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11/15/2018 11:58AM |
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11/14/2018 04:36PM |
You're likely to save a good amount versus new for an item that after a couple uses you wouldn't be able to tell the difference between.
Facebook Marketplace is also a good place to look at, plus you can save searches and get notified when there are new matches.
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11/17/2018 12:59PM |
That being said, good will starting charging 25-30$ for blaze orange hunting gear. I can get that brand new on sale at fleet farm.
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11/14/2018 02:42PM |
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11/15/2018 03:23PM |
Actually "cheap" is a misnomer. Purchasing used/outdated/clearanced/reconditioned can allow the upgrading of equipment you could not normally afford. That unobtainable 4 season mountaineering tent drops to half price often changing it's status to affordable.
butthead
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11/16/2018 10:44AM |
minnmike: " I draw the line at underwear and sleeping bags."toilet paper comes to mind also
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11/15/2018 10:08AM |
I like the comment about drawing the line at underwear and sleeping bags. I'd agree for the most part.
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11/18/2018 04:16PM |
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11/20/2018 09:20PM |
A lot of folks are only able to get on a big trek once or twice per year so buying expensive gear to use that infrequently is just plain dumb.
So long as you’re honest with yourself on what you need/want and learn who the quality manufacturers are, you should be set. Don’t be hasty and spend money on used gear if there is a good chance you’ll upgrade in the near future. You’re really not saving any money if you already know you’d really prefer something a little different/nicer.
Prime example is a rain jacket, which is arguably one of the most important pieces of gear in the woods. Before I go any further, I will say that I own 3 rain jackets and got them all used (for the price of one new jacket). I have a bwca/ backpacking rain jacket, a hunting rain jacket and a city rain jacket. Washing rain jackets breaks down the waterproofing. My bwca rain jacket smells like a bwca trip and I don’t care. I purchased it used for about $35 with the intention of it being a tripping jacket. As such, I decided to wait patiently for a gently used rain jacket with pit zips. I could have gotten a jacket much quicker and cheaper if the pit zips didn’t matter, but anyone who has done any trekking knows the ventilation matters. So I waited and watched for exactly what I needed. I got a great jacket 4 years ago and don’t anticipate the urge to upgrade for many many many years.
The only thing that I might be skeptical about buying used is a water filter.
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11/16/2018 11:24AM |
butthead: "I do have a question, for those who think used sleeping bags too gross. Do you stay away from hotels/motels/ and other folks homes overnite?
Actually "cheap" is a misnomer. Purchasing used/outdated/clearanced/reconditioned can allow the upgrading of equipment you could not normally afford. That unobtainable 4 season mountaineering tent drops to half price often changing it's status to affordable.
butthead"
I agree with this. Having 2 kids and a wife that is going back to school, getting good gear new is simply not an option most of the time. Yeah I did combine all the money that I got as birthday gifts to contribute towards a new CCS pack, but before that everything "big" was used and I don't think I will be getting any other new quality big purchase gear for at least another year, unless my wife gets a new food barrel pack for Christmas. Maybe if I went for something that would just get me by like a no-name stove and my knock off chair, but there is no way I could afford to buy a nice tent brand new without some serious sacrifices.
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11/14/2018 02:17PM |
How about people that buy only new? Or only used. Let us know what your reasoning is.
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11/14/2018 02:25PM |
But like all my new gear, I test out all used gear at home before entering the woods.
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11/14/2018 02:26PM |
The other stuff, prob ok. A tent rainfly could most likely be treated/re-waterproofed if needed, and other things might be good as new with a little maintenance. Then I'd be thrilled with getting a great deal, especially if it's high-end stuff I couldn't afford new.
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11/14/2018 02:30PM |
AmarilloJim: "A sleeping bag might be the only thing I would be hesitant to buy used.
But like all my new gear, I test out all used gear at home before entering the woods."
Pretty much my thoughts also. Don't want to sleep in anybody else's bag, no matter how many times it's been cleaned.
With other gear, I figure even if I buy something new, after I've used it once, it's "used" also, so I have a few other used items, and like all gear, it's tried and tested before trips.
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11/17/2018 11:03AM |
I still have bitter memories from the time I bought a used paddle from someone on the used gear form.
they offered the paddle on craigslist and bwca.com with a 5 buck discount for the bwca.com crowd. When I was going to physically put the money in the dudes hand he springs it on me, someone from craigslist was interested so now I had to pay the full price. This was not a matter of 5 bucks but rather a matter of principle. What a bad way to make friends.
You have my money but not my respect.
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11/18/2018 08:26AM |
A fair amount of my bdub gear is used and I've never had any problems.
Probably 75% of my ice fishing equipment is used and have had very few issues.
And I've sure saved a lot of $$$$ on gear!
I would have no problems purchasing a used sleeping bag. They have this new fangled invention called a warshing machine that cleans things up without hardly any work a tall
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11/16/2018 11:53AM |
There's always the chance of getting something wrong, but I generally try to figure out why the person is selling the gear in the first place -- and then see if the condition of the item and other details make sense in light of that reasoning.
Quite often, a "used" item is almost brand new -- or actually brand new, with tags still attached.
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11/15/2018 11:43AM |
A1t2o: "Good information. Honestly I recently bought a used down sleeping bag and didn't think much of it since the plan was always to wash it first. I know it is a little gross but I was always more concerned about wear and tear. I'm keeping my eyes open for a decent used tent and was getting a little concerned about buying used for something like that where water proofing is a factor. Seeing as used tents were not high up on the list of used things to be worried about, I probably don't need to be concerned myself."
And for rejuvenating a tent, there is a plethora of sealing products through gearaid.com
Gear Aid Revivex/AquaSeal stuff
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11/15/2018 01:07PM |
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11/15/2018 08:26PM |
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11/23/2018 06:22PM |
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11/14/2018 08:00PM |
Sleeping bags, not many good ones offered, down higher end makers at reasonable used prices 50% new prices.
Tents, almost always good deals same price range as s-bags, several I use regularly.
Stoves, need to be looked at thoroughly for completeness and out-dated parts (old style MSR pumps mostly)., again 50% new price. Have had very good results and stock mostly used in my inventory.
Packs, mostly hit or miss. Everything I have purchased used showed the use. Needed the most in reconditioning.
Wool clothing, mostly good stuff no longer made at cheap prices. Need care in finding sizes.
Out of all my outdoor gear, and it's a sizeable bunch. New items, 2 canoes, 2 paddles, one large pack one day pack, one stove, one tent, 2 sleeping bags,2 sleeping pads, underwear, light outer clothing, water filters, 2-1 liter pots.
Everything else, clearanced old stock, second hand and/or refurbished including almost all my outer winter clothing, GPS units, cameras, lenses, photo gear, cook gear.
Some of the stuff bought new for home use and then re-used as camp gear.
I can be a cheap bugger!
butthead
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11/15/2018 05:44PM |
HowardSprague: "
After 20+ years, I found I needed to re-waterproof the rainfly on my LL Bean tent this year."
It's not the age, it's the mileage.
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11/18/2018 05:51PM |
I have had no issues.
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11/15/2018 07:15AM |
Both of the tents I use most of the time were bought used. They are both Zpacks tents, had been used very little and were half the price they would have been new. I also picked up Zpacks sleeping bag for summer use this year used. It was less than 6 months old and look (and smelled) new. For me this was a specialty piece of gear to shave a little more weight and bulk from my summer pack, but will not be used enough to justify buying it new.
I have also purchase used equipment when I wanted a piece that is no longer made, so used was the only choice. I have a Mountain Laurel Designs Newt pack that fits into this category.
I've also bought a few pieces of clothing used. A Empire Wool and Canvas Parka, that I don't think had ever been worn and a Western Mountaineering jacket that had a small stain that I knew about before buying but was in otherwise very good condition. The stain is almost undetectable and makes no difference in the woods anyway.
There are several other pieces of gear that I use regularly that I picked up used, but you get the idea. The specific items I've bought probably are different than what you would buy, but I listed them because I think they illustrate that high quality items are available at reasonable prices used.
I will say that desirable gear at good or very good prices goes fast, so you can't think about it very long if you before buying.
Overall I have been very satisfied with the gear I've bought used and would not hesitate to buy used again if the right piece came along at the right price. If I continue to buy used over the internet I'll probably get a piece that is not described accurately at some point, but think it's worth the risk.
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11/15/2018 10:08AM |
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11/15/2018 03:36PM |
AmarilloJim: "I never worried about sealing a tent. I always use an innie."
After 20+ years, I found I needed to re-waterproof the rainfly on my LL Bean tent this year.
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11/16/2018 02:30PM |
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11/16/2018 03:16PM |
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11/15/2018 08:36AM |