivier Sancier @ 10/10/2013

ur 4 th fishing trip in Montana was a total success ! Quick, a new date in 2014 for our next trip with Phasmid ! Thanks a lot Will. Olivier - French Team.

Michael @ 06/24/2013

Best rental experience ever. Will was awesome. When we arrived at the airport Will was there to meet us with a sign with our name on it. He helped us load the car and took us back to the office, where we took care of the paper work. We rented bear spray (a must in...

RG @ 05/28/2013

Will, Following are excerpts from your website. I found it to be right on. Thanks for doing what you do. “Meanwhile, an unexpected twist has developed. I have fallen head over heels in love for Montana. The people, the water, the mountains, the open space, the small...