r/backpacking • u/Illustrious_Data_908 • 1d ago

Wilderness What do you do with your old gear?

As I've learned and upgraded/updated my gear accordingly, I've accumulated a lot of items I no longer use. I barely have enough room to store the things I do actually use but I'm hesitant to get rid of older gear "just in case".

12 Upvotes

84% Upvoted

22 comments sorted by

25

u/Tdluxon 1d ago

Fill up my garage to give dust new places to settle 😂😂.

18

u/BackOfThePackBiped 1d ago

Find someone who’s interested in backpacking but doesn’t want to spend the money in case they don’t enjoy it. Loan them your gear and when they upgrade or get their own, have them return you stuff.

4

u/Mrmagoo1077 21h ago

This. I keep one full extra setup for inviting people

1

u/jimioutdoors 5m ago

Same. If I have an item Im willing to part with I'll let someone borrow it and say "yeah if you like that sleeping pad you can keep it".

11

u/-JakeRay- 1d ago

Do you have friends who are just getting into the hobby? Otherwise, if you don't want to keep it, r/GearTrade is good for ditching used gear if it's something people will want. 

I will say I kept a too-heavy stove and tent, which now live in my car for car camping/emergencies, and a 38L bag that I hadn't used for 3 years has turned out to be the perfect bag for my new job. So sometimes the "just in case" does pay off.

5

u/InternationalSpyMan 1d ago

I’m 43, still using my sleeping bag, mat and stove from when I was 15 in the Boy Scouts.

5

u/InsectNo1441 1d ago

A gear shop in my town has a back room second hand shop. I sell stuff on consignment. This year alone I sold 15 yo XC skis, boots, two backpacks, pack raft and clothes. I get a lot more than a yard sale and no hassle from using FB Marketplace.

5

u/WeeBitVideo 1d ago

Resell or donate. Lots of people just getting into what can be a pretty expensive hobby.

4

u/aaronarchy 1d ago

Keep it packed and ready as a bugout/ alternative/random unprepared friend for a trip bag

3

u/N1xxsun 1d ago

Sell to REI (if applicable), there's a gear trade sub-reddit I believe, or donate to someone looking to get into the camping/backpacking. Goodwill always takes things too..

3

u/DifficultAd3885 1d ago

We keep spares for when we take people backpacking. We live near Feral in Denver and trade stuff there. There are other similar stores in other places. You could try searching used gear near me and see if any retail stores pop up and then see if they do exchanges or credit for used gear.

3

u/MaxNerd115 1d ago

Either hand it down to family & friends, sell it if its still worth something or donate it to some charity.

2

u/LordofTheFlagon 1d ago

I've given a lot of it away to younger folks getting into backpacking

2

u/glaze_oe 1d ago

Sell it, throw it in a tub or gift it to a friend or a homeless person

2

u/N8ureP 23h ago

I save 1 extra complete set of gear for when I take one of my nephews or nieces backpacking with me or one of my friends who don’t have their own gear. And other than that when I upgrade to new gear I sell all my older gear that’s still worth something

2

u/Illustrious_Data_908 23h ago

Ok I like this idea best! I have spare packs and almost everything to go in it. Also doubles as a bug out bag as someone else suggested.

2

u/michiganskicamp 23h ago

Hoard it hoping a friend or potential partner will show interest in backpacking/bikepacking….

I’m on a long bicycle tour right now and when I get back. I plan to launch a gear library in my area.

I know quite a few folks who have been interested in outdoor activities. Whether it be backpacking, water activities, bike packing, biking in general and the cost is a huge barrier.

2

u/ants_taste_great 23h ago

I've bought some good gear off eBay, which were used items. I have kept a few items I use for friends or girlfriends that wouldn't buy the stuff normally. I keep most of it in a storage unit except the things I know I could use if I needed quick access like weather or environment disaster preparedness.

2

u/Evening_Cheesecake25 23h ago

I keep it for hiking and backpacking with people that might need something. I have an entire gear room though so I have the space. 

2

u/WindSong001 21h ago

We give it away

2

u/OneEyeRabbit 19h ago

Shove it on a shelf in my spare room. Never know when I need to rob it for supplies

2

u/himynameisnikk 13h ago

I think it makes sense to keep one extra set as a backup, or for when you bring other people over to play. If you still have more left after that, you could donate or resell them.