With 20 years in the game, Gear Trade is like the eBay for outdoor gear. It's a peer-to-peer marketplace where buyers and sellers exchange used, and sometimes new, equipment for much less than retail. Most listings are for industry heavyweight brand products, such as Mountain Hardwear, Patagonia, and Osprey. Beyond the deeply discounted prices, the site highlights one of the largest catalogs representing almost every category of outdoor and adventure sports.
Everything from hiking and camping equipment to skis and snowboards and fly fishing essentials is available here. As the name implies, The North Face Renewed is a clearinghouse for the team that formerly owned the brand. What sets it apart from similar resale sites is that The North Face personally inspects and, if necessary, repairs each piece of equipment so that it is back as close to the new condition as possible. On the downside, the selection is limited to TNF brand products only.
But, if you're already a fan of the brand, it's possible to find really great deals on premium, near-perfect outdoor gear. We use affiliate links and may receive a small commission for purchases. REI sells many discount and clearance products through its Outlet. It's a good place to monitor, especially as the off-season approaches at bargain prices on major outdoor brands.
In the Outlet, you can also check the REI offer of the day (and check for upcoming offers), where the company liquidates individual items at a fraction of their label price. And we like that the Outlet has the same generous one-year return policy as the main REI store, which isn't always the case with discounted items. However, as is common with many discounted items, it can be difficult to find exactly what you're looking for. Popular products tend to sell out quickly, and many that only make it to the outlet are available in very limited size and color options.
But these complaints aren't specific to REI, and we think it's one of the easiest discount sites to navigate today on the web. Members should note that discounted items do not count toward their annual dividend. Visit REI Outlet Most discount websites discount past season items or in excess until they sell out, but The Clymb is all about flash sales. This means that prices are cut for a certain period of time (usually 72 hours, but sometimes longer), allowing The Clymb to undercut much of the competition.
Quantities are very limited, but if you find what you're looking for, prices can be hard to beat. In addition to items for outdoor activities, The Clymb also offers discounted trips through its Adventures program to wild places such as Patagonia, Peru and Nepal, just to name a few. The outdoor retail sites mentioned above often offer the most economical and efficient shopping experiences, but you can also buy directly from outdoor product brands. Of course, by buying directly, you are practically guaranteed to get the right product and can resolve warranty issues with the manufacturer itself.
There are too many individual companies to list, but some of the most popular outdoor brand sites include Patagonia, The North Face, Arc'teryx, Black Diamond, Osprey, and La Sportiva. When evaluating the sites, we also carefully analyze the product specifications (specifications). When comparing outdoor equipment, specifications such as weight and material details can be incredibly useful, especially when presented well. REI includes detailed specifications along the right side of each listing, and Backcountry and Moosejaw are reasonably diligent in providing good information (Evo is excellent in this regard).
Going one step further, some sites have extensive buying guides, how-to articles, and even videos that can help you with your purchasing decision and answer commonly asked questions. Bridging that gap in the online environment is tremendously useful, and we value sites that make the effort. When it comes to buying outdoor supplies, you can end up spending a dime if you don't know where to find cheap outdoor equipment, that is. Brands like Patagonia, for example, advertise products that are designed to survive a lifetime, so buying a second-hand one or even renting equipment for outdoor activities is almost always a better alternative than buying a new one.
On the other hand, it can also seem risky to buy used or discounted outdoor equipment if you don't know where to look. You can buy all kinds of outdoor footwear, clothing and equipment on Amazon, and if they don't carry the product themselves, you'll often find a list of third parties who do. You can find reputable brands along with smaller specialty brands in categories that cover a variety of outdoor items, from sleeping bags and pads to kayaks, skis and snowboards. You can find tons of great outdoor equipment deals on the Marketplace and many sellers are willing to ship.
Mountain Equipment Co-Op (MEC) has been encouraging customers to recycle their outdoor equipment since 1997. OutdoorFest is a 10-day outdoor adventure festival that connects New Yorkers with resources. Michigan-based Moosejaw has long been a powerful player in the outdoor industry, selling just about every piece of equipment you can think of in activities such as hiking, camping, cycling and climbing. Here you can find tons of brands and items for outdoor activities at great prices, from camping items to bicycles and everything in between. Headquartered in Vermont, Outdoor Gear Exchange is a longtime source for discounted equipment for kayaking, camping, snowboarding, and more.
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