Where can a person that is just getting back into action after a twenty year (marriage) hiatus find good used gear? On line classifieds for hiking/backpacking gear would be great.

Thanks,
Doug

Here for one. After you have been a member for a while, you can post a want ad (read the rules before posting in classifieds) or you can respond to ads at any time.

Trailspace has a classified section. EBay is good. I've bought a bunch of stuff off eBay, but you need to know what you are looking at, there is also a lot of cheap stuff besides the deals on quality gear. I've bought a tent, stoves, backpacks, even some clothes, ski boots, skins, a few other things.

Yahoo has a gear group with stuff for sale. Club Tread has a classified seciton if you happen to be in Canada or the PNW.

I would also look at your local Craigslist.

Unless you have a philosophical preference for used gear, don't overlook the clearance sales at the various on-line outfitters. For example, REI has REI-Outlet (accessible from their home page); Campmor runs an ongoing clearance sale, and others in "TLB Forum Sponsors" tab at the top of this page also have some very good sales from time to time.

For clothes, go to thrift stores, especially if you are getting them for kids. I buy all my fleeces there now. You can also find nylon pants there, and even nylon dress shirts. You have to look though. I also found a ridgerest for $3. You could also get cheap new stuff at Walmart and other camping stores. I got my fishing shirt and zip off pants from Academy Sports for less than $20 each. I have seen the wrangler brand fishing nylon shirts at Walmart for less than $20.

A big second for the thrift store - Thing's I've picked up at thrift stores over the years:

nylon pants and shorts
merino/cashemere sweaters
fleeces
Hiking boots/trailrunners (kids)
Backpacks! (an older MEC model!)
liner socks (polyester dress socks work great!)
wool socks (wool dress socks)
nylon/goretex jackets
ooking/eating gear

I have kids that are "occasional" hikers - and the past few years it has meant when going out camping most of their old stuff doesn't fit for field clothing - 20 dollars at the thrift store cures
this handily.

watch for gear clearances and rental return sales at places like REI or MEC. - MEC has a "gear swap day" where people show up and flog their old stuff - (REI may do the same in the states.)

if you're aware of what old stuff is good and what is not good, you may do ok at garage sales
or on ebay. Ebay can kind of have inflated prices on some stuff. - f'rinstance I got an old SVEA 123 stove at a garage sale for $15, but they go for kinda silly amounts on ebay. Don't discount ebay
occasionally for things like tents, bags, etc if you do your research ahead of time and are careful about how much you are paying.

BTW, within reason, if you still HAVE your 20 year old gear - it's not magically bad just because
it's 20 years old in most cases. The only reason I don't carry my 20 year old frame pack is because
I'm a bit of a gearhead and like to buy toys, and I've used it to carry out too many pieces of magnificent ex-forest creature, and when not doing that really don't want the smell of it all over me in grizzly country <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I would only use Craigslist if you are local to the item and can go look at it. Ebay, you have to watch those reviews and be careful. I have a personal policy that I don't buy things from people with less than 50 reviews unless the item is under five bucks.

I have gotten a few things at the REI used/returned gear sale, but to score big time with a down sleeping bag or primo pack you have to be in line at 3 am. I cruise several websites (backcountry.com, sierra trading post, moosejaw) when I need smaller gear items and buy cheap synthetics at Target. Google shopping (when you know exactly what you want to look for) is a great way of getting a quick list of prices from various vendors; I googled a Sierra Designs Clip Flashlight and found a good deal on it, though I didn't buy it.

Recently found a really good deal on a Granite Gear Nimbus Ozone over at Backcountry.com - the packs can be found most places for $200+ but the small was on sale for 139. It came with a medium women's belt and shoulder straps; obviously they pay attention to your name when you order, and I didn't have to send the pack back to GG for a strap/belt swap because I wanted medium (I'm on the extreme max end of size small for most packs, and sometimes mediums fit better). My other pack is a Gossamer Gear, which doesn't carry as much weight but is a great pack for loads of less than 30 lbs.

I have an Osprey Aura 50 I'm about to post for sale. Great pack, doesn't really work for me. Packs you'll want to try on after getting yourself measured; I went to REI and they told me I needed a small. I then ordered online. Trouble was, the Aura 50 is one of Osprey's ultralight packs and you cannot change out the hip belt, and I quickly figured out after a couple of overnight trips that to make it work I needed a different belt. It was comfy for the first two miles but six or more and my hips were sore and bruised. So one of my new criteria for packs is removable/swappable belts.

Yes, usually when something is on craigslist, even locally, it is either junk, a rip off or the seller is desperate. I bought a used bike and had to replace the bottom bracket after one ride. I bought a trangia stove off of ebay and it came with a useless cookset and the lid of the trangia was cracked and wouldn't contain unused fuel. The stove works great I tossed the lid and use a baggie to keep smells from my other gear. Also, you could consider building a few pieces of your gear. Just getting back into Bpacking/camping, Gather all your gear first.Then the pack to put it in. Check out some other members gear lists. Phat in peticular has a nice list. Just remember there is Good, cheap and light. Choose wisely because you cant have all three in the same piece of gear except maybe a popcan stove. Personally, a used piece of clothing or sleeping bag is like used socks or underwear. I won't consider wearing. Eventhough people take care and pride in a nice piece of gear they own it wouldn't be for me. No funky smelling tents, sleeping bags or clothing.
NOt for me. Your choice.

What was useless about the cookset? Was it part of a Trangia set or something different?

It was a heavy aluminum German army issue shaped like a canteen but did have a windscreen for the stove. But to bulky and heavy for me.

I like a lot of stuff at Academy. Not sure they are in Memphis though.

pitdoug-

I'm surprised no one directed you to our MYOG pages. Consider making your own alcohol stove, for starters, then stuff sacks from silnylon or other very light materials. Recycle a Tyvek mailing envelope into a stuff sack for the stuff you need at night. After is is a bit "broken in," it will soften up and get quieter. Then it will be great for a bag to hold extra clothing to use as a pillow.

Read through the old messages under MYOG, as well as the separate page (Look left) for more ideas.

Regards,

Rosaleen

Ah, one of those. Heavy is definately the right word. I've heard that there is a new 'special forces' version that is similar to the trangia 1 person set but have never seen it.