We’ve all heard of outdoor gear rental intiatives. Now, borrowing for free has also become a rapidly growing international trend. We reached out to the Swedish nonprofit Fritidsbanken to learn more about how it is helping to both reduce impact and make access to nature truly cost-free.

“I just spoke with the Fritidsbanken team in Malmö. They could lend out ten times more outdoor equipment than they currently have in stock—that’s how high the demand is,” says Henric Byström, Fritidsbanken’s Head of Communications.

Fritidsbanken (literally “The Leisure Bank”) works like a nonprofit library for outdoor and sports equipment. Individuals and companies donate cross-country skis, backpacks, tennis rackets, and other gear to their local Fritidsbanken. Staff inspect the equipment to ensure it’s in good condition. Some items are repaired or used for spare parts, but most go straight onto the shelves.

Visitors can borrow gear for up to 14 days – no deposit, no late fees, and no obligation to pay if something breaks. After each return, the gear is inspected and prepped for the next borrower.

Municipal partnerships ensure long-term support

Launching a Fritidsbanken location takes significant effort, according to Byström.

“Some are run by local associations, but we’ve found it works better when the municipality takes the lead – with broad political support. That ensures the operation’s long-term sustainability.”

Fritidsbanken’s national team provides guidance based on more than 12 years of experience. Setting up a new location often involves multiple meetings with municipal departments and political parties to build engagement and commitment.

“There’s no clear political leaning among the 122 municipalities we work with. Fritidsbanken often gains cross-party support because it contributes to public health by helping more people access the outdoors.”

(Credit: Björn Lans / Fritidsbanken)

Origins in social inclusion and secondhand sharing

Fritidsbanken was founded in 2013 by Carina Haak, a deacon in the Church of Sweden in the small town of Deje. In her work, she encountered single mothers who couldn’t afford the high entry costs of getting their children to participate in recreational activities.

Together with local partners, she launched a project to collect and lend out sports equipment. From the start, the initiative aimed to avoid social stigma by remaining open to everyone, regardless of income. It also promoted the use of secondhand gear to reduce resource use.

The project quickly attracted national attention, and more municipalities followed suit. Since then, Fritidsbanken has spread across Sweden and earned numerous awards, including the Swedish Children’s Sports Award and Reuser of the Year.

Outdoor demand creates opportunity for brands

“Today, around half of our borrowers are over the age of 20,” says Byström. “But we still face a limitation: we don’t accept clothing donations because managing, washing, and repairing garments would require too many resources.”

Interest in outdoor activities surged during the pandemic and hasn’t slowed down, he adds. Demand often exceeds supply – especially during school holidays.

This opens a door for outdoor companies to contribute. “Local retailers sometimes donate unsold items, but we hope more outdoor brands will start contributing as well,” Byström says. However, only unconditional donations are accepted; sponsorships are not allowed.

Retailers have generally responded positively. “Several companies tell us they benefit when more people get to try outdoor and sports gear and become curious,” says Byström.

(Credit: Björn Lans / Fritidsbanken)

Exporting the concept: Norway and beyond

Other countries have shown interest in the concept, including Canada and Japan. But so far, Norway is the only other country with a large-scale equivalent: BUA.

BUA began with local projects in the 1970s and launched under its current name in 2014. Today, about 270 BUA centers operate in 200 Norwegian municipalities.

“In Sweden, municipal interest declined during the economic downturn, but now we’re gaining momentum again,” says Byström. “We expect to open about fifteen new Fritidsbanken locations in the coming year.”

Also check out the Suston article Rental’s Winners and Losers.

Lead image: Fritidsbanken