REI

Jenn A.
378 reviews
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Where I get most of my clothes...

This REI store is pretty big - they have a wide selection of clothing, maps, books, shoes and some gear -- and lots of nutritional bars. The staff are mostly friendly though not all of them are very well informed. Shopping for backpacks was a bit of a trial - there are a couple people in the department who seem to know their stuff and the others, well, they really are just retail clerks.

REI has changed a lot over the years since I first joined. I love them for what they used to be - the idea of REI as a real outdoor outfitter and educational resource, and now I shop there for what they are. When I first joined REI in 1996, it was really a serious outdoor outfitter kind of store -- over the years it has morphed into, well, an outdoorsy clothes store with some (expensive) outdoor gear. REI is really a place where 'burban moms to buy stuff that makes them feel sporty - but I find that I end up buying my serious outdoor gear at places like Wilderness Exchange (nearly across the street from this location).

REI is great for the beginner -- they really do a good job of providing information and classes that help out folks who are just getting started in camping, backpacking or other outdoor activities. They have schedules of all their informational sessions (want to see slides from a trip to climb Mt McKinley?) on their site for all locations.

REI offers some great sales -- make sure you visit the used gear sales and the winter sales for discounts on clothing by Prana, Patagonia and Royal Robbins. Just get their early for the best picks!

Jenn's keywords: outdoor clothing womens clothing