Let's say Walmart, Cabela's and an army surplus had a crazy 3 way and made a baby. Now this baby…read moremay never know who his pappy is. But you know for darn sure that baby came from love, acceptance and exceptional customer service. And times are different now. I saw on discovery channel and baby that had 2 biological dads!? Like a cat !?! Wow....Axe and Reel. You little 2 daddy miracle.

For reasons unknown, this is the only company on the internet that advises it may take "up to ten…read moredays" for the refund to show up in my account. Ridiculous! And I received this message three days after returning the item, so it suggested perhaps almost a two-week wait for my refund. As it turned out, it was a mere seven days. Ridiculous!

Super knowable staff and really helpful. I drive from Comox to shop here. Ten years ago I first…read morewent into this store and had great service and have found it to be one of the best outdoor store on Vancouver Island. If your making a big investment in outdoor gear I highly recommend making the trip to the Nanaimo Valhalla.

We can't speak highly enough about alpha adventures. I did my research and not only were they the…read moremost reasonably priced, the staff is incredible. Annie who took our booking had some great suggestions and Jamie who delivered the kayaks (any where on the Sunshine Coast) had a great sense of humour and set us up for a wonderful day. The equipment is top notch. As we arrived Jamie was cutting the tags off a brand new kayak. Couldn't speak more highly of the staff and the products, we will definitely be recommending and using them again!

So let's be clear I have lived on the coast for 5 1/2 years and we actually shop here! Like I…read moreactually purchase hundreds of dollars of clothes, equipment and rentals, shuttles every year. Today because snow is forcast tomorrow and will continue all day I asked to switch my reservation to a different date. Explaining my vehicle will not safely get me there. Not once did I ask for my money back, I understand a strict no refund policy. Infact I really am not worried about the deposit. Lack of customer service, that annoys me, young patronizing employees annoy me lack of communication and listening skills annoy me. Lack of customer appreciation annoys me. I did email the owner, who seems wasnt clearly told the whole story and couldn't even comprehend why I would be annoyed. I'm sorry this was my experience and I'm actually sorry I have to write this. You will probably have a great experience as I have for the last 5 years. Good luck! However I will find somewhere else to shop after today.

Stocking up for outdoor adventures can be almost as exhausting as a 4-day backpacking trip. A new…read moreforay into winter backpacking has led to a lot of shopping recently. And thankfully, the folks at Alpine Start, specifically Leon, are here to help. My outdoor adventure partner and I came here in the summer and Leon was a huge help finding sizes for my guy, and gave lots of advice when it came to waterproof jackets. We returned this weekend in search of waterproof pants. And once again Leon was there to help. He's also very friendly and fun to chat with as you shop. The service here, as mentioned, has been great. But it is never pushy. Which would drive me out of the store (Eco Sports down the road is a good example). The prices are decent on most things, and while they don't have as big of a selection as MEC, they do have some brands you can't find at MEC, like North Face, Westcomb and Marmot. All are good brands. They carry a small selection of other items as well, like footwear, compasses, camping accessories for cooking, gloves, hydration systems, poles, etc. And they carry a selection of Canada Goose parkas, which apparently are really popular. I'll be happily returning to this shop when I'm in need of some good outerwear or technical clothing.

I went here for the first time today after reading the Yelp reviews, which were mostly positive…read more I found the staff's assistance to be very good, even thorough. They didn't rush or pressure me. Prices seemed about average/reasonable. There were some items on sale. I would recommend this establishment to others. Well done staff members, it's hard to find good service these days!

Bought a "Sulfuric Moss" colored hoodie here, and then like an addict, I came back for more around…read more*black Friday sale* got a backpack for less than retail, which is extremely rare if you know anything about TNF--big town excellence, anyways

Friendly and helpful people, good variety of items, fair prices. In a cool and convenient part of…read moretown. I recommend stopping in.

Awesome stop for a crab license--aside from a life jacket, we picked up a beautiful wooden puzzle…read moreand some colorful stickers. Super friendly service in a clean, well maintained store. They offered 20% off on the puzzle because it was a display model, and the last really colorful one left. They will be ordering more for the holidays, if you're a wooden puzzle fan.

I came here at the last minute to get some binoculars for our whale-watching tour. The staff was…read morevery knowledgeable, helpful, and friendly. They also have a great selection of clothing and shoes.

We were visiting ONP and staying just outside of Port Angeles when our trailer door broke and we…read moreneeded a VERY specific screw so the door would latch. I found swain's on google and headed there, hoping it was as good as our local independent hardware store. I was NOT disappointed. I got a very helpful employee who helped me find the screw. He did this after handling Amazon returns AND color matching paint! Btw, this store had EVERYTHING. Camping gear, hardware, clothing, porch geese, clothes for your porch goose, candy, plumbing, tackle, you name it! Plus the prices were very reasonable. I am very glad I chose Swain's over the big nane stores. Definitely recommend

This is REI, Academy, and Home Depot in one store. Best way to describe it would be overwhelming…read moreand fun to walk through. It's a lot.

Robinson's Outdoors is exactly the kind of independent shop that reminds you why local stores still…read morematter. The staff were genuinely friendly, approachable, and--most importantly--knowledgeable. They actually took the time to answer questions and make sure I understood what I was looking at, instead of just pointing me to a shelf. You get the sense they really know their gear and care about helping you make the right choice. Sure, you can buy outdoor stuff on Amazon, but you're not going to get any level of service. There's real value in being able to talk to someone who's an expert and can guide you properly. Overall, an amazing experience--I'll definitely be back.

I love visiting Robinson when in Victoria. The staff is super friendly and knowledgeable. The…read moreselection of gear is top notch, this past visit I got some Smartwool leggings. I am always happy to support and give my dollar to local businesses that encourage people to get outside!

What a fabulous marina store! Owners Carie and Cameron are super helpful and friendly. If you…read moreneed it, they have it. If they don't have it, you don't need it. Fishing tackle, snacks, boat parts, provisions, etc.