My Secondhand Year

As many of you know, I’ve worked as a magazine writer and editor in the outdoor industry for most of my career. While I love, love, love the business, the amazing people I work with, and the opportunities it has afforded me (yes I’ve been paid to ski), I do sometimes get a really weird feeling about the fact that there even is an outdoor industry.

I mean, I understand that in order to camp or ski, you need gear (skis really help when skiing, and I prefer to sleep in a tent, especially when it’s raining). And of course the outdoor business as a whole as well as most of the companies in it are extremely environmentally conscious. You probably heard about Yvon Chouinard, the founder of Patagonia, giving the company (worth about $3 billion) to an environmental trust, ensuring that Patagonia’s profits will be used to combat climate change and protect public lands. And Patagonia is not alone; almost every outdoor gear manufacturer’s marketing messaging emphasizes its commitment to being as sustainable and green as possible. And I believe they really are trying. They do a lot of R&D on cleaner energy and water-saving manufacturing processes. They use responsible down and organic cotton. They recycle. They are generally really innovative and introduce amazing new gear every year.

But that, of course, is the issue. These brands make their gear out of recycled plastic bottles and donate to 1% For The Planet (and I’m really glad they do), but they are still making and selling new gear. A lot of it. And frankly, most of this new gear is stuff that very few of us actually needs (again, I know this “need” concept is a little squishy). Sure, you might need new ski pants every few years or warmer gloves or a backpack in that one magical-goldilocks size you don’t already own, but in general, we can all probably do with a lot less gear. (And yes, I realize I’m speaking as a member of the outdoor media who admittedly owns a ridiculous amount of gear.)

While most of this new gear is used for activities that on balance probably help the planet (i.e. you’ll be more inclined to protect an environment where you climb, hike, ski, or camp), the fact that it’s being produced at all (largely in China, no less) is generally not great for the earth. I’ve talked a little about apparel waste here on this blog, but I still was shocked to read some of the stats in this Bloomberg article: More than 85% of apparel ends up being thrown out within a year. It also says how new apparel and footwear sales make up for 8% of climate impact worldwide, which is a bigger carbon footprint than airline flights and shipping trips combined. And I’m afraid your new eco-trail runners are not exempt from leaving a carbon footprint.

I’ve learned from my reporting about the outdoor industry that we’re more than slightly addicted to new. (To be fair, it’s pretty darn close to impossible to walk into the Outdoor Retailer trade show and not become covetous amid the expanse of booths displaying pristine gear from brands like Mountain Hardwear, Smartwool, Arc’Teryx, Chaco, and Burton.) But the supply chain craziness you’ve noticed in the grocery store affects this category too, which could lead to a bunch of stuff ending up in landfills (and by stuff, I mean $600 jackets). Not to mention the spending of natural resources and other impacts to the environment.

So, what’s a diehard nature-loving gear junkie to do? Well, I’m not here to tell you not to add those new skis to your quiver or splurge on that gravel bike you’ve always wanted. And if you’re thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail, definitely get some good seam-sealed rain gear. But I would say three things: First, really think about whether you actually need the thing. I.e. just because I love puffy jackets and zip-neck tops does not mean I necessarily need another one, yes even if they were to go on sale. Second, if you are heading out and actually don’t have the proper gear, definitely look into renting. Gear rentals are getting more and more popular, which means the offerings are more varied and higher quality. Many outfitters and gear shops have rentals, and it’s a great way to get the sweet kayak or backpacking tent you need for a weekend trip without having to invest in (or store) something you’ll probably only use once a year.

Third, consider (seriously consider) buying secondhand gear.

I know what you’re thinking: Oh, here she goes with that secondhand business again…

If you’re picturing yourself picking through racks of sad 90s ski jackets at your local used gear shop or Goodwill, I’m here to tell you that I just bought a (new to me and indistinguishable from new to anyone else) pair of Stio (a company I really like by the way, and oh check this out) ski pants on Geartrade (geartrade.com), an online gear exchange that you can shop just like REI or Backcountry.com. It uses a tagline I love: WEAR IT OUT – because gear belongs in the outdoors, not in a landfill. The website says, “Here, adventurers, retailers, and manufacturers alike can use a common platform to sell their used, returned, and repaired gear. We equip and inspire outdoor adventurists with everything they need to get outside — on a budget that sure does feel nice.” Ok I’m in.

Geartrade is different from eBay or Poshmark in that it offers free shipping through FedEx (for buyers and sellers) and makes it really easy for people to sell their used gear. Instead of you taking photos, writing up a description, and pricing your stuff, Geartrade sends you a box that you fill and return to them. When the Geartrade folks receive the box, they create the listing (so they do the photography, write-ups, and pricing) and ship the sold items to buyers — and then you get a check (or in my case, credit to use to buy much-“needed” ski pants on the site, which offers nice discounts when using credit).

I’m still a newbie so can’t really tell you much about the selling experience (and I will follow up with some tips for selling used gear and clothing online in a future post), but in honor of Earth Day this weekend, I thought I’d share this resource for minimizing our impact on the outdoor places we love. Give it a try. If nothing else, you will get a sweet new coat, pack, or pair of shoes for a screaming deal.