Cost and access are the two most significant barriers to entry into the outdoors. Maybe you live in a small town that doesn’t have a gear shop or any resources on where to buy a climbing harness. Perhaps you work a minimum-wage job but still want to get outside.
Heck, maybe your kids are growing fast, and kids apparel is damn expensive. Or perhaps you’re looking to get into a new sport or need to upgrade your bike or skis but are still paying off student loans.
Whatever the case, outdoor gear is even more remarkable when it’s affordable. Because that means more of us (gear junkies and newbies alike) can access and enjoy it.
Here are 10 places to shop if you’re looking to buy used outdoor gear at an affordable price. At the end of this article, check out our tips for buying used gear.
Patagonia Worn Wear Used Gear
I’ve admired Patagonia’s Worn Wear program for a long time. The brand does everything from minor patches and zipper lubrication to fully recrafted products (vests, jackets, pants) from leftover materials. Or, as Patagonia simply puts it, “These are clothes made from other clothes.”
You can shop Worn Wear in a couple of ways: online on the Worn Wear site or online or in-store at Patagonia with trade-in credit. (Yup, you can trade in your old Patagonia apparel and jackets and get credit to shop for new gear in the future.)
Worn Wear also has a mobile van that offers repair services to different cities and events. You’ll meet with a Patagonia repair expert who can repair loose threads, broken zippers, ripped pockets, and more. The services are free. Grab a zipper pull or a tenacious tape patch or two, and embrace your repaired gear.
In 2020, Patagonia also significantly shifted its site to include a “Shop Used” button to buy used gear directly from the brand.
What we’ve found: Worn Wear is fantastic, and its cleverly “Recrafted” collection covers a range of color and size options. Of course, the one drawback is it’s exclusive to Patagonia-brand gear.
Geartrade
Geartrade is a simple-to-use, nationwide platform that connects buyers to sellers looking for outdoor gear. The site looks and browses like a retail site: You can search by type of item, brand, or in a sale section.
You set your price (although Geartrade has an algorithm that gives recommendations based on the newness and quality of gear). You can even calculate and incorporate shipping costs into your listing. (Geartrade takes a small commission cut — 10-13%.)
What we’ve found: Geartrade can be a mixed bag, but the platform works well, and it has quite an extensive library of listings. The brand claims you can save up to 90% (based on the value of the gear listed and sold). We have staff who have used it for over 4 years now.
An interesting feature? If buying, you can offer a seller below the asking price and essentially barter. If you’re selling, you can open up all or some of your listings to accept “offers.” This is an excellent feature if you want to sell specific apparel or gear quickly and are open to buying a piece of gear in a particular price range.
REI Used Gear
Seven months into a global pandemic, REI temporarily halted its annual member garages (usually in-store events where REI members can buy, sell, and trade gear). Now, in addition to REI member sales, the retailer has something better — its online used gear store.
Does that sound marvelous? In theory, it is. You (presumably) are already an REI member, have an account, and like to shop at this retailer, making this one of the easiest ways to shop and save on used gear. (Oh, and returns, shipping, and credit are all super easy in the trade-in process as well.) So that’s all awesome.
The used gear shop (the buying side) includes apparel and accessories like gaiters, sleeping bags, packs, tents, and bike bags. It has a ton of awesome and extensive choices. Last year was the pilot year of REI’s trade-in program (the selling side). It’s not quite the trade-in smorgasbord we hoped it would be, but as it’s the program’s first year, we know it will evolve.
What we’ve found: The buyer’s side is great, and the trade-in side is OK. On the plus side, it’s not just used REI gear but any brand or item REI has ever sold, which is huge. You can get everything from apparel and camp chairs to power banks and chargers.
The downside? REI is pretty limited on the items it will take back. (You’ll want to visit the trade-in page and look up the products you have to see if they’re eligible. While many items populate, most aren’t eligible for trade-in.)
Out&Back
Out&Back is newer to the used gear scene (founded in Denver in late 2019), but don’t be fooled. This online retailer has a lot going for it: the extensiveness of gear you can shop for. And the speed at which you can buy/sell and trade.
Like Geartrade, Out&Back offers a platform to buy and sell used gear across 10+ categories and 65+ brands — from camp, hike, and run to bike, climb, and ski. But unlike Geartrade, you don’t have to photograph and craft your own listings on the site. (I like seeing actual photos of the items listed, but Out&Back’s strategy of listing by brand and stock photos makes the process much faster.)
On the site, you can shop by gender, price point, and brand. Each item is labeled clearly with its size and the percentage savings.
What we’ve found: Out&Back is super user-friendly and hosts in-person trade-ins and popups at various retailers and events. Watch for them in Dick’s, Public Lands, and around Denver. (Fun fact: VF Corp was one of the investors that got Out&Back off the ground.) A cool feature of this site is that you can filter items by condition — new, like new, or fair, for example. The savings are deep, and more items are added each week.
Rerouted
Rerouted is a great used gear site. While not as extensive as REI or Geartrade’s used shops, it is still a great resource. If you want to buy only used gear or are trying to find something specific, you’ll want to bookmark all of these to search across sites. Rerouted also seems to have a lot more technical gear (skis, shells, tents, and packs) — rather than tons of apparel — in comparison to other used gear shops.
Rerouted does require sellers to make an account and a listing for each piece of gear, but then they’ll send you a shipping label and worry about getting it into the buyer’s hands. This shop also takes a slightly lower commission than some other sites (10% for each item sold).
What we think: This is one of the few used gear sites I haven’t personally tried firsthand to buy/sell used gear. A huge perk of this site is that it also has an accompanying mobile app so you can shop on the go,
Isella Outdoor
Isella Outdoor has gained fast traction in several circles. Firstly, it operates on a consignment structure. You and the seller get a fair price, and Isella takes a small cut, which it puts toward gear scholarships for others. It’s a win-win-win.
Second, Isella works to combat toxic gear culture while also promoting diversity. They focus on providing gear for women and nonbinary folks. The site also has a great mix of apparel, hard goods, and selections for gender-neutral and plus sizes. But plan ahead to list and shop for gear seasonally.
What we’ve found: One of our staff tried out Isella, and she loved the platform. It’s easy to list and find gear, and founder Mallorie Estenson is constantly working to improve Isella. One caveat: While it had a website for a while, the shop now lives on Instagram. You’ll also need an email and PayPal account.
Our favorite aspect of Isella Outdoor is the “Singles” shop, where you can buy a single glove, pole, or even shoe or ski! It’s a fantastic resource for adaptive athletes and the rest of us, too. (Missing a left-hand liner glove? Isella has one for you!)
The North Face Renewed
The North Face started its Renewed program in June 2018. It’s a collection of refurbished clothing remade to explore. The North Face combines returned, damaged, or defective apparel to make new and functional items. Each garment is inspected, washed, and tuned up at the brand’s Renewal Workshop.
In 2019, The North Face put together a Design Residency to help expand the program and its offerings. The result was the Remade Collection — an extension of Renewed, with a majority of the garments repaired based on circular standards.
The North Face’s used gear offerings include apparel (men’s, women’s, and kids’) and chalk bags. Like Patagonia Worn Wear items, The North Face Remade items are backed by a 1-year warranty.
What we’ve found: A few staff members have tried Renewed and found its pricing is excellent for used items. (We’re talking 50% off the market price for The North Face ThermoBall jackets.) Like Patagonia’s Worn Wear Program, it’s only The North Face-branded gear. That being said, the Renewed platform still has a great selection.
Arc’teryx ReGEAR
Like Patagonia’s decade-old Worn Wear program, brands like The North Face and Arc’teryx have also joined the effort. Arc’teryx’s ReGEAR (and related ReBIRD circularity program) helps keep used and worn gear in play as long as possible.
Through Arc’teryx ReGEAR, consumers can buy used pants, jackets, hoodies, waterproof layers, packs, footwear, and shells. The ReGEAR shop carries everything from base layers to fleeces to 850-down jackets. Depending on the item, you can get at least $100 off the typical MSRP.
What we think: Sizing tends to be very limited (one XS or S, available, or one XL jacket), as items go fast. And yeah, some of the gear is still pricey. But the discounts are real.
NRS Used Gear
NRS isn’t as giant a brand as REI, Patagonia, Arc’teryx, or The North Face. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t stellar savings to be had! NRS’s used gear shop offers discounts across three categories: used gear, apparel, and inflatables.
Inflatables like SUPs, kayaks, and duckies are all professionally inspected by NRS. Some inflatables will be from demo fleets, gently used with minor wear, or discounted due to missing an included item (like a SUP pump). Otherwise, they’ve got lots of life left.
I always send friends to NRS if they need technical items — like wet or dry suits or PFDs — and are on a budget. Savings are typically upward of 30% off, which is a big deal when buying higher-ticket items like a dry suit or SUP. I’ve purchased used apparel from NRS and trust the brand.
What we’ve found: For river rats and dirtbags, especially those looking for water and UPF apparel, the NRS Used Gear site is hard to beat. There’s a whole variety of items on there … but the good stuff goes fast. You’ll want to bookmark this site, especially if you hope to score on a used watercraft looking for a second home.
More Used Gear Shops: Don’t Forget About Ski Brands!
Coalition Skis, Weston Backcountry, and more: Almost every ski brand sells off- or past-season or demo skis at heavy discounts at the end of each season. Go directly to a brand’s website to see if they have a used shop or past-season sale items. Summer is the time to shop skis and boards.
With ski pass prices ever-increasing, it’s worth it to save on the gear you’ll need on the mountain. Used snow gear can be a super-awesome investment if it’s in good condition.
Pro tip: Take a seasonal strategic approach to buying used winter gear. Remember to plan ahead and shop and search for gear off-season!
Tips for Buying Used Gear
- Shop smart. Do your research, look for sales, and broaden your search (shop multiple sites or find and shop smaller brands). Write down your non-negotiables: sizing, price, etc.
- When buying hard goods, pay attention. Do look for specifics. If you aren’t buying new direct from a brand, chances are there won’t be a warranty, so ensure all parts/aspects of the gear function as they should. All of the used gear sites we’ve recommended already inspect items for this reason (and prohibit “broken” gear).
- Don’t be afraid to invest in “used.” It should go without saying, but you’re buying something used! It may not be perfect. On many sites, items are even labeled “new,” “gently used,” “well used,” etc., to give you an idea of the quality of the gear. Better yet, the price tags will reflect that something minor like a loose thread, broken zipper, or fading is acceptable! Fabric, buttons, and zippers are easily repaired. And if you don’t care about the latest colors, you’ll save here, too.
- Join or create a gear swap. Do you know a few friends who have similar apparel or shoe sizing? Want to keep your search for used gear local? Organize a neighborhood, family, friends, or workspace gear swap. There are dozens of local retailers — outside of brands like REI and Patagonia — that also accept consignment gear or exchanges.
- Take advantage of the used outdoor gear network. Do you have a jacket you love but it doesn’t fit just right? Ready to sell that spare helmet? Buying used gear is only half the equation — you can sell it too! Join one of these brands’ buy-back programs, or visit the sites above to sell your used gear to someone else — and give it a new life. Some of the best decisions I’ve made are to sell outdoor apparel and gear I don’t use often enough and use that money to put toward something I’m saving up for.
- Safety above savings. There are so many great finds on used gear sites. But you’ll want to consider some common-sense rules and safety recommendations from brands: never buy life-saving gear used if you can help it. This goes for climbing ropes and hardware (How many falls were on the rope? Was it cared for?), helmets (Is it damaged from a crash or fall?), satellite devices (Is the software up to date? Will it work in an emergency?), and potentially dangerous gear (like hunting knives and guns). Many retailers won’t accept these or resell these items for obvious reasons. There are just too many variables with used gear that fall into the “safety equipment” category.
