Photo by Paul Felberbauer on Unsplash

Send everything! (Except these.)

A quick list of what Geartrade can’t take

One of our favorite things to do here at Geartrade is open the boxes of things people send in for us to consignment-sell for them. Ski jackets, snowboarding boots, backpacking packs, camp stoves … it’s a little bit of Christmas every day. We quickly snap photos of each item, write a description, and get it posted so it’ll sell lickety-split. While we can list almost any kind of gently-used outdoor gear for consignment, from climbing shoes to camp chairs, there are a handful of items we just can’t take. When we receive items we can’t sell, we have to send them back to you. So here’s a handy heads-up for reference.

We can’t accept for consignment sale:

1. Old alpine ski bindings and helmets that are over five years old
2. Climbing gear, including ropes, harnesses, and used hardware/protection
3. Watercraft like rafts, duckies, surfboards, wakeboards, kayaks, canoes, and SUPs
4. Socks and underwear, ew
5. Unbranded gear with no tag or label to say which brand it is
6. Clothes and gear for team sports, as Geartrade’s more about mountain stuff
7. Hunting gear like knives, guns, and hunting apparel

Each item category listed above has a reason we can’t accept it, whether we can’t assess for certain if it’s safe (like an old pair of ski bindings) or we don’t have room to store it (sorry kayaks), or it’s just not our thang (with no offense to the ball sports fans out there). We frequently receive items we can’t do anything with, which is a shame. (Some of them are a little odd, like scuba masks. Those aren’t very mountain-y.) Odd but interesting frequent top offenders include old bike helmets, dirty hiking boots, sleeping bags with no warmth rating, and worn-out backpacks. Remember, before you send something in, ask yourself if the item is something someone else would find value in and use in its current shape. If not, you may be able to repair or refurbish the item, donate it, or find a creative way to upcycle it.

As a reminder, here are the things we can accept for consignment sale:

1. Clean, usable gear in good or better condition with no damage or missing parts and minimal wear and tear
2. Bikes, but email us first for instructions
3. Shoes and boots, including climbing shoes
4. Clothes and outerwear, so long as they aren’t ripped, stained, or smelly
5. DIY listings are more open—just make sure the gear’s in good shape

Keep in mind, there’s a little more flexibility with list-it-yourself items that you list and sell from home. While everything still needs to be in good shape, usable, and clean, you can DIY-list many items we can’t consign. If you have questions, as always, feel free to reach out to our friendly crew. Beth Lopez is a seasoned writer and creative director who loves to tell tales of adventure and discovery—and finds writing a powerful way to give a voice to people, causes, and places. Beth runs amok in the Wasatch mountains when untethered from her computer. She believes there’s no such thing as a bad ski day and considers animals her favorite people. Don’t tell her mother about her Instagram mountaineering photos. Follow us on Instagram + Facebook: Tag us @geartrade with the hashtag #unnewoutdoor #wearitout on your post or story for a chance to be featured on our page.

Have Fall gear to sell? Get cracking.

Fall is just around the corner. It is now easier than ever to sell your gear on Geartrade. With our new Consignment Selling option you can finally reclaim your gear closet. Send it in. We take care of the rest. Geartrade is Climate Neutral Certified