…And Get Paid

Of course, you can always use your old kit to fund (at least partially) the new, shiny stuff. Rohan have collection points in all their stores thanks to a partnership with Gift Your Gear (see above). This gives you 15% off any purchase made on the same day in exchange for clean, functional kit. The donation and discount scheme only runs for fixed periods, however, so check their website for the latest dates.

Alternatively, specialist groups such as the Outdoor Gear Exchange or Outdoor Kit Exchange on Facebook are great places to buy and sell unwanted outdoor gear. You’ll need a Facebook account and to join the groups in order to post here. Then, of course, there are more general sites such as eBay or Gumtree. Unwanted kit can be bought and sold on either site, but you won’t reach such a specialist audience.

…Or Get It Fixed

Of course, doing this kind of home-care on your beloved (and often pricey) outdoor kit can be a heart-in-mouth operation, in which case you can get someone more experienced to do it for you. George Fisher in Keswick offer an in-house reproofing service and will test the clothing afterwards to make sure all is well. They charge £10 for one garment and £15 for two. High street drycleaners, Johnson, offer the same service too. However, it might take up to two weeks – much longer than George Fisher’s one-day turnaround.

Some things, unfortunately, are beyond such simple rejuvenation. But despair not. Alpkit will repair products from any brand at their stores in Hathersage, Ambleside, Keswick and Gateshead. Their ‘Hack Patch and Sew’ services aim to give old gear new life by patching down or waterproof clothing from £10, zip replacements on backpacks and stitching adjustments.

George Fisher will also service Leki and Black Diamond walking poles for free, fully dismantling them and making any minor repairs. It’s also worth keeping an eye out for Patagonia’s Worn Wear tour, which travels around the US and Europe every year, and where you can bring gear from any brand to be repaired.

If none of these are nearby, your local Timpson’s may be able to help. They undertake a wide variety of clothing and boot repairs, including replacing zips, repairing inner membranes and leather uppers.

Don’t forget to get in touch with the brand who made your kit too. Even if it’s out of warranty they may be able to fix it for you or provide replacement parts. These are both good ways to give old gear new life. Outdoor brands tend to be very aware of their environmental impact. As such, many are generally keen to improve their credentials and performance in this area.

Great Products To Help Revitalise Or Recycle Your Kit

The following half-dozen products have all been selected as excellent ways to give old gear new life. They can all help to either prolong the life of your outdoor kit, restore its performance or enable it to be disposed of and recycled easily.

Nikwax Tech Wash/TX Direct Twin Pack – £11
nikwax.com

Nikwax Tech Wash will clean your kit, maintaining breathability and revitalising (but not replacing) the DWR coating. It may be all you need but if not, TX Direct will add a new layer of DWR coating to the fabric. It doesn’t need to be tumble dried to work and can just be added to your washing machine, making it one of the easiest to use.

Fabsil Tent and Gear Care Kit – £23
grangers.co.uk

With a sponge, tent cleaner and reproofing protector, this handy kit has everything you need to revive your tent. The cleaner removes all residue, including dust and pollen, ready for the paint-on treatment which adds water-repellency and UV protection.

Grangers Down Wash Kit – £10.00
grangers.co.uk

Washing your down jacket or sleeping bag will help to maintain loft and get rid of any smells. This down wash is specially formulated for all types of insulation, including synthetic, without damaging the fibres. The studded balls help to prevent clumping and maintain loft better than tennis balls which can crush the fibres.

Nikwax Waterproofing Wax for Leather – £4
nikwax.com

To maintain their waterproofing and prevent cracking, leather boots need regular attention. This sponge-on wax should be applied to clean, damp boots with the surplus removed with a cloth. It’s specially formulated to maintain breathability to perfect for boots with a waterproof, breathable membrane such as Gore-tex or eVent.

Nikwax Footwear Cleaning Gel – £4
nikwax.com

Just as with waterproof jackets, dirt on the outside of your boots can affect the DWR coating. Cleaning it with specialist cleaner removes any residue and revitalises the DWR treatment. Standard boot cleaners tend to be hydrophilic (attracting water) so aren’t best for footwear, where waterproofing is important.

Jetboil CrunchIt Tool – £8
jetboil.com

This handy little gadget makes recycling butane gas canisters super easy. It screws onto the top of the gas canister, venting leftover fuel from the canister. Then a gentle push of the thumb safely punctures the can. Because it’s securely attached to the thread of the canister, there’s no chance of slipping and causing injury.

Recycle It

If all else fails or the thing has been punished beyond function, some use can still be squeezed, cut or shredded out of it. Some outdoor gear, especially that made of single, non-composite materials, can be easily recycled. Others are more difficult, but it’s still possible.

Start Early

You can ease the end-of-life recycling process when you first buy your outdoor kit. Ensure that, where possible, it’s made from either recyclable or easily biodegradable materials. This is usually easiest with clothing. Unmixed fabrics, such as 100% polyester for example, are easier to recycle than composite fabrics.

But why not make some money out of your efforts to give old gear new life? Some brands and shops now will collect clothing for recycling and reward you for your donation with discounts or special offers. These tend to be time limited so it’s worth keeping an eye out. High street brand, H&M will take clothing of any brand in any condition and give you a £5/€5 voucher for it. The North Face ‘Clothes the Loop’ campaign rewards donations of any brand in any condition with drop-off points in most of their stores.