Theses days, since I go anyway, most of the surplus I get comes from carboots and the sort of flea markets that have house clearance stuff rather than high end antiques. It's more hit and miss of course but there's usually someone clearing out the kit that's been in a wardrobe for years annoying the wife. Normally stuff is dirt cheap as they just want rid and it had been proffed in the first place. For example I've picked up two last issue sleeping bags for 5 and 3 quid respectively. I'm only getting rid of them as I later picked up a pair of really nice Ajungalac bags for the eldest two for £6 a pop from a charity shop and they didn't want both clogging up their wardrobes. Fishing gear stalls often have cheap surplus as well, got a buffalo outer sleeping bag (just needed a two inch square patch, otherwise new) for a fiver.
Like I said its hit and miss but I go anyway for tools to restore, also I pick up a lot of high end camping gear and clothes for my sons , you can afford to be fussy as theirs loads there, I'm always amazed at what folk almost give away that originally cost 100s and practically didn't use. A excellent guide to how much something has been used is the state of the zips. Look for the obvious signs of wear, rips etc of course and bobbling at the cuffs and pockets. Most zip pulls are coated with stuff that chips off either in use or the washing machine. If you are slim you are made, at the mo the lads are all clothed pretty much exclusively in high end outdoors gear ( apart from T shirts and underwear ) bought as new because their waists are all sub 32". I've not bought a breathable jacket new for them for about 8 years. Thank grud for rich folk who buy stuff then pork out before they've worn them twice! Occasionally I slum it and buy Regatta trousers if completely minty. One thing I'm glad of is all three are too gormless to know the whole fly on the other side for women thing do so long as the colour/ patterns unisex I've been buying them ladies stuff and cutting the labels off ( they are teen age boys and have some misplaced dignity left ) for years! Rohan trousers for £2.50? So what if the bums a bit loose!
ive rambled on , but really, when they start up again try a few boots.
atb
Tom
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