Value and entry are the 2 most important boundaries to entry into the outside. Possibly you reside in a small city that doesn’t have a gear store or any assets on the place to purchase a climbing harness. Maybe you’re employed a minimum-wage job however nonetheless need to get exterior.
Heck, perhaps your youngsters are rising quick, and children attire is rattling costly. Or maybe you’re seeking to get into a brand new sport or have to improve your bike or skis however are nonetheless paying off pupil loans.
Regardless of the case, out of doors gear is much more outstanding when it’s inexpensive. As a result of which means extra of us (gear junkies and newbies alike) can entry and revel in it.
Listed below are 10 locations to buy in the event you’re seeking to purchase used out of doors gear at an inexpensive worth. On the finish of this text, try our ideas for purchasing used gear.
I’ve admired Patagonia’s Worn Put on program for a very long time. The model does every little thing from minor patches and zipper lubrication to completely recrafted merchandise (vests, jackets, pants) from leftover supplies. Or, as Patagonia merely places it, “These are garments created from different garments.”
You possibly can store Worn Put on in a few methods: on-line on the Worn Put on web site or on-line or in-store at Patagonia with trade-in credit score. (Yup, you possibly can commerce in your outdated Patagonia attire and jackets and get credit score to buy new gear sooner or later.)
Worn Put on additionally has a cellular van that provides restore companies to totally different cities and occasions. You’ll meet with a Patagonia restore skilled who can restore unfastened threads, damaged zippers, ripped pockets, and extra. The companies are free. Seize a zipper pull or a tenacious tape patch or two, and embrace your repaired gear.
In 2020, Patagonia additionally considerably shifted its web site to incorporate a “Store Used” button to purchase used gear straight from the model.
What we’ve discovered: Worn Put on is unbelievable, and its cleverly “Recrafted” assortment covers a variety of coloration and measurement choices. After all, the one disadvantage is it’s unique to Patagonia-brand gear.
Geartrade is a simple-to-use, nationwide platform that connects consumers to sellers on the lookout for out of doors gear. The location seems to be and browses like a retail web site: You possibly can search by sort of merchandise, model, or in a sale part.
You set your worth (though Geartrade has an algorithm that provides suggestions based mostly on the novelty and high quality of substances). You possibly can even calculate and incorporate delivery prices into your itemizing. (Geartrade takes a small fee minimize — 10-13%.)
What we’ve discovered: Geartrade is usually a blended bag, however the platform works effectively, and it has fairly an in depth library of listings. The model claims it can save you as much as 90% (based mostly on the worth of the gear listed and offered). We’ve employees who’ve used it for over 4 years now.
An fascinating characteristic? If shopping for, you possibly can supply a vendor beneath the asking worth and basically barter. If you happen to’re promoting, you possibly can open up all or a few of your listings to simply accept “presents.” This is a superb characteristic if you wish to promote particular attire or gear shortly and are open to purchasing a chunk of substances in a specific worth vary.
Seven months into a world pandemic, REI briefly halted its annual member garages (often in-store occasions the place REI members should buy, promote, and commerce gear). Now, along with REI member gross sales, the retailer has one thing higher — its on-line used gear retailer.
Does that sound marvelous? In principle, it’s. You (presumably) are already an REI member, have an account, and like to buy at this retailer, making this one of many best methods to buy and save on used gear. (Oh, and returns, delivery, and credit score are all tremendous straightforward within the trade-in course of as effectively.) In order that’s all superior.
The used gear store (the shopping for aspect) consists of attire and equipment like gaiters, sleeping baggage, packs, tents, and bike baggage. It has a ton of superior and intensive selections. Final 12 months was the pilot 12 months of REI’s trade-in program (the promoting aspect). It’s not fairly the trade-in smorgasbord we hoped it will be, however because it’s this system’s first 12 months, we all know it would evolve.
What we’ve discovered: The client’s aspect is nice, and the trade-in aspect is OK. On the plus aspect, it’s not simply used REI gear however any model or merchandise REI has ever offered, which is large. You will get every little thing from attire and camp chairs to energy banks and chargers.
The draw back? REI is fairly restricted on the gadgets it would take again. (You’ll need to go to the trade-in web page and search for the merchandise you must see in the event that they’re eligible. Whereas many gadgets populate, most aren’t eligible for trade-in.)
Out&Again is newer to the used gear scene (based in Denver in late 2019), however don’t be fooled. This on-line retailer has lots going for it: the extensiveness of substances you possibly can store for. And the pace at which you should purchase/promote and commerce.
Like Geartrade, Out&Again presents a platform to purchase and promote used gear throughout 10+ classes and 65+ manufacturers — from camp, hike, and run to bike, climb, and ski. However not like Geartrade, you don’t must {photograph} and craft your personal listings on the location. (I like seeing precise pictures of the gadgets listed, however Out&Again’s technique of itemizing by model and inventory pictures makes the method a lot quicker.)
On the location, you possibly can store by gender, worth level, and model. Every merchandise is labeled clearly with its measurement and the proportion financial savings.
What we’ve discovered: Out&Again is tremendous user-friendly and hosts in-person trade-ins and popups at varied retailers and occasions. Look ahead to them in Dick’s, Public Lands, and round Denver. (Enjoyable reality: VF Corp was one of many buyers that received Out&Again off the bottom.) A cool characteristic of this web site is that you may filter gadgets by situation — new, like new, or truthful, for instance. The financial savings are deep, and extra gadgets are added every week.
Rerouted is a good used gear web site. Whereas not as intensive as REI or Geartrade’s used outlets, it’s nonetheless an amazing useful resource. If you wish to purchase solely used gear or are looking for one thing particular, you’ll need to bookmark all of those to look throughout websites. Rerouted additionally appears to have much more technical gear (skis, shells, tents, and packs) — slightly than tons of attire — compared to different used gear outlets.
Rerouted does require sellers to make an account and an inventory for each bit of substances, however then they’ll ship you a delivery label and fear about getting it into the customer’s fingers. This store additionally takes a barely decrease fee than another websites (10% for every merchandise offered).
What we expect: This is likely one of the few used gear websites I haven’t personally tried firsthand to purchase/promote used gear. An enormous perk of this web site is that it additionally has an accompanying cellular app so you possibly can store on the go,
Isella Out of doors has gained quick traction in a number of circles. Firstly, it operates on a consignment construction. You and the vendor get a good worth, and Isella takes a small minimize, which it places towards gear scholarships for others. It’s a win-win-win.
Second, Isella works to fight poisonous gear tradition whereas additionally selling range. They give attention to offering gear for ladies and nonbinary people. The location additionally has an amazing mixture of attire, laborious items, and alternatives for gender-neutral and plus sizes. However plan forward to record and store for gear seasonally.
What we’ve discovered: One among our employees tried out Isella, and she or he cherished the platform. It’s straightforward to record and discover gear, and founder Mallorie Estenson is continually working to enhance Isella. One caveat: Whereas it had a web site for some time, the store now lives on Instagram. You’ll additionally want an electronic mail and PayPal account.
Our favourite side of Isella Out of doors is the “Singles” store, the place you should purchase a single glove, pole, and even shoe or ski! It’s a unbelievable useful resource for adaptive athletes and the remainder of us, too. (Lacking a left-hand liner glove? Isella has one for you!)
The North Face began its Renewed program in June 2018. It’s a set of refurbished clothes remade to discover. The North Face combines returned, broken, or faulty attire to make new and practical gadgets. Every garment is inspected, washed, and tuned up on the model’s Renewal Workshop.
In 2019, The North Face put collectively a Design Residency to assist broaden this system and its choices. The end result was the Remade Assortment — an extension of Renewed, with a majority of the clothes repaired based mostly on round requirements.
The North Face’s used gear choices embody attire (males’s, ladies’s, and children’) and chalk baggage. Like Patagonia Worn Put on gadgets, The North Face Remade gadgets are backed by a 1-year guarantee.
What we’ve discovered: A couple of employees members have tried Renewed and located its pricing is superb for used gadgets. (We’re speaking 50% off the market worth for The North Face ThermoBall jackets.) Like Patagonia’s Worn Put on Program, it’s solely The North Face-branded gear. That being stated, the Renewed platform nonetheless has an amazing choice.
Verify Out The North Face Renewed
Like Patagonia’s decade-old Worn Put on program, manufacturers like The North Face and Arc’teryx have additionally joined the hassle. Arc’teryx’s ReGEAR (and associated ReBIRD circularity program) helps maintain used and worn gear in play so long as attainable.
By way of Arc’teryx ReGEAR, shoppers should buy used pants, jackets, hoodies, waterproof layers, packs, footwear, and shells. The ReGEAR store carries every little thing from base layers to fleeces to 850-down jackets. Relying on the merchandise, you will get no less than $100 off the standard MSRP.
What we expect: Sizing tends to be very restricted (one XS or S, obtainable, or one XL jacket), as gadgets go quick. And yeah, among the gear continues to be expensive. However the reductions are actual.
NRS isn’t as large a model as REI, Patagonia, Arc’teryx, or The North Face. However that doesn’t imply there aren’t stellar financial savings available! NRS’s used gear store presents reductions throughout three classes: used gear, attire, and inflatables.
Inflatables like SUPs, kayaks, and duckies are all professionally inspected by NRS. Some inflatables will probably be from demo fleets, gently used with minor put on, or discounted resulting from lacking an included merchandise (like a SUP pump). In any other case, they’ve received a number of life left.
I at all times ship buddies to NRS in the event that they want technical gadgets — like moist or dry fits or PFDs — and are on a finances. Financial savings are usually upward of 30% off, which is an enormous deal when shopping for higher-ticket gadgets like a dry go well with or SUP. I’ve bought used attire from NRS and belief the model.
What we’ve discovered: For river rats and dirtbags, particularly these on the lookout for water and UPF attire, the NRS Used Gear web site is tough to beat. There’s a complete number of gadgets on there … however the great things goes quick. You’ll need to bookmark this web site, particularly in the event you hope to attain on a used watercraft on the lookout for a second residence.
We don’t have a lot information but, however Christy Sports activities is launching a “yard sale” market platform on its web site someday in 2024. Christy Sports activities, which has over 60+ places throughout Colorado, Washington, Utah, and Montana, focuses on ski and snow gear, attire, bikes, and mountain climbing gear.
In keeping with Christy Sports activities, the “on-line resale market” will initially give attention to pre-loved grownup ski and snowboard gear. Christy Sports activities is partnering with Recurate and estimates that it’s going to maintain over 1,500 models (of apparatus) out of landfills within the first 12 months.
A pre-loved pair of skis will common round $250-350. In search of skis, bindings, boards, or poles on a finances? Look no additional!
What we expect: We’re anxiously awaiting the launch of Yard Sale, which can decrease the barrier of entry for a lot of people into snowboarding, give individuals nice low cost costs, and maintain laborious items out of landfills. We’ve stated this earlier than — win-win-win. Plus, “Yard Sale” will probably be a marked enchancment to Christy Sports activities’ present used gear technique: eBay. We all know it’s nice, however instances have modified.
Extra Used Gear Retailers: Don’t Neglect About Ski Manufacturers!
Coalition Skis, Weston Backcountry, and extra: Nearly each ski model sells off- or past-season or demo skis at heavy reductions on the finish of every season. Go on to a model’s web site to see if they’ve a used store or past-season sale gadgets. Summer time is the time to buy skis and boards.
With ski go costs ever-increasing, it’s price it to save lots of on the gear you’ll want on the mountain. Used snow gear is usually a super-awesome funding if it’s in good situation.
Professional tip: Take a seasonal strategic strategy to purchasing used gear. Keep in mind to plan forward and store and seek for gear low season!
Suggestions for Shopping for Used Gear
- Store good. Do your analysis, search for gross sales, and broaden your search (store a number of websites or discover and store smaller manufacturers). Write down your non-negotiables: sizing, worth, and many others.
- When shopping for laborious items, listen. Do search for specifics. If you happen to aren’t shopping for new direct from a model, chances are high there gained’t be a guaranty, so guarantee all elements/features of the gear operate as they need to. The entire used gear websites we’ve beneficial already examine gadgets for that reason (and prohibit “damaged” gear).
- Don’t be afraid to put money into “used.” It ought to go with out saying, however you’re shopping for one thing used! It is probably not good. On many websites, gadgets are even labeled “new,” “gently used,” “effectively used,” and many others., to offer you an concept of the standard of the gear. Higher but, the value tags will replicate that one thing minor like a unfastened thread, damaged zipper, or fading is appropriate! Cloth, buttons, and zippers are simply repaired. And in the event you don’t care in regards to the newest colours, you’ll save right here, too.
- Be part of or create a gear swap. Are you aware a couple of buddies who’ve comparable attire or shoe sizing? Wish to maintain your seek for used gear native? Manage a neighborhood, household, buddies, or workspace gear swap. There are dozens of native retailers — exterior of manufacturers like REI and Patagonia — that additionally settle for consignment gear or exchanges.
- Benefit from the used out of doors gear community. Do you might have a jacket you like however it doesn’t match good? Able to promote that spare helmet? Shopping for used gear is just half the equation — you possibly can promote it too! Be part of certainly one of these manufacturers’ buy-back applications, or go to the websites above to promote your used gear to another person — and provides it a brand new life. A number of the finest choices I’ve made are to promote out of doors attire and equipment I don’t use typically sufficient and use that cash to place towards one thing I’m saving up for.
- Security above financial savings. There are such a lot of nice finds on used gear websites. However you’ll need to think about some common sense guidelines and security suggestions from manufacturers: by no means purchase life-saving gear used in the event you will help it. This goes for climbing ropes and {hardware} (What number of falls have been on the rope? Was it cared for?), helmets (Is it broken from a crash or fall?), satellite tv for pc units (Is the software program updated? Will it work in an emergency?), and doubtlessly harmful gear (like searching knives and weapons). Many retailers gained’t settle for these or resell this stuff for apparent causes. There are simply too many variables with used gear that fall into the “security gear” class.
