The Story Behind Our 2nd Life Program

Every piece of gear has a story. Some of those stories are long — countless nights under the stars, meals cooked on windy beaches, or family laughter echoing in the forest. Others get cut short — a tent zipper breaks, a stove knob cracks, or a part wears out sooner than expected.

At Vancouver Island Roof Top Tents, we didn’t like the idea of good gear ending up in the landfill just because its story hit a bump. That’s why we started our 2nd Life Program: to give well-used, slightly scruffy, and sometimes quirky pieces of gear another chance at adventure.

From Broken to Brilliant

When a stove from our rental fleet stopped working because the manufacturer no longer supplied the right replacement parts, we had two choices: throw it away, or get creative. We chose creativity.

With a bit of ingenuity (and a guitar amp knob we found lying around), the stove worked again. That little fix sparked a bigger idea: what if all of our aging or damaged gear could be repaired, refurbished, or repurposed? What if we could keep gear in use instead of letting it pile up as waste?

And so, the 2nd Life Program was born.

What Makes 2nd Life Gear Special?

Every item we list in our 2nd Life collection has been:

• Loved — it’s been part of real adventures.

• Repaired or refurbished — we get hands-on with fixes, from sewing tent fabric to replacing hardware.

• Tested — because we’d never send you out with gear we wouldn’t trust ourselves.

Each piece of gear comes with a story. When you receive your purchase, it won’t just be another bit of gear — you’ll learn about the adventures it’s already been on, and perhaps it will inspire some new adventures of your own.

Sometimes gear looks a little different, sometimes even a little quirky — but that’s part of the story. 2nd Life gear has character.

A Win for You, a Win for the Planet

Buying 2nd Life gear means more than just getting affordable outdoor equipment. It means:

• Less waste in our landfills.

• More adventure for every piece of gear.

• A lighter footprint as we explore the wild places we love.

It also means you get to carry on the story of that gear. Maybe the roof top tent you buy has already seen the alpine lakes of the Rockies, and now it’s ready for your surf trips to Tofino. Maybe that stove has cooked countless camp meals and now it’ll fuel your family’s backcountry feasts.

Join the Story

Our 2nd Life Program is about building a culture of repair, resourcefulness, and respect for the outdoors. We believe adventure gear deserves more than one life — and adventurers like you can help write the next chapter.

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