REI good & used

Have you ever found something so amazing that you wanted to keep it to yourself but you knew you had to share it? This is what I'm talking about with the REI good & used site.

About a year ago I stumbled on this portion of their website. I wish I could remember how because it would make that portion of the story that much more epic... but I have three kids, work full-time, and am constantly tired. I have been an REI member for about 18 years now so I think I'm kinda in the loop on REI.

Let me get to the story. I was prepping to hike Half Dome and needed a new pair of shoes. I was looking all over the REI site and couldn't find a pair I was stoked on. Time was ticking on the trip and I needed to act quickly. I found the good & used portion of the website and it started to click. I found a pair that was my size and in excellent condition. I have to be honest that I was a bit nervous at first but am an avid REI garage sale fan so I knew it would be good.

The shoes arrived and I think they were brand new. Read that sentence again; brand new! So new looking that I put my nose into them and took a huge wiffffff. I was convinced they were brand new. I just got brand new shoes for like 33% off. They were so comfortable and brought me to the top of Half Dome with no issues.

This is where the story continues.

At the beginning of this year I made a commitment to try to buy as much used gear, clothes, bikes, kids toys, and basically anything I could. I want to do my part to make sure the earth is a safe place for my kids to grow up in. I know there are finite resources on our planet and if we keep throwing things in the land fills it's a sad future. This is one reason that I love the REI good & used site. They are giving gear, backpacks, tents, sleeping bags, jackets, shoes, trekking poles, and more a second chance in life. Maybe their first owner had a bad hike and didn't want to keep participating. Maybe a family had a bummer camping trip and gave up. This is where we come in. We find that gear and give it a second chance to live it's life in the outdoors.

Just last month we picked up:
REI duffel bag
Brand new chaco shoes
Rash guard for my daughter
40 oz HydroFlask
Patagonia sweater for my daughter

All of this gear was a great deal.
All of this gear was in great shape.
All of this gear will get a second chance.

Now when I buy gear, I've primarily stuck to excellent condition items. That has been a personal choice.

The HydroFlask was basically perfect.
The Patagonia sweater looks brand new.

As a dad, I get it. You buy your kid something and then a week later it doesn't fit. You return it to REI. REI doesn't put it in the landfill!
Now my kid gets to wear it.
Now I get to take those shoes to Half Dome.
Now my daughter has a HydroFlask for when she volunteers at the ranch she rides at.

As bad as I want to keep the REI good & used gear site to myself, I just can't. There are too many great deals on there right now! Maybe you will follow my lead. Maybe you will take it for a test run and find yourself looking to purchase pre-owned before brand new. Imagine the possibilities.

* I get no commission from REI for writing this post. Just trying to help out.