The last time we went to an REI garage sale, we were total rookies. We showed up a little before 9am (the sale started at 9) and by then, there were a couple of hundred people in line ahead of us. Once there, we had to wait in line well past after 9am for the early birds to finish their rounds. This time, we decided to go hard(er).
We initially talked about arriving at 6:30am, but that felt like that was a little too much for us, so we ultimately arrived shortly after 7am. We set up with our collapsable chairs, books, drinks, and snacks, and waited for the clock to count down. Due to our willingness to forego a few hours of sleep this morning, we arrived in time to be around #40 in the line, ensuring that we would be among the first to go in as part of the first round.
We didn’t have a specific plan or goal in mind, other than to get better gear for camping, which we did succeed at. Other than that, we just wanted to keep an eye out for anything that looked handy and interesting. One of my sort-of-goals was to find a replacement pair of hiking boots. The pair I currently own was gifted to me and is a half-size too small. On a good day, they feel fine on my feet, but if my feet are a bit swollen or I’m wearing thick socks, they are not so comfortable. After trying on a couple of pairs of boots, I found a pair that look and feel solid, which is exciting! It doesn’t hurt that they have purple shoelaces. Purple is my jam.
After rummaging around through bins, endless piles of shoes, sleeping bags I wasn’t sure I needed, and boxes that I hoped contained something I needed, I left with five solid items, plus an REI membership of my own.
- Bio Lite Kettle Pot
- Hydro Flask
- Vasque Hiking Boots
- REI self-inflating sleeping pad
- REI Vest
Without the REI garage sale discount, I would have paid nearly $400 for those five items, but instead spent less than half of what those items are worth. Despite the big savings, it’s still a lot of money and these purchases add up, particularly if you’re shopping for a family and need to ensure that everyone has the gear they need for hiking, camping, etc. I still can’t afford full REI prices, but I’m grateful to be in a position to be able to get the basic gear I need to do some of the things I’ve come to love. Here’s to more starry nights in Texas state parks.
