Buying a Used Tent at REI Re/Supply: A First-Time Camper’s Checklist

For your first car camping trip, a used tent can free up money for a sleeping pad or campsite fee. The catch is that a missing pole or worn coating can turn a discounted tent into a repair project. If you’re shopping REI Re/Supply in person, bring your sleeping pad dimensions and a complete tent’s price. Use both to decide whether the used one earns a spot in your car.

Check the price with membership included

REI’s Re/Supply FAQ says used gear is sold in stores and available to members. REI Co-op membership costs $30 once. If this is your only reason to join, include the fee in your comparison. REI says in-store Re/Supply purchases are final sale. For comparison, its regular return policy gives members up to one year on most items, subject to the policy conditions. The Re/Supply tag and the new tent’s return window are both part of the price decision.

Check fit before you count the savings

Measure your pads side by side at their widest points and compare that width with the tent’s floor dimensions. Also check whether the floor tapers near your feet. If you want room for a dog or duffel, plan for it on the floor instead of assuming the listed capacity includes gear. REI’s tent guide explains how capacity, floor shape and peak height affect fit. For a drive-up campsite, consider whether you’d prefer the extra floor space of a roomier tent over a lighter one.

Inline photo by apertur 2.8 on Pexels.

Ask to see the tent pitched

Read the condition tag, then ask staff whether you can set up the tent or lay out the pieces. Match the poles, stakes and rainfly to the manual for that model. Connect the pole sections and run the door zippers fully open and shut. Look at the floor corners and underside of the fly for peeling seam tape or a sticky coating. REI’s tent care guide explains why damp storage can damage waterproof coatings and recommends a practice pitch to check that accessories are present. If you can’t inspect a key part, price the tent as though you may have to replace it.

Compare the cost of a complete setup

Add the cost of any missing items, plus membership if it applies. For illustration, a used tent at $110, a $30 membership and $15 in replacement stakes total $155. If a comparable complete new tent costs $165, the gap is $10 before tax. Those are example prices. A missing rainfly or model-specific pole is a bigger question than stakes. Find an available replacement and its delivered price before buying the tent.

If the tent fits, pitches correctly and leaves enough money in your trip budget to justify a final sale, buy used. If a crucial part is missing or the price gap is small, compare a complete new tent or borrow one for the first trip. Terra’s secondhand board game checklist applies the same idea to another used purchase, where missing parts can change what a discount is worth.

Sources

REI Re/Supply FAQ. U.S. used gear availability, membership eligibility and Outlet comparison. Checked November 4, 2026.

REI Co-op membership. Current one-time U.S. membership fee. Checked November 4, 2026.

REI help on worn and used gear. Final-sale rule for in-store Re/Supply and general member return terms. Checked November 4, 2026.

REI Expert Advice on camping tents. Capacity, floor dimensions and tent features. Checked November 4, 2026.

REI Expert Advice on tent care. Practice pitches, zippers, seam tape and fabric coatings. Checked November 4, 2026.

Cover photo by RDNE Stock project on Pexels.