Hey campers! We remember when we first started camping, finding affordable gear was a challenge. But over the years, we’ve discovered some great places to get high-quality gear without breaking the bank. With the cost of living going up we thought we should share our 12 favorite websites to get discount camping gear. As a bonus we included a few physical options to get deals on camping gear as long as you don’t mind going in real life 😃
You should bookmark this page as we will be keeping it updated.
I don’t think we need any more introduction than that so let’s dive in!
Our Top Online Retailers For Discounted Gear
Shopping online offers convenience and a wide range of options. Many online retailers offer significant discounts through daily deals, seasonal sales, and clearance items. Websites like Amazon and eBay provide vast selections, while specialized retailers like REI Outlet and Patagonia Worn Wear focus on quality outdoor gear.
- Amazon: It’s the king of online shopping for a reason. Offers a wide variety of camping gear with frequent deals and seasonal sales if you take the time to look.
- Campmor: Known for closeouts and sales on quality outdoor products. To be honest I’ve had this bookmarked but I don’t know if we have ever purchased anything here. Let us know if you have and if we should keep it on this list or not.
- Campsaver: Provides discounts on a broad range of camping equipment, including clearance items.
- Craigslist: Features local deals and second-hand equipment, often at bargain prices. Beware of scammers but we have always had good luck.
- eBay: I’ll be honest, we still love shopping on eBay. It has lots of new and used gear and you can often get great discounts.
- GearTrade: This is one of our guilty pleasures since their inventory is always changing. It’s like a virtual thrift store that only sells outdoor gear and clothes.
- OutdoorPlay: They focus on recreational gear, including camping equipment, with a frequently updated sales section with nice discounts.
- Patagonia Worn Wear: We love Patagonia for their great products and dedication to the environment. This site sells second-hand Patagonia gear at lower prices, which we love even more.
- Reddit: We don’t use Reddit very much but it’s often a great place to find gently used gear at a nice discount. We recommend the /r/CampingGear and /r/camping subreddits to start. The site has a great search function if your looking for something specific.
- REI Outlet: We could spend all day and all our money shopping at REI, but using this site you get the same stuff at huge discounts.
- Sierra Trading Post: Offers discounted name-brand gear, often from past seasons.
- Steep & Cheap: Offers daily deals on outdoor gear, often with significant discounts. It’s hit or miss but we have gotten some great discounted gear here.
Physical and Specialty Outdoor Stores
Visiting physical stores can provide the advantage of seeing and testing the gear before purchasing. Many stores offer seasonal discounts and clearance racks where you can find some great deals. Specialty outdoor retailers and military surplus stores are great places to find high-quality, durable gear at lower prices, plus they are a lot of fun to browse through.
- Military Surplus Stores: Great for finding durable camping gear at lower prices.
- Thrift Stores: Can be treasure troves of hidden gems and unique finds.
- End-of-Season Sales: Clearance sales on last season’s gear at your local stores are a great place to find savings opportunities if you are thinking ahead to next year.
- Garage Sales and Swap Meets: Local events where you can find camping gear at bargain prices are often overlooked. We go to a lot of these and it’s pretty amazing what people are willing to sell for cheap.
Conclusion
There are plenty of ways to find affordable camping gear if you know where to look. Happy gear hunting, and see you out there on the trails! Share your best finds with us on social media.