I had a really great time with Dynamic Outdoors when I went rock climbing on Oct 16, 2010. The day was brisk and apparently the best type of weather for climbing. We went to the "gunks" which was a short van ride from the city. I went with my bf and a friend and it was really nice. We got to explore around and take our time with the rocks. There were different instructors, some who explained more thoroughly what to do (i.e. where to put your feet/hands) while others let you explore. They included all equipment: helmets, shoes, ropes, harnesses, belay. glad they did because i smacked my head not once, but TWICE on my first climb. i heard the guy belaying me got a real kick outta that - TWICE. We got to climb the rocks at our leisure and as beginners I think we got a great variety of ones to choose from. The hike up to the rocks was a workout in itself. Overall we had a great time together and are in the process of finding another activity to do with DO because it's a deal for things we couldn't normally do. ice climbing anyone? :) read more

Have to share my experience after the rock climbing trip in the Gunks. I was right about being in good hands and tons of fun. I am still giddy about it!!! Igor and Alex were awesome. They were patient and encouraging and pushed me to challenge myself. So glad I did, Finished a 5.8 at the end with Jason belaying without using the cheater block or hanging on the rope and as clean as I could muster at the end of the day. Finger tips and toes are hurting a bit but I couldn't wipe the smile off my face the whole drive home! So now the question lies, do I go to the Labor Day Caving/Hike/Camp/Rock Climbing trips next, or do I go for the Level 5 White Water Rafting in Gaulie??? Arrrgghh, so wish I could go to both! read more

See all

I had multiple local and overseas trips with Dynamic Outdoors (DO) and had great experiences! The circle of people who I met on the DO's trips were all so positive and that was the main reason why I kept coming back to DO. read more

After reading these reviews, I am shaking my head at myself for booking anything without checking Yelp first. Dynamic Outdoors' poor organization/dishonesty and spotty safety practices were both raised by other yelpers but I unfortunately didn't check before going. Booked a weekend away with Dynamic Outdoors (DO) for Ice Climbing and a hike of Mt. Washington in New Hampshire a few weeks ago. I went with a friend and rarely write one-star reviews, but some major issues in terms of misrepresentation and safety issues that make this a one-star organization and really need to be outlined here: - Like other yelpers have noted, we had the unpleasant surprise of 2 complete strangers being placed in our room without notice. Totally fine if disclosed but shady/uncomfortable without a warning. - More importantly there were some major safety/liability issues - the day of the hike was seriously scary. Some clients were not even able to put on crampons properly, and the "guides" were unavailable/unwilling to help them. It got to the point where my partner helped several people get theirs on before we could continue. Not good on a steep incline. - A group of novices were in front of us, one with an improperly secured mountaineering axe hanging precariously from her pack. Instead of staff/guides checking her at any time, we had to let her know about this and help her secure it for our own safety. - Then dangling axe girl's friend's crampon fell off! She managed to get it back on (because again no guides were around to help, they were all towards the front, with the exception of one fellow at the back who was assisting with a cluster of even more incompetent hikers.) - All of this made me very nervous, but the final straw was when the girl in front of me slipped (should not have happened in the first place, but she was completely unable to self-arrest which is not all right to have people like this on a mountain) and slid 10 feet towards me, crampons and axe first! So scary. - After almost getting spiked in the face, I made the executive decision to end our hike early, notified the guide behind us that we would meet them at the lodge, to which he rewarded us by giving us an incapacitated hiker to take back down the mountain! - Completely inappropriate, and not our job to be responsible for this guys' safety when there were paid guides around! I protested, but the guide refused to help him so short of leaving him alone to fend for himself, we had to help him down. - Unfortunately this poor man was almost completely paralyzed with fatigue/fear when going back at first, to the point where he was inching down and needed to be coached step by step down until the path got flat enough to walk again. Maybe not his fault, but again, not our responsibility. We breathed a sign of relief when we finally had him back to the lodge safely. -- There was a weird mix of "guides" and other presumed volunteers/employees of DO on the trip. I think their practice for these trips is to plan things for their friends, and then market the event to unsuspecting bystanders to help fund the trip at the expense of paying "clients." There did not seem to be many repeat customers other than the "staff", if any. (I put quotations there as several people were introduced to us as "staff" or "guides" but were uncertified and unpaid, and some even paid for themselves to come on the trip, but at a discount!) read more

It was one time and it will be the last time. A friend of mine somehow convinced me to go on a trip to Greece with Dynamic Outdoors because of the good price, young crowd, and all the activities included. Well My first night we arrived in Santorini, it was a rude awakening to find out that not only did I share a room with my girlfriend I had to share one with 2 other girls, so it was the 4 of us with 3 beds (2 twins & 1 full). Even though we complained to the front desk, the only thing they could do was provide us a cot. In Mykonos we were lucky to get a closet size room with two twin beds pushed together. Even if we wanted to push them apart we couldn't. In Athens, closet size room with 3 twin beds all pushed together for myself, my girlfriend, and another girl on the trip. The description of the trip was slightly misleading. Things that we thought were included weren't at all. Literally nothing was included on the trip. If it wasn't for the wonderful people on the trip, I would have regretted this whole entire adventure. Nothing was planned and organized properly. So in total the people paid for $2100-2200 per person, plus an additional $250-300 of our own pocket money that we thought the activities were suppose to include but didn't. I didn't come there expecting for 5 star treatment but for the price I paid I did not expect broke college student hostel type quality either (which is what the trip was about). While I don't mean to bash Dynamic Outdoors, and I bet many of their other activities are great, but just be careful what's included. Because at the end of the trip many people found out that because we went to Greece in the off season, the prices for the hotels were ridiculously cheap. When you put 3-4 people per room you begin to realize that the trip organizer was profiting big time. I seriously question the other reviewers on this page. It's strange how many of the reviewers giving it 5 stars have only reviewed 1-2 places (generally its DO being the only place they review). read more

Very unprofessional and deceiving. Went through a similar experience like Jaimie M. and Robin W. I been to a couple of trip and it does feel like the group organizer puts the trip together for his own person gain without regards to the safety and well-being of his clients. If he can, he'll try to get one over on you. Will never go on another DO trip. read more

Watch out ! Igor, the guy running this company is the kind of guy you want to stay away from. We booked a rafting trip with them and they left without us leaving us stranded in NY at 8 am ! We were 5 minutes late and we called to say we were on the way. Nonetheless, he left knowing we were 5 min away. After this we didn't want to have anything to do with them and asked for a refund. After endless negotiations we got 80 $ out of 190 $ !!! Reading the reviews, I realize they definitely don't have their customers best interest at heart. Word of advice : stay away from Dynamic Outdoors and tell your friends to do the same. read more

The concept is good but not new. There are better and safer options with the same offerings in the city. If you are smart and seasoned, you probably know enough already to never go on a trip with DO. If you are a total beginner and don't know anything about outdoor activities (hiking, rock climbing, mountaineering, rowing, etc.), do a little research. You'll quickly see that DO guides are inexperienced and their 'certifications' are limited to internet stuff anyone can read some blurb and get. Find those with real certifications and safety training. If you are just up for a good party, DO does have some networking/party events. read more

If you had a good, uncomplicated, safe, professionally-managed outing with DO, you were lucky. They sometimes get it right, I understand. But basically they're experimenting on you. Don't be fodder for these unscrupulous people. With all the social networking options available these days it is NO PROBLEM to find -- for free! -- others who like to hike or kayak or do yoga outdoors or ski or whatever, and organize an outing. When I went on a DO "Yoga Hike Swim" outing three years ago, our entire group was stopped by a state cop who detained us for a good hour because the lake was clearly marked NO SWIMMING and there was no lifeguard. The guide had actually encouraged us to swim with a twinkle in his eye like we were all twelve years old again and sneaking down to the swimming hole when we shouldn't. I've certainly grown out of that stage, and so should DO; I'm surprised to see they're still misbehaving. If they haven't cleaned up their act by now, they never will. I don't like complaining. But in this case, I felt a responsibility to do so, especially after seeing their Dealist snowshoeing offer in my mailbox. read more

BEST ever 4th of july outing! Staff is super accommodating, and they have very reasonable prices...now if only i was better at this, LOL read more

I haven't been on outdoor trips with Dynamic Outdoors for a while. Then one day, when I introduced two of my good friends whom I both met on D.O. trips to each other, I realized that a significant part of my friends circle in the city are actually from this club and they are the most positive people that I can imagine. D.O. and the people I encountered on D.O. trips have definitely changed my life. If you just want to enjoy a relaxing outdoor event, there are many choices out there. But if you want to push the limit of your own potential and being challenged, sign up a trip with Igor - keep an open mind and pay more attention to your safety (and money) - you will be inspired for sure... read more

I initially found out about DO via a Groupon deal that I wasn't able to purchase and I am so glad I found them! They specialize in outdoor activities for New York's who either don't drive or don't want to drive, and that is something I've been looking for. I went to the July 10th white water rafting trip in Lehigh and had a blast. The bus transportation was prompt and pulled out exactly on time which I appreciate being that I am stickler for being on time. I had been rafting 3 times before, and although I'm not a pro, the rapids were class 2-3 which I found to be boring, but it was still a great time. The only "complaint" I have is that I didn't see much of the DO people along the way. I would have liked for them to have been more accessible. Then again, considering the size of the group, I cant really blame them. All in all it was a great experience and I'm looking forward to doing another trip with them. Actually put the down payment on a class 5 rafting trip in West Virginia. Hoping to be a regular with this crew. It was a lot of fun! read more

Dynamic Outdoors continues to impress me! I recently found DO on eventme.com. I was initially interested in their day hiking trips but after looking through the website I decided to start with an international trip. Between the itineraries and low costs I knew this was the best organization to book a trip with. My first trip with DO was to Turkey in May...and it will not be my last. I've always wanted to go to Turkey and through DO I was able to see the best sights the country had to offer. Everything from the other travelers, organizers, and itinerary, I was very pleased. DO goes above and beyond to find the most economic prices...if you have any doubts just take a look at the competition. The group leader was very accommodating to all 15 of us; whether we wanted to spend more time hiking, sightseeing, or just relaxing he made it happen. Since getting back I've gone on hiking trips with DO and have been equally pleased. If you're looking to get outside the city, and have good time with a great group of people, Dynamic Outdoors is the way to go! read more

I have to bump my review up 1 star. The Groupon leader reached out to me and apologized for being late. When I mentioned that we overpaid, he offered a partial refund. read more

My favorite outdoor adventure club! I've been going on DO trips since 2008 and I always have a great time and meet awesome people. The trips and getaways are also a super value. The guides are professional, encouraging, and friendly. It's a fantastic way to get out of the city and back to nature. read more

Dynamic Outdoors - A spectacular fall foliage hike! - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me

I came across Dynamic Outdoors in an online search for groups that organize hiking trips. I liked the pictures of past events they have on their website - made me wish I were one of those people - white water rafting or trekking in remote locations... Luckily, I discovered DO just in time to make it to their last two hikes of the season, and I LOVED IT!! I had done hiking with friends and co-workers before; - my DO experience was far superior! On the first trip - a light to intermediate hike to Gertrude's Nose - the group of people couldn't have been more suitably matched - I guess DO didn't have a lot to do with that, but again, the people who chose DO, seemed to be of a very similar... kind? It was your usual mix of investment bankers, lawyers, IT, arts and sports people; on personalities level - everyone was there to really have a great time, so we all did. Yes, the weather was perfect and the foliage was gorgeous, and as our group leader Ralf put it (and was proven right a week later) this was the best and last weekend before a rain turned the leaves brown... Still - I'd have to go with the conversation & the spirit of the gang as what was truly exceptional! Pick-up locations were very convenient and there were no delays. There was also a lot of making sure you are doing well - climbing, stopping to take all the pictures you want, and "oh, you want to go see that orchard and get some apple cider and pick some apples - no problem, we could do that". Almost everyone dozed off on the drive back to the city, with that great sense of being pleasantly tired and soooo glad you got to spend a day in nature, because now you are ready to go through your work week re-charged and... totally making plans for your next trip with DO;) At least I did. And my second trip was even more eventful!:) read more

A trip with Dynamic Outdoors to Iceland was offered through my hiking club, I signed up and paid the $200 deposit. I called Igor Bass to get more information, but it was clear he didn't want to answer my questions fully. When I asked if meals were included, he went on & on about cooking with the group. That is not an answer to my question. I accepted that because I am a seasoned traveler and he is obviously not and doesn't understand the reasoning behind my questions. There was absolutely no communication regarding the trip, then all of sudden on March 4, he sent an email needing information for the flight with a deadline of TODAY. This is not only impossible to do when planning other aspects of the trip, but also a ridiculous and inexperienced request. I replied with the fact that I could not finalize on such short notice and I would get my own flights. In the same March 4 email, he indicated that final payment ($495) was due on March 11.I wrote to ask about using Paypal since that is how he collected the deposit. He replied with "yes, but via credit card it would be 5% extra... if you have a paypal balance, it wouldn't cost extra..." The next email to him indicated I would use my Paypal balance and therefore neither of us would get charged a fee and asked him which email address he'd like me to use for the payment. He then replied with "Please send $519.75 to:creditcards@dynamicoutdoors.com". Since we just determined there would be no fee, I replied with my intent to send $495 to the same email as the deposit went to. Since I included two other members of the group on this email exposing him trying to get extra money out of me, he kicked me out of the group trip. This kind of childish behavior is atrocious. He is trying to pull a scam by asking for more money than was originally agreed upon, then removing me when others found out about it. He is very immature and has no idea how to plan travel. read more

So I found out about DO (Dynamic Outdoors) through a friend of mine. Was not a great experience. This operation is pretty unprofessional when it comes to the administrative part of things. In terms of its operations, also leaves something to be desired. I signed up for an ice climbing/mountaineering weekend (yeah, I know, mistake 1). Anyways, did ice climbing the first day which beat the crap out of me. Did not think I'd be able to manage mountaineering the second day although I'd signed up for it. Told the guy (Mean Igor Bass) that I'd rather do skiing and live to face another day. He made me pay $60 (which was 1/2 the cost of the mountaineering) as a penalty. Something about how it was the law, that I had to pay a penalty of 1/2 the cost of mountaineering. Right. Um, what law are we referring to? In any event, after he stole my $60, he tried to be super nice the rest of the trip - I guess to make his guilty conscience feel better. Um, look, we both know a liar when we see one. If you're going to feel guilty about something, just don't do it. Geez. Not impressed with DO - I think this might be a good thing to try if you're already experienced with outdoorsy activities; but if you're a beginner, I don't think this is the group to join. Also, I find it sort of odd that I can't find a physical address for them. Maybe I didn't try looking hard enough? read more

So I signed up to go on whitewater rafting trip with Dynamic Outdoors. They advertised a guided trip down Class 3 rapids, with three or four of their own guides. I guess I didn't exactly do my homework, but essentially we were just joining the giant groups at Pocono Whitewater (http://www.poconowhitewater.com/). There's nothing wrong with this trip, but it's a huge operation - hundreds of people per day - and DO had nothing to do with it. The 'guides' from DO were not in our boat; who knows if they were even there. In the end, it appeared that we were paying for a van rental. Considering you can show up as an individual small group as you please for $62, it would be a total rip-off if you paid the full price of $129. Even our 'discount' price was a tough sell, considering what was provided. read more

Born and raised in New York I was always looking for ways to get outdoors, and if it weren't for dynamic outdoors I would not have met the multitude of friends that I have now. I have been 14 countries with them, Calais hikes, rock climbing, White water rafting and even zip lining. I am so happy that I found this company. It has literally changed my life read more

I really wanted to like Dynamic Outdoors - the price was great, they were super responsive and friendly, it sounded like a fun trip (hike + swim), and my friend was going. I go on trips like this occasionally with groups, as well as on my own. I am physically fit, and I have experience hiking. I also love the outdoors, and I do not mind the weather. I had three major disappointments: 1. Safety The driver was texting while driving. He was trying to coordinate with the drivers of the other vans. 2. Organization of the Trip When we arrived at the park, there was a sign that there was no swimming until later in the month. If it was billed as a hiking and swimming trip, it seems like they should have known about the lack of swimming available at this point in the season. 3. Consideration The trip advertised beer at the end, which sounded great! I would have preferred if we had finished our drinks before hitting the road. (Not to worry -- the drivers did not drink!!!) Overall, I would not go back on a trip with this group. read more

Bought a daily deal coupon from Living Social for a trip here. The deadline for the promotional value was December, months after the last trip could be scheduled in September. There was no mention of the last date of trip in the original Living Social posting or the daily deal coupon itself. All trips were filled up early and I could not get in contact with the owner. What kind of business has an email account that bounces because it it full and a turned off cell phone for a business phone? Business is run irresponsibly. I was able to get a refund from Living Social but was turned off by the whole experience with Dynamic Outdoors. I learned my lesson from this experience to always check reviews on Yelp before I ever buy an outdoor trip daily deal. read more

Went Kayaking with DO and paid $84 for what is normally a $40 rental if you showed up on your own. The group was lead by Igor who treated kayaking down a class 0-1 river like he was leading a discovery expedition down the Amazon. At one point he rows up to me and puts his kayak sideways in front of mine to physically prevent me form continuing, because i was 100 yards ahead of the rest of the group. He then does the same to the next person who was 50 yards ahead of the group. This would have be fine if it was not a class 0-1 river and we were in any real danger or if we were deaf and he had no choice to use physical restraint rather then just ask us to wait for the rest of the group. Getting to the site was a story in itself. One car stopped to fill up on gas (why was it not full when we were picked up) then a few miles later the other car (Igor) decided he too needs gas and we have to go back to fill his tank. On the last leg of the trip Igor points out the end location which was on the correct point in the river but on the NY side when we needed to be in the PA side. You get zero benefit from doing an outing with DO, their "guides" are clueless and uncoordinated. Igor is brash and does not understand that he is running a business that requires him to have people skills. Do yourself a favor and DO NOT book anything with them. read more

Had an amazing time with Dynamic Outdoors on the Lehigh River White Water Rafting trip. Igor and his team were extremely organized, knowledgeable, friendly, and accommodating. The trip started off with convenient transportation to the river leaving promptly at 7:45 am from Manhattan. Although I am not a morning person, the drive was enjoyable as our lovely driver Sam kept our attention with friendly conversation. Once we arrived, we separated into groups of four or six and received a safety briefing with tips for navigating the river. We were then taken on a 10-minute bus ride through the forest to the river. The rafting itself was so much fun! There was a good mix of class 2-3 rapids with periods of calm. The scenery was absolutely gorgeous. I felt safe the entire time as experienced guides were easily accessible as they rode alongside in their kayaks. The rafting adventure was about 4-5 hours with a 25 minute stop for lunch in the woods. When we returned from the river, we were greeted back at the transportation vans with a large selection of snacks and drinks. As an added treat, Igor passed around vouchers for a complimentary photo that was captured on the river by the rafting company. If you're the slightest bit adventurous, this is definitely a trip I would recommend through Dynamic Outdoors! I am very happy to say I walked away from the experience with new friends and many laughs. read more

Went on a paintballing trip and it was great. They picked me and 2 friends up at 730 by Union Square, drove us an hour out there, and then we spend 7 hours shooting each other and 25 strangers with paintballs. The group was a good mix of amateurs and people who had played before, so everyone got some good shots in. The paint bullets are expensive and you will run out, but it's worth it in the end to have enough ammo. Fun for the whole family. I recommend going in a small group so you know some people to begin with, even though we made friends with out teammates pretty quick. A great time, highly recommended. read more

Great experience with Dynamic Outdoors trip to North Cascades National Park, WA. I joined a group of 8 for a 4 day hiking in Washington State at the end of July and the trip was incredible. Flights, accommodation, hikes, and evenings unfolded so easily that it felt like our group had been going out together for years, even though most of us have not met before. We did 4 challenging hikes, a half day kayaking in the most amazing of lakes, and plenty of swimming opportunities in rivers and lakes. Igor and Teresa, our trip leaders, were very responsible and a joy to be with. They involved us in all decisions related to the hike and evening options, and skillfully accommodated all abilities and interests during the trip. The hikes were beautiful and challenging, we were very lucky with the weather too, and I was very impressed with the quality of people that Dynamic Outdoors appeals to - fun, thoughtful, very interesting backgrounds, and most important of all, great lovers of the outdoors. Dynamic Outdoors has a solid direction and counts with the support of experienced volunteers in a range of outdoor pursuits - hiking, climbing, kayaking, sailing, skiing... They have very nice and affordable ideas for day outings in the NY area, and trips both in the US and abroad. They carry their work with the highest levels of professionalism and enthusiasm. I am looking forward to my next trip. Hope you join us soon. read more

The paintball trip was a lot of fun. Be prepared to spend more money, because you're guaranteed to run out of ammo and you'll want to get some lunch. They had beer and snacks at the end of the day - and trust me after a long day of paintball there, a beer is amazing. Go for it, it was a lot of fun. read more

The concept is great. Price is good. But if you are smart and know something about these activities the group goes on, you probably would never give this group a second chance. If you are a beginner or don't know much about outdoor activities (inc. hiking, rock climbing, mountaineering, rowing, etc.), do NOT go on any trips with Dynamic Outdoors. Your life will be in danger (not kidding). The guides are horribly inexperienced, and there is very little regards to your personal safety. read more

You should be worried if you see only excellent and very bad reviews for a business - its probably the owner who writes most of the good ones himself. Here is how DO business operates for international trips - Igor Bass collects money and buys the cheapest land tour in the country from a local operator. In my experience the accomodations were horrendous - literally a bug-infested hole with 4+ people in one room. While the price for the tour seems reasonable at first - it is not considering such poor quality of accomodations, food and service. I would think that Igor would be embarassed by putting adult professionals from New York in ghetto style motels in third world countries, but he had a "nothing wrong with this picture" attitude. Do not expect any apologies - he becomes very rude once you pay the money. I will never take any of DO trips again and strongly recommend to avoid it. read more

I have been going on trips with DO for awhile now, and they have always been a lot of fun. The boy-to-girl ratio is not always what you would hope it to be (if you are a straight girl). The ratio definitely gets a lot better as you go on more challenging trips, such as white water rafting or via ferrata. I did not get to know the organizer, Igor till recently. He is actually a nice guy and he really tries to accommodate everyone. He would let us decide as a group on what we would like to do in our free time. If there was a disagreement he would try to come up with a solution that would be fair to both sides. I would and I have been recommending this group to friends. read more

I have done numerous trips and outings with DO (Dynamic Outdoors) and they have always been awesome; thus I'm going back for more: Their guides are great and keep on encouraging all the participants to try new things; all levels are welcome and we learn new stuff all the time. The people I have met have been fantastic and I've made really cool friends. Granted, after a day or a weekend out with them my body usually feels like it needs a vacation; however, isn't it the point to be trying new things, to be trying harder physically and mentally. I am really happy my friend introduced me to this down to earth group; hope they will stick around and come up with more and new adventures to be tried out. read more

awesome trips, very knowledgable trip leaders and it's all for a very reasonable price. they have so much going on all the time locally and internationally, and they make the trips accessible and fun for you regardless of your skill level. would definitely recommend : ) read more

I was really disappointed with my hike with Dynamic Outdoors. There was no explanation, no interest in the people on the hike. The head leader, Igor, as well as the driver/assistant guide didn't really make an effort to get to know anyone, ask names, expalin anything about hiking or the area. Were more interested in their own day. Igor left us with the inexperienced assistant/driver who HADN'T hike the trail before and got us lost. The advertisement for the trip said "light rock scrambling" and "intermediate to advanced" hiking.. however, the rock scrambling was "intermediate to advanced" and the hiking was "light" which proved a little dangerous for the more inexperienced hikers on the trip who had never scrambled before. I can't speak for other trips, but overall could have gone on my own hike, and NOT paid $55 for dangerous rock scrambling without any guidance or explanation. read more

Had a blast with these guys. The Rock Climbing trip was amazing and I can't wait until the spring to do it again!! Thanks Guys!

I had the unfortunate luck of camping next to this group at the Adirondacks over Labor Day weekend at the Whispering Pines campground near Keene, NY. Even after several different people asked the group of about 50 to keep the noise down after 10:30 pm they did not. In fact, we got rude answers such as, "well, it is the outdoors so we're not disturbing anyone out here." They are either deaf, blind or both to the fact that there are about 100 other people camped near by in close proximity. Loud laughing and shouting after 10:30 pm and before 8 am is just rude and disrespectful. Standing on tables at 6:30 am and shouting out the days instructions is not a pleasant thing to wake to. read more