Most campers eventually build a gear pile: an older tent, extra sleeping bags, a spare backpack, cookware, rain jackets, boots, lanterns, or a cooler that no longer gets much use.
If that equipment is still clean, safe, and functional, donating it can help another person get outside while keeping useful gear out of the landfill. The best place to donate depends on the item and what organizations near you actually need.
Start With Local Youth and Outdoor Groups
Scout troops, church youth programs, school outdoor clubs, 4-H groups, summer camps, nature centers, and local recreation programs may be able to use camping equipment.
Call first. A tent that is too heavy for your backpacking trips may be perfect for a youth campout, but the group may already have plenty of tents and need sleeping pads instead.
Look for Outdoor Nonprofits
Outdoor nonprofits often work with youth, veterans, families, schools, or people who have never had easy access to camping. Some accept used equipment, while others maintain wish lists or prefer cash donations.
Search locally for outdoor gear donations, camping nonprofits, youth outdoor programs, community gear libraries, and backpacking gear donations. Confirm acceptance before loading the truck.
Gear Libraries Can Put Equipment to Work Again
Gear libraries loan tents, sleeping bags, packs, pads, cookware, and other equipment to people who cannot justify buying everything for an occasional trip.
That can turn one donated tent into years of campouts for different families. Ask libraries what sizes and types of equipment they need before donating.
Shelters and Outreach Programs May Need Some Gear
Some shelters and outreach organizations accept sleeping bags, blankets, backpacks, tarps, warm clothing, and rain gear. Others cannot accept used bedding or bulky outdoor items because of sanitation rules or storage limits.
Ask before donating. Useful gear helps. Wet, moldy, damaged equipment creates another disposal problem for staff.
Thrift Stores Are Another Option
Local charity shops and thrift stores may accept tents, packs, coolers, camp kitchen items, boots, and outdoor clothing. Their resale programs can make used gear affordable while supporting other charitable work.
Acceptance policies vary by location and season, so call before dropping off large items.
Trade-In and Resale Keep Gear in Circulation Too
Donation is not the only way to extend equipment life. Outdoor resale stores, consignment shops, online marketplaces, and manufacturer trade-in programs can move quality gear to another camper.
You can also sell valuable equipment and donate the proceeds or use the money to buy items a local youth program specifically needs.
What Camping Gear Is Good to Donate?
Donate equipment you would feel comfortable handing to a friend for a weekend trip.
- Complete tents with poles and stakes
- Clean sleeping bags with working zippers
- Sleeping pads that hold air
- Backpacks with sound straps and buckles
- Camp cookware and utensils
- Working lanterns and headlamps
- Rain jackets and warm layers
- Clean coolers
- Camp tables and chairs
- Dry bags and water bottles
- Fishing gear when the organization requests it
Simple equipment can be enough for a first outdoor trip. Our primitive camping guide shows how little infrastructure a camper actually needs when the basic gear is dependable.
What Not to Donate
A nonprofit is not a place to unload broken equipment. Do not donate moldy tents, leaking pads, broken stoves, damaged boots, badly torn sleeping bags, expired safety equipment, or anything contaminated by rodents.
Be especially careful with technical safety gear such as climbing equipment, helmets, personal flotation devices, and pressurized fuel containers. An organization may have strict rules against accepting used safety equipment even when it looks fine.
Clean and Test Everything First
Set tents up and confirm the poles, rainfly, and stakes are present. Inflate sleeping pads overnight. Test zippers and buckles. Empty food from packs and coolers. Wash what can safely be washed and dry fabric completely before packing it.
A simple cleanup makes a donation far more useful. This related summer cleaning checklist is a good reminder that sorting, cleaning, and dealing with unused items is easier when you work through them systematically.
Think About the Kind of Camping the Gear Fits
A heavy family tent may be great for car camping but poor for a backpacking program. An ultralight pack may be more useful to a hiking club than a shelter serving people who need warm bedding.
If the equipment is designed for remote trips, our backcountry camping guide can help you think about the kinds of groups that may have the best use for it.
Seasonal Timing Helps
Donate warm sleeping bags before cold weather, youth camp equipment before summer programs begin, rain gear ahead of wet seasons, and fishing equipment before community fishing events.
Programs need equipment before the trip, not after the season has passed.
Ask About a Donation Receipt
If you donate to a qualified charitable organization and want to claim a tax deduction, keep appropriate records. The IRS guidance on charitable contribution deductions explains federal recordkeeping and deduction rules.
Do not expect the receiving organization to decide the fair market value of your used equipment for you. Keep a list of what you donated and follow current tax rules if the deduction matters.
Fishing Gear Can Help New Anglers Too
Some youth programs, schools, conservation groups, and community fishing events can use rods, reels, tackle boxes, and other basic fishing equipment.
If your unused pile includes fishing gear, our state-by-state fishing guide can help you identify the kinds of local programs and fishing opportunities that may put it back to work.
Give Local When You Can
A national charity can be a good home for equipment, but local giving has its own value. Your old tent may help a child in your county sleep outside for the first time. A spare pack may help a school club take a state-park hike.
Outdoor traditions survive when new people get the chance to join in.
Keep Good Gear in the Circle
Conservation includes small choices. Use equipment longer. Repair what is worth repairing. Give away what you no longer need. Recycle what cannot be safely used.
The outdoors has given many of us a place to grow, think, hunt, fish, and breathe. Cleaning up good gear and finding it another home is a simple way to pass some of that opportunity down the line.