What a fair price looks like
Condition on WishThrift is described by the seller against five grades, and nobody inspects it on your behalf — so the description and the photographs are what you are buying on.
| Condition | Typical | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| New with Tags | £200 (~$266) | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | £170 (~$226) | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | £130 (~$173) | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | £90 (~$120) | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | £50 (~$67) | Not working or incomplete, sold as seen |
Sterling guide ranges with an approximate US dollar equivalent at £1 ≈ $1.33 (July 2026). Sellers set their own asking price; these are a starting point for judging an offer. All five grades explained.
The checklist before you pay
Getting it home — large gym equipment is a collection sale and usually needs two people and a van. On boards and hulls, water ingress that has already softened the core.
Run through these before money changes hands — they are the things that decide whether a tent is worth what is being asked:
- Delaminated or flaking waterproof coating
- Cracked poles and perished shock cord
- Mildew from being packed away damp
- Missing inner tents or pegs
And the things worth paying more for, because they hold their value:
- A flysheet with intact waterproof coating
- Poles with no cracks and elastic still under tension
- Complete with pegs, guylines and inner
- Recognised outdoor brands with spares available
Common faults and fakes
Counterfeit premium racquets and golf clubs exist and typically show in the serial markings and the finish quality on the head.
Ask for the weight and dimensions before agreeing collection. On boards, ask the seller to tap along the deck and say whether the tone changes.
WishThrift does not authenticate, inspect or grade anything, and no marketplace check replaces your own. If a seller will not answer a direct question about condition or origin, that is the answer.
Questions to ask the seller
These are the three that get asked most often about a tent, and the answers tell you most of what you need:
Count them against the manual and confirm. Missing poles are the classic used tent problem and often model-specific to replace.
Say when it was last used and whether it kept water out. If the seams need resealing, say so — it is a cheap job buyers accept.
Answer honestly. A tent packed away damp develops mould and a musty smell that never fully leaves, and buyers can smell it immediately.
Also worth establishing before you commit:
- Pitch it fully in the garden before listing
- Check the flysheet coating for flaking on the inside
- Flex every pole section and check the shock cord tension
Photographs to ask for
If the listing does not already show these, ask — a seller who has the item will send them in minutes:
- The tent pitched, from an angle showing its full shape
- The interior, showing the sleeping area and any inner compartments
- The poles, pegs and guy lines laid out together
- The seams, groundsheet and any tear, patch or worn zip
Details to confirm before you commit
- Capacity in persons, and the actual pitched dimensions
- Brand, model and season rating
- Whether all poles, pegs and guy lines are present
- Waterproof rating if known, and the condition of seams, zips and groundsheet
Live tent listings
There is 1 live on WishThrift right now:
When to buy
Sharply seasonal: April through August, peaking before summer holidays and festivals. A tent listed in November sells slowly and cheaply.
Prices move against that cycle for a buyer: the cheapest time to buy is when sellers are listing most, not when demand peaks.
Paying and collecting safely
WishThrift does not process payments, hold funds or offer buyer protection — you agree the price and the method with the seller directly, which is what keeps the platform free on both sides. Meet somewhere public where you can, inspect before you pay, and keep the conversation on the site so there is a record of what was agreed. Be wary of any seller who wants to move the conversation elsewhere before you have agreed anything.
Selling one instead?
If you already have a tent sitting unused, it is free to list and there is no commission — the price you agree is the amount you keep. Read how to sell tent for what to photograph and how to price, or what tent is worth at each condition grade.
Frequently asked questions
What should I pay for a used tent?
Around £20 to £130 in good condition, more for barely-used examples and less for anything with a described fault. Compare against the seller’s photographs rather than the grade alone.
How do I check a tent before buying?
Ask for the weight and dimensions before agreeing collection. On boards, ask the seller to tap along the deck and say whether the tone changes.
Is buying a tent second hand safe?
Yes, with the ordinary care any private sale needs. WishThrift does not authenticate, inspect or hold funds, so inspect before you pay where you can, meet somewhere public, and keep the conversation on the site. Getting it home — large gym equipment is a collection sale and usually needs two people and a van. On boards and hulls, water ingress that has already softened the core.
See also: all buying guides · tent value guide · selling tent · Sports & Outdoors · condition grades.