AIBU to not lend my sports equipment?

[NotWithMyShoes]

Someone I know has posted on a group chat asking to borrow some sports equipment. I have the requested kit, and I think most people know I do although it was a general not a direct request.

The weather has been bad the past few days and conditions are not great - high risk - and DH (v. experienced in sport) and I decided it’s not safe to go out this weekend so won’t be using the kit. So, in theory, I could offer that they use it. But. Conditions are not great, i don’t know how experienced they are - I’m assuming not as they don’t own the most basic pieces of equipment. Which I’m also assuming means they won’t have the correct safety gear. If conditions were ok, we’d be using it ourselves.

AIBU not to offer it purely because I don’t think it’s safe to use it? They are adults!

Just reply with the truth then!

“Might be using it ourselves, I’m afraid, if it’s safe enough.”

I'd suggest saying "you're brave! We'd thought about snowboarding (or whatever) but don't enjoy it when the weather is like this. Hope you can have some fun still - have you tried the walk at the castle, it's brilliant" or whatever

They know you have stuff but not spare stuff so I dont think they'll be expecting you to offer. Like asking if anyone has a kettle you can borrow because yours broke. I know a lot of people who have one but wouldn't expect to borrow something that wasn't spare. If that makes sense?
Just don't answer or say sorry we dont have any spare stuff if you feel like you have to reply.

Just say that if conditions are safe enough then you will be using it yourselves.

"Neither a borrower nor a lender be."

Shakespeare really got it right with this one.

Dont say anything unless asked directly , there is no obligation to lend. If directly asked just say no because who lends anything like that in a pandemic ?

Why do you care about 'looking bad?' It's your stuff - you're not obliged to lend it, especially not to someone who sounds reckless.

What wrong with the truth???

We would offer to lend xxx but if the conditions are good we will take the opportunity to use xxx ourselves
But I think it's going to be raining therefore we shouldn't be xxxx img anyway

Assuming it's climbing/ski gear or something similar.

Regardless, just don't offer to lend it to them? Pretty simple. They haven't even asked you directly anyway.

Why on earth would you! Especially when they haven't even asked you (yet).

I don't lend my sports equipment, I bought it because I need it and it's a pain to replace if it gets damaged.

If it was something you wouldn't be using until next November, possibly.
Something you might be using next weekend? You'd be mad to.

Just ignore the post. You’re not obliged to reply.

What sports equipment is it?

Have they asked you directly? If it’s a general request say on FB I’d just ignore it. You’re certainly not obliged to lend expensive kit.

Ignore. And if they – or someone else – directly questions to you about your equipment, I’d say something along the lines of ‘we no longer lend our equipment due to having a bad experience before’. And do not deviate from this. You could just say no, but a lot of people never take this as the final answer. The problem with lending stuff is that things can go wrong, get broken, get lost… Returned dirty, damaged, and then you wish you hadn’t bothered. Don’t do it.

I just wouldn’t comment and pretend I hadn’t seen it if later asked by anyone.

If I don’t want to lend my expensive stuff (I’m presuming it’s expensive or they’d just buy it themselves?), I don’t have to justify that to anyone.

Just pop a post up saying that “sorry, it’s not looking safe right now but if the conditions improve enough to go we will go ourselves and need ours”.

Why do you think you are obligated to loan something just because you own it?

My kit is mine. I bought it because I wanted it. If I want to use stuff someone else had used and faff about waiting for it to be available because someone else was using it... if not have bothered spending £££ to buy my own

I hope it’s jousting gear. That would be quite outing, to be fair.

I rarely lend anything of mine unless it's to someone I especially like and trust and/or I don't mind whether I get it back. I've had too many things not returned, damaged, lost or even given away to third parties! I don't care if people think I'm mean or tight. Want it that much - buy your own!

If it was cheap stuff they'd buy they're own so I'm assuming it's expensive. Best not to lend it out even under perfect conditions. If it gets damaged it'll be awkward as hell. You obviously use it alot so you can't lend it out. Don't even respond.

Never loan anything unless you’re prepared not to get it back.