Where do you donate still-useful backpacking stuff?

If you just want to see it used, hook up with one of the local colleges. Most have some sort of “outdoors” group.

You can put it up on freecycle.org, but no guarantees that it’ll get used and not resold.

You can donate to Goodwill, but they’ll end up reselling it.

You can hit up craigslist and be creative with the payment (write me a story about your last outdoors experience or something.)

Put it up on your Facebook or whatever; often time your friends will know someone who needs it (their relatives, kids, kids of their friends, etc.)

Donate to a local Boyscout/Girlscout/American Heritage Girls group if it’s kid-friendly.

Most churches have a “Missionary Closet” if you’re so inclined. Many missionaries have remote-ish locations.

Some churches take donations for the troops overseas; everything from food to candy to toiletries to gear. Some of that gets used directly by the troops, and some gets handed out to the locals (such as candy for the kids.) Think wicking layers, tarps for shade, hydration bladders, etc. Some of the outer-wear cannot be used due to regulations, but it’s an option.

We have dozens of charities in the Bay Area. Depending on what your actual gear is, some of that may be able to be well-used by “non-hikers.” eg, construction workers can get a lot of use out of good wicking layers, wool socks in the cooler months, etc.

My wife has more extensive knowledge due to her business donating thousands of items every 6 months; items people don’t want back from her show. If you need something specific I can snag her knowledge. Most of those are for children, families/single-mothers with young kids but I can check and see if there’s a match there. Some families cannot afford a decent pack/stove/gear and actually (*gasp*) take their children OUTDOORS and away from the electronics. Yeah, stunning, I know. *boggle*

You can donate it to me. Obviously the best choice by far.

-mox

*zombie-thread alert*

Elizabeth, did you ever find a good answer to your question? I’m looking to offload a few things as well. Turned up this organization: Bay Area Wilderness Training; interested if anyone here is familiar with them.

I've donated to Sierra Club's ICO (used to be Inner City Outings, now rebranded as Inspiring Connections Outdoors). Either way, I emailed Jeff at equipment@sfbayico.org and arranged a drop-off at his place in Oakland.

This is a program that takes urban youth (at least originally, and probably still, from disadvantaged areas) into outdoor settings on trips – a life changing experience for many, and well worth donating to. I can't think of a group I'd recommend more highly for your used backpacking gear. We used to have a friend who helped found this organization and the stories he told of the kids' reactions to the trips were amazing.

post it on gear swap

PIF

you have to pay for shipping though

Jerry – too heavy to interest anyone here. Also, too heavy and bulky to ship at a reasonable price.

edit: Thanks, Deb!

I gave all my old traditional backpack gear to local scout groups. They were happy to get it.

That's what we did–a local Girl Scout troop….

I have given gear to scout groups, but unfortunately the local group here wasn't interested and I shipped to other groups. Packing and taking to UPS was a pain. If you don't mind shipping stuff, Craig Wisner runs a high school backpacking club (or used to) and could probably use it.

Now I take stuff to my favorite local charity, Angel View Crippled Children's Foundation, which has several 2nd hand stores. I would rather help out kids with severe disabilities.

A kind member of BPL donated a pack to my troop. I gave it to a very grateful boy in need.