5 Sustainable Ways to Buy Camping Gear
Having the right gear on hand can make any camping trip so much more enjoyable. But that doesn’t mean you have to rush out and purchase everything new. Buying used gear that still has plenty of life in it is not only good for your bank balance—it’s good for the planet. Here’s just one example. According to the online clothing consignment company ThredUp, “Buying used extends a garment’s life by about two years, which cuts its combined carbon, waste and water footprint by 82 percent.” That’s a pretty impressive statistic.
So are you ready to shop for some great camping gear while doing your part for sustainability? Luckily, it’s now easier than ever with so many companies getting on board to offer gently used items. Here are five sources to check out:
This popular outdoor outfitter maintains a special section on its website that offers used items such as clothing, tents, hiking boots, backpacks and GPS watches. It even includes product reviews to help you make your buying decisions.
With separate sections for men, women, kids and babies, and packs and gear, this well-known outdoor brand offers plenty of choices for used clothing and gear. The company also has a “ReCrafted” line that includes one-of-a-kind garments that are made of deconstructed and repurposed materials.
This Park City, Utah-based online retailer offers used camping and hiking gear as well as clothing for men, women and kids. It describes the items it sells as “good as unnew.”
The Marketplace gives you the flexibility to set the parameter, in terms of the radius from your location, when searching for the camping items you need. Once you find something you’re interested in, and your offer is accepted, you’ll need to work out the payment details, such as cash or PayPal, directly with the seller.
This is another good option if you need something right away, since you can easily find out what kind of gear sellers have available nearby. Just download the app, set up your free account and enter “Camping Gear” or the name of the item you’re looking for in the search box to find out what’s available and how close to you it is. There’s also a rating system you can check to learn more about the seller(s) you’re considering buying from.
Good luck on your hunt for camping gear and good for you for committing to do it sustainably. As Patagonia states on its website, “the best thing we can do for the planet is cut down on consumption and get more
use out of stuff we already own.”
Once you have all of the gently used gear you need, go to GoCampingAmerica.com to find a great campground where you can test it out!
