Sports equipment can be a great deal when it is used. Of course, there is one exception to this area, and that is helmets. I wouldn’t ever buy a used helmet because you don’t know what it has been subjected to by its previous owners. It might not have been in an accident, but it could have been carelessly tossed on to concrete or used inappropriately. I got a great deal on new helmets through my son’s preschool program.
That said, here are some great deals on specific sports equipment.
Roller skates. All three of our kids have roller skates and roller blades in various sizes sitting in the garage and ready for them. We have everything from preschool roller skates to in-line profession-grade blades. We’ve stocked up on knee pads, elbow pads and wrist pads in various sizes. I estimate that all of these items cost us about $25 total. Bought new, the collection would have cost close to $1,000 easily. Kids quickly outgrow their roller skates and roller blades when their bodies grow. Most of the time, there is a lot of wear left on the skates. Even if you decide to replace the wheels, the cost is still only a fraction of what they would cost new.
Bicycles. There are plenty of different types of used bicycles available. I’ve seen everything from kids bikes to professional racing adult bikes for sale second hand. Kids outgrow their bikes and adults upgrade their bikes. Take advantage of this fact to get a great deal. For average bikes, check out tag sales, thrift stores, Freecycle, Ebay and Craigs List. For higher end bikes, locate a bicycle shop or bike club.
Hockey Equipment. I have seen plenty of second hand hockey equipment out there. One friend completely outfitted both of her boys from curb shopping equipment that was in great shape. From skates to sticks to padding, why pay a lot of money for items that tend to be a part of a rough sport? Hockey is very popular, and as kids outgrow the equipment and the sport, the items become available. If your child turns professional, you can worry about new equipment at that point. Look in the usual places for used items, and also check out sport equipment resale shops.
Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, technology in the Computing Blog, and creating a home in the Home Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here.
Related Articles:
The Best Things to Buy Used: Toys 1
The Best Things to Buy Used: Toys 2