Anyone Got Tips for Scoring Hiking Gears from Japan?

Seeking Advice
1

Hey folks, so, I’ve been lurking around here for a bit and noticed that some of you are importing hiking gear from Japan and saving some serious cash because of the weak yen. I’ve done my fair share of importing from Japan before, mostly electronics, but I’m a bit lost when it comes to finding good sites for hiking gear. Any recommendations? I’m based in the EU, so if anyone’s got a tip, I’d be super grateful…

1 Like
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Tried Rakuten? Rakuten is my go-to. They have a solid selection of outdoor gear, and you can even use a proxy service if a seller doesn’t ship directly to the EU. I snagged a sweet tent on there last year.

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Totally with you on Rakuten, but just a heads up, sometimes the shipping costs can add up. I’ve used Buyee as a middleman to keep things smooth. You gotta check the yen rates daily to make the most of it, though.

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I’ve used Amazon Japan for some gear. It’s pretty user-friendly, especially if you’ve shopped on Amazon before. Some sellers ship internationally, but I’ve also used Tenso to forward stuff. Got some killer deals on gear that’s hard to find elsewhere.

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Montbell’s official Japanese site is a goldmine. Their gear is top-notch, and you can find stuff that’s not available outside Japan. I had to use a forwarding service, but it was totally worth it for the jacket I got. Just make sure you’re ready to deal with customs.

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I’m with you on importing, but just throwing it out there—make sure you factor in customs fees. I got hit hard once, and it kind of killed the savings. But if you’re still keen, Rakuten and Amazon Japan are solid choices. Just double-check everything before you buy.

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I’ve tried importing, but it’s not always smooth sailing. Rakuten’s cool, but watch out for sizing—Japanese brands can run smaller. Got a jacket once that barely fit, had to resell it.

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Surprised no one’s mentioned eBay Japan. You can find some gems there, especially if you’re after second-hand gear. I scored a near-new backpack for half the price. Just be sure to check the seller’s ratings and maybe use a forwarding service.