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What gear would you never buy second hand?

Original Post
B Y · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2021 · Points: 15

I know of some shops that sell second hand gear and obviously the buy/sell/trade section of MP gets a lot of traffic too with all sorts of stuff. 

Whats a piece of gear that you just cant ever bring yourself to buy second hand and why? 

I know everyone has different reasons for their choices but Im just curious. Ive been to stores that sell second hand cams and other pro and overheard people say "I would never buy a used cam" even though I have total confidence that the owner of this shop would never sell gear they didnt trust. 

John Clark · · Sierras · Joined Mar 2016 · Points: 1,398

I usually pass on second hand prostate massagers

B Y · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2021 · Points: 15
John Clark wrote:

I usually pass on second hand prostate massagers

Thats my bad for not saying climbing related gear. Unless you have a climbing application for one? 

Andy Shoemaker · · Bremerton WA · Joined Jul 2014 · Points: 70

By default- all soft goods.  

Especially ropes, harnesses, tethers, etc-  the non-redundant parts of our systems.  My life ain't worth saving $30 on a harness.  But I'm privileged enough to be able to afford new gear if I need it, so I see no problem with folks buying and selling softgoods.  Especially if it keeps plastic out da landfill.  Don't sell your soft goods if they're even remotely questionable in status.

Daniel Joder · · Barcelona, ES · Joined Nov 2015 · Points: 0

Cams and nuts (including tricams and hexes) are about the only things I've purchased second hand but would consider carabiners or maybe a belay device depending on the condition and seller. Pitons would be OK in my mind but I don't use them any more for anything but admiring craftsmanship and history. As a rule, I don't purchase second hand soft goods (but would consider it if still in original packaging and not ancient).

As to prostate massagers, I'll leave that up to the individual. (Well done, John).

Jack Bushway · · Salt Lake City, UT · Joined Oct 2018 · Points: 10

Rock shoes. Feet are nasty and I feel like once the shoe molds to someone else’s foot it’ll never fit the next person quite right

John Clark · · Sierras · Joined Mar 2016 · Points: 1,398
B Y wrote:

Thats my bad for not saying climbing related gear. Unless you have a climbing application for one? 

Good for relaxing on those butt puckering runnouts 

Finn Lanvers · · SLC · Joined Feb 2019 · Points: 187

Definitely personal anchors, harnesses, ropes and probably dog-bones. I jut cant image using a personal anchor that i don't know the history of, It is one of the only things that I singularly trust my life with along with belay loops and ropes(though I like half ropes). Oh and underwere i tend to buy new.

Frank Stein · · Picayune, MS · Joined Feb 2012 · Points: 205

Poop tube

B Y · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2021 · Points: 15
John Clark wrote:

Good for relaxing on those butt puckering runnouts 

John, you may be pioneering something wonderful here. 

Robert S · · Driftwood, TX · Joined Sep 2018 · Points: 661

Underwear worn on a crux pitch

F r i t z · · (Currently on hiatus, new b… · Joined Mar 2012 · Points: 1,155
B Y wrote:

Whats a piece of gear that you just cant ever bring yourself to buy second hand and why?

I've bought and trusted second-hand items from every category of climbing gear. Mostly from MP sellers, too. 

Over time you learn how to assess both the gear and the seller ...

ian watson · · Sandia park, NM · Joined Apr 2010 · Points: 240

No low balls I know what I got.....

Nathan M · · Boulder, CO · Joined Apr 2017 · Points: 0

Helmet

Allen Sanderson · · On the road to perdition · Joined Jul 2007 · Points: 1,100
John Clark wrote:

I usually pass on second hand prostate massagers

Given that you used the word "usually" that implies that there are times when you do not.

usually - adverb - under normal conditions; generally.

HAHAHAHAHA

F r i t z · · (Currently on hiatus, new b… · Joined Mar 2012 · Points: 1,155

You should be using a third-hand prostate massager anyways so you can go hands-free while cleaning.

Matthew Bell · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2022 · Points: 10

Any soft goods. If I buy cams I resling them. Otherwise metal gear is fine as long as it's not cracked. 

Charlie Ward · · Switzerland · Joined Dec 2023 · Points: 0
Nathan M wrote:

Helmet

For sure any foam based helmet. On one hand they can get just as nasty as shoes. On the other hand, it's well known that the foam degrades over time with exposure to UV so even if it looks perfect, it probably won't protect ya dome as well as it should. 

John Rock · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2022 · Points: 5

Climbing socks

Steve McGee · · Sandpoint, ID · Joined Aug 2021 · Points: 795

I won't buy used briefs, but I think even that is paranoid. Or, then I should throw away mine instead of washing them, too.

All of my gear is used, so.

And, I will tie in and let a climber belay me, whether on new gear or whatever gear there is. If there's a seller who wants to try to kill me, maybe he can. But I look at all my gear and have tossed a few things over the years. Not much, but I have retired stuff.

I'm glad the current generation is worried about it, because I have a fucking huge rack (again) from buying here, ebay and even facebook for pretty darn cheap.

Andy R · · MA · Joined Jan 2016 · Points: 45

Nothing except probably underwear or something like that.

Bought a great arcteryx harness / slings / mastercams on here while back for like 90% discount.

I think people over-worry about cam sling age. The cams are rated way less than the breaking strength of the sling, so even if the sling loses 40-50% of its MBS its still strong enough. Plus obviously check the pictures to make sure the gear isn't sun-bleached and super old and fuzzy.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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