- 1). Assess the quality and condition of your shoes. You should only donate your old climbing shoes for others to wear if they are in good working condition. If the reason you no longer want to use your shoes is because they are damaged or no longer suitable for climbing, some companies offer recycling options.
- 2). Donate shoes that are too worn out to be good for use to a shoe recycling program. Contact companies such as Mad Rock and Nike to find out more about their shoe recycling programs and how to donate your worn-out shoes (see References and Resources).
- 3). Go to your local climbing gym and ask if they accept shoe donations. Often climbing gyms will accept used equipment, especially shoes and chalk bags, if it is in good condition. If the gym does not accept donations, see if there is an area in the gym where advertisements for gear and climbing partners are posted. Make a small flier that describes the shoes (brand, size and condition), include your contact information, clearly state that you are interested in donating the shoes to an interested person and even include a photo if you like. Beginning climbers who have not yet purchased their own shoes may be interested in obtaining equipment in this way.
- 4). Post an add on Craigslist or online climbing forums. On Craigslist there is a forum designated for "Free Stuff." Draft an advertisement that includes a description of the shoes, including size, brand and condition. Add a photo to your Craiglist or climbing forum ad to improve your chances of finding a person who wants your shoes, as the photo will provide a clear picture of what someone would be getting.
- 5). Visit the websites of charity organizations that specialize in goods such as climbing shoes. Check out organizations such as One World Adventure Company and Climb Swaziland (see Resources). Also try the I Love Schools program, whose website includes a database of teachers who have posted requests for items their students need.
- 6). Donate your shoes to your local Goodwill, Salvation Army or other community thrift store. These organizations will take your old shoes and make them available to the community for purchase at a low price. Often these organizations will even have designated days where they will pick up your donated items from your curb or they will have drop boxes for easy donation.
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