Used Gear: A More Environmentally-Friendly Alternative to Buying New Gear
Published December 10, 2023
At Treeline Review, we help people buy gear. So why would we want to encourage you not to buy gear?
While it may seem counterintuitive, one of our biggest goals is to help reduce the amount of gear purchased over time: by helping everyone buy the right gear the first time.
The unfortunate truth is that every new piece of clothing or gear you buy comes with an environmental cost, and that cost is only growing with climate change.
One solution is to buy less gear, opting for products with sustainability certifications where possible. By reducing our consumption and “voting with our wallets” for sustainable choices, we can collectively force the companies producing those goods to adapt to consumer demand (i.e., what we want) and make changes for greater sustainability.
This article in a series on reducing environmental impacts of outdoor gear was made possible by funding from REI.
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Why opt for used gear or rented gear?
What difference does it make to simply rent or buy used rather than buying a new thing? A pretty big one, it turns out. Looking at trends in the US, we see that while the number of people getting outside didn’t change hugely during the pandemic (1), the stuff people bought for their outdoor activities changed a lot. Sporting goods store sales jumped $20 BILLION between 2018 and 2021 (2). That’s a lot of new stuff!
Add that to what we know from the apparel industry and our overall “throw-away culture” (3) and the picture is troubling: the number of times a garment is worn has decreased more than 36% since 2003 (4), with most clothing items purchased by Americans worn only 7-10 times before being tossed (5). That’s a lot of new stuff going mostly to the landfill after languishing in the garage or closet for a few years or even months. What a waste!
The environmental costs of new gear
The larger costs of all this new gear become even more apparent when we look at the entire process of gear manufacturing, which almost universally happens across multiple continents, countries, and ecosystems.
While it has become more common for us as a society to think about (and examine) the steps that products go through to get to us, and to take steps to minimize the environmental impacts of those steps, there is still a serious lack of transparency and understanding across this process.
The real environmental footprint of our outdoor gear spans the impacts of all phases of production, including (but not limited to):
Raw Materials: growing (e.g., cotton for cloth [6]); raising (e.g., geese and ducks for down [7]); extraction (e.g., petroleum for synthetic fibers like nylon and polyester, aluminum and iron for metal components, etc. [8]).
Processing Materials/Manufacturing and Finishing Products: energy and water needs (8), chemicals used in processing/GHG emissions (9)/other pollution created as a byproduct
Transportation: shipping items from where they’re produced, through various middle steps, and to you
For an in-depth look at the steps involved to produce a piece of apparel, check out REI’s blog post on the Life Cycle of a Jacket.
An REI rental tent on a backpacking trip in Desolation Wilderness. Photo by Liz Thomas.
Alternatives to Buying New Gear
The good news is that there are lots of ways to buy less and still enjoy the outdoors. A number of outdoor brands (including ours) have written helpful guides on how to choose sustainable gear, how to choose and buy used gear, and how to choose eco-friendly alternative gear.
Rent Your Gear
One way to avoid buying new gear entirely is to borrow or rent gear for excursions you’re just experimenting with or that you don’t plan on taking often.
REI has a great gear rental program, as do many community organizations–try Googling “outdoor gear rental in [your city]” or “[specific activity, like camping/climbing/etc] gear rental in [your city].” Quite a few rental options popped up near me, including programs run by two local universities, a couple local nonprofits, and some national companies that send rented gear through the mail.
Ski gear is one of the most common types of gear items that is easy to find used. Photo by Stasia Stockwell.
Buy Used Gear
Another option is, if you’re able, to buy used outdoor gear and apparel. Buying used is rapidly climbing in popularity, with over 60% of Americans making at least one second-hand purchase in the past year (10). People love that when it comes to secondhand objects–there’s a ton of choice and variety available, it’s easy to find something unique, and affordability and value are excellent (11). And outdoor gear is no exception!
Ebay, Craigslist, and the REI Garage Sale have been around for ages, but over the past few years our options for buying used gear, both in-person and online, have gotten much wider and easier.
Brands like REI and Patagonia have launched online marketplaces for used gear, as well as having dedicated gently-used-gear sections in many stores. The Re/Supply online store extends on the REI Garage events from the past, making it easier to search and have access to gently used gear across all the REI stores. Similarly, secondhand apparel marketplaces like Poshmark and The RealReal also use reliable platforms to purchase high-quality brands used online.
I have to admit, though, that when I started writing this article I still had questions about used gear, even as an avid used gear purchaser. What are the best types of gear to buy used? How can I feel more comfortable buying used gear? And how can we, as a society, make buying used gear a more common practice?
Bikes are a great item to get used. You can usually find them at a substantial discount, making the sport more accessible for more people. Photo by Tom Callaghan.
What are the best types of gear to buy used?
To answer this question I wanted to understand trends in the outdoor gear that people trade-in, and how much of that gear still has life left in it. Spoiler alert, I was not able to answer these questions. It turns out there just isn’t data out there on how long people use outdoor gear before getting rid of it, nor any reliable data on even ballpark life expectancies for different products/types of products (let this be a suggestion to you, research organizations!!).
What I could find is that REI's own internal research estimates that by trading in gear with Re/Supply and using gear to its full lifespan can reduce the carbon footprint by 50%.
With that in mind, I sought the opinions of outdoor experts and enthusiasts, which were helpful in understanding some general guidelines for what and how to buy used gear. To summarize:
DON’T buy used:
Anything where safety is a big concern: climbing ropes, bike helmets, safety ropes, first aid kits, emergency gear, etc.
Socks: too big a risk for fungus and other skin issues.
Underwear: see above.
DO buy used if you feel fine about it (some folks do, some don’t):
Hats
Sleeping bags (all three of the above feel sort of close and personal, so they give some people the ick to buy secondhand. I have personally bought all of them secondhand so I can say with confidence that opinions differ).
Anything waterproof (e.g. rain jackets, ski jackets). If an item isn’t waterproof by nature (e.g. Gore-Tex), textiles are made waterproof by “laminating” them with a waterproof membrane applied to the inside. This membrane can tear and flake off over time, impacting the water resistance of the item. If an item is waterproofed in this way and the lamination isn’t cracking/flaking, go for it.
Footwear. The fit of footwear is extremely important, so you’ll want to make sure any used shoes or boots are right for you.
Backpack. Fit and comfort are extremely important here as well, so if it’s possible to try it on before you buy them, that’s ideal. We'd say the same for new packs, too.
Anything electric. People have differing levels of comfort in buying used electronics, even headlamps. Your best bet is to find out as much as you can about why it was traded in, and to see for yourself whether it works/how well it works now.
Anything inflatable, like a sleeping mat, pillow, kayaks, etc. There’s a possibility that even if something seems intact, a slow leak could be present. A really close examination of the item would be really helpful, and the ability to return would be a great failsafe.
DO buy used:
Anything else, really. Most apparel pieces are pretty simple to find used, as are small items like water bottles, small backpacks, hiking poles, running gear, and other accessories. Anything that has multiple pieces like a tent or stove should be examined to make sure all the pieces are present, intact, and working.
Stay away from sleeping gear that smells moldy, mildewy, or otherwise bad (if the smell is bothering you now, imagine sleeping with it all night).
As mentioned above, there are lots of guides online for how to buy used gear, including how to buy the specific thing you need and what to look for/watch out for. Alternately, like buying a certified used car, certain used gear retailers will run their own checks to make sure you're getting clean, high-quality gear with all the working parts.
Treeline Review author Stasia Stockwell testing the PFC-free, 3-layer Gore-Tex Patagonia Untracked ski jacket. Photo courtesy Stasia Stockwell.
Is it better to retire gear with PFAs and buy new gear with PFA free DWR?
What a great question! You really are an up-to-date environmentalist. To catch everyone up: microfibers are a type of microplastic (that is, tiny particles of plastic, largely invisible to the naked eye), and PFAs (also called PFCs) are what you may have heard referred to as “forever chemicals” used in manufacturing. Microfibers are shed by synthetic fabrics like polyester and nylon during manufacturing and when you wash them, and PFAs similarly enter waterways when items containing them are washed or thrown out.
Research over the last decade has revealed that both microfibers and PFAs have massive negative consequences and basically last forever when they enter the environment (12,13,14), but the state of that science is new enough (and industries react at such an absolutely snail’s pace) that there aren’t many good solutions to these problems as of this moment.
So where does that leave us? Unfortunately, there are no absolute answers and no proven solutions. My advice as a scientist and environmentalist is to do your research (15,16) and decide how you want to proceed. I can say there is evidence that when it comes to shedding microfibers during washing, polar fleece and other synthetic “fluffy, soft, cushy kinds of fabrics” (17) are the biggest offenders, so if it’s an option for you to avoid these completely, maybe take that route. When it comes to PFAs, anything with water resistance or stain resistance is likely to contain these chemicals, even today (these chemicals are still in the process of being phased out, even by the most conscientious brands).
There are a few brands and products leading the way in PFA-free waterproofing, though, so if those are an option, they’re a great one. There are also methods in the articles linked and cited above for minimizing the release of these materials into the environment from things you already own (steps like minimizing washing, spot cleaning, microfiber filters, etc.). We’ll keep you posted as better solutions evolve!
How can I feel comfortable buying used gear?
Summarizing my research and conversations on the topic, the biggest hurdle to feeling comfortable buying used gear is the fear of not knowing what you’re getting and then being stuck with something you don’t want.
To combat that fear, knowledge is power!
No matter where you’re shopping, gather as much detail as you can about the item and its current state. How and how often has the item been used? Are there any flaws, rips, holes or other issues? If there are flaws, are they easily fixable or a major issue? How much is that item at full price? What reputation does this company have for making high-quality, long-lasting products? What reputation does the used gear retailer have for selling clean and functional used gear?
If you’re buying used gear in person (at a thrift store, REI store's Trade-In section, or other secondhand marketplace), make sure you know the signs of wear and tear on the item you’re looking to buy.
Where do signs of stress tend to appear on this type of gear? Even if there aren’t visible breaks or holes in something, the signs of wear and tear can tell you how much life the item has left in it.
If you’re buying online, in addition to finding as much of the above info as you can, make sure to know the specific size or variety of product you need. Most important of all, know the return/exchange policy!
How can we, as a society, make buying used gear a more common practice?
That’s a big question, but my research did reveal some answers. First of all, on an individual level, we can buy used gear as gifts. The highest sales of new outdoor gear happen in November (2) (presumably by people buying holiday gifts), and the #1 reason people opt for a new item rather than a used one is because they’re buying a gift (18). Buy a used item instead! Voilà: impact.
Next, we can increase the practice of in-person gear sales and swaps. This can happen on the individual level (by listing your stuff on Craigslist rather than Ebay, by organizing swaps with your friends and communities, etc.) and on the brand level (by having in-person sales and in-store sections dedicated to used gear, like many REI and Patagonia stores). The more brands and retailers can, additionally, vouch for the state of used gear, the more trusted that gear will be.
Finally, a message for retailers: make returns more possible! Both online and in-person, retailers can adjust their return policies to allow for the return of used gear. The less people feel locked into something they bought used, the more they’ll feel comfortable buying it. And the more secondhand items grow as a thriving, lucrative, and in-demand marketplace (a clear trend across the globe), the more companies who participate in this market will have to accommodate the need for valid returns. Get to it, brands!
Wait! What about MY used gear?
I’m so glad you asked! If there’s life left in your stuff, consider donating it so someone else can use it. Companies like REI and Patagonia even have trade-in programs that give you discounts or gift cards for your gently-used gear, and some other brands do this as well.
If you can’t sell or repair your items, it may be time for them to move on. There are several ways to recycle your used items so that the materials can be put to other uses.
When it comes to donations and recycling, a number of brands are getting on the “circular economy” train and creating take-back programs. With this in mind, we recommend first Googling “Does [your item’s brand] have a recycling program?”
If not, there are some brands and stores that accept products from both their brands and others, so check whether your item could be viable for one of these programs (FYI, clothes and shoes are especially easy to recycle).
If none of the above work for you, Terracycle is a company that recycles just about everything, but this can be expensive, so finding a company you trust to do it for you is ideal!
Sources
SFIA. (February 22, 2023). Share of population who take part in outdoor sports in the United States from 2013 to 2022 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved December 01, 2023, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/987804/outdoor-sports-participants-us/
US Census Bureau. (December 15, 2022). Sporting goods store sales in the United States from 1992 to 2021 (in billion U.S. dollars) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved December 02, 2023, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/197704/annual-sporting-goods-store-sales-in-the-us-since-1992/
https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/putting-brakes-fast-fashion
https://www.wri.org/insights/apparel-industrys-environmental-impact-6-graphics
Statista. (November 16, 2023). Most common second-hand purchases by category in the U.S. as of September 2023 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved December 01, 2023, from https://www.statista.com/forecasts/997103/most-common-second-hand-purchases-by-category-in-the-us
BCG. (October 5, 2022). Drivers of secondhand consumption worldwide in 2022 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved December 01, 2023, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1235030/secondhand-consumption-reasons-worldwide/
Mark Anthony Browne, et al., Accumulation of Microplastic on Shorelines Worldwide: Sources and Sinks (subscription required), Environmental Science & Technology, September 6, 2011
Fenton SE, Ducatman A, Boobis A, DeWitt JC, Lau C, Ng C, Smith JS, Roberts SM. Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance Toxicity and Human Health Review: Current State of Knowledge and Strategies for Informing Future Research. Environ Toxicol Chem. 2021 Mar;40(3):606-630. doi: 10.1002/etc.4890. Epub 2020 Dec 7.
Rebecca A. Dickman, Diana S. Aga, A review of recent studies on toxicity, sequestration, and degradation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), Journal of Hazardous Materials, Volume 436, 2022.
https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/reduce-laundry-microfiber-pollution/
Statista Survey. (July 12, 2017). Situations in which U.S. consumers purchase new instead of used items in 2017, by item type [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved December 01, 2023, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/730074/situations-for-purchasing-new-and-not-used-items-us-by-item/
