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Finding Deals on Outdoor and Camping Gear on Craigslist and eBay

Outdoor gear is one of the best-kept secrets in deal hunting. People spend serious money on tents, backpacks, and sleeping bags — then use them for one camping trip before the gear ends up in a closet. When spring rolls around and the closet gets cleaned out, that $400 tent shows up on Craigslist for $80. That's where you come in.

Why Outdoor Gear Is Such a Good Category

A few things make this category unusually profitable for buyers:

• High retail prices. Quality outdoor gear is expensive. A good 3-season sleeping bag retails for $200–$400. A decent backpacking tent runs $300–$600. Even at steep discounts, sellers are still offering real value.
• Minimal wear. Most casual outdoor gear gets used a handful of times, then stored. Unlike clothing, it doesn't degrade just sitting in a bag.
• Motivated sellers. Someone clearing out a garage doesn't want to research resale value — they want it gone. That urgency works in your favor.

What to Search For

Start with specific gear types rather than broad terms like "camping." More specific searches surface listings where the seller knows exactly what they have — and still prices low to move it fast.

• Tents: Search brand names — "REI tent," "MSR tent," "Big Agnes," "Nemo." These hold quality well and sell quickly, so act fast.
• Sleeping bags: "Down sleeping bag," "Marmot sleeping bag," "Western Mountaineering." Down bags especially retain value; sellers often don't realize what they're worth.
• Backpacks: "Osprey pack," "Gregory backpack," "Deuter." These are workhorses with long lifespans. A well-used Osprey 65L is still a great pack at $60.
• Kayaks and paddleboards: Bulky items that sellers price to avoid dealing with them. Excellent Craigslist category — too big to ship, so competition is local only.
• Camp stoves and cookware: "Jetboil," "MSR Whisperlite," "cast iron camp cookware." Small, shippable, consistently underpriced on eBay.
• Trekking poles, headlamps, GPS units: Low-ticket items that add up. Watch eBay for lot listings where someone sold an entire kit.

Craigslist vs. eBay for Outdoor Gear

For large items — kayaks, canoes, tents, bulky packs — Craigslist wins. Shipping a kayak isn't happening. Local competition is low and sellers are motivated. Bring a truck and cash.

For small, high-value items — stoves, GPS devices, quality sleeping bags, trekking poles — eBay often delivers better deals. The national market means more listings and more opportunities to catch a mispriced item. Be mindful of shipping weight on sleeping bags; sometimes a $100 bag plus $25 shipping is still a steal.

Spring is peak season for both. Spring cleaning drives a surge in gear listings from March through May, as people clear out sheds and garages before summer. The listings are plentiful and prices are aggressive.

What to Check Before You Buy

1. Tents: Ask about poles (broken fiberglass poles are a pain), zippers (test them), and seam sealing. A tent with a small seam issue is still usable — just factor in $15 and an afternoon with seam sealer.
2. Sleeping bags: Check loft. A down bag that's been stored compressed for years may have dead spots. Ask the seller to shake it out and photograph it unrolled. Smell matters too — musty bags are hard to fix.
3. Backpacks: Inspect the hip belt stitching and back panel foam. Frame stays (the internal metal rods) can be replaced, but shouldn't be cracked.
4. Stoves: Ask if it ignites cleanly. Clogged burners are fixable but require disassembly. Fuel canisters can't ship — buy separately.

The Timing Edge

The best outdoor gear listings don't sit. A well-priced MSR tent or lightly used kayak will generate messages within hours. The buyers who get there first are the ones who see the listing the moment it goes up — not after scrolling through three-day-old posts.

That's exactly what LurkMor is built for. Set up free email alerts for the gear you're hunting — search terms like "Big Agnes tent" or "Osprey 50L" in your area — and get notified the instant a new listing matches. No refreshing, no scrolling. Just an email when something worth checking shows up.