It can be very tricky to know what to do with clothing and shoes, that are not fit for the charity shop / giving away. Hiking, and outdoor, items are the parts of my wardrobe that take the most punishment. Generally, once something is on it’s way out, I wear it at the allotment until it falls apart, and it not fixable anymore.

Textile and shoe recycling

I was excited to find out about the Cotswold Outdoor scheme “Recycle My Gear”. The items don’t have to be useable, or in good condition. They do need to be clean (not muddy) but can be stained, ripped, worn through etc. Updated list July 2025.

They can take;

• All types of clothing including jackets, swimwear, wetsuits, and underwear
• Clothing accessories (hats, gloves, …etc)
• All types of footwear
• Small Tents (no larger than 5+ persons) + tent poles
• Electronics including torches, headlamps, smartwatches, etc
• Rucksacks and bags
• Sleeping bags and camping equipment incl. stoves (remove gas canisters)
•  Climbing equipment

My items are all either ripped, stained, the elastic has gone or in the case of the waterproof jackets the lining has started shedding! Most have already been repaired, or darned, before.

They can’t take; 

• Sharp objects (Knives or other objects that could be used as weapons)
• Liquids of any kind including gas canisters
• Food/perishables of any kind
• Maps and guidebooks (Instead, donate these to local charity stores)

What happens to the items?

They are sorted and graded. If they can’t be used by someone else, they are deconstructed for their component parts / materials to be reused or recycled, depending on the item.

The website does say that items that, if, reusable by someone, they will be sent to one of 90 countries. There are issues with flooding developing economies with clothing they don’t want, need, or aren’t appropriate. The practice can damage local clothing retailers / makers. For this reason, I would only use this service for items not in a condition to take to my local charity shop.

Can your items be mended?

I would always recommending using your local mending service to fix anything possible, and practical, to fix. Here in East London we have the wonderful Threads Mending service. From bags and trousers, to festival wear and jumpers with moth holes, Mr LGD and I have had many things repaired. It’s great to find a mending and alteration service with such a can do attitude.

See my post about shoes, in which I look at repair, recycling and buying ethical trainers.

Also my post about extending the life of my wellies, may be of interest.

How ethical are Cotswold Outdoors?

The company doesn’t have its own brand of outdoor wear, they sell other peoples. Including Ethical Consumer best buys Patagonia and Vaude. Also recommended buys Rab & Lowe Alpine. So, you maybe able to get some ethical replacement kit if needed. Of course what you already have, can get repaired, or second hand, is always the most ethical option.

Parent company Yonderland only scores 6.5 (out of 20).

Where can I find my nearest store?

See the list, or use the postcode finder, on the Cotswold Outdoor website. If you are making a special trip I would recommend calling the store to make sure they have the recycling box and it is not full.