diff --git a/spec/support/controller_helpers.rb b/spec/support/controller_helpers.rb
index 87e36a0f3..9795e17c7 100644
--- a/spec/support/controller_helpers.rb
+++ b/spec/support/controller_helpers.rb
@@ -1,14 +1,20 @@
-# some basic helpers to simulate devise controller methods in specs
+require Rails.root.join('spec/support/mockers/user.rb')
+
 module ControllerHelpers
-  def current_user
-    user_session_info =
-      response.request.env['rack.session']['warden.user.user.key']
-    return unless user_session_info
-    user_id = user_session_info[0][0]
-    User.find(user_id)
+  def mock_user_sign_in(user = UserMock.new(traits: [:findable]))
+    pass_app_setup_check
+    allow(request.env['warden']).to receive(:authenticate!).and_return(user)
+    # necessary for permissions to work
+    allow(ApplicationController).to receive(:current_user).and_return(user)
+    allow(Ability).to receive(:new).and_return(Ability.new(user))
+    allow_any_instance_of(described_class).to \
+      receive(:current_user).and_return(user)
   end
 
-  def user_signed_in?
-    !current_user.nil?
+  private
+
+  def pass_app_setup_check
+    allow(AppConfig).to receive(:first).and_return(true) unless AppConfig.first
+    allow(User).to receive(:count).and_return(1) unless User.first
   end
 end
diff --git a/spec/support/mockers/category.rb b/spec/support/mockers/category.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1bed58ea6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/support/mockers/category.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+require Rails.root.join('spec/support/mockers/mocker.rb')
+require Rails.root.join('spec/support/mockers/equipment_model.rb')
+
+class CategoryMock < Mocker
+  def self.klass
+    Category
+  end
+
+  def self.klass_name
+    'Category'
+  end
+
+  private
+
+  def with_equipment_models(models: nil, count: 1)
+    models ||= Array.new(count) { EquipmentModelMock.new }
+    parent_has_many(mocked_children: models, parent_sym: :category,
+                    child_sym: :equipment_models)
+  end
+end
diff --git a/spec/support/mockers/equipment_item.rb b/spec/support/mockers/equipment_item.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9819193a1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/support/mockers/equipment_item.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+require Rails.root.join('spec/support/mockers/mocker.rb')
+require Rails.root.join('spec/support/mockers/equipment_model.rb')
+
+class EquipmentItemMock < Mocker
+  def self.klass
+    EquipmentItem
+  end
+
+  def self.klass_name
+    'EquipmentItem'
+  end
+
+  private
+
+  def with_model(model: nil)
+    model ||= EquipmentModelMock.new
+    child_of_has_many(mocked_parent: model, parent_sym: :equipment_model,
+                      child_sym: :equipment_items)
+  end
+end
diff --git a/spec/support/mockers/equipment_model.rb b/spec/support/mockers/equipment_model.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..fede4a578
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/support/mockers/equipment_model.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+require Rails.root.join('spec/support/mockers/mocker.rb')
+require Rails.root.join('spec/support/mockers/category.rb')
+require Rails.root.join('spec/support/mockers/equipment_item.rb')
+
+class EquipmentModelMock < Mocker
+  def self.klass
+    EquipmentModel
+  end
+
+  def self.klass_name
+    'EquipmentModel'
+  end
+
+  private
+
+  def with_item(item:)
+    with_items(items: [item])
+  end
+
+  def with_items(items: nil, count: 1)
+    items ||= Array.new(count) { EquipmentItemMock.new }
+    parent_has_many(mocked_children: items, parent_sym: :equipment_model,
+                    child_sym: :equipment_items)
+  end
+
+  def with_category(cat: nil)
+    cat ||= CategoryMock.new
+    child_of_has_many(mocked_parent: cat, parent_sym: :category,
+                      child_sym: :equipment_models)
+  end
+end
diff --git a/spec/support/mockers/mocker.rb b/spec/support/mockers/mocker.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a231b43af
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/support/mockers/mocker.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,102 @@
+require 'rspec/mocks/standalone'
+
+# This class behaves as an extension of rspec-mocks' instance_spy.
+# It is intended to be extended and used to make mocking models much simpler!
+#
+# To create a new subclass, the following methods must be overridden:
+#   - self.klass must return the class that the subclass is mocking
+#   - self.klass_name must return a string that matches the class being mocked
+#
+# Some examples using the EquipmentModelMock subclass:
+#   A mock that can be "found" with EquipmentModel#find:
+#     EquipmentModelMock.new(traits: [:findable])
+#   A mock with a set of attributes:
+#     EquipmentModelMock.new(name: 'Camera', late_fee: 3)
+#   A mock with attributes and method stubs:
+#     EquipmentModelMock.new(name: 'Camera', model_restriced: false)
+#   A findable mock with attributes:
+#     EquipmentModelMock.new(traits: [:findable], name: 'Camera')
+#
+# A trait can be any method that exists on the mocker superclass or child class.
+# To create an EquipmentModel that belongs to an existing category, camera:
+#   EquipmentModelMock.new(traits: [[:with_category, cat: camera]])
+#
+# Use caution before adding methods -- any method defined here should be usable
+# by all subclasses, with the exception of the association stub methods.
+
+class Mocker < RSpec::Mocks::InstanceVerifyingDouble
+  include RSpec::Mocks
+
+  FIND_METHODS = [:find, :find_by_id]
+
+  def initialize(traits: [], **attrs)
+    # from RSpec::Mocks::ExampleMethods
+    # combination of #declare_verifying_double and #declare_double
+    ref = ObjectReference.for(self.class.klass_name)
+    RSpec::Mocks.configuration.verifying_double_callbacks.each do |block|
+      block.call(ref)
+    end
+    attrs ||= {}
+    super(ref, attrs)
+    self.as_null_object
+    process_traits(traits)
+  end
+
+  def process_traits(traits)
+    traits.each { |t| send(*t) }
+  end
+
+  private
+
+  def klass
+    Object
+  end
+
+  def klass_name
+    'Object'
+  end
+
+  def spy
+    self
+  end
+
+  # lets us use rspec-mock syntax in mockers
+  def receive(method_name, &block)
+    Matchers::Receive.new(method_name, block)
+  end
+
+  def allow(target)
+    AllowanceTarget.new(target)
+  end
+
+  # Traits
+  def findable
+    id = FactoryGirl.generate(:unique_id)
+    allow(spy).to receive(:id).and_return(id)
+    FIND_METHODS.each do |method|
+      allow(self.class.klass).to receive(method)
+      allow(self.class.klass).to receive(method).with(id).and_return(spy)
+      allow(self.class.klass).to receive(method).with(id.to_s).and_return(spy)
+    end
+  end
+
+  # Generalized association stubs
+  def child_of_has_many(mocked_parent:, parent_sym:, child_sym:)
+    allow(spy).to receive(parent_sym).and_return(mocked_parent)
+    children = if mocked_parent.send(child_sym).is_a? Array
+                 mocked_parent.send(child_sym) << spy
+               else
+                 [spy]
+               end
+    allow(mocked_parent).to receive(child_sym).and_return(children)
+  end
+
+  def parent_has_many(mocked_children:, parent_sym:, child_sym:)
+    if mocked_children.is_a? Array
+      mocked_children.each do |child|
+        allow(child).to receive(parent_sym).and_return(spy)
+      end
+    end
+    allow(spy).to receive(child_sym).and_return(mocked_children)
+  end
+end
diff --git a/spec/support/mockers/reservation.rb b/spec/support/mockers/reservation.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..de4d13c72
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/support/mockers/reservation.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+require Rails.root.join('spec/support/mockers/mocker.rb')
+
+class ReservationMock < Mocker
+  def self.klass
+    Reservation
+  end
+
+  def self.klass_name
+    'Reservation'
+  end
+
+  private
+
+  def for_user(user:)
+    child_of_has_many(mocked_parent: user, parent_sym: :reserver,
+                      child_sym: :reservations)
+  end
+end
diff --git a/spec/support/mockers/user.rb b/spec/support/mockers/user.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..61e2b4888
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/support/mockers/user.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+require Rails.root.join('spec/support/mockers/mocker.rb')
+
+class UserMock < Mocker
+  def initialize(role = :user, traits: [], **attrs)
+    attrs = FactoryGirl.attributes_for(role).merge attrs
+    traits = [:findable] if traits.empty?
+    super(traits: traits, **attrs)
+  end
+
+  def self.klass
+    User
+  end
+
+  def self.klass_name
+    'User'
+  end
+end
diff --git a/spec/support/shared_examples/controller_examples.rb b/spec/support/shared_examples/controller_examples.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7caff4e44
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/support/shared_examples/controller_examples.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+require 'spec_helper'
+
+shared_examples_for 'successful request' do |template|
+  it { is_expected.to respond_with(:success) }
+  it { is_expected.to render_template(template) }
+  it { is_expected.not_to set_flash }
+end
+
+shared_examples_for 'redirected request' do
+  it { expect(response).to be_redirect }
+  it { is_expected.to set_flash }
+end