Snow of Tomorrow | Merry Secondhand Shopping

We all know it, Christmas is approaching and with it the question: "What should I give my family and friends this year? Do I want to give them anything at all and thus further fuel the consumer battle around Christmas Eve?" After all, it often comes down to running to the nearest store just before the holidays and buying something. Just so you have something.

But it's actually supposed to be about something completely different. And despite all the consumerism, presents are simply part of Christmas for me. Especially because I'm always happiest when I've put a lot of thought into a gift and the recipient is just as happy about it as I am. Because maybe they have wanted something for a long time and just didn't want to or couldn't afford it themselves. In that case, I think it's nice to show that you've thought of the person by giving them a little something and perhaps put a little extra effort into your own brain.

Because we don't want you to stumble headlessly through the pedestrian zones, but rather buy your family and friends things that they really need, that they will have for a long time and that already have a history, we have second-hand shopping tips for you this year. Various manufacturers and platforms are offering second-hand equipment and clothing. We particularly like the following providers:

Haglöfs Restored

Haglöfs stands for durable, timeless and high-quality products and launched its first second-hand collection this year. The collection consists of products that do not differ from the Swedish brand's normal collection in terms of functionality or appearance. To this end, the company is collaborating with The Renewal Workshop, the market leader in circular solutions for the textile and clothing industry. Whether previously worn, returned, damaged or defective: all products sent to The Renewal Workshop in Amsterdam are checked, washed and refurbished before being resold to new consumers and returned to the cycle. If you still have an old Haglöfs item that you no longer use, you can return it to any Haglöfs store and it will be checked by Haglöfs, refurbished if necessary and then ends up in the online second-hand store. And the best thing? If something doesn't fit, you can return the items just like in any other online store.

Here's the Haglöfs Restored Shop

Osprey Secondlife

Are you looking for a second-hand backpack? Then take a look at Osprey's Secondlife store. The Californians have set themselves the goal of ensuring that their products last as long as possible and therefore offer a comprehensive repair service for every product. If a backpack is no longer to your liking, it will end up in the Osprey Secondlife Shop. Together with sample backpacks, used and repaired products are resold there and 50 percent of the proceeds are donated to charity. Our tip: If everything is sold out in the German store, you might still find something in the British secondlife store.

Here is the Osprey secondlife store.

Vaude on Ebay

Everyone knows Ebay as a second-hand store and Vaude as a sustainable manufacturer too. The two have joined forces and created an all-round carefree second-hand shopping experience on Ebay. Used Vaude products have been available for private resale in the Vaude Second Use Shop on eBay since 2015. The Vaude Upcycling Store was added in 2020. Here, for example, materials are offered that are produced in the Vaude factory at the company headquarters in Tettnang. The high-quality, robust and environmentally friendly PVC-free materials, which mainly come from bicycle bag production, are suitable for anyone who likes to sew, craft and get creative. In this way, leftovers and offcuts from production can be put to good use instead of being carelessly disposed of. All proceeds go to the charitable foundation "Save the Children", which has been campaigning for children's rights for over 100 years and is now active in over 120 countries. Vaude has set itself the goal of encouraging as many companies as possible, especially from the textile industry, to join in and also offer leftover materials that are suitable for upcycling products in the Upcycling Store.

Here you can find Vaude on Ebay.

Vaude Ebay Store: In addition to second-hand products, there are also material remnants.

Ebay, Vinted, Ebay classifieds and co.

And while we're on the subject of Ebay: Clearly, these online platforms are the perfect place to browse for second-hand gifts. In addition to Ebay and the regional Ebay classifieds, my favorite place to look is Vinted, the former Kleiderkreisel. Here you can easily search for brands, products and sizes and buy from other private individuals. However, you have no guarantee or right of return here, unlike in stores run by manufacturers or retailers. However, you might be able to score an incomparable Christmas bargain.

Here's Vinted.

Give the gift of a day together with rented equipment

Maybe you don't want to give products this year, but rather time together? If your recipient is still missing the necessary equipment, such as a shovel, probe, avalanche transceiver or hardshell jacket, then you can easily rent it from Ortovox. Together with 80 dealers in Germany and Austria, the Taufkirchen-based company is offering emergency equipment, avalanche backpacks and normal backpacks as well as selected clothing for hire this winter season. You can easily see which products you can rent from which retailer under "Rental Service" on the Ortovox website, and the transaction is then handled by the respective retailer. "It's an exploratory process and of course a field of tension in which we operate as a company that lives from the sale of our products. At its core, we are concerned with conscious consumption, the sharing economy is on everyone's lips, and we want to actively pursue paths that lead to behavioral changes and different consumer behavior," explains Stefanie Reeder-Haas, Head of CSR at Ortovox. We think the idea of not having to buy everything ourselves first is great and can well imagine giving a gift voucher for joint activities at Christmas, including the latest borrowed equipment.

Here's the Ortovox rental service.

Many Alpine Club sections also offer rental equipment.

Do you have any tips for other second-hand gift ideas for Christmas? Then leave us a comment below!