Back in the early 2000s, Mike Soltys was your standard broke undergraduate student at Clemson University. He marked his calendar not by term paper due dates, but by REI Garage Sales, in-store used-gear extravaganzas that, like other retailers’ Black Friday events, drew crowds well before the doors opened. Keen to be near the front of the line, Soltys and a few outdoors-loving, penny-pinching pals would pile into his navy blue Subaru (with its tiger-print seat covers and pitiful turning radius) on the day before the sale, drive nearly two hours south on I-85 and set up a Sierra Designs Lightning 2 FL Tent in the parking lot of the Atlanta REI store. They weren’t alone. “It was like a party,” Soltys recalls. “There would be people playing Frisbee and slacklining. Everyone was there to get an early start on the deals the next morning.”
Soltys still camps (typically sharing my tent—we’re married), but no longer in parking lots. The REI Garage Sale has evolved into Re/Supply, an avenue exclusively for REI members to buy and trade in lightly used gear and apparel, rendering Soltys’ endearingly zealous overnights unnecessary. “Re/Supply is an evolution of that REI Garage Sale experience,” says Laura Kelley, senior manager of recommerce at REI. “Now members can buy and trade in used gear year-round, in stores and online.”
While buying used gear from REI has become more convenient, it’s been around almost as long as the co-op. Over 60 years ago, a burst pipe in the original Seattle store destroyed inventory and threatened to shut the co-op’s doors. REI founders Lloyd and Mary Anderson were thankfully as determined in their business endeavors as with their mountaineering pursuits: They salvaged what gear they could and sold it at reduced prices. The effort guaranteed the co-op’s survival and gave thrifty recreationists a chance to buy high-quality (if slightly soggy) gear and apparel at a discount.
Both the “Water Damage Sale,” as it came to be known, and Re/Supply “get at the heart of what it means to be a co-op,” Kelley says. “We’re putting purpose over profits, building on principles of sharing amongst members and enabling more accessible and sustainable ways to get outside.”
No question, Re/Supply lightens the impact on our wallets. Used gear like tents, backpacks and sleep systems, along with pre-loved apparel, typically costs approximately 30% to 60% less than new. Take the Osprey Manta 24 Hydration Pack. The latest version of this 24-liter hauler costs $200. A recent Re/Supply search found that if you’re willing to accept some patches of faint discoloration on an older model, you can get it for $156. Opt for the “well worn” pack, which comes without a reservoir, for about $110. (Search results will vary based on current inventory.)
“There’s a lower price barrier of entry to outdoor pursuits through the used gear avenue,” says Allie Vaughan, Re/Supply program manager. “When we are able to offer the same quality gear at lower prices, we can welcome new, younger, more diverse folks into outdoor activities.”
The impact is also lighter on the environment. Since the earth takes a hit every time we create and distribute new products, REI estimates we can reduce our carbon impact by around 50% simply by stretching an item to its functional lifespan. “There’s a huge carbon savings to buying things that already exist in the world rather than buying new things,” Vaughan says. “We want to keep good gear in use for as long as it will last.”
Re/Supply isn’t only great for shopping used gear, though. Members also earn rewards for giving their gear a second life. Here’s how it works: REI Members receive an REI gift card for 10% to 40% of the item’s original price when they trade in their lightly loved items. Plus, there’s a joy in knowing the boots you wore throughout the South African savanna or the tent that kept you warm on below-freezing nights in the Canadian Rockies will live on in someone else’s adventures. “Members are pleased to help another member get outside,” Kelley says. “They’re keeping good gear in use that may otherwise just be sitting in their closet or garage.”
In 2022 alone, roughly 31,000 members gave more than 95,000 items a second life through Re/Supply. And to hear Kelley describe it, Re/Supply is just getting warmed up. “We’re in the early stages of our trade-in program,” she says, “Imagine if every one of our members traded in one item: We’d keep millions of pieces of good gear in use and help millions of other members get outside.”
No parking lot camping necessary.
Ready to trade in your gear with Re/Supply? Let’s review the three easy steps.
Remember, Re/Supply is an REI Member benefit. Sign up today for a lifetime membership that also includes benefits like early access to new gear and free standard shipping on orders from REI.com.
How to Trade In Your Gear
Have gently used gear that no longer fits into your adventure kit? Trade it in! You’ll get a digital REI gift card and someone else gets the benefit of great new-to-them gear—all while lowering the gear’s carbon footprint. It’s a win-win-win situation.
Step 1. Gather your gear
Start out by gathering and assessing the pieces you plan to trade in. “We recommend that people trade in clothing and gear that they would feel good giving to a friend,” Vaughan says, adding that the best items for trade-in include outdoor apparel, footwear, packs, tents and sleeping bags.
Pick items without holes, rips or tears, and check that all the critical pieces are present and accounted for (for example, no missing tent poles). Do your best to remove any odors and pet hair. Clean all the items and confirm all the zippers still work. (Need help? We have articles about How to Clean a Tent, How to Wash a Sleeping Bag, How to Clean Hiking Boots and How to Clean a Backpack, for starters.) If you’re trading in apparel, make sure the tag is readable with size and care information. Some items, like safety gear, helmets and electronics, aren’t eligible.
Step 2. Mail in or bring in
Members can bring items to a store to trade in or mail them back.
In-store: Bring the item into your local REI store, where an employee will look up the piece of gear to confirm it’s trade-in eligible. If it is, they’ll let you know the trade-in value on the spot. If you accept the quoted value, you’ll be issued an electronic REI gift card. In Vaughan’s opinion, the in-store trade-in route is the easiest way to go. “You’re talking to someone who tells you, ‘Yes, this is eligible. This is exactly how much you’ll get,’” she says. “And they’ll issue you that gift card immediately.”
Mail-in: Head to the Used Gear Trade-In webpage to confirm that your item is eligible and to see the potential trade-in credit. Make sure your item matches the trade-in catalog exactly, including the color. If you decide to make a trade, REI will email or mail (your choice) you a shipping label. Send in the item, and seven to 10 business days from its arrival at the warehouse, you’ll receive an email with your REI gift card (minus shipping and handling). Plenty of people prefer the convenience of the mail-in process, Vaughan says, noting that members simply box up the item as if it were a return, slap on the shipping label and drop it off with their other packages.
Step 3. Get rewarded
Once you’ve received your digital gift card, it’s time for the fun part: spending it! Head to your local REI or peruse REI.com. You can also shop the REI Outlet or even continue the Re/Supply cycle by buying your own gently loved gear and apparel with your credit.
Re/Supply Program Basics
Want to know even more about the Re/Supply process? Here are the basics.
Re/Supply is a benefit available exclusively to REI Members. While anyone can shop for new gear and apparel at REI, there are certain benefits to becoming a co-op member. Receiving roughly 10% back annually on eligible purchases is one of them. Access to Re/Supply is another. “Re/Supply is a big benefit we offer to the outdoor community,” Vaughan says. “It’s a way we reward our members for being a part of the co-op.”
Re/Supply will accept items purchased somewhere other than REI. “You can of course trade in an eligible item that you purchased at REI,” Vaughan says. “You can also trade in an item that you didn’t purchase at REI, but that REI has carried.” In other words, if you bought a Patagonia R1 Air Zip-Neck Pullover from your local Patagonia store, the Re/Supply team will accept it as long as the version and color are eligible. The online trade-in catalog is “the source of truth for eligibility,” Vaughan adds.
Bulk trade-ins mean more bang for your buck. You’re welcome to trade in up to five different items at once, all for a flat rate shipping and handling fee. For now, REI is limited to buying back and selling used gear within the U.S.
Items must be in good working condition. You want gear that works, right? So do your fellow members. Verify that any gear you trade in has functional zippers and all of its buttons, that it isn’t ripped or torn, and that it’s free from odors, pet hair and stains. Shoes must have their original insoles; tents need all their poles and stakes; and that inflatable sleeping pad must hold air. Size tags must be readable, and sleep systems, blankets and upholstered chairs and cots must have their care tags attached. Gear and apparel more than six years old and Co-op Cycles kids’ bikes more than three years old aren’t eligible. If you mail in an item that doesn’t match the trade-in catalog or that isn’t in good, working condition, REI might not be able to accept or return it.
REI can’t accept items that have been altered. Gear that’s been taken in, loosened up or otherwise altered likely fits you like a glove, but it’s less likely to fit one of your fellow members. Embroidered, bedazzled or otherwise customized items are also excluded. Take these pieces to your local thrift store instead.
Some items aren’t accepted for safety reasons. With Re/Supply, the goal is to get more people outside—and REI wants to ensure they do so safely. That’s why REI excludes certain items from Re/Supply. “Safety items should never be purchased secondhand,” Kelley says. “We want our members to feel confident with their used gear purchases. We don’t sell any technical gear that we cannot verify to be fully functional—particularly if that gear is intended to protect your life.” Thus, safety equipment like avalanche airbag packs, helmets and climbing gear, along with personal use items like sunscreen and bug repellent are not Re/Supply eligible. Neither are electronics and items like bikes and skis with bindings that require a liability release. In-store Re/Supply sections may have bikes or skis with bindings; you will, however, need to sign a liability release for purchase. Some apparel items are also ineligible, like swimwear, undergarments and base layers.
Have even more questions? Check out the FAQ page or email the Re/Supply team at info@reiused.com.