The Mountain Air

Went in to demo skis. Worked with one of the young guys who sized my boot to the ski and he was great. Which is why I gave two stars not just one. After my ski trip I came back and was excited to drop my skis off and tell the clerk how much I enjoyed them and possibly wanted to purchase them. When I walked in the owner was working the rental station and grabbed my skis without any form of greeting. Immediately pointed at a scratch at the bottom of my ski and asked where I skied. I told him it happened at mammoth in the eagle area. He then scolded me and told me I should never ski in that area with his skis. And told me how much he was going to charge me for the scratch and pointed me toward the cash register. No goodbye. He didn’t ask how I liked the skis, whether or not I wanted to purchase them, maybe suggest another ski. No kindness or friendliness. If you want to demo skis I would suggest going elsewhere if you want to be treated right.

Their staff is extremely knowledgeable about their products in the snowboard department. I was helped my Mitch trying on different types of snowboard boots. He was very personable and helpful trying to find me the right brand and the right fit.

I came in on Small Business Saturday to pick up some gear that I ordered through their online partner, Moja Gear. There was a small inventory issue where they would order an item directly from the manufacturer, but they called me promptly to let me know. Josh was extremely helpful, as was all of their other employees. A great local business!

So glad I stopped by Mountain Air on my trip down to SLO! My sister & I walked in and were instantly greeted, the nice gentleman (might have been the owner) wasted no time in sizing me and fitting me to a proper backpack for my 3+ month backpacking trip through Europe. Unsure of what exactly I was looking for we returned the next day and decided to check out shoes and other gear. The staff was so friendly and incredibly patient with my indecisiveness! After 1+ hours of trying on different shoes, I finally made a decision. My sisters & I were impressed by how friendly and attentive everyone in the store was. I also got plenty of backpacking advice! You can tell the staff genuinely cares! Although I am not from the area, my sister resides in SLO and will definitely be going back for any of her outdoor needs :)

I needed a few supplies for my backpacking route, and stopped here en route to Big Sur from SoCal. For a small store, they had a great selection, and I was able to find everything I needed. I’d been wanting a Patagonia jacket and found a great color in my size, so I went for it. Not on sale, unfortunately, but I figure it’ll last me a while! The person helping us was great. Great place to purchase outdoor equipment and clothing.

If you want the best stuff, and knowledgeable staff, then this is the place. They really do a good job buying and you don’t need to look at a lot of junk like the big box stores. Staff is knowledgeable and you can always get Wayne [owner] to help as well.

Sure they are a local store and you want to shop there, but, if you are a certain demographic you are utterly invisible when you enter. No one asks you if you need assistance unless the owner is in. If you don’t look a certain way they don’t bother to help you. It’s too bad because I have more disposable income to spend there, then the visible people do.

I purchase a rack system for my new car using components from my previous system. Staff Mountain Air helpful, professional, and service is excellent and extraordinary. They’ve risen the bar to eliminate comparison. Thank you for your assistance.

Being Mr. Mom I have no time that I’m not with one or both of my sons so when my two year-​old and I went into Mountain Air in SLO for shoes I was stoked to find they had a bag of toys for kids to play with while I tried on sneakers. Needless to say, because my youngest was occupied I had time to find and buy an awesome pair of Sportivas. Thanks Maintain Air… maybe I could leave the kids with you for a couple hours tomorrow while I go to lunch? LOL.
But seriously, that was awesome.

Visited on Monday afternoon to get a new pair of hiking boots… knowing nothing about hiking boots. After explaining what i needed and was used to, the store clerk set me up with 4 pairs to try. He was super patient as I tried them all on, twice. I found the perfect pair at a reasonable price, and I signed up for their discount program [Spend $ 100 — get $ 5 back!] Totally worth the visit; I would recommend them to anyone.

Marrying my husband there was a certain understanding that our lives would not be sedentary. He was a mountain biking, skiing, rock climbing, kayaking, «Hood-​to-​Coast» running weekend warrior. He was not one to line up the sports schedule on Sunday and sit idly by.
And being a scuba instructor, amateur marathon runner, weekend mountain bicyclist and brand new snowboarder we were able to join our love of the outdoors and continue being active together. Moving back to the Central Coast and having our son added new dimensions to our love of the outdoors. Sometimes it is a sedentary day playing at our favorite beach that fits the bill. We even introduced our then three year old to hiking by taking him to the top of Bishop’s Peak — he did it «all by himself.» When the time came it was only logical that our son was going to be introduced to snow. Three years ago we bought a package of lift tickets and rental gear at one of the many charity auctions we attend and found ourselves once again in Mountain Air Sports — one of my husbands «REI-​raised» favorites.
Explaining that I was an amateur snowboarder with a five year lapse since my last time riding a board they made the re-​entry process a breeze and soon I was outfitted with a like-​new board and boots. Our son was similarly treated and instantly delighted to be booted up and clipped in to his first pair of skis. Since then my husband’s skis have been regularly serviced there — where the shop experts transform these 15 year old skis into like-​new condition — amazing him every time.
This year we needed a bit more gear — some new mittens and socks for the ever-​growing seven year old boy. A helmet for me — as I am now just good enough on my board to be dangerous. As always the staff at Mountain Air was chock full of information and helpful with fitting my unusually large cranium.
Mountain Air covers a wide range of outdoor gear for hiking, climbing, kayaking, and of course snowboarding and skiing. Their rental gear is top-​notch and their staff practices what they preach and can offer expert advice in a friendly manner. I highly recommend you check this little local spot out — it will likely surprise you that they carry so much and are hiding right in plain sight in San Luis Obispo on Marsh! Even beginners don’t feel like it here… and who knows — maybe you’ll pick up a new outdoor activity or two before you leave!

Best place to go for all your gear, all the employees are knowledgeable and friendly as well!!!

We have purchased lots of stuff here over the years. Wayne and staff are always very helpful.

Super friendly and helpful staff. Everyone who works here is super nice, attentive and very good looking its the best sports shop in town.
They also have a loyal costumer system which gives store credit if you shop there all the time.
So many hotties at mountain air who know about the products. good job

Not sure what the negative review was about. I found the staff very helpful.

I am very impressed with Mountain Air Sports. I am a woman preparing for her first ever backpacking trip in the Sierras. I have found just about all the lightweight equipment that I needed at Mountain Air Sports (tent, sleeping pad, jacket, fleece, hat, socks, cooking equipment, boots, platypus, flashlight, etc). My full backpack weighs 14LB!
I have been to REI and MUCH prefer the service at Mountain Air Sports. The prices at Mountain Air Sports are comparable to REI. I bought an ultralight sleeping bag (1LB 2oz) at Mountain Air Sports that REI does not carry. I am also really happy with the boots that I bought at Mountain Air Sports.
The support from Mountain Air Sports was critical in giving me the confidence to undertake my first backpacking course. I appreciate their professionalism and encouragement. In particular, the help and advice from Rob at Mountain Air Sports has been thoughtful and thorough.
I will always go to Mountain Air Sports in San Luis Obispo for outdoor equipment.

I love going to a sports shop where the employees actually know the equipment. They had an amazing sale going on so I decided to check out the snowboarding equipment. I was treated with the upmost respect and walked out extremely happy with my new board, boots, and bindings. Somebody knows how to run a business here.

Everyone that works here is super friendly, willing to help, and knows what they are talking about. And if they don’t, they will find someone in the store that does. Great outdoor sporting goods shop! Yes, its a little expensive, but you’re supporting local business, which ultimately helps everyone in town out. They seem to have seasonal clothing and goods, which makes sense and allows you to grab what you need for the season. I don’t hesitate to shop here when I need some gear for snowboarding, hiking, etc.

Lots of attitude, not a lot of knowledge.
I’ve lived all over California, and been to a lot of outdoor retailers, both big (A16, REI) and small-​town indie shops. Mountain Air is only worth going to because it’s pretty much your only choice in the area.
The SLO store is much smaller than the Santa Barbara shop. Staff not too helpful with special orders. Recently, they strung us along for a couple of months and promised to help us with our skis, then after making us wait, simply said, «Sorry, we can’t help you.» Wow, thanks a lot.
If you’re just looking to buy a couple of Nalgene bottles, some camping gear, or some end-​of-​season on-​sale shoes, drop by. But don’t count on finding what you need here, or getting real help from the staff.

It’s a small store, but probably fits the size of the town. Yes, it’s also a bit expensive, but it’s important to support your local shop so you don’t have to mail order everything. And it gives you a chance to try clothes on.
On to the review though… Mountain Air rotates their stock based on the season, which I think is definitely the right move. They have a good selection of racks for your car, footwear, camping gear. If you are looking for high quality gear, this is one of your few stops in town. Personally, if I’m looking for outdoor gear, I stop here first.
The staff is always nice and helpful. It’s good to do your research before going so that you know the product landscape and can make an informed decision about what they have in stock. They don’t always know *all* the choices available on the market.