Camping has always been seen as the less expensive way to go on a vacation. For some campers, there are even more ways to cut down the budget further when going on a camping trip. One of these is to purchase used camping gear.

Used camping gear has been growing more and more popular these days as more campers begin to rely on these less expensive camping equipment. However, many experienced campers agree that brand new camping equipment is still the safer choice.

Jeremy Thomas, 57, a camper for 26 years told us that he has tried used camping gear only once but that one time had become a disastrous event. “I tried this tent before I bought it and I was so sure that it was working out perfectly fine but during the camping day, without any warning my tent suddenly fell apart. And because it was raining, me and my family got completely drenched. I swore never to use second-hand camping gear again,” he related.

It was not any different with the case of Karina Shaw, 23, who has just started going on camping trips. “My friends told me based from their experience that it’s okay to buy used camping gear but it turns out that it’s not. I bought this slightly-used heater from a garage sale. It was okay at first but then it suddenly just stopped working. It was the longest coldest night of my life.”

However, not all stories on used camping gear are horror stories. There are some campers who were luckier with their used camping gear experience.

“I’ve used second-hand even third-hand camping gear almost my entire life and never had I encountered any bad experience. I just make sure that I only buy those that are in good working condition and have money-back guarantee in case it doesn’t work,” Karen Leigh, 38, said.

Another used camping gear avid user is Jonathan Wells, 28, who has been camping for two years. “I love camping but I can’t afford to buy new equipment. Used camping gear gives me the chance to do what I love without having to spend too much.”

Looking at both sides, the primary pro of used camping gear is the price. And with the rising costs of everything in today’s society, it’s hard to take this for granted. On the other hand, the main disadvantage of this is the risk of poor quality which you will hardly encounter if you purchase brand new camping equipment.

“The trick to buying used camping gear is to buy from people you know. This way you can be sure that you can trust that the equipment won’t fail you,” Leigh recommended.

Thomas, on the other hand, urges campers to rely only on brand new camping equipment. He points out that there are many brand new high-quality camping equipment that are very much affordable like Coleman Tents for example. “The little amount that you save from buying used camping gear is just not worth the risk.”

Whichever choice you end up with, the important thing is to always make quality your top priority over price. This way, you can be assured of a memorable and wonderful camping trip.