Cheap Hiking Gear

Recreation Equipment Inc.

Times have been a bit rough of late but the good news is hiking is free! Well… almost free. Shoes, pants, packs, water bottles and sunscreen… all that stuff costs money. You don’t have to break the bank to end up with great gear however, and I’ve got a couple of tips to help you save.

Each month REI’s across the nation have a special used gear sale for members and you can save a ton while still getting relatively new equipment. First of all, becoming a member is only $20 and it’s a lifetime thing so you’ll never have to join again! Once you’re in, just show up Saturday morning (usually the first Saturday of the month) before 10am (when the doors open) and snag some high quality used gear. I’m talking $15 – $25 for shoes and clothes under $20, all of the latest styles and technologies. Worth noting are the Yakima and Thule boxes (perfect for carrying packs and other hiking gear to the mountains when your car is full). These normally retail for several hundred bucks but if you can live with a scratch or dent, or don’t mind fixing the lock you’ll save a bundle.

So where does all of the stuff come from at the REI ding and dent sale? Most of the gear is just stuff that didn’t fit right or had a minor defect, maybe the laces broke on a pair of shoes or the rim on a bike was a little bent. These are the best deals because they’re easily fixable! Sometimes however, the gear really is busted and you’re basically just getting scrap so look close and read the tags as they usually describe why an item was returned.

Another great way to get at some inexpensive hiking gear is Good Will. This organization takes donations from community members looking for a tax write off and filters it through a labor force with special needs. It’s a win win and there are some amazing bargains to be had, my Mom is an avid Good Will hunter (so to speak) and I’m always amazed at what she finds… An old cooler for $5 was the latest score. Often times it’s gear that was donated when a person passed on or just moved to another town and couldn’t fit their old snow shoes, trekking poles, or outerwear.

If you have any useful tips on cheap hiking gear please share them below! REI and Good Will are great because you can actually try stuff on, the internet is a great source for deals but it’s a real bummer when it arrives late or is hard to return because the fit was off. This is especially true for gear that gets worn in rugged environments where blisters and other abrasions may occur.