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Your opinions on buying 2nd hand gear.....

rokmonkee

21-Sep-2002
6:35:39 PM

At the moment myself and my brother are looking here and abroad at the various prices and types of caming devices on offer. We have bought gear previously from the states via the web and has been all good. We were basically decided on what we wanted, but were lately thinking about the joys or pitfalls with purchasing secondhand gear. We were thinking you could buy 2nd hand cams and then put them in at the Natimik climbing store to have them tested professionally. Is doing this something that many climbers do or recommend? We would appreciate any views on the buying of gear, 2nd hand cams and I suppose 2nd hand gear in general.

Thanks guys.....

Sagarmatha

23-Sep-2002
5:01:53 PM

This is a topic often found on climbing boards. Personally, I prefer to wait a bit longer (to save more $$) and then buy new gear. The only used gear that I ever bought were a set of WC rigid friends, top condition, so far still untested in a real fall, but doubt may linger from time to time at the back of my head...........
I guess if you know the person selling the gear, and they tell you the gear is fine, then it is different than just buy second hand without knowing the history of the gear. As everything in climbing, it comes down to a personal decision.
Good luck!

nmonteith

23-Sep-2002
5:35:49 PM

I have bought quite a bit of 2nd hand gear over the years. It has all been a good experiance and a much cheaper way of boosting my rack. Its fairly easy to see if gear is badly used. Look at the inside corners of biners to see how much has been chipped away from falls onto bolt hangers. Wires and cams will get scratched with use. If the gear looks mostly un-used then its proberely ok.

Mike

24-Sep-2002
10:04:05 AM

I've bought two full sets of nuts, a dozen quickdraws and various other odds and sods, second-hand, off of Steve at Rock Hardware in Bendigo. Basically Steve is a greak freak who will put brand new gear on his rack every year, then sell it 2nd hand at the end of the year (out of his shop), only to gear up with new stuff again. Since I know Steve well and have climbed with him often, I can trust his assessment of what history the gear has seen - this fact is vital I think when buying second hand.

Now if you respond to a scribbled add at the Araps toliet block noticeboard, and buy a swag of cams off of some dude who is leaving the country... well, it's your lookout.

rokmonkee

24-Sep-2002
10:21:45 PM

Cool guys... Thanks for the insights... We will stick with buying new gear at this point, as no one around us wants to part with there shiny gear for cheap. And why would you??? But obviously if that opportunity comes up to purchase gear from a friend like steve or someone we've climbed with, we will be checking it over. Thanks again.

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