I stopped by one of my favorite stores in the Berkshires yesterday, and it felt quite nostalgic to be back. For quite some time, I used to come here with a friend or by myself, pick up a complementary map of Kennedy Park, and go for a little hike. The entrance to the park is right at the store's parking lot, which makes it especially convenient. The map shows the different trails throughout the park, and I would choose one and enjoy a leisurely hike. A nice lady warmly greeted me when I walked in. I browsed around the store for a while but didn't end up purchasing anything this time. I did notice their wonderful selection of hiking shoes displayed along the back wall, which caught my attention. Over the years, I've purchased quite a few items from this store, so it was nice to return and browse once again. It was wonderful to revisit a place that brought back such pleasant memories of those hikes, as well as some enjoyable shopping experiences over the years. read more

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This sports shop is just top notch. They came highly recommended by my dad and once I walked in, their customer service totally proved his glowing review right. I came in to drop off my snowboard for repair and after looking it over the next day, they told me the honest truth that it was a bit too of a complex repair for them to trust that it was stick long term. They suggested for the price it would cost to make it perfect, given the year of the board (2017), I'd be better off getting a new board and pocketing the difference. I appreciated how up front they were and headed their advice! I'll be running the board through it's final paces this season and getting a new one come spring. Even beyond repairs, this shop has it all. From kayaks to climbing gear, skis to paddle boards, they've got everything you need to enjoy the outdoors for all four seasons. read more

Really pleased I remembers this shop, so I could order a baseball cap unavailable elsewhere. (It will replace a favored cap.) And it's on the way! read more

Can I give more than 5 stars? This place is amazing. The selection of clothing, shoes, accessories is top rate. It's well curated and not overwhelming. HUGE selection? No - but you'll find things you love and they are happy to help or special order things. Cheap? No, but great sales on high end brands, and I like supporting a local business. Plus the expertise is something you won't find anywhere else. I listened to a staff member discuss hiking boots with a customer...covered every little thing including things she hadn't though of - or knew to even ask about. I've done very well here with both summer and winter clothing - and it's my go to for wool socks. They've got a great selection of Darn Tough socks which are replacing my merino wool Bombas - three or four pairs at a time. Everyone is SUPER knowledgeable - and that's really a big draw. Need help with sneakers or boots? They'll get you sorted and pay attention to all the details to make sure you're in the right footwear. Buying bike, a paddleboard, or a kayak? They've got you covered with expertise to guide you through every part of your purchase. We just recently built a canoe and needed to get life jackets. Jeff was BEYOND amazing in helping make sure we had the right fit and equipment. He went WAY out of his way for us. And then he offered to give us some paddling lessons. And we offered to come give a talk about how we built or cedar strip canoe. They also sponsor the Banff Film Festival which is a fantastic event that we go to every year. Love this place. Just wish I could get here more often. read more

We drive past this place all the time and finally decided to stop by and see how it was. They were 15 minutes from closing so we said we'd be quick and (I think) the owner said not to worry about it, so we started browsing. A few folks came up to approach us, and we struck up a conversation with the owner who very fluidly started giving us excellent advice we've been unable to get an any other outdoors shop. You can tell he really has a passion for all things outdoors. His recommendations we unbelievably relevant and helpful. I had a list of things to do some research on before our trip to Acadia National Park, and without me telling him about the list, he started giving advice about each thing we'll need and what we should look for, and ended up checking off everything off my list. We were here for 20 minutes and had a magical experience. We genuinely feel bad we weren't ready to buy anything today, so we will absolutely be coming back here when it's time to purchase. This was a great reminder of how small businesses can still kick ass. read more

We purchased 2 kayaks, related gear and a car rack. Jeff spend ample time helping us make selections and providing us with an essential education on all things kayak. He was very patient and helpful in all respects. His service and advice were unsurpassable. I would not hesitate to make future purchases at Acadian and strongly recommend the business. read more

Phenomenal!!! Walked in no appointment... great customer service. Rick fixed bike right on the spot...even on a Sunday holiday weekend. Highly recommend very reasonable. read more

Nice people and a nice location. The coffee shop is good. The guy who sells the kayaks is wonderful. The clothing is disappointing. It's like a quarter of an REI. As if they just ordered stuff from a catalog and put it on the shelf. Do I need a store to sell gloves with a giant 'North Face' logo in the back of the hand? Is there any filter? They sell a bogus brand 'Sherpa' with a tag saying how they help people in Nepal but it's 100% polyester made in Vietnam. read more

I needed help with stringing tennis racket. Arcadian doesn't do that but helpful employee suggested a local business which did

AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE! We just bought a second home in Otis. We live in CT but are from born & bred in Puerto Rico. My wife was out looking to buy a paddleboard and found one in this place. A man named Larry took care of her and sold her the board, no issues. It's a nice board at a higher than expected price but since we are going through a scarcity of kayaks and paddleboards because of COVID, we bought it. We wanted to also purchase a kayak and Larry told us to return the next day since he had a few left and one for around $800. So we returned the next day. We sat outside waiting for other customers to leave since they have very strict COVID "restrictions and regulations" which, don't really bother me. At one point, while waiting outside, an employee poked his head out of the always-locked front door to ask us what we wanted. We told him that we were there to purchase a kayak. I was with my wife and two boys, 8 & 10 years old. They told us that only two people could come in unless we wanted to wait until there was space. We decided to wait some more. This purchase was a family decision and we all wanted to choose. Once our turn came, we were hastily led inside by a woman, older, raggedy blond hair, who seemed flustered and sweaty. She asked us what we wanted. We said that we were there to purchase the kayak that Larry (?) had shown us the day before when we bought the paddleboard from him. Yes, we are return customers, thank you very much. The blond-haired flustered lady responded in an instant that they did not have a single kayak. NOT A SINGLE ONE! Not only did we know they had kayaks but we even knew where they were (upstairs). We were confused. Why were we being treated so...indifferently. Were we wearing the wrong clothes? Where we speaking the wrong language? Was our skin color a bit too...dark? Did we not smell of White Berkshire Money? So here comes this tall, older man, who also looks annoyed and disheveled and asks us what do we want. We repeat the story again and told him what the lady had said about there being no more kayaks (when in fact they had half a dozen). This man, I think named Josh, turned very defensive when I asked him why the lady had told us there were no kayaks. He told me to LEAVE THE STORE if I didn't like the way I was being treated. He told me she was on her third shift and was tired of taking care of so many customers (?!). I couldn't believe this was happening. This has NEVER happened to us , especially in front of our young boys. I told Mr. Simpatico Josh that he should remember the old adage of treating us a bit better because "the customer is always right". He shamelessly said: "WELL, NOT ANYMORE!". He started whining about how tough the job was, how everything was though due to COVID, that they had been working long hours, etc., as to justify their horribile and incompetent treatment towards my family. That is no excuse and if anything, the COVID restrictions, ameliorate the amount of work to be done because a very limited amount of customers are allowed into the shop. I would have bought the kayak there. It was overpriced but it was perfect. I hated myself for not buying it but there was no way that I was gonna leave $3K in that cesspool of condescension, negativity and obvious racism. I told Josh, or whoever that rude person was, that it was obvious he was treating us this way because we had been speaking Spanish the whole time. He just grinned. These are incompetent, RACIST employees who need to be thought some basic lessons in LIFE. I will be filing a complaint with the state and federal agencies that deal with these kind of out-of-control racist, rude and plain incompetent businesses. Oh, they are RIDICULOUSLY OVERPRICED! read more

Excellent. I have been going here for a decade. The staff are really knowledgeable and friendly. Just had a coffee and an apple turnover. Hit the spot. They have a great sitting area cafe. These guys have expanded a lot. So now there is an upstairs and downstairs, for kayaking and more ski/biking. Really big selection of ski gear. Outdoor gear. Shoes. Boots. Really always enjoy this store. Chris, the ski set up guy, just helped me with an AT style binding and ski. Difficult and he made it easy. Outstanding. Alyssa, April and the rest of the crew always great. read more

Excellent service and great inventory- everything an AT thru hiker needs. These people are true experts!

My initial reaction was that the Arcadian shop was high priced with a limited selection. And, the first couple of times, I was disappointed. But, over the past few years, I have really learned to appreciate it. Now, it has become my top choice for many items. The big advantage of the Arcadian Shop is the knowledgeable staff. For example, I went to the store to ask about hiking poles. I am a neophyte about such things and asked several questions. The staff gave me a complete understanding of what to look for and how to choose. But, of course, I thought their prices were high. So, I visited EMS (in the Berkshire Mall), Eddie Bauer (in the Lee Outlets), LL Bean in Burlington and REI in Framingham. Guess what? I came back and bought at Arcadian Shop. I had a similar experience buying a water bladder for my backpack (which was from LLBean). They spent the time to explain several brands and even which size would be right for me. They moved me away from ordering from Amazon. I appreciate it when there is good local help. My advice is to make your presence known to the staff. They feel a bit understaffed during the busy times. Part of it is that they spend a really long time with each customer. read more

Helpful, knowledgeable staff who made my purchase of boots, tents, camping gear & bike parts easy. Before I wrote my review, I read the other reviews regarding problems returning items. Of course it's easy to return anything in any condition to the big corporate store versions of outdoor / gear stores. The Arc Shop is a local business with policies that help the business thrive while giving the customer the best options possible. I always appreciate their customer service and help. read more

This place is located at the trailhead of Kennedy Park, and as others have noted it reminds me of what REI used to be like back in the day when they were just a shop in Seattle and before they expanded nationwide. The staff is friendly and very knowledgable, the store is well stocked with all the best cycling, hiking, and outdoor gear you can think of, with some great deals on bikes. Even better, the store is dog-friendly. I was pleasantly surprised at the Cafe. It has a simple menu of lattes, sandwiches, and paninis, but they were outstanding, perfectly made with fresh ingredients, and especially satisfying after an hour of hiking. The young lady serving us was very professional, very friendly and made a very, very good sandwich! We also tried a scone, which was great. Definitely worth a stop if you're passing through the Pittsfield area and looking to stock up or fuel up for some physical activity. read more

Arcadian Shop is awesome! It is like REI with one location (actually, even better as there is a cafe inside). The store is beautiful and stocked with terrific, high quality brands for the outdoor person. Prices are average when not on sale, but this is good stuff. I did score a great Cannondale bike jacket on sale. The bike staff is very friendly and knowledgeable (I rented one for the day). Very well run business read more

Located at the trail entrance of Kennedy Park, equipped with all your outdoor sporting needs. They are the epicenter for signing up for the Josh Billings Runaground and make it super easy to get your team signed up and ready for it. They sell a variety of sporting goods and have a fantastic trail side cafe as well. Kennedy park is a great place to trail run, mountain bike, snowshoe etc... The views at the outlook at spectacular. It holds a special place in my family's heart since that is where my husband proposed to me. Our dog loves to come with us as well! read more

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Absolutely the best outdoor sports shop. The staff is courteous and extremely knowledgeable. Unlike the chain stores where you have a transitory and untrained staff, the Arcadian salespeople legitimately know their stuff, and actively participate in the activities they promote. Ask a chain store employee how Gore-Tex works, and you're likely to get a vague answer; at the Arcadian Shop you'll get a scientific explanations, and probably end up holding the sleeves of several jackets as they pour water over them while explaining the difference between DWR and the internal membranes! The architecture and layout of the shop is unique and well done. The original building is one of the oldest in Lenox, with modern additions in the back. It is not uncommon to run across international celebrities roaming the racks or settled down in the cafe like "normal people." The gear at Arcadian Shop is expensive, although no more than any other high-end gear store. But, you get what you pay for. Many of the flagship brands offer (or at least used to offer) lifetime warranties - for example I sent back an old pair of Patagonia ski pants because the zippers had broken down - about three weeks later a Shop employee called me to tell me that my brand new, $400 pants were in, and that all I owed was $5 for shipping! The bike shop downstairs in without equal. Ken and Alan are a wealth of information, and will gladly help you fix your old bike, or sell you a new bike within your budget (bikes at the shop range from entry-level ($400?) to customized rocketships that cost more than a used BMW). The Arcadian Shop sits on the edge of Kennedy Park, a beautiful 500+ acre trail system that is popular with mountain bikers, hikers, runners and equestrians (no motor vehicles allowed). The Shop has trail maps and can help you pick out a ride or hike - you can even walk to downtown Lenox, have lunch, and hike back, all within the Park. read more

We went to get hiking boots for my husband who has ankle issues. Jeff was very knowledgable and helpful to help us make an informed purchase. Store employees were welcoming, store well organized and prices reasonable. We would go there again. read more

Very special shop, incredibly helpful staff who are caring and knowledge and trying to get you good deals and good equipment. They have great items in store and are also willing to help you order or figure out other options. There is a reason this place has been around and doing good business for so long. Amazing trails right next to shop and ample parking, plus dog friendly! The cafe inside is also a lovely place to stop for a coffee while shopping. read more

Arcadian Shop - The lovely seating area and cafe plus books and cards! - Bike Rentals Near Me - Lenox, Massachusetts

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We read better than REI in a review so we had to stop by as we love REI. Guess what? Not better than an REI. It has a very good selection for its small size. Some things were very pricey, however. The staff didn't acknowledge us at all so I couldn't say they were friendly. We'll stick with REI. read more

I'm a cyclist, I stopped by this shop looking for a headlamp. I found my lamp in a corner downstairs, almost like bike equipment is an afterthought. The guy who sold me the light was friendly, but the whole experience was kinda uncomfortable. The merchandise is is nationally recognized name products.....meaning quality, yet pricey. I felt like I was out of my element. I'll stick to Ordinary Cycles, I don't need to be a cycling fashionista. read more

I agree with Steven K's review, the staff is knowledable and helpful, the browsing is casual so you don't feel pressured, there is a big range of sporting equipment and even some earthy-crunchy women's fashion options. I was in just last week and the summer sale items were a great deal - 50% and higher discounts for everything from bathing suits to shorts and t-shirts. They also have a great shoe department. I was convinced to spend the most amount of money i've ever dropped on sunglasses: $23.99 and they were worth every penny. read more

My family has been going to the Arcadian shop for years. The staff helped me outfit my mom's bike really quickly because I was using it for college. The Arcadian Shop is full of people who will do everything in their power to help you. read more

My son is an outdoor sports guy, heavily into mountain biking and snowboarding. So I'm here with my credit card out much of the time. You could not ask for a better shopping experience. This type of gear is expensive, so you appreciate knowledgeable advice, which the Arcadians dispense generously. There is no snooty attitude whatsoever. They'll try to steer you to the less expensive option if possible. Besides hardware, they stock an impressive array of clothing. Major brands abound: Patagonia, et. al. There are seasonal sales where some of this stuff becomes affordable. The parking lot is also a take-off place for the biking trails in adjacent Kennedy Park, a very beautiful wooded oasis (if that makes sense). Major plus: the coffee and soup bar, which serves great java and grub in a cool layout. Stop and check it out. You'll buy something, for sure. And you won't regret it the morning after. read more

I found the brakes on a used street bike one of my children bought were barely functional. I took it to the Arcadian Shop and though the bike shop portion of the store was quite busy, they looked at the bike, told me it needed new pads and offered to do the work while I waited. I was going somewhere and chose to leave the bike overnight. A pickup reminder was on the phone early the next morning. I had both front and rear wheel pads replaced and was pleasantly surprised by the very reasonable bill ($38) when I picked the bike up. I notice that Yelp rates the pricing as: $$$, meaning it is 'expensive'. This is somewhat deceptive, in that while their bikes and accessories are generally high end, they do service with components appropriate to the bike. I checked on-line the specific brake pads put on my son's used $200 bike. I was charged the same price for pads from a reputable on-line dealer (Jensens) and the total labor for replacing them on both wheels was $10. As others note, the staff is friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. Further, the store carries a large selection of outdoor equipment and the staff are similar to the bike store in terms of low pressure and helpful. I did not look carefully at prices on big items, but they have a large selection of things and the DEET I purchased was priced no differently than at a chain or on-line at Amazon (I just checked the DEET at Amazon and the price is the same, except for the additional shipping) read more

Staff at the Arcadian Shop are always helpful & knowledgeable. This store is an awesome resource to have for the multiple outdoor sports available in the Berkshires! read more

Very friendly and willing to help staff. They guided us to the best areas to kayak which was wonderful. Very expensive products though!

I love this store. Their parking lot has an entrance to Kennedy Park which has miles of trails for hiking or mountain biking and you're allowed to park there even if you don't shop there, that's how generous these guys are. Many people on here have compared it to REI which I guess you can because they are both outdoor adventure type stores, except that REI is a huge chain store so obviously prices will be lower. This is a smaller locally owned store that has a staff that is just as knowledge, if not more so than any REI employee. They know their products inside and out and if that particular person doesn't have the answer they'll find a staffer who does. I've bought shoes from here and after wearing them around realized they were not the right support. They let me return them with no problem. But of course I was wearing socks. (unlike the woman who tried to return barefoot shoes and couldn't believe that they wouldn't take them back, really lady?)The cafe has delicious homemade snacks, sweets, coffee, espresso and lunch items. It's neat, tidy and exceptionally clean! Great place for a snack after you get done hiking or to stop and have a nice lunch. And you might get a glimpse of James Taylor as he shops here pretty often. read more

I use to always stop in at this shop when I was in the Berkshires. I was planning a trip to New England for skiing in Vermont and areas with friends from there. I was looking to buy a whole new skiing outfit including skis,boots and poles. I decided to buy them when I arrived so I wouldn't have to lug them around to the airport around the airport to the rental car etc. So I called the Arcadian shop and told them the things I wished to buy. I had already decided exactly the items I wanted. They didn't have in stock everything I needed so I asked if they could order it for me so it would be available upon my arrival. They said yes. We went over each and every item and came up with an agreed upon price. They said I could pay for them when I came to the shop. I thought that was great and all set. I called them back a week before I left to confirm the item arrived and were in stock. They were. I had been doing business with them for years. Upon my arrival I went to the store to pickup my items on my way to Vermont. Everything I ordered was there which made me very happy. Then they told me they couldn't sell me the items at the agreed upon price. They said after thinking it over they were going to charge me more than they said. It seemed that when they saw how nice the items were they wanted them themselves or some customer that saw them wanted them and offered to pay them more for them from the way they were talking. I had no choice but to pay the higher price because I was on my way to the mountains which they knew and they wouldn't even budge on the price and make it what we had agreed upon or even half way. So I paid the price. They then adjusted the boots to the bindings for me which is included in the price. They said they were adjusted perfectly for someone my size. Off I went. At the start of the first run down I could tell the adjustment was way off and had to go to the area shop and have them adjusted correctly because as they said also the adjustment was way off. On my way back by The Arcadian Shop I stopped in and told them about the problem I had with the adjustment and they were very standoffish and rude actually even the manager. As far as I'm concerned the Arcadian Shop WAS a great place,but not anymore. I won't buy another thing there and won't even bother to go in there anymore. There Management ,staff and prices are the worst now. And I'm not going to suffer just because of their decor. Arcadian Shop NO MORE! And there are better cafe's on the way whether your going north or south. read more

Yes, I read the review that said they are like REI. As far as I know, REI has a policy to take back athletic shoes if they do not work out. NOT SO at the Arcadian Shop. I was new to barefoot shoes and bought the wrong shoes for hiking in, because i didn't know the right ones existed (they actually look almost identical, but one is stronger than the other). When I went back to the store the attitude was "tough luck." I bought the other shoes from them anyway because I needed them right away, but now have a pair of $100 shoes I will never wear -- simply because the sales person was unfamiliar with the brand. Last week I went to Paragon Sports in New York --bought a pair of shoes which, after walking around in them for a day, turned out to be too small. Walked in IN the shoes, and got an exchange for the right size with NO PROBLEM. No box, no receipt, nothing. They were happy to help me out, were eager for me to have the right shoes. There are limited options in the Berkshires, however, all expensive, which wouldn't bother me if that was backed up with service. read more