Think of Simms’ ReCast as the catch-and-release of high-quality fishing gear. You might love your gear for a bit, but passing it on to a fellow angler boosts your karma points. Rather than tossing aside gear that still has several seasons of life, Simms says, it wanted to create a peer-to-peer marketplace to rehome that gear.
“By making our products more accessible through resale,” said Ben Christensen, Head of Simms, “we’re welcoming new anglers into the Simms family.” He says the ReCast program underlines Simm’s commitment to quality and conservation.
Simms launched this program on April 1, but it already has plans to expand.
Simms ReCast: Upcycle for Credit or Cash
Simms wants your pre-loved gear. Waders can’t find new waters just yet, sadly. However, you can resell your jackets, fishing bibs, footwear, packs, shorts, pants, midlayers, and flannels. Simms states you can set your own price for each item. However, it says on average, most items sell for about half of the retail price.
It’s looking for items you’d be proud to pass on to your friends: no major rips, stains, or missing or damaged buttons or zippers. It can be broken in and well-worn, but still needs enough life left to survive the next seasons without compromise.
Make sure you check the pockets and run through the wash before mailing it off, too.
Once your item sells on ReCast and it’s shipped to the next angler, you can choose from 70% of the resale price in cash, or 100% of the resale price in the form of a Simms gift card. Unfortunately, you can’t use Simms credit on ReCast yet.
Future of Fishing: Buying Secondhand
Simms wants to show anglers that conservation starts with what they’re wearing. It states that the production of new clothing requires a large amount of natural resources. By buying one used item, Simms claims, consumers can reduce their carbon, waste, and water footprints by up to 82%.
The resale concept is nothing new; The North Face created The North Face Renewed, Patagonia made Worn Wear, and Arc’teryx uses ReGear. However, Simms is one of the first major fishing brands to offer a resale option. It says its “pioneering circularity within the angling world” with ReCast.
Competitors in the fishing gear industry like Orvis, Grundens, and Columbia Sportwear do not host their own resale platforms yet.
Simms ReCast’s Future Plans
One of the biggest questions we (and Simm’s FAQs) asked is, “When can I sell my waders?” An exact date has not been confirmed, but Simms states it is actively working on that capability.
As of now, Simms ReCast stages as a peer-to-peer marketplace, with ReCast facilitating the platform for transactions and individual anglers responsible for shipping their items. This is different than a program like Patagonia’s Worn Wear, where Patagonia collects used items and facilitates the resale process, including shipping.
Simms says it is planning to introduce this Managed Resale model in the future.
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