Just like Subaru Outbacks and Toyota Tacomas, some kinds of outdoor听gear last longer than others鈥攁nd can withstand the abuse of multiple owners. To find out which items you should buy used, I spoke with Josh Sims, owner of , a Bend, Oregon鈥揵ased听shop that repairs and sells used gear. Here are his top six suggestions on what to look for when you鈥檙e scouring shops and websites for killer deals on preloved gear.听
Coleman Stoves
You can find used Coleman cookstoves for cheap听and broken ones for even cheaper. If you find one that doesn鈥檛 work, buy it and take into a repair shop, or just Google 鈥,鈥 and you鈥檒l soon have a working model for much less than you鈥檇 pay for a new one. Heads up: Avoid stoves that are completely rusted out鈥攖hey take too much work to repair. Broken gas pumps, however, are no problem. They鈥檙e听usually easy to fix with a new gasket.听听
Backpacking Packs
Sims suggests beginners always go the preowned route because听used backpacks cost a fraction of new ones and are easy to find on Craigslist or in used-gear shops. Older, broken-in packs will probably be a little heavier than modern models听yet plenty comfortable, as long as you have the right size. You should also try on the pack when it鈥檚 weighed down so you know how it carries. When you鈥檙e inspecting the pack, pay close attention to zippers and buckles. A discolored buckle usually means it鈥檚 frail and needs to be replaced.听A broken zipper pull is no problem, but听a听broken zipper could set you back $75.
Canoes and Kayaks
鈥淚 don鈥檛 see any reason to buy a new boat, unless you want a shiny boat,鈥 Sims says. Older boats might have scratches and scuffs, but they鈥檒l work just fine if they鈥檙e structurally intact. Look for boats made from rotomolded or extruded plastic (instead of fiberglass or light layup plastic), because these boats are more durable. If you听see a crack听or a patch, don鈥檛 buy the boat. Also听beware of dents. Some will pop out. Others, like the ones boats get from sitting in one place for too long, stay there and affect the craft鈥檚 performance.
Nordic Skis
If you鈥檙e not racing, you don鈥檛 need a fancy pair of Nordic skis. Any old pair you find鈥攁s long as they鈥檙e in decent shape, mounted听with decent binding,听and the right length鈥攚ill be plenty fun on the trails. Here鈥檚 how to test the skis:听Run your hand along the base听to see if the fish scales听still have some bite to keep you from slipping backwards on uphill climbs鈥攖hey should be quite rough, not worn smooth. Check the camber by putting the skis together, bottom听to听bottom, to see if they form a nice oval shape. Finally, look to see if any part of the ski is delaminating; if it is, pass. For听bindings, make sure they鈥檒l properly听hold and release your boot.听
Commuter Bikes
Sims likes to turn old beat-up mountain bikes into commuters because they鈥檙e reliable, their听fat听tires are great for potholed streets, and because they鈥檙e听fairly easy to find for cheap. When looking for a bike, try to find one that鈥檚 been cared for. Avoid rusted and dented frames, and听stay away from rusted听components because they鈥檙e expensive to replace.听Rusty chains and worn-out tires, on the other hand, are easy to fix.听
Kids鈥 Gear
Kids grow fast, so it doesn鈥檛 make sense to shell out for the newest stuff every season. Thankfully, their gear tends to听retain听its value,听so you can often buy a used back carrier, and then sell it for almost the same price two years down the road. Check out ski swaps and end-of-season sales for the best deals.