FS • OPEN • Important Updates for Buyers & Sellers on the Backpacking Light Gear Swap

[Ryan Jordan]

The old Gear Swap is being sunsetted (learn more).

This is the new Gear Swap – with new features (that actually work), including filtering by listing type, status, and keyword searching.

The outcome for buyers and sellers includes the familiar forum interface, reduced friction in browsing and posting, and easier tools for posters to self-manage their listings.

Buyers & Sellers:

• You may continue to manage listings in the OLD Gear Swap until January 16, 2026.
• On January 16, 2026, all OLD Gear Swap listings (those posted December 17, 2025 or earlier) will be REMOVED from the site.
• If you are currently managing Gear Swap listings in the OLD Gear Swap, we strongly recommend CLOSING your listings in the OLD Gear Swap by hitting the Helpdesk button (it’s the green chat bubble icon in the lower right)  and requesting “Close my listing” and then re-listing them in the NEW Gear Swap Forum.

(Some discussion leading up to this change can be found in the forum thread: Dec 2025 Gear Swap Updates.)

We’ll leave this thread open as well if you have any questions or issues.

 

 

[Lawrence]

Is there a “content” to view Sellers’ listings?

[Matthew / BPL]

I’m sorry. You can search for other keywords but the seller’s name is not recognized in the search field.

[Ryan Jordan]

You can now post PIF (pay-it-forward) listings in the Gear Swap, and the guidelines for these listings have now been added in the “Guidelines” drop down at the top of the Gear Swap Forum:

Pay it Forward (PIF) listings: To accept a pay-it-forward (PIF) listing, you agree to either (1) post a new PIF Gear Swap listing, (2) post a new Member Gear Review, or (3) post a new Member Trip Report.

Thanks for Jon Fong for submitting this suggestion!

[Langdon]

where will I now receive and send privet massages on this new site?

Thanks, Michael Langdon

 

[Matthew / BPL]

Hey Michael,

You can read and send PMs at by going to the top navigation and clicking Account, then Dashboard, then Go To My Private Message Inbox.

You can also get to them by clicking your own profile image anywhere on the site. You can message other people by clicking their profile image then click the Private Message button.

[Lawrence]

Matthew

I wasn’t able to edit the title on my last listing, but could edit the body, within the hour. Is this normal?

 

[Author]

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