What to Do With Old Equipment: 5 Ideas

You might have a sentimental attachment to your favorite baseball bat or hockey stick. However, all sports equipment eventually outlives its usefulness. The harder you play, the more frequently you need to upgrade.

However, you don’t want your old playthings to become landfill fodder. Many materials can see new life after a bit of love makes them useful for a new purpose. Plus, you could potentially line your team’s coffers.

Here are five ideas for what to do with old sports equipment.

1. Sell It

Are you looking for a way to afford that luxury rental bus so that your team can roll up to the championships in style? One possible fundraising avenue is selling your old equipment for cash.

The invention of the internet gives you more possible avenues than ever to sell your wares. Sites such as OfferUp and SidelineSports let you list your items for free, although you will pay a small commission based on the purchase price of your item.

You can also visit in-person retail stores such as Play It Again Sports. Your local pawn shop is another place where you can sell your old sports equipment. The benefit of choosing the latter route is getting cash on the spot — a godsend if you have to put a deposit on that luxury bus today or risk riding the yellow Bluebird over 100 bumpy miles.

2. Put It Up for Auction

If you have a little more time but still want to earn money with your old sports equipment, you can put it up on the auction block. Online sites such as eBay allow you to set a buy it now price if you have a set figure in mind. Alternatively, you can let your item go to the highest bidder.

If you have a substantial amount of old sports equipment you need to sell, why not consider having a live auction? Now that COVID-19 vaccines have arrived, many jurisdictions have eased restrictions on in-person gatherings, and you can always select an outdoor venue to further reduce health risks.

Such an approach has the advantage of raising local community interest. You could potentially attract former players who now have adult cash to spend on a bit of their childhood memorabilia. Send out a notification to your alumni network outlining your event and including an informational listing and photographs of each item you plan to put on the block.

3. Donate It

If you live in a well-supplied district or community, why not let your old sports equipment do some good? Many organizations desperately need such materials to provide activities for folks who lack access to such amenities.

A quick Google search should reveal numerous organizations in your area that will take your donation. Organizations such as Peace Passers and All Kids Should Play donate used sports equipment to under-resourced schools and summer and afterschool programs.

4. Refurbish It

One of the principles of green, minimalist living entails refurbishing old materials instead of sourcing new ones. Why not see if your old equipment could see another few years of field life with a little TLC?

For example, you can restore the bars and wires of old catcher’s masks with light steel wool and a bit of polish. You can likewise breathe new life into leather catcher’s mitts and baseball gloves. Wooden bats shine up like new with a diluted solution of Murphy’s oil soap and water.

You can also find professionals who specialize in restoring sports equipment. Sites such as Glove Doctor and Glove-Works can make that collection of mitts look new.

5. Repurpose It

Are you the crafty sort? Perhaps you’re looking for the ideal team-building activity to kick off the upcoming season.

If so, why not repurpose some of your old sports equipment into creative home goods? You and your teammates can put your heads together, inventing crafts such as tennis racket mirrors and hockey stick coat racks. Players and their families will appreciate a bit of memorabilia decking their abode while serving a new and useful purpose.

What Should You Do With Your Old Equipment? Try One of These 5 Ideas

Your old equipment can pad your team’s coffers, do a bit of good in the world or serve as a sentimental reminder of your player’s glory days. Try one of the five ideas above to put that gear to best use.

Author Bio:

Oscar Collins is the managing editor at Modded. He writes about cars, fitness, the outdoors and more. Follow @TModded on Twitter for more articles from the Modded team.