Mittens. Snow pants. A couple of fleece.

These bits of warm winter clothes often marker the difference between "WINTER RULES, LET'S Add Some other Wing TO THE SNOW FORT!" and "I cannot feel my body. It'south possible my fingers take died." Cold-atmospheric condition comfort is ultimately a matter of layering.

Add a pair of snowshoes, a set of cross-land skis, and some water ice skates into the mix, and y'all've got yourself a season's worth of outdoor wintertime amusement.

Wintertime gear equally an investment in your happiness. If we're going to live in a place with snow, we might equally well seize the opportunity to play in it.

Only all that schtuff can also be an investment financially.

If you're in the market place for winter layers to keep yous cozy or outdoor gear to better enjoy the snow, there are plenty of retailers that would be happy to set you lot up with brand-new stuff. If you're on a upkeep, well, there are options for that, too.

Here are some great places to become when y'all're on the hunt for affordable, gently used gear and apparel.

Wood + Waters Gear Exchange on Pleasant Street in Brunswick. Shannon Bryan photo

Forest + Waters Gear Exchange

Forest + Waters Gear Substitution in Brunswick has become a regular resource for great used gear (whether y'all're buying or selling). Owner Jenna does a fine chore curating the selection here, which changes with the flavour and, in the winter, includes annihilation from XC skis and boots to snow tubes, ice skates, gloves, goggles, snow pants, and coats. At that place's a selection for men, women, and kids.

Winter gear from when the store first opened in January 2019. Shannon Bryan photos

Check Woods + Waters Facebook for new items in the shop or just swing in and browse.

If yous're looking to consign whatever gear or dress, here's a list of items West+Ws accepts.

Woods + Waters Gear Exchange
12 Pleasant Street, Brunswick
207-844-8353
FMI: wwgearexchange.com
www.facebook.com/woods.waters.gear/

GearME in Freeport
GearME in Freeport sells outdoor clothes and gear for men, women, and kids. They'll besides purchase the gear you lot're no longer using. Shannon Bryan photograph

GearME

GearME is an outdoor gear consignment shop located on Road one in Freeport, and information technology'due south brimming full of gear and clothes for women, men, and kids. GearME sells used outdoor stuff for every season – from camping tents and sleeping bags to ice skates and sleds – then be certain to return in warmer months to come across what'south in that location. The owners, Emily and Hayes, are making a concerted effort to assemble kids' stuff, too, which is great for families with growing kids whose sizes seem to change every six months.

Some of the gear for sale at GearME in Freeport: Lots of cross-country skis, ice skates (hockey and effigy), snowshoes, winter boots, and dress – everything from snowfall pants and fleece to puffy coats and vests. Shannon Bryan photos
Boots and snow pants at GearME in Freeport. Shannon Bryan photos

When I visited, I spied racks of coats and snowfall pants, fleece goose egg-ups, and knit hats. They too had a selection of cantankerous-county skies, cross-state ski boots, a few snowshoes, ice skates, sleds and snow tubes, wintertime boots, and more. (Annotation: nearly smaller shops do not sell used downhill skiing equipment – skis or helmets – considering of liability issues, and that'due south true for GearME as well.)

GearME is worth a visit, and the selection is e'er changing based on what'southward coming in on consignment. And if y'all have outdoor gear or clothes you're no longer using or that the kids accept outgrown, bring it in. Hither's GearME'southward assignment info.

GearME
475 U.s. Road 1, Freeport
207-869-5952
FMI: www.gearmeoutdoors.com
world wide web.facebook.com/gearmeoutdoors

Portland Gear Hub on Washington Ave. in Portland is a prissy spot to chase for outdoor stuffs. Shannon Bryan photo

Portland Gear Hub

Portland Gear Hub opened several years agone – first in the basement of the Portland YMCA, then in a storefront on St. John Street. Now they're in a sugariness spot on Washington Avenue. The Gear Hub is a great spot to look for bikes (seriously – there are so many bikes hither. They also take a Bicycle School with mechanics classes, workshops, Bikes for All Mainers program, kids programs, and more). They also sell a range of other outdoor gear, too, like camping stuff, backpacks, cross-state skis, outerwear, and more. And gain from sales go to support the Gear Hub's programs and Campsite Ketcha.

Some of the winter gear for sale at Portland Gear Hub. Shannon Bryan photos
Fat bike for sale at Portland Gear Hub. Shannon Bryan photo

The option is always irresolute, of form, but expect to find used cross-country skis, cantankerous-country ski boots, snowshoes, ice skates, winter coats, snow pants, fleece, and more than. There was even a fat bike for auction when I was there. (Note: most smaller shops do not sell used downhill skiing equipment – skis or helmets – considering of liability issues, and that's true for the Gear Hub besides.)

Portland Gear Hub has also begun doing consignment. More than details almost consignment on their website.

Portland Gear Hub
155 Washington Ave., Portland
207-761-7632
FMI: www.facebook.com/portlandgearhub
portlandgearhub.org

Goodwill has 17 locations in Maine, including Falmouth, pictured here. Shannon Bryan photo

Goodwill

Goodwill is a well-known destination for used wearable (virtually of my closet came from a Goodwill store). I've as well written before about how Goodwill is a keen identify to discover inexpensive workout clothes. But they also sell a decent option of winter wearing apparel, too. And while much of Goodwill's wares are used, they often have new stuff, besides, like gloves, mittens, socks, hats, and balaclavas (face masks).

Winter apparel for auction at Goodwill, like NEW gloves, mittens, hats, face masks, and fifty-fifty some new wintertime coats. Shannon Bryan photos.

I've bought about of my fleeces at Goodwill – they always have a good pick of fleece, wicking underlayers, and winter coats and vests. But this fourth dimension of yr they likewise sell NEW wintertime apparel like mittens, gloves, hats, scarves, face masks, and socks. At the Falmouth location recently, they as well had a rack of new wintertime coats.

Y'all can too sometimes find ice skates, cross-country skis, and snowshoes at Goodwill, although those items tend to fly off the shelves pretty quickly.

Goodwill
Goodwill has 17 locations in Maine. Detect a location near y'all hither:
FMI: goodwillnne.org/location-type/store/

Play Information technology Once again Sports has three locations in Maine: Auburn, Biddeford, and Portland (pictured hither). Shannon Bryan photograph

Play It Again Sports

In that location are three Play Information technology Again Sports locations in Maine: Portland, Biddeford, and Auburn. The choice of sporting gear at these locations is pretty impressive. Much of it is used (Play Information technology Again buys your erstwhile gear), but there'southward new gear on the racks, too.

Just a bit of the pick of downhill skis and boots and cross-country skis and boots at Play It Again Sports in Portland. Shannon Bryan photos

At the Portland location, there's a ton of downhill gear – skis and snowboards – at a variety of price points (Play It Once again is one of the few resellers to sell downhill gear. I bought my used downhill skis and boots hither four years ago and have been really happy with them). They also sell cross-country skis and boots, snowshoes, ice skates, helmets (new just), sleds, and more.

And, of course, Play It Again Sports volition buy your used gear, also.

Play It Again Sports
232 Center St., Auburn. 207-777-7427
473 Alfred St., Biddeford. 207-602-6066
315 Marginal Way, Portland. 207-773-6063
FMI: www.playitagainsports.com/Locations/List

Burlington Coat Manufactory has locations in Bangor and South Portland (pictured). Shannon Bryan photo

Okay, Burlington Coat Factory isn't a "gently used" resale shop – and you lot probably already know that they sell coats here. But I'grand including Burlington on this list for ane reason: snowfall pants. When I was showtime getting into the Maine outdoors, my budget was tight. So I bought a pair of bib overall snowfall pants from Burlington for similar $25. Those are the same snow pants I vesture today, fourteen years later.

Snowfall pants for auction at Burlington Coat Factory in South Portland. Shannon Bryan photo

The snowfall pants are mixed in with the coats – and I could only find them in the men's section. The ones I've worn for fourteen years are a men's medium, and they've washed me just fine over the years. In that location are bib and regular snow pants on the racks, so pick your pleasure.

Burlington Glaze Mill
441 Western Avenue, South Portland
229 Springer Drive, Bangor
FMI: world wide web.burlington.com/StoreLocator.aspx

Whether y'all're sporting manus-me-down boots and a used pair of snowshoes or you've invested in brand-new skis that friction match your ski adjust, it doesn't affair. The point is to get outside, bask the snow, and make some memories. Hither'southward to a winter full of forts, sledding hills, and perfect weather condition.