Gear Share in Eau Claire
Gear Share is here to provide everyone in the Eau Claire community the opportunity to experience outdoor winter recreation with various sporting equipment. Locations like Pinehurst Park, the Altoona Public Library, L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library, and the Chippewa Valley Museum offer select winter gear, available to rent at no cost, to encourage a healthy, active winter season and help defeat the challenges of seasonal depression and isolation in the Midwest, regardless of the cooler temperatures. Check below to see what each location has available for you to rent out at no cost to you along with details about each location.
Chippewa Valley Museum
Gear is kept in the supply room across from the front entrance of the museum's main building.
What are the hours for the Chippewa Valley Museum?
- Tuesday: 5-8 PM, Wednesday-Saturday: 12-5 PM
What gear is available at the Chippewa Valley Museum?
- 6 pairs of snowshoes
- 14 " with bag
- 14" with bag & poles
- 22" with bag
- 22" with bag & poles
- 25" with bag & poles
- 30" with bag
- 1 pack of poles
How long can I have the gear?
- Customers may keep their gear until staffing hours end and can be taken anywhere.
Pinehurst Park
To help navigate the abundance of fun winter recreation opportunities at Pinehurst Park, check out this map and this blog that highlights why Pinehurst Park is the ultimate winter wonderland.
What are the hours for Pinehurst Park?
- Pinehurst Park is open to visitors 6 AM-11 PM daily but is only staffed and attended during the following hours from December 26th until the last weekend in February: Monday - Friday: 4 PM-7 PM, Saturday - Sunday: 12 PM-7 PM, when school is out: 12 PM-7 PM.
What gear is available at Pinehurst Park?
- Hockey/sledding helmets
- Sleds
- Snowshoes
- Broomball sets
- Kubb
- Soft pucks
- Hockey sticks
How long can I have the gear?
- There is no time limit. However, you must return gear before staff hours end.
What are the hours for L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library?
- Monday-Thursday 9 AM-8 PM, Friday-Saturday 9 AM- 6 PM
What gear is available at the L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library?
- 9 snowshoe kits (includes snowshoes, trekking poles, a snowshoe book, and laminated maps)
- Variety of outdoor yard games (Click here to view & reserve gear)
How long can I have the gear?
- You can check out the gear for three weeks. However, you do need a library card or Wisconsin Driver's License to check out gear from this location.
What are the hours for Altoona Public Library?
- Monday - Thursday 9 AM-8 PM, Friday 9 AM-6 PM, Saturday 9 AM-5 PM
What gear is available at Altoona Public Library?
- 10 Snowshoe kits (Snowshoe kits include: snowshoes, trekking poles, a snowshoe book, and laminated maps)
- 3 pairs of snowshoes 19" (50-90 lbs)
- 1 pair of snowshoes 22" (90-130 lbs)
- 4 pairs of snowshoes 25" (120-200 lbs)
- 1 pair of snowshoes30" (180-250 lbs)
- 1 pair of snowshoes 36" (250-300 lbs)
- 1 Ice fishing kit
- 2 Kubb kits
How long can I have the gear?
- You can have the gear for two weeks. There are no holds. However, you must have a library card or Wisconsin Driver's License to check out gear from this location. Likewise, customers must be 18 years or older to sign a liability waiver required for checkout.