Board size too small-

I'm 5' 8" and 185 lbs, and I usually ride a 156 or a 159.  153 is definitely small, but if it's free and you're just planning on learning, you might be able to get away with it.  Once you start picking up speed, though, you're probably going to start wanting something that's at least a 155-156.  In the garbage though?  How old ARE they?

Thanks guys,
I don't know how old they are but they aren't in bad shape. I think they just couldn't be bothered to sell them and were just spring cleaning.

I'm not planning anything for early next season but hitting the small slopes for a lot of falling over until I find my feet :)
My plan was to buy a cheaper board or a reasonable used board.

I used to race cars and people used always suggest the newest and greatest model but the best advice I ever got was that when you are learning, you won't be fast enough to understand the difference between a new and an old model, when you start to feel it, you are fast enough and you'll reap the benefits of the newer model and its all new springiness.

So I was thinking the same principles applied, here, waste not want not, why throw them away when I could learn to board.

They're probably a bit small but I need to get some boots and bindings anyway, I'm thinking I'll strap myself into this once or twice and if I'm really struggling, I had always planned on getting another better board eventually anyway.

Take both of them and see if someone would trade you for a bigger board. Or try amd sell them and buy a new board

Worse comes to worse grab them and give them away on the Good Kharma club on here, if there not bad quality someone will atleast pay the shipping, you might even be lucky and if they're good enough you could ask for a trade even if you just ask someone to send you some gloves or something

I've seen some dude that was like 6 ft riding a 125.    But yeah, you should ask him why and maybe he would give you some pointers or even more free swag.