How long do you hold on to extra gear you don’t really use?

If you can't lend it out, then think about donating it to favorite charity or local Scout organization or school club that truly needs it. Another option is a local charity (you feel is a good one) that has a thrift store. Also you might want to sell in on Gear Swap or eBay and put the money aside for a child's education fund or other worthwhile goal.

2 years at the most. If I haven't used it then I most likely won't. Gear swap has been a great resource.

Sometimes you can even buy your old stuff back if made a lapse in judgment, needed money.

Saying that though I do have a big box of stuff that I could not get decent money for on swap, too heavy, still might use it, would rather give it to someone, too lazy to try and rid my self of, etc…

Still have the giant Gregory from the 90's.

I could pack you and your pack in that.

I still have a down sleeping bag that I purchased in November 1977, and it still gets some use. It is heavy, so it gets used only for car camping. Then there are six or eight more sleeping bags of various generations. They get loaned out periodically. None get completely wasted.

–B.G.–

I'll let you know…

I would put together a couple of kits to lend out to new backpackers. When the kits are packed and set up then you should get rid of everything else.

I keep 1 full set of extra gear and sell the rest to fund other upgrades.

As soon as I decide between two pieces of gear, the one that loses goes in the sell box. Occasionally something in the sell box comes back out, but that hasn't happened often. The sell box has needed a clean out for a while now…

Thanks for the input. As far as keeping one or two extra sets…it's harder than it seems. Summer set up? Winter? I want both.. Just in case. smaller person ( teenage girls) or bigger person?
I hammock, mostly,unless it is very, very cold.

Here is a sample of what I have:

Hammocks:
Warbonnet Traveller . My go to hammock.
BIAS hammock. Small, light, nice to take even on day hikes.
Speer hammock. My daughter loves this one, has a removable bug net.
Hennessy Ultralight Asym. The one to take in bug season.

Tarps:
Warbonnet Superfly, with attached doors, great for serious weather.
OES Winter tarp, with doors, for serious weather when my daughter comes along.
OES Maccat Standard. My go to smallest tarp unless I know I am getting some real weather.

Underquilts ( serious cold sleeper here):
2 custom , full length, winter Hammock Gear underquilts.
3/4 hammock Gear Phoenix. For summer.

Quilts/ sleeping bags ( leaving out old really heavy ones)
Nunatak Arc Specialist . My most used one when hammocking
Golite Ultra 20. Love this one.
Enlightened Equipment Cuben quilt, for serious cold.
Stateless Society custom 10 degree quilt, for serious cold.
Montbell SS#2 and SS# 4 for ground sleeping

Shelters when not hammocking:
MSR Hubba Hubba, 2 people, freestanding, my daughter's favorite, easy, big etc.
One of Jack's Sil tarps
Brooks Range Cuben Rocket tent, for Alpine conditions

Pads:
Neoair regular- rarely use it.
Lots of Ridgerests. Like to keep these and combine them with inflatables.
A couple of Gossamer Gear foam pads.
Exped Down mat 7 short. Has a leak, tried to sell it.
Exped Downmat 9 long. Need it when on the ground in serious cold.
BA Clearview- never used it.

Then packs, a few stoves( 5), pots ( a couple solo and one 1Liter for snow or 2 people). Only two cups, 2 bowls, 3 sporks. I don't have much extra clothing and seem to use it all even when not backpacking.

We car camp every year too and bring all the hammocks and pads, etc.

Is this out of control? Redundant for 2 people? Keeping the down in good shape is my only real concern as I don't have a lot of room.

That is a totally reasonable amount. You use almost all of it too. You do not have a problem.

My rule of thumb is that if I haven't used something in a year, and don't have a specific plan to use item in the next year then I will either put it in my "for others" box, given away, or sell it and put the money into my "for toys" account.

Over time the size of my "for others" box has changed. Right down there is enough in my "for others" box + my alternative items (e.g. I have a 3-season quilt and a 4-season bag but only use one at a time) that I can fully equip 2 people besides myself. I actually have 4 extra packs because to cover a variety of difference sized / shaped people. I pretty regularly take first time backpackers out… being able to supply gear while they figure out if they like backpacking makes it a lot easier for them.

–Mark

"Keeping the down in good shape is my only real concern as I don't have a lot of room."

By that, I assume that you mean uncompressed and dry.

I entered a famous outdoor store that was very proud of its reputation for sleeping bags, except that I entered when the store first opened its doors that morning, and the sales people were still milling around preparing their floor stock for a big sale. They didn't really expect to see a live customer that early. There were a dozen or so good sleeping bags hanging up vertically, except that they were taking them down, one at a time, to "inflate them" for appearances at the sale. They had hooked up each sleeping bag to the exhaust end of a vacuum cleaner, so warm air was blowing through each one. I'm sure that would make the bag look lofty, and it would tend to dry out the down if there had been too much humidity. As long as they didn't let the air get too hot, that seemed like an interesting practice.

–B.G.–

Up until last year I used to keep surplus kit for 6-12 months, but now that two of buddies have started coming on trips with me I keep some extra bits and pieces (not a lot though).

If I directly replace a high value specilaisied item I will normally sell what its replacing.

I like to think that I only hold on to stuff for about a year. In fact, it varies according to the item (large or small) it's condition and my state of sentimental attachment to the item. As an example, I still have a well-worn pair of climbing boots that I retired in 1970. Most stuff, though, goes to a local Boy Scout troop within a year or so.

Or give them away? But they are my friends…We have a history… They never let me down… They are there for me…I don't know how you could even suggest such a thing, get a bigger house. Maybe give them to someone you have checked out very well under the condition that you can come see them when you need to

> But they are my friends…We have a history… Maybe give them to someone you have checked out very well

I think of the movie Toy Stories III. The toys loved Andy, but more than anything they just want to be played with and enjoyed. If I am not taking a piece of gear out I imagine it being sad, longing to fulfill it's purpose. Makes it easier to part with the old friends because I know it will be happier being used than sitting in my closet.

–Mark

I keep stuff a long time. Old stoves, candle lanterns, instep-crampons, mess kits, tents, etc…

Heck, I have an unused, orange Thermarest that's still in the plastic sleeve it was sold in around 1982 maybe. I keep meaning to do something with it, but… yeah.

"Heck, I have an unused, orange Thermarest that's still in the plastic sleeve it was sold in around 1982 maybe. I keep meaning to do something with it, but… yeah."

Funny but I have the same one. I've used it since the '80s, I've stored it deflated and rolled up, I always blow extra air into it…. basically the opposite of what you are supposed to do and it works flawlessly. Not one patch and it never leaks. Too bad it's 2.5 lbs so I'm off to REI this weekend to pick up a Prolite Plus 47".

What is the probability of your daughter bringing friends on a camping trip? I find that most of my kids' friends are usually lacking gear and I have to help round out their kit with stuff from my garage. We're upgrading our backpacks this year so my plan is to have a couple extra complete packs available as loaners.

I'm slowly going through my gear and donating stuff to the Boy Scouts but there are a few items which hold sentimental value and have earned a place of honor in my garage.

In a word, forever.

First excuse was to have all sizes of stuff around for the kids as they grew up. Now that they are gone my excuse is either grandchildren (none yet), or to lend to others (have done this a number of times, once to a group of eight).

I guess I just hate to get rid of stuff that served me well in the past (nostalgia). Maybe I need a 12-step program…at least my wife thinks so…

I hate clutter. Stuff that's not used get thrown on EBay. :)

I like the "one year" rule. That works for a lot stuff in the house in general. Another way to do it is to have a box or storage tub: if the box is full, it is time to unload something. I thought about just using my pack: if it won't fit in the pack, it goes. That would keep you honest and trim :)

I think the core of it is the same "what if" game that makes people overload their packs. You have to have some seasonal coverage and you never know when….. and… but…

Have a party!

Last month I had just finished creating a huge pile of "I'm never, ever, going use this stuff again", but otherwise perfectly good, gear. Too heavy packs from the day, old rain gear, tents and so on. I was thinking that I didn't want to make the effort to sell it – I just wanted the space back. I also happened to be having a birthday party, so I decided to give them to my friends as birthday presents – Hobbit style. When my friend who had instigated and organized the B-day party heard I was going to give stuff away she had the brilliant idea of having everyone draw a number and go through in order an pick and item and so on until it was gone.

At the end of the party all the stuff was gone, and I had a good feeling about my friends getting something they could use.

"I think of the movie Toy Stories III. The toys loved Andy, but more than anything they just want to be played with and enjoyed. If I am not taking a piece of gear out I imagine it being sad, longing to fulfill it's purpose. Makes it easier to part with the old friends because I know it will be happier being used than sitting in my closet.

–Mark"

What flavor was that Kool Aid???

To Infinity— and beyond!

NEVER give away a LOTSO BEAR

;)

if you dont use it, give someone else the chance to … gear is meant to be used … alot

I tend to keep things, probably too long. Some things I keep for several years before trying to get rid of it. However, for some things, if it's several seasons old, even in good condition, the technology becomes out dated and nobody else wants it or is willing to pay a fair price for it. So for technical gear, if I don't use or want it, I tend to try and pass it on more quickly.

I hate giving up something I paid for and like, even if I don't use it very often. Plus, I also delude myself with keeping it to loan to friends, to have options to tailor my kit to specific trips, etc. But really I think it may be my inner hoarder. I hate clutter, but I don't have a lot of storage space, so even a little bit of stuff can add up fast.

I do a lot of PIF on Gear Swap, but some things are too heavey to ship at a reasonable price. For those items, I first offer them to my local hiking club. If no takers, then the next stop is my local Goodwill or Salvation Army.