When I buy new outdoor gear, I try to find a good balance between quality and price. I want my gear to last a long time, but I also don’t want to spend too much money.
I usually shop at REI for hiking and camping stuff, and at Garage Grown Gear for super-light backpacking gear. But if I want to find a good deal, I’ll check other places to see if I can get what I need for less money.
Sometimes, you can get last year’s gear at a big discount, and the only difference might be the color. If you want to save money on outdoor gear, here are my favorite places to look for both new and used items to find a great deal!
REI Outlet
REI Outlet is a great place to find outdoor gear at cheaper prices. REI, which stands for Recreational Equipment, Inc., is a big store that sells camping gear, hiking equipment, and outdoor clothing. It started in Seattle and now has stores all over the U.S. They work as a co-op, which means they focus on giving good deals to their customers.
At the REI Co-op Outlet, you can get quality gear at lower prices. They sell items from last season, like older colors or styles, but they still work just as well. Plus, you get REI’s 100% satisfaction guarantee and a 1-year return policy when you shop there.
REI Outlet has sales on items from the end of a season or older models that are still great for camping and hiking. Some of the best deals can be found on the “Deal of the Day” and “50% Off Deals” pages.
If you want to save even more money, you can join the REI Co-op as a member. Members get 10% back at the end of the year and also get special 20% off coupons to use at the REI Outlet during the year.
REI Co-op Good & Used
If you want to save a lot of money on great outdoor gear and don’t mind buying gently used items, check out REI’s Good & Used section! They have lots of used gear for camping, hiking, biking, climbing, fitness, and even snow and water sports.
Buying used gear is not only cheaper, but it’s also better for the planet! It keeps perfectly good items out of landfills and is a more eco-friendly choice than buying new stuff.
The used gear on REI’s site comes from customer returns and a trade-in program. They only select the best items to resell. These products are sold “as-is,” which means there’s no warranty, but you can return them within 30 days if they don’t work out.
REI also has a trade-in program that’s just for members. You can trade in old gear, like camping tents or running shoes, and get an REI gift card to use on new or used gear.
Moosejaw
Moosejaw is a cool and fun company that sells lots of outdoor gear. They even post funny pictures of dogs wearing scarves and coats on their Instagram! It’s one of our favorite stores when we need new gear.
Moosejaw gives you 10% back on what you buy, and they also match prices if you find the same item cheaper somewhere else. Plus, they have a lifetime return policy! That means you can return something, like a pair of hiking boots you never used, even two years after you bought them.
We especially like visiting their store in Boulder, Colorado, whenever we’re in town. We used to live there before we started traveling full-time. Both of our adventure travel backpacks came from Moosejaw!
Patagonia Worn Wear
Patagonia is a well-known outdoor gear company that has been a leader in making eco-friendly products and fighting against climate change. Now, they’ve taken it a step further with their Patagonia Worn Wear program, which helps people reuse gear instead of buying new.
Patagonia Worn Wear sells gently used Patagonia clothes and bags. These items come from their trade-in program, where people can trade their lightly used Patagonia gear for up to $100 in Patagonia credit.
Other outdoor stores have started similar programs, like The North Face Renewed and Arc’teryx Used Gear, to help cut down on waste and encourage reusing gear.
Steep & Cheap
When I shop for outdoor gear, Steep & Cheap is another good place. I try to find the right balance between quality and price. I want my gear to be durable, but I don’t want to spend too much money.
If I’m hunting for a bargain, I look at other places to see if I can get what I need for less.
Sometimes, you can find last season’s gear at a big discount, with the only change being the color. If you want to save money on gear, here are the best places I usually check for new and used items to get a great deal.
Walmart
While we always suggest spending a little extra for high-quality gear that lasts, sometimes your budget doesn’t allow for it.
Walmart is a surprisingly good choice for beginners who want to start camping and hiking without spending a lot of money on professional gear.
They also offer affordable camping essentials, like cast iron Dutch ovens, Coleman camping stoves, and inexpensive sleeping bags, making it easier to get outside without breaking the bank.
The Clymb
The Clymb is an online store that offers huge discounts, with 50-75% off on outdoor gear and clothing. The only thing you need to do is sign up with your email address (it’s free) to access the super-low prices. But be quick—quantities are limited, so it’s best to grab a deal when you see it!
Once you join, you’ll get personalized deals on all kinds of gear, like hiking boots, snowboards, and wetsuits. They carry well-known brands like Icebreaker, Prana, and Mountain Hardwear.
Amazon
Amazon has a huge selection of discounted outdoor gear! If you’re a Prime member (you can get a 30-day free trial), you also get free, super-fast shipping—sometimes even same-day delivery—making it great for last-minute buys before a trip.
As the world’s largest online store, Amazon is a good place to look for affordable camping and hiking gear. We often check here for budget-friendly items like our favorite long-sleeve UPF shirts and our backpacking trowel.
evo
Evo is an outdoor retailer with stores all over the U.S. and Canada. They mainly sell gear for skiing, snowboarding, and mountain biking, but you can also find equipment for surfing, wakeboarding, skating, and camping.
Their Sale and Clearance sections often have some of the best discounts on snow sports gear.
Evo also offers a great price-matching deal. If you find a lower price from a competitor online (after adding in duties, tax, and shipping costs), they’ll lower the price by 5%. Plus, they have an amazing “365+1 return policy,” which means you can return unused items for over a year!
Outdoor Gear Exchange
Outdoor Gear Exchange is a retail store based in Vermont that also has a large online selection. Their goal is to “sell great gear at great prices,” and they really deliver on that.
You can find lots of discounted outdoor gear in the discount gear and clothing outlet section of their shop.
They also have a consignment store, where you can send in your gently used outdoor gear and make some extra cash!
Outdoor Play
Outdoor Play began as a one-man kayaking school in Oregon and is still run by the same founder. They have an excellent selection of gear for kayaking, rafting, and stand-up paddleboarding (SUP), but they’ve also added gear for camping, hiking, climbing, and snow sports.
We appreciate that they offer price matching and a 60-day return policy.
Be sure to check out their Sales page for the best deals! At the time of writing, they had some amazing discounts on jackets and fleece from Mountain Hardwear.
Backcountry
Backcountry offers a wide range of gear for camping, trail running, mountain biking, skiing (both alpine and Nordic), mountaineering, backpacking, and more. They have one retail store in Utah, but most of their business happens online. Their awesome “100% Guaranteed Returns” policy allows you to return unused gear anytime for a full refund.
You can find various deals on outdoor gear from popular brands like North Face, Patagonia, and La Sportiva on their sales page.
Also, when you sign up for their email list, you get 15% off your first order!
CampSaver.com
CampSaver.com sells outdoor gear for everyone, from casual campers to expert adventurers. Their inventory includes more than just camping gear; you can find everything from kayaks to skis, and they also carry some lesser-known brands.
If you’re looking for super cheap camping gear, be sure to visit their Deals & Promotions page.
Plus, when you sign up with your email address, you get 20% off one full-priced item!
Sierra
Sierra, which used to be called Sierra Trading Post, is owned by the same company that owns TJ Maxx. They sell last season’s styles and overstock gear for outdoor recreation, fitness, and adventure.
While they have retail stores all over the U.S., you can often find some of the best deals in the clearance section on their website, Sierra.com.
Campmor
Campmor is a recreational equipment retailer with a store in New Jersey. They offer a huge selection of camping gear, including car and bicycle racks!
One great thing about Campmor is their 90-day return policy, which allows you to return items you didn’t end up using after some time.
Make sure to check out their sales and deals section for the best prices!
Gear Trade
Gear Trade is an online marketplace where people can buy and sell used outdoor gear, which they call “UnNew” gear. It’s a fantastic way to keep perfectly good equipment in use and out of landfills.
Once you sign up with your email, you can easily search for the gear you want by filtering options like activity, condition, gender, size, or brand. You can also list your own items for sale to make some money for your next gear upgrade!
eBay
eBay is a fantastic place to find all sorts of new and used camping gear, hiking equipment, and other outdoor items. If you’re looking for used gear, be sure to message the seller and ask any questions if the item’s description isn’t clear about its condition.
Most sellers offer free shipping, and some also provide return options. You can shop with confidence thanks to eBay’s Money Back Guarantee, which means you’ll get a refund if you don’t receive the item you ordered.
Active Junky
Active Junky is a rebate website that lets you earn cashback when you shop through their portal. All you need to do is sign up for a free account and start shopping! You can earn cashback rewards with popular online brands like Backcountry, The North Face, Oakley, Chaco, and many others. Plus, you can get up to 20% off select brands just by becoming a free member!
The Gear Room
The Gear Room was started by two brothers from Tucson, AZ. It’s a consignment shop located in Salt Lake City, perfect for outdoor enthusiasts, and they also have most of their items available online for easy shopping. A few winters ago, I bought a discounted pair of backcountry skis from The Gear Room, and they were fantastic!
Facebook Groups & Marketplace
There are many gear exchange groups on Facebook, including regional ones for places like Arkansas, Colorado, and Las Vegas. You can also find groups specifically for women or focused on activities like cycling, backpacking, and climbing. Just search for “outdoor gear exchange,” and you’ll discover dozens of groups!
Another great option is Facebook Marketplace, which works like Craigslist. You can find lots of fantastic deals on outdoor gear, and many sellers are open to shipping. Facebook even has its own payment system to help protect both sellers and buyers from fraud.
