Sports equipment can be very expensive, but that shouldn’t be a deterrent for participating in the sports you love. There are a number of ways to find good quality equipment without spending a bundle.
1. Trade Shows
Many sports hold annual trade shows (e.g. the Toronto Ski, Snowboard and Travel Show) right before the start of the season. These are great opportunities to pick up awesome equipment for criminally-low prices, as long as you don’t mind wearing “last season’s” styles. These shows usually charge between $10-15 admission, but the savings are worth it. As an added bonus, trade shows are a great place to find local retailers as well as cheap getaway destinations.
2. Second-Hand Shops
You can find amazing lightly-used equipment in stores like “Play It Again Sports” or even on eBay. We often outgrow equipment before we get our full use of it, and if we lack younger siblings, parents sell this equipment (cause yeah, it’s expensive).
3. End of or Off Season
Retailers offer deep discounts on equipment near a season’s end — I once picked up a set of golf clubs from an end-of-season pro shop sale for $150. Original Price = $470! Same goes for equipment in the off season, mind you it might be a bit difficult to find a place that sells rollerblades in January.
