REI

Reviews

• TM

  Travis M

  5 days ago
  3.0
  I usually don't like to leave negative reviews if I didn't have an absolutely horrible experience, but I feel like I needed to share this with the store and future customers. I went in to find backpacking gear as a beginner with very little experience, fully expecting to spend ~$750-$1000 based on the research I had done.The store is well organized and I easily found what I needed, but being inexperienced I knew I was going to need help. I asked an employee for assistance and they said they would send someone over with more knowledge. I told the employee that was sent to help me that I was on a budget, just getting into backpacking/camping, I was going on a long road trip, potentially up to 30 days in differing climates, and that I just needed gear to get me out there. I told them that I was looking at "X" tent, a sleeping bag, and a pack. I was immediately told that the 5lb tent I was looking at that I had read multiple reviews online about was going to be "too heavy" for a 225lb man to carry 5 miles on an easy to moderate trail. I carry more than that in my toolbelt at work everyday. The employee then showed me the tent they use that cost ~2x the cost of the budget tent I was looking at and said this is what they carry and that I basically shouldn't be looking at anything heavier than that. The conversation about tents ended there. They took me to the packs and showed me a pack ~$100 more than I planned on spending. The conversation about packs ended there. They then took me to the sleeping bags where I told them I would be sleeping in 30-50° weather. They "explained" to me that a 30° bag would essentially keep me alive above 30, but below that I would be at risk. I already knew this, but I let them explain themselves out of a sale on this one too because I wasn't going to spend a few hundred dollars on the finest 20° down sleeping bag. The person apologized for coming off "elitist" and discouraging, but did encourage me to "do more research" and basically spend more money. I guess I came off aa unintelligent and ignorant. This is the opposite of everything every video, tutorial, and forum says online, so I walked out...with nothing...after planning on spending at least $750 of my hard earned money in the store that day. Not ONE TIME did the employee suggest an REI branded piece of gear. Not a single one. I drove 14 hours to my destination where I met an employee at the REI there who set me up with a budget setup, an REI bag and pack, and a Big Agnes tent as well as an REI credit card that helped me save more money. I camped in my tent that night in below freezing temps and watched the sunrise over a mountain in my budget gear the next morning. The night after I hiked ~3 miles in to a National Forest and "backpacked" for the first time. No issues. People who are looking to just get out there shouldn't be discouraged because they're not willing to drop a lot of money on an "ultralight" set up. If I weren't determined to "get out there" I may have given up and REI loses a customer, the community loses a new member, and I lose the memories I've already made.
• SF

  Shawn Farmer

  Feb 19, 2026
  4.0
  Always have what I'm looking for
• DG

  Donald Gant

  Jan 1, 2026
  1.0
  They sell trash and throw it over the wall. They refuse to exchange or refund defective products. Avoid.
• KB

  Kailey Bies

  Dec 24, 2025
  5.0
  well-stocked store with very kind staff. i don’t know the first thing about hiking but i needed hiking shoes, and jacob was so knowledgeable, helpful, and kind! danny was also very kind when checking out my items, and both of them went above and beyond to explain the details of the co-op membership and its benefits. i have never purchased anything at REI before but i will definitely be back!
• AT

  Alicia Thornburgh

  Dec 23, 2025
  5.0
  Great experience! Peter was super helpful and kind. Highly recommend

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