Published November 21, 2023
Save money and the planet on Secondhand Sunday
You’ve likely heard of Black Friday and Small Business Saturday, but the Sunday following the two-day shopping frenzy ends with an invitation to craft, create and discover gently used items for yourself or others.
Secondhand Sunday is the perfect occasion to save money and make sustainable choices when it comes to the holiday season. In fact, younger generations are embracing “vintage” and “pre-owned,” items from clothes to furniture.
What about gear for adventurers? Your wool base layer takes 170,000 liters of water to produce a little more than two pounds of clean wool. Your standard cotton shirt uses more than double that amount.
Additionally, there are a lot of hidden plastics in outdoor gear, according to the National Environmental Education Foundation, which encourages people to purchase used gear until they determine whether or not a new outdoor fascination will turn into a long-term hobby.
MetroParks staff share their thoughts on buying things secondhand and what to look out for:
Bikes and beyond: “Purchasing a bike secondhand is a great way to learn how to work on a bike,” said special events coordinator Chris Buck. “Sometimes you can find the right bike frame for you, then build your own dream bike from the ground up.”
Buck recommends looking into instructional programs to learn how to work on your bike with topics including brakes and drive train. MetroParks’ hosts bike maintenance programs year-round. Be sure to sign up for MetroParks’ outdoor recreation newsletter to stay up to date on MetroParks cycling programs.
What to look out for: Ensure there is no rust or cracks in the frame. Also be sure to give any bike you are checking out an inspection to make sure it’s in good working order.
Visit a local retailer to check out used bikes, including Mike’s Bike Park, and then be sure to visit them at Wright State University during The Adventure Summit on Feb. 9 and 10 at Wright State University.
Pre-owned paddle: “I think that purchasing most of the expensive items secondhand is really important for kayakers,” said MetroParks outdoor recreation coordinator Derrick Keating. “They may find that they don’t like a specific model of an item – particularly kayaks and paddles.”
In fact, Keating recommends that newbie paddlers purchase their first kayak secondhand until they have tried a variety of kayak brands and models.
What to look out for: Ensure your used kayak has never been welded. Also, when purchasing a life jacket, check for any fraying.
In addition to purchasing gear secondhand, Keating also recommends educational experiences as gifts. Swiftwater Rescue and/or Wilderness First Aid/Responder trainings are always recommended. Those who want to learn to roll a kayak can also sign up for clinics with New World Expeditions.
Five Rivers MetroParks also offers classroom instruction during the winter and outdoor experiences in the spring and summer. Learn more.
For those who want to keep sourcing used gear past the holidays, be sure to check out local retailers, including Arrow Adventure, who will be hosting the Used Gear Sale at The Adventure Summit.
Use your imagination: For those who are inspired by working with their hands and creating one-of-a-kind items, upcycling a present using materials that would otherwise end up in a landfill is a great gifting option.
MetroParks education specialist Deb Spencer recommends sourcing materials from the thrift store:
“Buy a nice sweater from a thrift store. Take it apart and ravel each piece – front to back, two sleeves. Wind the yard into balls or skeins.”
You can repurpose the yarn into your own knitting project or give the yard to a knitter in your life. Spencer also suggests thrifting knitting needles or crochet hooks.
For those who have the tools and expertise, using reclaimed wood as a material can create a cool upcycled gift. For example, Buck created an Adirondack chair using old skis in his spare time.
Check out these upcycled gift ideas using wood, textiles and more.
