🧥 Second hand in Oslo: workwear, merino wool and raincoats ‘at reasonable prices’

📍 Where to find it: formats and ‘area routes’

🛒 Charity shops

• The best value for money. Lots of basic layers: merino wool, fleece, casual wear for the office.
• Plus, fast turnover: come in the morning on weekdays; keep an eye out for ‘coloured label sales’.

👔 Consignment shops (curated)

• Higher prices, but stricter selection: less wear and tear, you can find ‘like new’ membranes and boots.
• Ask to see the receipt card: when the item was handed in, what defects were noted.

🏷️ Outlet corners and ‘last season’

• In sports shops/warehouses, look for racks with last season's items and sample batches.
• Ideal for raincoats/windbreakers and urban track shoes.

♻️ Kilo sale / swop-meet / garage sales

• Seasonal events: kilo sales and exchanges. Life hack — bring a tape measure and a list of sizes.
• Route ideas: make a ‘ring’ of 2–3 areas along one metro/tram line (for example, Majorstuen → Bogstadveien, then take the tram to Grünerløkka/Markveien, finishing at Olaf Ryes plass). This will save you time travelling.

📆 What to look for and when: merino wool, membrane, office casual

❄️ By season

• February–March: merino wool, fleece, winter trainers at the best prices.
• April–May: raincoats, lightweight membranes, office casual for the off-season.
• August–September: school/office season — lots of ‘like new’ layers.

🧩 By category

• Office: wool/cotton trousers, cardigans, non-iron shirts, minimalist crossovers.
• City → trail: merino base layer 150–200 g/m², microfleece, membrane with hood, city waterproof crossovers.
• Accessories: liner gloves, buffs, reflectors — often found in ‘baskets at the checkout’.

🔍 How to quickly determine quality: quick inspection on the spot

🧶 Merino / fleece

• Seams: smooth, no ‘waves’; no twisted side seams.
• Surface: soft, no ‘worn’ shiny areas; pilling is acceptable, but not excessive.
• Smell/hygiene: a slight smell is acceptable — washing will solve the problem; a strong chemical/mould smell — skip it.

🌧️ Membrane / raincoat

• DWR impregnation: drip some water on it — the drop should ‘roll off’.
• Seam bonding: look inside — the tape should not come away or stick.
• Zips and fittings: smooth action, sliders should not rattle, Velcro should stick.
• Delamination: no ‘bubbles’/peeling on the inside, especially on the shoulders/collar.

👟 Shoes/soles

• Tread: even; heel not worn down at an angle.
• Midsole: no cracks or crumbling; insole not worn down to nothing.
• Bend test: sole bends without crunching.

🧼 Hygiene and repair: what can be restored

🧺 Washing and care

• Merino wool: liquid wool detergent, 30 °C, delicate cycle, bag, dry flat.
• Membrane: special membrane detergent, no conditioner; then reproof DWR (spray/wash-in) — activate with warm air.
• Fleece: brush/anti-pilling carefully along the bobbles.

🧺 Minor repairs

• Raincoat: seam sealer tape, patches for micro-cuts.
• Zippers: lubricate the slider; if it sticks, replace the slider rather than the entire zipper.
• Footwear: new insoles, fresh laces, water-repellent spray; if the sole is worn out, take it to a cobbler.

✅ Mini checklist ‘30-minute second raid’

• List of sizes (chest/waist/hip, inside leg length, sleeve length).
• Focus categories: merino base layer, lightweight membrane, office trousers.
• Quick inspection: seams → DWR → gluing → zippers → soles.
• Try it on: 5 squats/bends, 20 steps in the hallway, zippers/cuffs ‘in motion’.
• Care: get wool/membrane detergent and a set of patches right away.

⚖️ Safety and ethical shopping

• Check your pockets: hand over any documents/cards that don't belong to you to the staff.
• Take a reusable bag; put items you don't need back on the rack.
• Don't ‘take everything’: if you find 3 identical base layers, leave one or two for someone else.