A huge thank you to the guys at this store. After a miserable experience as an older female at not one but two REIs February 2026, I found not only what I needed but also very knowledgeable, thoughtful and helpful staff here. Not just in contrast to the terrible service at REI, but standing alone the Ascent staff walked the walk of accessibility, diversity and enjoyment of the outdoors for folks of all skills and abilities. Thanks guys! read more

Best customer service! Great selection for serious outdoor outfitting. Street Parking is difficult to find during restaurant hours-very limited. Reasonable prices for top-notch gear. Will was very helpful getting my wife fitted for a Snow Skills class on short notice; he had some great recommendations and was patient with her questions. read more

This is a pretty cool outdoor shop. They seem to have a bit of everything, from new gear, to used gear, special events and speakers, just a lil for everyone. Came here last night when they hosted an Osprey "How to pack to backpack" event. Free beer, trail mix bars, and raffles, it was a good time. They had a big variety of packs too, from Deuter to Osprey, to ultralight brands. I also browsed their used gear area, and there seemed to be some good stuff back there too. My friend bought a pack and got 25% off on it so that was a good deal! Overall, there was a lot of ppl there last night, and it definitely gets hot in the store, but it's a good stop for some outdoor gear! read more

Ascent Outdoors - Osprey event tonight 5/4/17 - Outdoor Gear Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Ascent came through with new Nordic combi boots again this year. Walked in, got the kid's feet sized up, they had something in stock. Simple in-person transactions seem so miraculous in 2020! Thank you for your ongoing commitment to the Nordic Ski community! read more

Excellent Staff and Customer Service I experienced a problem with some ski touring equipment that I rented from Ascent Outdoors in 2022. The store manager accepted responsibility, and gave me a full credit that I was able to use for another rental. Because of his customer-centric approach, I was able to accomplish my long-time goal of skiing Mt. St. Helens. I'd add that the rental staff is very knowledgeable, and is willing to take the time to acquaint customers with the gear. Sam, who checked out my gear, spent about 20 minutes letting me try on the boots and skis and showing me how to operate the boot adjustments, skins and bindings. I highly recommend Ascent Outdoors and would rent or buy from the store in the future. read more

This is THE store for climbing and mountaineering gear. Great selections and amazing staff. Every time I leave this store I'm thinking "Wow everyone there is SO NICE and helpful. As a mountaineering newbie, I've gone in with many beginner level questions like "why aren't my crampons fitting" and "what do I do about wet boots?" and there's always someone available to provide assistance and informative answers. I just wish they had a slightly larger clothing section. read more

Called around 12pm on 11/17/21 to see if they were waxing snowboards, they said yes. I walked over at 2:15pm and turns out they were not. So I'll be spending my money at Evo instead. read more

If you need outdoor gear for cheap, and don't care if it was someone else's at one point then you've come to the right place. From cycling, backpacking, snowboarding, hiking gear, you need to spend an hour to look at everything, find what you need or what you didn't know you needed. Even though they do not take snowboarding equipment, they will purchase your gently used clothing of all types and seasons and receive store credit to spend on new gear you need. I have come to second ascent both to buy and sell things! Everything i have purchased here so far I love! I can't wait to come back when I need something for my outdoor excursions, with out breaking the bank! read more

I had no idea that the simple idea of 'hiking to the top of Mt. Baker' was pure crazy talk. That is how much of a newbie I am to the world of ~climbing~. Climbing requires a little more than sturdy shoes and a day pack, huh? Carabiners, harness, -15 bag, ice axe, hardshell and softshell pants, alpine boots...oh gawd what the f did I just sign up for?! But I am determined to now 'climb' Mt. Baker, which means I'm gonna hafta pony up some cash. Thank god for Second Ascent. You could easily spend a few grand for this stuff at the larger stores. I do like REI but even as a mere hiker I recognize that their stuff sometimes errs on the side of fashion rather than function. With some help from their non-commissioned sales staff, we spent a few happy hours in Second Ascent getting outfitted...ha! I said 'outfitted' instead of 'shopping'-- I'm clearly a climber now, right? (: Okay, we got outfitted for our climb with some kick-ass new and used equipment at great prices. I even snagged a pair of cyuuuuute purple climbing boots (USED). Aw yea, fashion: meet function. We are going to rock this climb. Thanks to Lucky for all his advice and patience. He's the red-head with the great smile. read more

Ascent Outdoors - This photo was made possible by Second Ascent. - Outdoor Gear Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Excellent service! Shipping delayed one day because of Garmin's warehouse issue but Jake follow up with me right away and made sure to keep me updated! I got my watched delivered after 2 days of shipping. I'm stoked with the service and my new watch. A++ service and unbeatable price! Thumbs up for these guys! read more

Ascent Outdoors - Garmin Instinct Solar - Outdoor Gear Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I've never met more courteous and friendly staff members. My boyfriend and I were visiting from out of town and stopped by to grab some more hiking goodies. We were blown away by how genuinely kind everyone we interacted with was. They recommended trails, restaurants, and went above and beyond their responsibilities to make us feel welcome on our vacation to the PNW. Thank you so much! read more

Incompetent people running the online orders here, if you have shipping and billing same same name, are you still calling it fraud? Those guys do, Ask me to send pict and credit card to him on the email, collecting private infos , don't shop with them read more

Good outfitter. They're much more knowledgable than the usual big gear stores on ski mountaineering and alpine climbing. I bought AT boots here and tried on some climbing packs and they gave good, specific advice without faffing around with the backpacking 101. The boots, with heat molded footbeds, have been awesome. The area has very limited parking. Be prepared to park 10-15 minute walk away. read more

Fantastic staff. They were really helpful in helping me get all the gear I needed for a basic climbing class and it was fun to try out the harness all clipped in to the ceiling! The other best part was their selection of used items. Used non-safety gear and quality clothing were available for a fraction of the original price. Definitely come here if you're thinking of exploring the snowy outdoors. read more

Great socks!!! I love a place with a retriever greeter and knowledgable experts! Consistently GREAT SERVICE!!! read more

Knowledgeable staff and good selection for a small, neighborhood store. Great sales around the holidays. They have good deals on used gear if you can find the right size, which can be difficult read more

If I could give this store 6 stars, I would. They have equipment for the serious outdoorsman, both new and used. They also have clothing for the more recreational adventurer. I came in from New York to pick up a few items (stove fuel, human waste bags, a merino shirt etc) before I climb mount Rainier and I found everything I wanted and then some. I'm a small woman, so I was very happy when I found a very good women's section as well as plenty XS sizes, which isn't usually the case. I could have easily dropped a grand there but I exercised restraint (I mean, my luggage was over weight as it was). The staff was super welcoming and accommodating... also, super knowledgeable. I will absolutely shop here again. read more

Not recommended. Store can't manage inventory. 1st time: Store cancelled online order without any explanation. 2nd time: I confirmed inventory with a phone call and drove to store. Manager refused to sell in-stock ski binding because it was reserved for a ski package. 3rd time: Not going to happen. read more

I don't think I'll be going back it's too expensive for how weird every interaction I've had with the sales staff is. I've been going here for carabiners and whatnot for work but also stuff for my free time. I want to go somewhere local and ascent outdoors is in my neighborhood. The service here has been weird every single time I go in but I can usually overlook the awkward interactions with sales staff that ranges from confused to condescending. However the other day I went in to try on boots one guy told me to go try kicking the concrete wall and then when I did that another guy came up and got really angry with me. When I explained what happen he got distracted by a customer he was looking at from across the store and ignored me. There's other game in town and if ascent outdoors isn't going to offer competitive prices or decent sales staff I guess I won't be going here anymore. read more

I went into the store to purchase a jacket. The store was confusingly laid out, with no delineation between men's and women's sections. The staff was helpful with helping me find what I wanted, but I should have been able to find it myself. They somehow have the ability to keep a record of your receipt, but no ability to email you that receipt. It's 2018, folks: even Best Buy can manage that. Their return policy is honestly atrocious, and the primary reason I won't shop here again, and will discourage others from doing so. The jacket was worn literally twice in a week's time, and one of those times was as I walked out of the store. But they would only provide a "refund" in store credit. That's just not how it's done these days. They have some nice prices, & those plus the aforementioned helpful staff are why they're getting a three star review instead of one star. But the confusing layout and atrocious return policy are the primary reason you should look toward better outdoor retailers like REI, Outdoor Research, or... hell... even the jacket section at Nordstrom (who can also email you a receipt...). Stay away from this store. You can have a better experience elsewhere. read more

Great selection of outdoor gear, picked up a nice alpine backpack that I've been looking for and it was also on sale. I like that they have lots of used gear and they seem knowledgeable about products. read more

So as a quick note, this should be the kind of a place for me. I'm a NOLS graduate, outdoor enthusiast, former ski racer and I've ridden a bicycle around the planet Earth. I've shopped here for years, with little complaint. The selection is what it is, the employees can be a bit snotty. Whatever. My interaction is usually limited to a credit card swipe. It's a used outdoor gear store (partially) - I mean, whaddya want? And then I brought my girlfriend here. She wants to get into hiking and was looking for some good footwear. OK, getting the right product and fitting is going to require some interaction. A young saleswoman comes up and eyeballs us, clearly not liking what she sees. My girlfriend is a city girl - she works long hours at a tech firm and we're both somewhat sedentary now. OK, so we're not her type. My girlfriend details what she's looking for. To our surprise, the saleswoman proceeds to tell us about her own athletic prowess, and what kind of shoe she prefers. She runs 20 miles a week and needs to get new footwear several times a year. OK, failure to communicate. We're not going up Everest, we're not entering an athletic competition. We're going f'ing hiking. We try again and detail what we're looking for. Simple stuff. Ankle support, good fit, durable - maybe something designed for women? Yes? No? The wall display is FILLED with footwear, pricey, but we were prepared to make an investment. But apparently, this was too much effort for the saleswoman. After all, we are definitely the wrong kind of people. We shouldn't even be in there in the first place. She shrugs and says, "I don't know what to say." Ah, but I do. I really want to support local, small business, but brothers and sisters, this kind of condescension and crappy treatment works for...who, exactly? * Conclusion to the story - quick trip to REI and with the help of a very knowledgeable salesperson found the perfect solution within 5 minutes. (Brand is Keen, if anyone's interested, they make some outstanding women's footwear). read more

If you're into the outdoors, this place will hook you up with lots of awesome gear. Seriously, I saw everything here - clothing, shoes, backpacks, climbing gear, bikes, and pretty much anything else your little camping heart could want. They sell new and gently used items, which is fantastic. Prices were what I would expect, but I saw lots of great deals, too. When we went, they were having a crazy amazing sale on Arc'Teryx gear where stuff was like 80% off. If you know anything about Arc'Teryx, then you know how frikkin' amazing that is because that stuff is expensive. Great quality, but expensive. I really wish there had been something in my size that I needed because I would have purchased it in a heartbeat. They were also having a sale on Chaco sandals when I went. I think those things are uglier than sin, but I know they would make great camp and water crossing shoes, so I've been looking into getting a pair. The sale they were having was pretty awesome and I almost bought some, but decided against it at the last second. Dumb. After browsing through all the clothes, I took a look at all their other gear. They have all kinds of winter outdoor gear here. I know nothing about skiing or snowboarding, but they had a lot of stuff, so I'd check it out if you need something. They also had a ton of stuff for backpacking and rock climbing, two activities I definitely participate in. The backpacks they were selling were excellent quality - if I didn't already have a good backpack, I would have picked one up here. Their bike section was pretty rad, too. Normally I would recommend REI for all your outdoor activity needs, but definitely give this place a shot if you're in Seattle. I think you'll find pretty much whatever you're looking for and it might even be on sale. read more

Frankly, one of the best shopping experiences I've ever had, and I hate shopping, even for fun stuff like gear. The staff are helpful, knowledgeable, and not pushy in the slightest. They're genuinely stoked to chat with about your upcoming trips, and figure out what gear can make your life easier for said trip. I don't live in the Seattle area, but make it a point to buy a few things online each year to continue to support them. Keep up the good work! read more

This is my kind of store. If you're an outdoor addict/fiend/lout like me, you will have a nice time looking at the mother-lode of gear housed in this independently owned little shop. It's not as huge as an REI, but it will definitely accommodate your mountaineering, backcountry, climbing, and general outdoor needs. A cool added section of this establishment are their used gear. I did a quick scan of shells/jackets, but I didn't find anything to my liking, but I'll be back to see what's there next time. read more

There should be more places like Second Ascent. Consider their business model: They buy gently used outdoor equipement such as tents, backpacks and clothing (not climbing gear) and re-sell them at a substantial disount. You can get last year's used-one-weekend tent at a good price, or a generation-old, still usable backpack at a very good price. Now why don't more stores do that? They also sell a good selection of new equipment, including lots of climbing gear (with good discounts on climbing shoes from time to time), bicycles and accessories, clothing and shoes/boots, ski gear in the winter and camping gear in the summer. read more

I'm in love with this store. I was in the market for a pair of light day-hikers but didn't want to drop $150+ at REI so I headed to Ballard. Something that makes me really crazy in shopping situations is when I tell a salesperson what I'm looking for and they give me four pairs of boots that don't meet any of my qualifications. At Second Ascent this did NOT happen. I explained my situation and was out of the store in less than half an hour with a solid pair of boots. I wound up spending a lliittllee more than I had intended but to be fair, there were cheaper boots (I didn't like them as much) and in the end, I figure my feet and knees are worth it. Also I think I should be commended for taking two or three laps around the store, actually trying on a pack and still only buying the boots! That's some amazing willpower on my part because their stuff is pretty great (and the prices aren't bad either.) read more

Great selection of gear and especially of packs which were what I was shopping for but horrible service! What is with the elitist attitude? We weren't greeted when we entered the store and while one guy did come over to help and inform us on the different packs, eventually it was getting to be closing time and he asked if we'd be around tomorrow. Has anyone working here heard about establishing customer relationships? If you can't hang around for five extra minutes after closing time to help a customer when they're about to drop $250+ on a pack then you probably don't want our business that badly. I went ahead and purchased a 11L pack (which I plan to use only for day hikes) even though I was recommended a 22L pack. The guy seemed to think I had never been on a hike before and that I didn't know how much space my own gear takes up. I had to ask someone to ring up my purchase because everyone was more intent on catching their bus than on making a sale and basically I was told I'd regret my choice of pack. Way to antagonize a potential loyal customer. Fail. read more

We completed my wife's x-country skiing needs here by getting some boots and poles here. They have very affordable gear, and overall I really like the store. You can luck out now and then and find some good used gear with quality brands like Fischer and Solomon. The $29 bindings deal was a steal! I'm still kind of miffed by the customer service offered though. Two weeks ago, the sales person was telling us to come back during the last weekend of January when they are usually stocked up on their gear. So, we did come back yesterday, and a different salesperson said, "Oh, yeah, this is the time of the year when we are running out of everything..." Seriously guys? Get it together. Some sales people just talk to talk... read more

Truly awesome place. They have a ton of really good quality things without the price good quality can bring at an outdoor sporting good store. I saw someone earlier mention a snobbish attitude but my experiences have been quite the opposite. Everyone here seems to be making sure you get your questions answered and making sure you walk away with the right pack/shoe/product. And it's local, too. Give it a shot! read more

Crushed to learn of the closure this store. It was our favorite gear shop in Seattle. My husband and I consulted Sarah, one of their awesome employees, almost weekly as we prepared for a thru-hike of the PCT (which we are currently doing). I've so looked forward to going back to this store where we acquired so much of our gear, and debriefing the experience with Sarah after we finish. Just absolutely bummed that we won't be able to do that. Awesome store, awesome staff, HUGE loss for Ballard. read more

I know people want to read/write glowing reviews of "hip non-gigantic retailer" shops but Second Ascent isn't your friendly neighborhood store. I'm not some one off client either, I've been trying to love this store for a while but I came to a breaking point recently with an expensive purchase from them. Don't get me wrong, some of the people are quite nice and helpful but for the most part their return policy sucks, if you have a problem with gear you bought there they will not go out of your way to contact the manufacturer or even try and work with you on a solution. I hate to say it but at least at REI if you buy something and are not satisfied, you can return it for something else! Here you're stuck with it. Done. I like spending at local stores to support the neighborhood but why should I if they don't look out for me?! I mostly liked the idea of Second Ascent, but I won't be making any big purchases there going forward and you should be weary too! read more

One thing I really look for when I'm buying stuff I don't "need" (like food, music, books, and even places I buy that stuff is scrutinized in the same way) is where I'm buying it from. If I can get stuff second-hand and recycle my own stuff instead of just getting rid of it or letting it sit and get old and mildewed, and if it's a local independent store. If I can give my money to a store/company/organization that will really notice it, I'd rather do that than hand it over to some multi-billion dollar corporation. We live in a capitalist society, and our money is our vote, so if I can "vote" for a store that's owned by someone in my neighborhood who has good business ethics, I'll do it. Politics aside, Second Ascent is just a great store. I bought my backpack and tent there 2 years ago and I've been totally satisfied with them. The employees are very knowledgeable and helpful, they give great advice based on experience and love of their hobbies instead of bigger sales. I love their mix of new and used, because there are some things that they don't get in used often but they still want to carry, so they just offer them new. Great deals to be had by all. read more

This has been my go-to neighborhood shop for technical gear for 7-8 years now. I call the shoe guy "the Oracle", not to his face (although he'll know if he reads this), climbing gear, clothing n all. I run into their staff at music shows, climbing gym, mountains, and restaurants-a real neighborhood shop. My fiancee was gearing up a little, I sent her down there and she got the same treatment I have received. Their competition is good, I just dont get the vibe I like when I'm shopping in a store. Higher level of expertise per staff member I think. I bought a road bike from them 6 years ago, and thought that might be a place they could improve...and they did. They put on great social events too. Enough from me:) read more

I'm not a biker... honestly I really don't like anything physical at all, I've never even been camping! Seriously, i'm not kidding. I wanted to get my dad a new pair of fingerless bike gloves for father's day and after a thorough search on yelp found Second Ascent. I walked in, petted the shop dog a few times and proceeded to the bike area. They had a rather large assortment of gloves so i was a touch daunted by all the options. Two assistants working on tires saw my distress and immediately came to my rescue. I explained to the guys that these weren't for biking but for my dad to keep his hands comfortable while he walks the dog in his wheel chair. They were super accomodating! They guy picked me out a few pairs and told me the benefits of each. I settled on a pair with gel cushioning on the palms and was told I could exchange them if needed. They guys were super nice and man I'll tell you they were sweet. I'm actually thinking of getting a bike from them here eventually. The prices were fabulous btw! They had a wide range to chose from so I know if dad doesn't like them he'll be able to come in and pick a better pair for him at any price range. I'll definitely be back if i ever decide to get off the couch and stop being a lazy bum. read more

Summer is just around the corner, and you need some gear. Sure you can head over to REI and find what you're looking for, or you can head to Second Ascent in Ballard and find a slightly used version of what you need for one-third the price (and no waiting for a dividend - instant gratification). This place does carry a decent selection of new gear, but the used selection is pretty impressive and very reasonable. From footwear, to packs, tents, sleeping bags, stoves, you name it. Well, except food, they thankfully don't have used food. read more

This store has a little of everything. Well, it kind of has a lot of everything. I was surprised how well stocked the store was. They had climbing gear, camping gear, hiking stuff, swim attire, biking equipment, and probably more than I noticed. We were here to go bike shopping. I stopped by just to look at bikes and ask questions. I described how my husband needed/wanted to bike (I was birthday plotting). I got a thorough walkthrough of the bikes and which might work well for my man given his riding needs. Next I stopped by with my husband where we were able to try out a few bikes. They were good about letting him ride it around, making sure it was the right height, and seeing how it was afterwards. He rode three bikes when the person helping us suggested we try out some at other shops just to make sure he had a great fit on the bike he ended up with. I like that the sales guy offered that break for us to regroup and make our choice. We cam back to buy one of the bikes within an hour. We were able to buy all the key bike accessories here. It was nice to get everything in one place. I like that we can bring the bike back here for a check up and adjustment too. read more

Ascent Outdoors is open again! The new owner has a great plan to bring this shop back better than ever. I'm excited to get to continue to shop here! read more

The lady and I went to Second Ascent today to check out climbing gear. We are just getting into it so we don't know a ton about it. A dude casually came up to help us with shoes, he was pretty disconnected and did the bare minimum of his job. I was kinda bummed since this was our first purchase of climbing gear. He eventually walked away and Will came up to help us out. He was a super rad dude, answered all our (novice haha) questions and he was very knowledgeable. We weren't going to buy anything because I was rubbed the wrong way by the first dude but Will saved our experience and we bought everything we needed (harness, belay device and carabiner) for my lady instead of just a pair of shoes. We will definitely be back and GIVE WILL A RAISE! Thanks again dude. James read more

Dang me this place is good! Not a big place, but they're able to squeeze in clothing and equipment for the outdoors. Their big display of climbing anchors and equipment behind the checkout counter makes even me think about climbing! The bike mechanics are both good and personable, which is a bit unusual for bike shops in my experience. Not only that, but they really stand behind what they sell. A floor pump I bought there failed after only about a month of use, so rather than telling me to ship it to the manufacturer for warranty repair, they just swapped it out for a new one on the spot. On the clothing side, they've got a decent selection of both new and used outdoor gear (they've got used stuff in the other departments as well -- that's why it's "Second" Ascent). Finally, there's all kinds of majorly yummy restaurants, pubs, and coffee/tea places just steps away along Ballard Ave. read more