What should I do with my old gear?
I have a 35-year-old Trailwise down sleeping bag thats in excellent condition. I no longer need it and would like to give it a new home. Whats the best way to determine the value of old gear, and how can I get it to someone who needs and will appreciate it? Bill Colton, Washington
As far as the sales value of your Trailwise bag, Bill, I regret to say its probably pretty low. Sleeping bags arent like bicycles or stereo receivers; there arent many classic" models out there. Maybe you could put it on Craigslist.org and get $50 for it, but that would be doing very well. You also could try GearTrade.com, a fairly new site thats sort of a Craigslist for the outdoor set. You can post outdoor-related items on GearTrade and sell them, and, of course, you can buy stuff as well. Setting the price can be a challenge, but try to find similar items that have sold recently on eBay. Its my experience that anything that sells on eBay goes for pretty much exactly what the market deems it is worth.
Camping Gear
Camping Gear
Still, rather than try to collect a few bucks on a bag that has been amortized a hundred times over, Id suggest that use your sleeping bag to spread some joy, in the same way it has kept you warm all these years. You could, for example, register on your local Freecycle.org site. Thats a wonderful site where people post items that they no longer want or need, giving them away or getting them. Youd probably find a very grateful person who would take your bag and give it a happy life for another 10 or even 20 years.
Better yet, try to find a young person who would love to try some camping but is having a hard time getting equipment assembled. Try local Boy Scout or Girl Scout groups, any sort of YMCA establishment, that sort of thing. Then take the IRS deduction and call it all good!
Check out Outside's picks for Gear of the Year and 400-plus gear reviews in the 2007 Summer Buyer's Guide, on newsstands now. Coming soon to Outside Online.
Support Outside Online
Our mission to inspire readers to get outside has never been more critical. In recent years, Outside Online has reported on groundbreaking research linking time in nature to improved mental and physical health, and we’ve kept you informed about the unprecedented threats to America’s public lands. Our rigorous coverage helps spark important debates about wellness and travel and adventure, and it provides readers an accessible gateway to new outdoor passions. Time outside is essential—and we can help you make the most of it. Making a financial contribution to Outside Online only takes a few minutes and will ensure we can continue supplying the trailblazing, informative journalism that readers like you depend on. We hope you’ll support us. Thank you.