Victoria Day Is Coming, and So Is Camping Season
The May long weekend is barely two weeks away. For millions of Canadians, that means one thing: the unofficial start of camping season. And if you're smart, you're not walking into Canadian Tire to pay full price for a tent, cooler, or camp stove. You're searching Kijiji, Facebook Marketplace, and Craigslist instead.
Used camping gear is one of the best secondhand categories out there. Most of it barely gets used. Someone buys a $400 tent for a single weekend trip, decides camping isn't for them, and lists it for $120 the following spring. That's your opportunity.
But not every listing is a steal. Some are genuinely bad deals, and others are outright scams. Here's how to navigate the flood of used camping gear hitting Canadian marketplaces right now.
Start With the Big Ticket Items
If you're building a camp setup from scratch, focus your secondhand budget on the items with the biggest markup new:
- Tents: A quality 4-season tent can cost $500+ new. Used versions in great shape regularly go for 50-70% off.
- Sleeping bags: Down sleeping bags hold up for years. Look for bags rated to the temperatures you actually need.
- Coolers: Yeti and RTIC coolers are practically indestructible. A used one works just as well as a new one.
- Camp chairs and tables: These depreciate the moment someone opens the box. You can find name-brand chairs for $10-20.
Skip buying used camp stoves with fuel canisters from strangers unless you can verify they haven't been damaged or corroded. Safety first.
How to Spot a Good Listing
The best used camping gear listings share a few traits:
- Multiple photos from different angles, including close-ups of zippers, seams, and poles
- Honest descriptions that mention any flaws, like a small patch on a tent floor or a broken zipper pull
- A reason for selling that makes sense, like upgrading, downsizing, or simply not using it
Be wary of listings with a single stock photo or descriptions copied directly from a product page. That's either lazy or deceptive, and neither is a good sign.
The Inspection Checklist
Before you commit, here's what to look for depending on the item:
Tents:
- Check all poles for bends or cracks
- Inspect the rain fly for delamination (peeling waterproof coating)
- Make sure all stakes and guylines are included
- Zip every zipper
Sleeping bags:
- Smell it. Mildew means the insulation may be compromised.
- Check the loft. Squeeze it. A good down bag should bounce back quickly.
- Inspect the zipper from top to bottom
Coolers:
- Look for cracks in the lid seal
- Check hinges and latches
- Smell the interior for lingering odours
The Distance Problem
Here's the challenge with marketplace camping gear: the best deals often aren't in your neighbourhood. A perfect condition MEC tent for $100 doesn't help you much if the seller is 45 minutes away and only available on Tuesday at 2pm.
This is where a lot of buyers either give up on the deal or waste half a day driving across town for something that turns out to be worse than the photos suggested.
With aerrand, you can send a verified Aerrander to inspect the gear in person, check all those details on your checklist, and only complete the purchase through escrow if everything checks out. No wasted drives. No awkward meetups. No sending money and hoping for the best.
Timing Matters
Right now, in the first two weeks of May, is the sweet spot. Sellers are listing their unwanted gear before the long weekend rush, but buyer competition hasn't peaked yet. By the week before Victoria Day, the best deals will be gone.
Set up alerts on Kijiji and Facebook Marketplace for specific brands and items. Check daily. When something good pops up, move fast.
The Bottom Line
Used camping gear is one of the smartest secondhand purchases you can make in Canada. The savings are real, the quality holds up, and the supply is excellent right now. Just do your homework, inspect before you pay, and don't let a great deal slip away because of logistics.
Happy camping, Windsor.