Another small gripe is that although the website is beautiful, the product specs can be hard to find, which sometimes leaves us searching elsewhere. You’ll often find past-season colors and the lowest prices at, and we love the convenient customer service chat tool that’s easy to use and interact with, plus free standard shipping on orders over $50 (the same as REI above).Īs we mentioned above, Backcountry only has a few brick-and-mortar locations, meaning most people don’t get the convenience of walking into the shop for advice or returns like you do at REI (or Evo on the West Coast). They carry a wide range of clothing and equipment from most major brands, a decent portion of which is on sale at any given time. The company is based in Park City, Utah, with major distribution centers in Utah and Virginia, and aside from a few retail stores, almost all of their business is done via their website. What we don’t: Other sites present product specs more clearly.ī is an online behemoth. What we like: Extensive inventory, including a lot of high-end gear. International shipping: Yes (excluding Europe) Return policy: Lifetime for new, unused gear (refund) 30 days for used gear (store credit) If you’re in Seattle, make sure to stop by the flagship store, which is located right off Interstate 5 and a deserving tourist destination in its own right. That said, it’s one of the easiest-to-use sites out there and REI has great customer service, both online and in person. However, brand selection still is smaller than some of the retailers below, especially for winter sports. In addition to gear for beginners and weekenders, REI continues to expand its offerings for those who know their way around the backcountry, including some of the niche brands that haven’t been available in years past. Last but not least, REI has a whopping 179 brick-and-mortar stores in 42 states and the District of Columbia, which certainly is a plus. Customers like REI’s dividend program (members receive a 10% dividend annually) and generous return policy, and REI.com offers free shipping to its stores for pickup. In addition, their in-house line of gear from technical outerwear to mountain bikes continues to expand and impress us. For everything from backpacking tents to hiking boots and mountain bikes, you won’t find many product categories or sports that REI doesn’t carry. Seattle-based REI Co-op is the king of outdoor stores, and the vast majority of its inventory is available online. What we don’t: Brand selection sometimes is limited, particularly in winter. What we like: Extensive brick-and-mortar presence, great customer service, and generous return policy. Return policy: 1 year (members), 90 days (nonmembers) Shipping: Free standard (for all member purchases at $50+ for nonmembers) For our top picks in each category, see our detailed outdoor gear reviews. We also would like to note that when you make a purchase through the links below, we receive a small commission, helping us continue to review and write about outdoor gear. Along with a detailed description of each retailer, we’ve included information on shipping costs, returns, and international shipping. Below we’ve picked the best sites to buy outdoor gear in 2023, from the mega sites with the widest selection to discount retailers and even used gear. For those who love the outdoors, the options for buying gear and clothing online continue to expand.
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