Buying or selling used outdoor equipment was once a major hassle. Other than yardsales, placing a classified ad was the only reliable way to trade used gear, and for smaller-ticker items the cost of the ad itself might easily eat up any profit. But鈥攈urray鈥攚e now have the Internet. And everything is easier.
For years, I’ve been buying and selling bicycle gear on . It’s my go-to site for components and wheels, unless I can find on-sale parts at an online cycle shop like . But for general-purpose outdoor gear, like this tent ($149 for buy-now, less than half the original retail price) ebay is probably your best bet.
Believe it or not, I actually use Craigslist quite a bit, too. That’s mainly a function of how many people are on the site, and in my area there’s a great selection. I once found an聽Osprey pack for $175. It’d been out of production for for years, but it’s one of my favorites. Offer $125 and you’ll get a hell of a good pack for a great deal. Another benefit to Craigslist, which is organized by state and town, is convenience. Once I find something it’s never far away.
I should also mention the purpose-built sites for outdoor gear, like . Prices seem comparable to Craigslist, but because it doesn’t get much traffic, only a few buyers have high ratings, which makes me a little uneasy. You may also run into selection issues鈥擨 couldn’t find any canister-type camp stoves, although there were quite a few packs and sleeping bags.
You might also take a look at page. MEC act as referee, lending the exchange credibility and providing a safe harbor for buyers and sellers both. You also can find people to hike with! A win all around.