Winter Brands We LOVE at Gear Hut: Ski Season Consignment in Reno Tahoe

Ski season in the Reno Tahoe area means one thing at Gear Hut: all things winter gear consignment is in full swing! As closets get cleaned out and ski days ramp up, one of our most frequently asked questions is:

“What brands do you take for consignment?”

If you’re looking to consign ski jackets, snow pants, base layers, or winter outerwear in Reno Tahoe, here’s what you need to know... and WHY we prioritize quality outdoor brands.

Why Quality Matters for Winter Gear Consignment:

Winter apparel works harder than almost any other category of clothing, especially here in the Sierra. Snow, wind, moisture, sun, stashed/packed, repeat.

For ski season consignment to work, winter gear has to:

• Retain warmth and insulation

• Hold up to repeated wear and laundering

• Perform in real mountain conditions

• Still have life left for the next skier or rider
  

That’s why Gear Hut focuses on prioritizing high-quality outdoor and ski apparel: items built to last beyond a single owner.

Winter Brands We Love to Consign at Gear Hut:

We prioritize space for brands known for durability, performance, and thoughtful design, including:

• Patagonia

• Arc’teryx

• Outdoor Research

• The North Face

• Mountain Hardwear

• Norrona

• Stio

• Flylow

• Strafe

• Montbelle

• Fjällräven

• Smartwool

• Icebreaker

• REI Co-op

• Rab

• Mammut

• Black Diamond

• Helly Hansen

• (etc... there are many!)
  

These high quality brands consistently hold their value and perform well for skiing, snowboarding, and winter recreation in the Reno Tahoe region, making them ideal for resell. If you’re cleaning out your closet and wondering what to bring in and have the above listed brands... bring it in!

NOTE: Cobranded gear DOES NOT SELL! (If we're absolutely desperate - ahem... men's jackets- ... there's a SLIGHT chance we'll take a cobranded jacket, but resale value is LOW).

Winter Brands We Don’t Take for Consignment:

We’re often asked about base layers and winter clothing from big-box retailers or everyday brands. While these items can be totally fine for personal use, they generally aren’t designed for the longevity required in outdoor gear consignment.

For winter apparel, we typically do not accept brands such as:

• Kirkland

• 32 Degrees

• ZeroXposure

• Tek Gear

• Other fast-fashion or big-box winter brands (Target/Costco/Kohls/Old Navy/JCPennys/etc)
  

These items often don’t retain insulation, structure, or performance after extended use, which makes them difficult to resell responsibly during ski season... plus they have low to no resale value.

This isn’t about brand snobbery or gatekeeping... it's about durability, performance, and setting up the next owner for success on snow. Additionally, it's not financially feasible for us to take up rack space with these brands and make us/our consignors little to no money! We have to prioritize space for the reputable brands!

Give Your Winter Gear a Second Life!

Most quality ski and winter apparel is designed for years of use. Consignment keeps that gear:

• Out of storage and landfills

• Affordable for the local outdoor community

• Actively used during ski season, rather than stored away

• Supporting a more sustainable outdoor economy

Have a jacket you no longer grab for, snow pants that don’t quite fit, or base layers you’ve outgrown—someone else ready to hit the mountain's of Reno Tahoe! Get them into the shop ASAP!

Not sure if your ski jacket or winter layers are a good fit for consignment based on branding? Bring them by the shop. Our team is always happy to take a look through your items and talk you through our consignment process!

-Leah Wzientek

Owner/Manager of Gear Hut