Top Mistakes to Avoid When Buying Used Climbing Gear

I tried to buy my first trad rack off eBay. It was a double rack of Black Diamond C4’s with a rack of stoppers to boot. They looked good in the photos, albeit a little old. The lobes weren’t too damaged, trigger wires were intact, and the stems looked unbent. They had the chunkier nylon slings and came with some beat-up wire gate carabiners.

Unfortunately, when I made the purchase, eBay suspended my account and blocked the transaction. That’s because, at the time, I was living in Peru as a Peace Corps Volunteer, so when eBay saw me trying to make a $1,000+ purchase from South America with a brand new eBay account and an American credit card, I guess I triggered some online safety software.

To get around this obstacle, I implored a buddy of mine in the U.S. to buy the rack instead. I Venmoed him some cash, and he shipped the rack to my parent’s house. A month later, my parents muled the rack down to Peru in their luggage when they came to visit me. Thanks to this new-to-me, used rack, I plugged my way up trad climbs all over the Cordillera Blanca.

That purchase kickstarted not only my passion for trad climbing, but also my enthusiasm for buying used climbing gear. I wondered what other equipment I could buy secondhand. I also wondered what gear I could sell to financially power my lifestyle.

Fast forward 10 years, and the majority of my rack is still used. Not to mention, half the garments in my wardrobe come from a thrift store. I’ve sold ropes to friends for their ice climbing missions in Alaska and shipped abandoned cams I bootied to beginner leaders building their racks. In the process, I’ve learned a thing or two about red flags, green flags, and other things to look for when buying used climbing gear.

Why Buy Used Climbing Gear in the First Place?

There are two crucial advantages to buying used climbing gear. The obvious one: It’s drastically more economical than shopping for new gear. You can get more for your money when buying secondhand stuff. I’ve been known to score fully functioning cams for 25 bucks and carabiners for just a couple of doll hairs.

Choosing used climbing gear can also be more sustainable. Keeping gear in circulation for longer amongst all sorts of users means that these products don’t end up in landfills or incinerators as quickly. This shrinks the unavoidable carbon footprint of each item by getting more value out of the natural resources required to make the product. Plus, it delays the inevitable extraction of more natural resources and the production of carbon emissions required to replace the item within a commodity chain.

That said, it’s not all banger deals when you buy used gear. You do have to pay more attention to what you’re buying and how you’re buying it when you’re shopping around the used market. And if you shop online, you run the risk of getting scammed.

Here’s what to look for based on what I’ve learned from my gear thrifting over the years.

Tips for Buying Trad Gear, Helmets, and More Hard Goods

When it comes to climbing gear, hard goods are, by and large, the most straightforward items to buy. The caveat is that the sale could go south if you wind up with a sketchy online seller (more on that later).

But for the most part, because hard goods are, well, hard, they are more durable and lend themselves nicely to being bought and resold many times. Here’s what to look for by type of gear.

Helmets

Look for helmets made with modern materials and a modern design. For example, any helmet made with expanded polypropylene (EPP) or expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam is ideal. Regarding plastic, polycarbonate or ABS plastic (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) are modern options. If it has MIPs helmet technology, even better.

In addition, the helmet’s interior foam and exterior plastic materials should be completely crack-free, and the helmet must fit you properly. Small dents and scuff marks are okay.

Essentially, don’t go for the ones that looked like someone bored out a bowling ball and attached a chin strap, like this.

Used helmet red flags: Cracks, outdated materials, and design

Camming devices

Trigger wires should not be frayed, and the stems should not be bent. The lobes can have some wear and tear, but should not be deeply gouged or cracked. The slings should not be frayed, discolored, or torn, and the sewing should be 100% intact.

So long as the original owner hasn’t removed the manufacturer’s label, you can check the date sewn into the small label on the sling to know exactly how old the cam is.

Used cam red flags: Frayed wires or slings, bent stems, cracked or gouged cam lobes

Stoppers

Stoppers hold up remarkably well. They’re just hunks of metal, after all. This makes them easy to resell and replace.

For stoppers, some signs of wear and tear are okay, like scratches in the color anodized finish. But pay close attention to the cable wire. The cables should not be frayed or grotesquely bent.

Used stopper red flags: Frayed and badly damaged cable wires

Quickdraws

The bolt-side carabiners should not be badly damaged, cracked, or marred. The rope-side carabiner should not be visibly worn out from rope friction. The gate action should still be snappy, and the gate should close completely. The sewing on the dogbone must be 100% intact, and the material should not be discolored or badly damaged.

Like cams, you can also check for dates on quickdraws to get their approximate age. Each quickdraw should have a small label sewn into the dogbone.

Used quickdraw red flags: Cracked or damaged carabiners, carabiniers that don’t fully close, dogbone discoloration

Carabiners: Non-locking and locking

It’s okay if a carabiner shows signs of wear. However, you want to avoid carabiners with deep grooves in the basket from rope friction. You should also avoid carabiners that have sticky gates. If it’s a locking carabiner, avoid carabiners with faulty locking mechanisms.

Used carabiner red flags: Deep grooves, sticky gates, defective locking mechanisms

Soft Goods

For the purposes of this guide, we’re defining soft goods as climbing gear that is, well, literally soft—made from fibers or fabric, not hard materials. Buying used climbing soft goods can be a little trickier because, in general, they are less durable and more susceptible to wear and tear. For that reason, some folks avoid buying used soft goods altogether.

But when it comes to dirtbagging, saving money, and equipping yourself for your next rock trip, safety third, right?

I say maybe.

For soft goods like ropes, slings, and harnesses, it’s really important to inquire about the age of the item, how it was used, and how it was stored.

Ideally, the items will only be a couple of years old, lightly used or brand new (sometimes you can even find soft goods in their original packaging), and have a verifiable history of responsible storage (e.g., in a rope bag or in the gear closet, and not just in the trunk of a car or garage).

Ropes

Climbing ropes should not be discolored, too frayed, or possess apparent sheath damage or core shots. Most cores are white-colored, whereas sheaths are multi-colored. So, if you see white, skip the sale. You also want to inspect for core separation and flat ropes underneath the sheath.

Whenever possible, verify the type, length, and manufacturer of a rope by looking for the factory-installed label on the bitter ends. Inquiring about the rope’s age is also a good idea. However, age isn’t a tell-all data point when considering a used rope purchase. For example, a one-year-old rope that was used heavily might be in worse condition than a three-year-old rope that was used once for an expedition. It’s more about looking for red flags than counting years.

That being said, most rope manufacturers recommend a 10-year lifespan even for unused ropes that are properly stored and in their original packaging. From there, the recommended lifespan only decreases based on usage.

Used rope red flags: Discoloration, frayed fibers, core shots, sheath damage

Sewn slings

Avoid slings that are discolored. You also want to avoid slings that are very fuzzy. If you can see some fuzzy texture, but the sling is still young, and you feel the seller is trustworthy, it may be worth it. But if it’s looking like a shag carpet, stay away.

Like cams and quickdraws, you can check the manufacturer’s label on the sling to verify its age.

Used sling red flags: Fuzzy texture, discoloration

Harnesses

The sewing on all harness components—including the belay loop, tie-in points, etc.—must be 100% intact. In addition, the two tie-in points of the harness should be undamaged from rope friction. Also, look for damaged or badly worn fabric on the belay loop or tie-in points.

Some harness manufacturers, like Arc’teryx, use a different-colored material (e.g., red) on the interior of their tie-in points to indicate excessive wear and tear. The waistband should not show any egregious damage, and the gear loops should be well-attached. All buckles should be 100% functioning.

Used harness red flags: Loose or broken threads, detached components, faulty buckles

Climbing shoes

Climbing shoes can show some wear, but avoid any with significant holes or tears. Avoid shoes with delaminating rands and non-functioning closure systems. If a shoe’s edges are particularly beaten up, you can still make the purchase and have the shoe resoled or fixed up. Nowadays, cheap secondhand shoes plus a professionally done resole are still more affordable than a brand-new pair from the factory.

Ideally, a used pair of shoes won’t smell too bad. One day, with smell-o-vision, buying used rock shoes online will become even more interactive.

Used shoe red flags: Holes, tears, delaminating rubber, dysfunctional closures, bad odors

Where to Find Used Climbing Gear

You can find used climbing gear in two primary places: online or at local gear shops that specialize in or stock used products. I’ve been known to find gear in both areas, but I probably buy more used gear online than in person. Each source comes with some pros and cons.

Where (and how) to buy used climbing gear online

The internet is a convenient place to look for used climbing gear. For example, climbing-related forums like Mountain Project have a dedicated page for buying, selling, and trading used climbing gear. Geartrade is another great place for climbers searching for secondhand goods. Even Facebook Marketplace can be a reliable source of used outdoor gear.

However, some extra challenges come with buying gear online. The primary concern is whether the seller is legit. Unfortunately, I’ve heard all sorts of stories of people agreeing on a price for the collection of goods, sending money electronically via Venmo or PayPal, then never receiving the goods. The other issue is that the seller’s account of the condition of the gear may not be accurate.

To avoid this type of scandal, it can be helpful to investigate the seller. Look for green flags, like fully developed online profiles with complete names, seller location, and profile images. High-quality images of the equipment for sale are also essential.

For example, on forums like Mountain Project, you can view how long a user’s profile has been active. You can also see an inventory of the seller’s posts in the forum. Typically, the longer someone has been active on a forum like Mountain Project, with a lengthy string of verifiable forum contributions—or even better—successful used-gear transactions, the safer the deal.

The same goes for you as the buyer. Buyers and sellers will be more likely to interact with you online if your profile is complete, your online presence is reliable, and your behavior is polite. No angry pawn shop vibes. 

Another more mainstream source of used gear is eBay or the REI Re/Supply Program. eBay has solid recommendations for finding trusted sellers. REI is obviously a trustworthy source. However, it’s important to note that the REI Re/Supply is only suitable for finding climbing shoes and climbing clothing.  Some used-gear retailers like REI choose not to re-sell soft climbing goods for fear of liability.

Finding used climbing equipment at local gear shops

If buying used gear online doesn’t sound like your jam because of the potential obstacles related to illegitimate sellers, delays in communication, and extra shipping fees, the best thing to do is avoid it altogether. Instead, source used gear in person.

The best place to look is mom-and-pop style gear shops. Think the Black Diamond x Wilderness Exchange in Denver, CO, the Rock and Snow Annex in the Gunks, the Moab Gear Trader in Utah, or Snow, Mountain, River in Flagstaff, AZ.

For buyers, places like the Rock and Snow Annex are treasure troves of lightly used and sometimes brand-new gear and clothing. For sellers, these consignment programs are a valuable opportunity to make back money on gear no longer needed.

The major advantage of buying used gear in person is that you support small businesses. Plus, what you see is what you get—no surprise dents or discoloration you didn’t notice, or that were obscured, in the online photos. And you can have what you purchase right away—no waiting for shipment. However, the disadvantage is that you’re limited to the gear inventory at your local shop.

If You Don’t Love Used Gear, Let It Go

Buying used climbing gear is a great way to save money and participate in a more sustainable commodity chain that reduces your carbon footprint as a climber.

Likewise, selling your used gear is also a great way to participate in that process. But I know it can be hard. Attaching sentimental value to certain items and keeping them longer than you should is normal. I still have an original 10-year-old carabiner from my first rack of quickdraws. It holds my gloves now.

However, it’s so much better to let things go and let them live a second, perhaps third, or fourth life with another climber. Who knows, maybe you’ll buy back a cam you sold years ago. Talk about full circle, right?