Dress for Less – How to Build an Outdoor Wardrobe on a Budget
While getting outside is one of the more accessible ways to get exercise, outdoor activities can often have substantial gear requirements. The technical clothing that is recommended for hiking, backpacking, and other activities generally comes at a significant price point, making it inaccessible to those at lower income levels. Inability to afford the necessary gear can be a large barrier to entry for students looking to participate in outdoor trips. This page highlights some of the many ways to find affordable clothing for your next outdoor adventure. For more specific information on fabrics to look for, see the What To Wear page.
Borrow
The cheapest way to get outdoor gear is to ask your friends! Typically, outdoor enthusiasts have had time to build up collections of gear, so if you need a specific clothing item for a trip try asking someone you know. If you don’t have outdoorsy friends to ask, then find some–exploring the outdoors is always more fun with a supportive community! Asking other people to borrow gear is also a smart way to find out what pieces of clothing fit your needs before making a bigger financial investment.
Rent
If you need certain pieces of clothing for a trip that you do not need to use again, consider renting them from a Gear Library. This can also be helpful for beginners who need the gear to try an activity before investing money in continuing.
Maine Gear Share Based in Brunswick, this gear library offers per-day rentals for a wide variety of outdoor gear essentials, including technical clothing items like raincoats, down jackets, and hiking boots. As an example, you can rent a women’s raincoat for three days for only $24! You can select a date range to rent items for and place your reservation online up to three days before your trip. Maine Gear Share also offers membership for groups and businesses who want to provide participants with lower-cost clothing and equipment.
Thrift
Thrift stores are great places to look for used outdoor gear. You can sometimes find more technical pieces, as well as layering alternatives to more traditional expensive options. Many bigger outdoor brands also offer their own “thrift store” sites where you can buy used clothing at a reduced price.
Goodwill can be hit-or-miss in terms of appropriate outdoor gear options, but you can look for anything from rain gear to wool socks. In particular, Goodwill works well for finding warm layers that can be substituted for more expensive options.
Here are some thrifting tips:
- Look in the men’s shirt section for wool or synthetic blend flannel shirts.
- Look in the men’s/women’s sections for wool blend sweaters, which can be an affordable alternative to technical fleeces.
- Look in the men’s/women’s sections for synthetic hiking pants. Goodwill often has a large selection of fishing gear, which can work well for other outdoor activities.
- Look for hats and accessories – hats, bandanas, sunglasses and other accessories can be deceptively expensive to purchase from outdoor retailers. You don’t always need a “technical scarf” when a normal bandana will do the same job. After a thorough wash, you can find great usable accessories at a thrift store.
Geartrade – this online company was started with the goal of making outdoor gear more sustainable and affordable. Individuals can sell and buy used gear with the guarantee of expert inspection and secure online payment. They have a massive inventory of clothing and all kinds of gear for activities including skiing, kayaking, camping, and more. Expect prices to be decently high for clothing in excellent condition, but still typically 50% or more off of retail price.
Patagonia WornWear – Patagonia is one of many companies offering the opportunity to buy or trade in used gear. You can find clothing in various conditions (“like new” to “very used”) for adults and children. Keep in mind that Patagonia clothing is typically more expensive to start out so the WornWear prices can still be high, but there are often deals to be found on this site.
REI Re/Supply – If you are an REI Co-op member (for a one time fee of $30), you can access their online thrift store. Members can trade in used gear for store credit, as well as purchase used clothing and footwear from many different brands, often for over 50% off the original price.
Invest
While you can supplement a large portion of your outdoor clothing wardrobe with borrowing, renting, or thrifting gear, there are some pieces that are worth spending the money to invest in. Having a sturdy, well fitting pair of hiking boots is a good example of where spending more money up front can be the difference between blisters or a comfortable hike. Another item to consider investing in is a raincoat – often price does correlate to how waterproof the coat will be when a storm rolls in on the trail. The following are a few companies that offer new gear at lower prices or have substantial clearance sections.
Alpenglow Adventure Sports – with locations in Bangor and Bar Harbor, Alpenglow offers a wide selection of outdoor clothing and other gear. They have a well-stocked clearance section that includes name brand items at up to 50% off.
REI Co-op – REI sells clothing from many outdoor brands, often at discounted prices. REI Co-op members also get access to their Re/Supply store of used gear (see above).
Sierra – Sierra stocks clothing from well-known outdoor brands including Smartwool, Columbia, Marmot, and more. They offer a wide range of savings up to 70% off of retail price in some cases.