REI

Like what a fellow Unilocaler said, REI is the perfect treasure trove for the wealthy to go out and explore the wilderness. Growing up in SoCal, I was exposed to the Sport’s Authorities (out of business), Big 5’s, and the Sport Chalet’s of the world. Though not the cheapest stores for all your physical needs, places like Big 5 were all I needed.
Then came REI, this mysterious store that I heard all about. To be honest, I probably wouldn’t have went into the store until I received a gift card from my friend. It all changed from there.
REI is probably one of the most complete stores for any outdoor activity you might think of. Want to go hiking? REI’s online and physical brick and mortar store will have sleeping bags galore, camelbacks, crampons, etc. Want to go camping? REI has all you need to survive the wilderness.
The catch? Prices are RIDICULOUS. I mean I agree that the quality is there, but holy cow. I walked out paying 70 or so for a sleeping bag (on sale from 99), and I don’t think I’d ever spend that much.
I look all around me and I see people with enough money to spend on all the stuff in here. I wonder if they’re true outdoor enthusiasts or just individuals who have enough cash to try out activities. But no judging!
Back to the quality: like IKEA, REI prices things pretty closely to how the quality is. For my $ 70 sleeping bag, I became the warmest cocoon imaginable. Best money well spent.
Overall, REI has everything you need. But are you willing to fork over the money is the question.
Have fun and prosper!

Stewards of excellence! Employees give balanced opinions based on experience and honesty. Time well spent at this REI.

My experience with the shoe department changed what i thought would be a frustrating one into a wonderful breeze that took less than twenty minutes! Zach was able to help me as i tried on shoes and specify what each shoe was designed for. His service was proficient as well as his patience for my lack of awareness of shoe specifics that Zach was able to pull from a vast array. To say the least, Zach worked with an effortless presence on acquiring what i was not able to find on my own. thanks for you exceptional help!
I left the store with a new found pair of shoes that i was happy in then as it has been in my time training with them. much thanks!

REI Berkeley. Seattle-​based REI’s second oldest store in the chain. I’ve shopped here most of my life and might not have had the long history of mountaineering that I have without this store. From the trad climbing equipment I purchased while in high school to today’s latest technology in equipment that I use for getting to the tops of the highest North American peaks, REI’s thorough selection of products has made it all possible.

Behold a cohort of Caucasians! For this is their place of gathering to consume before basking in the outdoors. Witness the straight couple with matching hemp long sleeve shirts, khaki shorts and Jesus sport sandals (they shall walk around hand in hand and will clumsily be in your way); The indecisive solo lesbian trying out miscellaneous bike helmets; The really in-​shape, clean-​cut middle aged guy staring arrogantly at a sales associate. They will flock and gape at the assortment of gear and supplies and ask questions like «Is this lip balm SPF 30 or more?»
The customer service kiosk is usually just a short wait before being assisted by a sales clerk — But first you must answer several riddles before they accept your return. They will cleverly place a gift card in your hand and you will walk away feeling like you’ve been schemed. Yet you come back the following weekend with said gift card and buy something that will only be used a few times and never again So the cycle continues…

Very nice people, especially in Customer Service. Jill is a rockstar!
Jill is a rockstar, no doubt.

How can anyone not write a raving review of this store and its employees. On a typical visit I am asked if I need help by an average of four employees. During a recent visit I needed to stock up on cold weather gear for a lone excursion into the California high-​Sierras wilderness. REI’s employees were amazing… Not only did they offer knowledge and know-​how but helped me to lighten my load by eliminating the unnecessary items I believed I would need. Thank you to all of you who helped! The trip was incredible.

If I were on a mission to actually buy something that I needed for some outdoor activity, I would probably rate this place a 4. They have a lot of things here for all your needs, but they tend to be on the pricey side.
However, I did not come here to purchase anything specifically. I came here for their monthly garage sale. I waited about 40 minutes in the rain in order to get some discounted goods. The items that they offer are marked down due to damaged or returned merchandise. When I finally made it inside, I only found junk. There was slim pickings, for everyone that came earlier than me had already grabbed all the good stuff. It was interesting though, to read the tags of the items to see why they were returned. Some of them were quite entertaining. One jacket wrote, «customer said there were stains.» Yeah, I bet they made the stains themselves.
Anyways, have fun fighting for junk and contributing to the American dream of being a hoarder. The items inside were actually still pretty expensive. 1 star rating for the garage sale line and the actual contents inside.

I have been visiting various REI stores since the mid 80’s, buying camping gear and sporting gear, that’s BY (Before Unilocal).
Visiting the main store is always great, I would hit up the clearance sections, or buy new stuff for my bike.
But recently I returned on two different visits for ski boots and ski bindings. I found out that Jeff is the resident snow guru and he helped find me comfortable ski boots that did not have a vice grip on my calves. On the second visit, he was able to track down ski bindings that fit my retro narrow skis. While he was helping me, all of Jeff’s co-​workers were peppering him with questions.
The staff is always so helpful and knowledgeable, while Jeff was helping me and finding stuff from the back room, I was always being asked if I needed assistance. When I have problems with any online orders, such as incorrect fit or missing parts, I can easily return it to the store without any hassles.
Go check it out and go outside!!!

Yes Unilocal,I know I’ve checked in a bunch times. Okay, okay, I’ll review it.
What’s not to love about REI? Most recently I needed to gear up for an 8 mile, 1900 vertical ft hike in the pouring rain (coastal trail in Marin — no coverage at all). I actually went online to research options beforehand so that I knew what I wanted when I got there. Except I was still wavering — poncho or rain jacket and hat? So I stood in the raingear aisle looking at hats and gaters and ponchos and trying them on (yes even the ponchos) and looking at all the things available to me to keep the rain off. Nobody cared. I could have geared myself up head to toe and walked around and that would have been cool with them.
Ultimately I decided to get a great jacket that I had seen online but which I didn’t think they had in store but they did — on sale for ½ off the original price… yay! I also went with a great $ 5 poncho as a backup. And finally, the piece de resistance: the Outdoor Research Seattle Sombrero. This turned out to be my favorite purchase and I’m now in love with this hat. Not only did it brilliantly keep the rain off me, but when we had breaks in the rain, it kept my sweat out of my face because of the sweatband. Super lightweight too.
Anyway, my last concern was covering my pack (2 bottle fanny pak with lunch inside etc.) if I didn’t wear the poncho. When I asked an employee his advice, he said — cover it with a trashbag! Ponchos are great around the campfire, but not that fun to hike in. Simple, easy, smart. And guess what? I did use the poncho as well, to sit on the ground when we stopped for lunch. Hallelujah.
Anyway, every time I’ve been to this REI over the last 20-​ish years, they’ve been great. Love it here and never hesitate to come back.

With the snow starting to pile down in the Sierra I thought it’d be a great idea to stop by a local REI and purchase the snow gear that I’ve been telling myself to buy for the past four years. I visited a few days after Black Friday and thought I could possibly get a great deal on everything that I needed. Boy was I wrong. The place was packed. All the employees were multitasking and running back and forth from one customer to another — I could instantly feel the anxiety from the moment that I walked in the door.
I stood by the snowboards hoping to grab someone that could help me find a board that I’d need but after fifteen minutes I had to approach the greeter for assistance. I then met Ya ya, she was really friendly and honest. She admitted to me that she didn’t know much about snowboards but was willing to find the answer to any of my questions. At first I was disappointed and I had a feeling that she knew that so I told her that I’d probably try a few other sporting goods location first before buying anything. She told me about their REI customer program and handed me a slip if I was interested in joining and then I headed out.
It was not more than an hour that I found myself back at REI and standing in front of Ya ya. By that time the rush started to die down and the workers were starting to clean up from previous customers. She started to break down all the items that I’d need — board, boots, and bindings. We started out with checking out the boards. She grabbed someone from the back to help assist in finding a board for me. While we were talking, a question arose that I was fully unaware of, rocker vs. camber, thankfully they broke down the two and grabbed a board that would fit my height and weight.
The next item on the list was boots. They had a large variety of boots to choose from and had a ton on sale and clearance. While looking at the boots I started to get nervous. Before making the decision to purchase snow gear, I thought I could buy everything within $ 400 but the board alone was $ 400 and the boots was averaging $ 80 – 130, on top of that the bindings was an additional $ 50. I admitted to Ya ya that I was having second thoughts about purchasing all these items and to my surprise, she was extremely understandable. She told me that before working for REI she was trying to buy gear for some new hobby and she was overwhelmed with the price tag of all the items she needed.
Even though I walked away with physically nothing, I did walk away with more understanding on the items that I’ll be needing when I am comfortable in buying snow gear.

BIG SHOUT OUT TO SURY in the customer service department.
I had a pair of snowboarding boots I bought almost 2 years ago. They were brand new never used. I asked to see if I can exchange them for bindings I really wanted and after she worked her magic… BAM! refunded as store credit! For the full value I purchased them for as well!
R.E.I, you have just earned yourself a loyal customer just because of Sury’s customer service.

It had been a while since I have step foot in an REi and it’s because they sell amazing items with stunning quality, so I have no reason to pick up your standard backpacking /​camping items on the regular. For this trip, I was on a mission with Justin C. to get a new tent for our #OutOutside Thanksgiving weekend camping trip. We had done some research and found that the tent we wanted was in stock at the Berkeley store. That tent, which there was just one left on the floor, was the Kelty TraiLogic TN2 Tent. We watched YouTube videos, REI reviews, and basic research before deciding on this tent. We were able to browse the store a bit before being helped while in the day pack area (bought a new pack!) and we checked out easy.
The only Con is the parking at this location. I suggest going in the early afternoon to get a spot. Or ride your bike!
Friendly and knowledgable staff!

I’ve had mixed feelings about this review :(
While this is the rei of my childhood I do feel that there are things that need to be addressed.
1. The store, the vibe and the service has changed since it has surged in popularity, a little for the worse, as in service but, some things are better.
And 2. This one is big and has been an issue since I have started shopping at rei. I have noticed and been told by friends how easy it is to return items. I have had friends tell tales of finding items behind a dumpster and being able to return it to rei without a problem. Others have told me of things they have been given, origin unknown, and the ease of which they have been able to get store credit.
The same has not been true for me, now maybe not all people of color will have had the same issues I have and maybe it’s just me but, I’ve literally had to get manager approval on almost every return I have made even after being told a membership would make returns easier. Now it’s true every single one of my friends were cute white people, went in with no receipt and got a credit within minutes so, why then had it been so hard for me ?
A while back my mother was diagnosed with cancer it was around this time she asked me to get some items out of her house as women with stage four cancer often do she wanted her house clear of junk. I had to make the hard d decisions to return some items and found the process really taxing. While I am grateful to have been able to return at all it was the constant having to go back and forth with the customer service person, then escalation to manager that I found exceedingly tiresome.
Over the years I have told my friends about how hard of a time I have had with one return and they have commented back at how odd that was since they just returned a bunch of items without receipt and had not a one issue.
It’s this kind of incessant racism that reminds you are not one of the special people while others ransack the store stealing without and returning without impunity.
It has been this rei reality that has hurt me and been hard to talk about, I have experienced and seen it at other stores and its a shame as we have money and are willing to spend it at places that value or dollars.
I understand that this is just my experience and maybe others have faired better but, it is with this in mind that I seldom enter the store and even have fear to return the items in not happy with.

It can at least be noted that REI is particularly fun. You can roam about the store seeing all kinds of ways to rekindle your sense of adventure. This location is big, with a large parking lot and close access to the freeway. Clothing, shoes, and food suitable for exercise are just some of the many products offered here.
There have been many times where I have gotten shoes here. My feet face outward in a slanted way and I don’t know how to tie shoes. I also usually walk and take public transportation rather than ridding by car. Despite this, the salespeople are very helpful in recommending specific shoes. While products here are often at manufacturer’s suggested retail price, they offer some expertise along with the occassional deal.
REI is worth at least a look.

This place was so fascinating. They had everything! But it kinda reminds me of whole foods – a bit overpriced, has outrageous stuff that you laugh at but once you start looking into it you’re convinced that you must get it, etc.
It’s a good place to browse through items but I didn’t end up getting anything because it was significantly more expensive than other places! (Just like how I like walking around whole foods but then I go to trader joes to buy my groceries)

Thank you REI for letting me rent a backpack and sleeping bag for my first backpacking trip! These two were definite essentials and I don’t know what I would have done without them!
I’m not much of an outdoors man. I recently started exploring my more adventurous side. Last minute I decided to accept an invite to go backpacking for 4 days in Yosemite. I had no clue what I was doing. Thank goodness for the knowledgeable folks at REI who taught me the basics of packing and fitting a backpack.
I don’t think I could have made it with all the gear on the 6.3 mi hike up to Ten Lakes Basin without their support (and gear).
These guys are A-​OK!
PS get the REI membership card. It’s well worth it. It’s a $ 20 lifetime membership and will save you on renting and buying gear!

Am giving a four star review for this place because it has everything you need for… biking, camping, rock climbing, kayaking, hiking, etc., etc. plus food! for all the fore mentioned activities. Would give less stars because they really are very expensive for all this gear. Friendly, helpful service people and a full selection of books on various outdoor subjects, including places you can take your dog with you in and around S.F. for hiking.

I love REI, what is there to say? When I go, it’s usually after a lot of research, a lot of preparation in knowing I am going to part with a lot of money, but it’s for my happiness in getting what I want.
This REI is your standard REI. You’ve got bikes, climbing shoes, clothes, hiking gear, sleeping bags, what not. Whatever you want outdoors, they got it. I’ve come to window shop many times, and it’s always fun to see new toys for outdoor fun. If you get to live in beautiful Northern California, why not spend a little bit to enjoy these beautiful outdoors? We’re blessed with the ocean, mountains, trails for both feet and bike, and all of these great terrains for our entertainment.
SUGGESTIONS: Sign up for the membership. $ 20 for life, and you gain the dividends each year. Although I personally have never been, there is the REI garage sale. I will write another review when I go, but that seems to be time for good deals for gently used items. The wait in line for the cashier can be a wee slow, but nothing too bad.
REI, yes, it’s expensive. You know you’re getting a good product when you walk out there. Do your homework, go in knowing what you want, and be happy with your purchase. You won’t regret it, and my REI products have lasted me for a long time! I can’t wait for my next outdoors adventure.

I think everyone that loves the outdoors can agree REI’s awesome. The store is great for finding almost any type of gear for outdoor activities. The Berkeley store is located on a pretty busy corner (between San Pablo and Gilman) and in a plaza with a Chipotle… so parking can be somewhat scarce at times.
Although you can probably find most of the stuff online for a fraction of the price, REI’s return policy is hard to beat. It used to be that they would take back anything, anytime pretty much regardless of the reason. They recently changed their policy to 1 year, unless the item is defective. Still a pretty good policy if you ask me.
I often like to browse the clearance section as they have some pretty good stuff there. My last trip, the sales associate mentioned there was a used shoe sale going on. I’m not sure how long that will last, but if you’re in the market for some cheaper used shoes, you should check that out.
If you’re new to the store, sign up for $ 20 membership and get 10% cash back on all purchases at the end of the year. This is definitely worth it, especially if you’re buying a big ticket item, like a bike. You’re basically saving on the sales tax.