Cover photo courtesy of Evergreen Gear Exchange
By Lisa Laughlin
If you visit the “who we are” section on Evergreen Gear Exchange’s website, their preferred company salutation—”Heyo!”—will begin to paint the picture of the shop atmosphere for you. When you walk in the doors, the casual, welcoming vibe is second only to the visual delight that is before you: a veritable treasure trove of used gear, mostly organized by color.
When James and Abby Nisbet kicked off Evergreen Gear Exchange last year, they were driven by a few simple truths. They didn’t think it should cost a fortune for people to get into the outdoors, and they didn’t want more decent gear ending up in landfills. With a heart for the outdoors and young kids of their own, they also saw how quickly families flew through gear sizes. The gear consignment model was something they couldn’t wait to offer their Spokane community.
Gear consignment shops are a great buy-it-and-try-it route for people who are dipping their toes into a new adventure discipline. At most given moments, Evergreen houses gear for camping, hiking, biking, skiing (both XC and downhill), climbing, mountaineering and paddling. We personally went in and scored a nice used Patagonia jacket and pair of kids’ skis and boots at prices unheard of elsewhere.
Evergreen’s staff always checks the gear they receive for quality, functionality and safety. They inflate sleeping pads overnight and set up tents in the back room. Safety is foremost when accepting consignment: Climbing rope, for example, won’t be something they take, as they can’t guarantee how old it is or what kind of wear and tear it’s seen. Otherwise, you can expect to find the same items a major outdoor retailer like REI would carry. Customers have been thrilled to find gems like niche ultralight backpacking tents or boutique carabiners from European brands. At a significantly lower price.
“Buying used lowers the financial barrier to getting quality gear. With consignment, you are not wasting time digging for deals at the thrift stores or wrestling with people on Facebook Marketplace,” points out James. “Our staff is super knowledgeable and happy to answer questions about gear in the store, or chat about all things outdoors, so you’re getting the added bonus of in-person help right then and there.”
Evergreen Gear is a clear labor of love for James, who still works full time during the week at another job, and Abby, who works as a wedding photographer and coordinator. With three young kids between them, they say their awesome staff are the lifeblood that keeps Evergreen going.
In their second year, the Nisbets would like Evergreen to host more community events, like classes, and show up and give back to people who have shown them support in year one. Customers can support the community by “consigning for a cause,” donating their consignor portion from sold gear to a list of local, outdoors-related nonprofits, including Evergreen East and the Bower Climbing Coalition.
“Many thanks to those who have shown up and said hi and given us some rad music suggestions,” says James. “We are blown away by the positivity and good vibes people have brought to our little shop.”
The shop welcomes drop-in gear consignment any time during operating hours, Wednesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., or Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Stop by 1003 E. Trent Ave., Suite 105, to say “Heyo.”
