Eco-friendly ski gear
Ski gear can be affordable and eco-friendly you know where to look. Here are some of the ways that you can source or donated it - and make a difference.
When it comes to kit, second-hand skiwear is not only more eco-friendly but often better value for money than what’s on shop shelves. New gear is expensive, and while pre-loved boots and jackets might not have that fresh-from-the-factory smell, they can be just as pristine and durable.
You can find some brilliant buys on online marketplaces like eBay and Vinted. However, both sites have obvious limits. Neither is designed specifically for skiers, meaning their search filters are vaguer and relevant listings are more sporadic and seller-dependent. Amidst over a billion items for sale, their UI makes it harder to find your ideal purchase.
With that in mind, we’ve compiled three brilliant online retailers for second-hand kit, each of which has unique advantages and disadvantages.
WhoSki.com
Who.skiPhoto: Photographer
WhoSki.com should be a go-to for every cost-conscious skier and snowboarder in the UK. You can find fantastic deals on second-hand gear and wear for every age, at no cost to quality. For fashion lovers, we noticed some real vintage fits too—designs you won’t find in today’s Intersport.
They’ve recently expanded their marketplace to include the wider outdoors market, meaning if you’re a canoer, horse rider, paddleboarder, or hiker, you can find kit suited to your needs.
On top of its utility, co-founders Nicola and Sally created WhoSki.com with an ethical vision. 10% of their commission for every sale goes to UK mental health charity stem4. The site aims towards a circular economy in skiing, trying to minimise the UK’s massive wastage in clothing and textiles. For buyers, Nicola and Sally have also compiled a “Green Directory”: a list of clothing brands, travel operators, and resorts leading the way in their environmental standards.
If you’re looking to clear out your old ski locker, you can join and list free of charge. We’d recommend checking out the site’s user guide before you do.
EcoSki.co.uk
Chemmy Alcott for EcoSki
Where WhoSki hosts a peer-to-peer marketplace (like eBay), EcoSki is a curated online shop for pre-owned skiwear. From jackets to sunglasses, ski bags, helmets, avalanche kit, and boots, EcoSki provides bargain buys for every taste and need.
While their stock is much smaller than WhoSki, it comes with a professional guarantee and an exceptional reputation. Their online shop has strict criteria for what they take and sell, aiming to be a fully ethical endeavour. You won’t find any clothing manufactured through child labour or unsafe working practices, exploitative supply chains, or polluting chemicals on their front page, so your conscience can rest at ease.
A second key service you’ll find on ecoski.co.uk is their rental shop. If you’re an infrequent visitor to the Alps, renting gear is both a cheaper and more environmentally friendly option, ensuring maximum use of the item at the minimum price for yourself. Barring skis and snowboards, they rent everything you’ll need to survive in the snow: socks, leggings, jackets, goggles, helmets etc., all for extended periods.
While EcoSki encourages everyone to donate their old gear, they’ll only take skiwear in excellent condition, so contact them before sending anything in. For ski pants that have seen one too many après-skis, the company is partnered with outdoor experts Lancashire Sports Repairs. For some much-needed TLC, you can contact them here.
As stated on EcoSki’s website, it’s much better for the environment (and your cherished memories) to repair than replace.
TrashNothing
You might already be familiar with TrashNothing.com, the upcycling app and website with over eight million active users. However, you may not be aware that besides secondhand furniture and kitchen equipment, it’s an excellent place for finding perfectly good ski gear for free. Although it sounds too good to be true, the premise behind TrashNothing is that, as a society, we have too much stuff, much of which will end up in landfills for no other reason than that binning is (momentarily) easier than finding a buyer.
That’s where TrashNothing steps in. We at SnowCarbon are struck by how, as an engine of the circular economy, the app-cum-website is so much more than a (free) marketplace: it’s also a community, united by a common desire to make the most of the muchness we have. In other words, it feels like what the Internet was designed for—to connect people and foster trust.
Like Wikipedia or Gumtree, TrashNothing is largely trust-based and relies on the integrity of its users. While there is a rating system, the community encourages reliability and prudence when arranging to pick up or post items. Nonetheless, its intuitive design makes it very easy to meet the right people and find what you need, ordering your feed based on proximity and a built-in search function. You can even put out a request if you have a particular item in mind.
For skiers and snowboarders, the site is worth checking out. There may not be the particular piece of equipment you’re looking for (yet!), but you might find a warm jacket or spare gloves for the slopes. It’s a great place to donate things too— particularly items that have a small bit of wear, meaning they are still perfectly functional but less sellable.
We’ve found plenty of secondhand gear posted by users across the length and breadth of the UK—meaning if you’re in Dundee or Dorset, chances are there’ll be someone nearby who can help you out. While some items may be in need of repair or just extremely retro (who doesn’t love a pair of Head Standards?), others are nothing short of steals—especially when it comes to kids’ equipment.
You’ll also find that TrashNothing, like the similar app Olio, is a fantastic thing to know about and use in your day-to-day. Sharing really is caring.
One Tree At A Time
Unlike the above sites, One Tree At A Time is more than a marketplace for second-hand ski gear. Worried about the impact of climate change, the organisation began as an Alps-based group of mountain-lovers wanting to improve environmental practices in the ski industry.
For a small fee, they provide training for businesses and individuals on practical ways to reduce their carbon footprint through one-off workshops, courses and consultations, and a monthly newsletter.
Perhaps most useful for skiers, however, is One Tree At A Time’s Community Hub and ski shop in Bozel, near Courchevel. The organisation believes it to be the world’s first circular ski shop, with every item for sale pre-owned and expertly upcycled. Their hardworking team of clerks and seamstresses have saved over 3,400 items of ski gear from landfill, to be sold in-store. So, if you think your jacket or thermals have too many nicks to fetch a decent price, you can donate it to One Tree At A Time for repair.
For buyers, it’s not just a pre-used kit: One Tree At A Time is now partnered with premium ski brands UNTRAKT, Planks, and Isobaa to sell their excess stock and warranty items. For the same gear, you’ll find significant discounts compared to mainstream retailers in Savoy.