May 25, 2026 MEC bets on resale with Canada’s first permanent Gear Swap

Trade-in, resale, and repair under one roof – MEC seeks to reshape how Canadians buy outdoor gear.

Mountain Equipment Company (MEC) is opening its first permanent MEC Gear Swap store as the Canadian outdoor retailer looks to expand access to used gear and respond to growing member interest in resale, repair, and long-lasting equipment.

The pilot, which is part of a broader refresh of its Kelowna, B.C., store ahead of its 10th anniversary, will allow members to trade in used outdoor gear for credit, shop secondhand equipment, and access repair services through a dedicated 2,200 sq. ft. adjacent retail space staffed by MEC experts.

The investment reflects MEC’s continued focus on strengthening stores as trusted hubs for outdoor communities while supporting how Canadians increasingly want to buy, maintain, and extend the life of outdoor gear.

A Gear Swap culture decades in the making

While resale has become more prominent across retail in recent years, gear reuse has long been part of MEC’s culture and operations. MEC first launched its online Gear Swap marketplace in 1997, helping establish one of Canada’s earliest peer-to-peer outdoor gear communities. At its peak there were over 21,000 listings, and it helped shape a culture of responsible outdoor recreation built on sharing, not just consuming.

“Canadians are looking for smarter, more practical ways to get outside without always buying new gear,” says Peter Hlynsky, CEO of MEC.

“Gear Swap has been part of MEC’s story for decades, and this pilot gives us an opportunity to bring trade-in, resale and repair together in one dedicated space.”

Hlynsky says Kelowna was chosen deliberately:

“Kelowna is the right market to test and learn because we have a deeply engaged outdoor community here, and we’ll be listening closely to member feedback as we continue to evolve the experience.”

Kelowna will serve as a test-and-learn environment for the format, allowing MEC to refine operations through direct member feedback and local engagement. In the event that MEC expands the concept, future rollouts will be guided by community response and operational learnings.

MEC Kelowna store refresh ahead of 10th anniversary

The MEC Gear Swap store launch coincides with a broader refresh of MEC Kelowna, building on MEC’s evolving retail approach introduced in Laval in 2025. Updates are designed to improve store navigation, strengthen product and brand presentation, and better reflect how members shop across multiple seasons and activities.

The refreshed assortment will continue focusing on key regional activities including trail running, hiking, camping, and cycling, supported by ongoing investment in staff training and field-based expertise.

Kelowna remains one of Canada’s most active year-round outdoor markets. MEC says the investment reflects its long-term commitment to ensuring stores continue serving as practical, community-driven access points to the outdoors.

To mark the reopening and anniversary milestone, MEC Kelowna will host a two-day community celebration on June 20 and 21 featuring local activations, brand partner experiences, giveaways including MEC’s “First Fifty” swag bags, and opportunities for members to connect with staff and explore the new Gear Swap Store.

MEC Gear Swap history

In 1997, years before most peer-to-peer marketplaces existed, MEC launched one of Canada’s first peer-to-peer marketplaces for used outdoor equipment. The Online Gear Swap peaked at over 21,000 listings in 2005 and helped define a culture of responsible outdoor recreation built on sharing, not just consuming.

The in-person Gear Swap events became highly anticipated and popular with lineups formed the night before. Members slept outside stores to score first-wave access. This continues as a twice a year event, in key MEC store parking lots that are transformed into bustling markets of expedition tents, technical shells, and climbing hardware all finding new hands.

In 2022, the online platform was retired. The market had matured, and MEC said so publicly: “We’re looking at ways we might improve it, integrate it into e-commerce and build programs at MEC that do even more to extend the life of outdoor gear.” The MEC Gear Swap store is that answer.