MEC set to open its first permanent Gear Swap store in Kelowna

A new way to save money and be sustainable while securing the gear you need for outdoor adventures is set to open in Kelowna this summer.

Mountain Equipment Company (MEC) has announced plans to open its first permanent MEC Gear Swap store retail concept in Kelowna.

The Canadian retailer is hoping to expand access to used gear and respond to growing member interest in resale, repair and long-lasting equipment.

The addition of the Gear Swap store, a dedicated 2,200-square-foot retail space staffed by MEC experts, will be part of a broader refresh of the company’s Kelowna store.

Kelowna will serve as a test-and-learn environment for the format, which will allow MEC to refine operations through direct member feedback and local engagement.

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

Resale has become more prominent in the outdoor retail space over recent years, but MEC says gear reuse has long been a part of its culture and operations.

MEC launched its first online Gear Swap marketplace in 1997, hitting over 21,000 listings at its peak and establishing one of Canada’s earliest peer-to-peer outdoor gear communities.

“Canadians are looking for smarter, more practical ways to get outside without always buying new gear,” Hlynsky noted. “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.”

MEC will be hosting a 10th anniversary celebration from 9 am until 3 pm on Saturday, June 20, and Sunday, June 21, which will also mark the reopening of the refreshed Kelowna store. Intake for the Gear Swap store will officially begin a few days later from June 25-27.