9 Secondhand Marketplaces Every Adventurer Should Know

Outdoor Gear Exchange

Vermonters have been shopping for low-cost gear at the iconic Outdoor Gear Exchange since 1995 when it was only a brick-and-mortar location in Burlington. Today it operates a website in addition to the store. You can only buy its new stuff online, unfortunately. But the website also hosts the ever changing list of what the shop is currently accepting for consignment, which is super specific to the seasons and current stock. After some tough times during the pandemic and a store relocation, the beloved store has recommitted to its location in downtown. “We need people to come downtown and we need to provide more opportunity,” said owner Marc Sherman in a recent local news broadcast.

What we have our eyes on: Flights to to Burlington so that we can shop IRL

Rad Bazaar

The Rad Bazaar is the resale platform of the cycling website and community The Radivist. In 2021, The Pro’s Closet bought the site from founder John Watson, who started documenting cycling culture in the early aughts while living in New York City. But only two years later in 2023, after what Watson alludes to as a “long legal proceeding,” he and his longtime partner, Cari Carmean, returned to the helm as independent owners. Now, in addition to bike reviews and stories about bike shops, you can shop a selection of used bikes and gear at Rad Bazaar posted by sellers. Most items are geared toward gravel and adventure riders, but it’s worth a regular scroll if you’re a roadie, carbon collector, or full-suspension mountain biker.

What we have our eyes on: Check out the splatter paint job on this Crust Evasion Lite frame ($900), and rep an oldie but a goodie with this Rivendell Cycling Cap in bright yellow ($50).

Isella Outdoor

Named after a glacier on Washington state’s Bonanza Peak, Isella Outdoor is another grassroots marketplace that feels more like the flea market than the mall. Mallorie Estenson started it in 2020 on Instagram, an era of abundance for resale accounts of all kinds, after she was inspired by a post about toxic gear culture. More than 8,000 followers lurk for bargains on outdoor gear that she reposts as people send things to her. Most are geared toward women and nonbinary and smaller-bodied folks. The seller of each item is tagged in the post, and to buy something, you message the seller directly. One annoying thing: You can’t always tell if an item has sold but check the comments to see if the seller has marked it as such. To sell something, reference this format.

What we have our eyes on: This Deuter Freeride Pro Ski Touring Pack ($125) still has its hang tags, and this set of 12 Petzl carabiners ($156) is adventure-ready.

Source: https://www.fieldmag.com/articles/where-to-buy-used-outdoor-gear-marketplaces