Oh MEC, how I love thee. We rented kayaks from this MEC for a weekend trip and they were awesome! The kayaks were not expensive to rent and the staff were incredibly helpful (like they always are). If you want to give kayaking a try or if you want to do anything outdoorsy, MEC is the place for you. Seriously, they staff knows their stuff and it is very evident. These guys are amazing! read more

Four or five years ago, this was the number one store I would recommend to my outdoors friends. Their prices on gear were excellent, the few bits of brand-name gear they had were (relatively) reasonably priced, and the staff were rather helpful. Lately, the prices have risen dramatically, the advice from staff has gotten significantly worse, and the ratio of reasonably-priced MEC branded gear has decreased to make room for more expensive brand-name things. The result is a store that I no longer recommend to my friends, and a place I hardly feel comfortable going to. MEC used to be a place that had a lot of high-quality, well-priced gear. I haven't seen an increase in the quality, but the price increase is readily apparent. Their roots were as a co-operative, but the store is no longer any different than Atmosphere. In fact, increasingly, I'm finding the prices at Atmosphere to be better. If you're into Yoga, I'm sure you can find some good stuff here, but if you're a backpacker, all you'll find is overpriced dehydrated food and underperforming name-brand gear. Good luck to a first-timer getting outfitted for under $1,000. If you're looking for a good outdoor store, check out Monod's in Banff. The prices will be about the same as MEC, but the selection is waaay better, and the people that work there all really know there stuff. They'll take care of you, and you can leave knowing what you bought will actually do the job. Don't get me wrong. If you need a fuel canister, or to replace a piece of gear, you can probably find what you need here. But I don't trust that the average employee can actually give me good advice (some are still fantastic), and I can no longer make the assumption that I'm getting the best price. Both of those things used to be what made this the best outdoor store in Calgary. Dear MEC, I miss the old you. Try harder. read more

Always my first destination for outdoor gear. Selection is more than adequate, and pricing is somewhat high but for the quality of the product i think it is reasonable. The staff is very helpful and the store itself is pretty massive. Americans will love this place, as it's quite a bit more intense than REI. The downsides: parking is limited, and this being downtown if you dont park in the lot, it can be hard to come by. The other thing is clothing itself, i feel like they should carry more than the MEC brand itself. The MEC brand im sure is very well made, but it is a bit low on style. read more

Good Service and Helpful Staff their online inventory system is accurate as well as they stand behind their products. I bought a bike helmet there three weeks later the outer shell detached from the foam I brought it back it and got a refund no problem. I would recommend them for sure! read more

This place was so much fun! We had no trouble with parking (though I can see it being difficult on weekends). There are two enormous floors of awesome. The climbing wall looked like a lot of fun, but they only allow it a couple of times per week (Wednesday and Saturday, I believe, and only for a few hours each day). I had bought a water bottle online from MEC about 8 years ago, which I somehow remembered when she asked for my membership number. At only $5 for a lifetime membership, it's not a big deal anyway. read more

I've been looking for new hiking boots since the end of last summer and found the perfect pair here. The staff is knowledgeable, helpful and really goes above and beyond to get you the best product for your needs and wants. They have so many styles, brands and types of boots/shoes, and in all price ranges, there shouldn't be any way you don't find something that is perfect for you. I ended up with a pair of Oboz and could not be happier. My last pair of boots lasted three years so hopefully these last as long, or longer! read more

It's an outdoor store surrounded by wannabe outdoor stores. Parking can be wild when busy. The people are generally friendly. Although, I think people, including myself come to this place for the selection. There is a lot to choose from at a variety of price ranges and styles. As a wannabe outdoorsman I enjoy this place. They also have a great exchange and return policy. read more

i'm from the States and i was interested in seeing MEC as i've heard it's the canadian version of our REI. i would definitely say the feel is exactly like REI with the decor, the friendly and super helpful staff. they have an awesome selection just like REI and have their own line of clothes just like REI. i would say there are some differences, but not bad differences: - become a member, it is $5 (compared to the $20 at REI) - some MEC branded items are absolutely awesome (some which REI doesn't have at all). i love their T2 and T3 baselayer hoodies, they remind me of the marmot insulated baselayer hoodies. they are so light and definitely a winter weather requirement - outside the MEC, there is a food truck that sells steak bites and fries which are freakin' delicious. i would definitely go again when i'm back in canada! read more

For my recent backpacking trip, I needed a backpack, otherwise that would defeat the purpose of "backpacking", right? So it was recommended to me that MEC was the place to go. This place is massive! I'm not a cyclist or climber, but they sure seem to have a lot of stuff pertaining to those activities! MEC has pretty much all your travel necessities. They have great first-aid kits. The staff was very helpful in helping me find a perfect sleeping bag for what I needed. They also helped suggest packs, there is a reasonable selection of top brands in differing sizes. Both my husband and I ended up going with their brand of pack, since we weren't planning on doing much hiking or camping with our packs on our trip. We were able to get purification tablets and water proof bags for our clothes. They have a great selection of clothes, but all were a bit pricey to me. I did end up getting a wicked deal on trail shoes! That is definitely something I would go back to MEC for is shoes! We bought the membership when we paid for our stuff. I asked about warranties and the woman said they are good about fixing or returning things. After the trip, I wanted to bring my bag in because the hip belt had frayed and fell apart, after only 6 months! When I brought in my bag they told me they would just give me a credit, so I could buy a new one, or a different one if I liked! I was amazed at how easy it was! so I ended up buying a high end pack, putting that money toward it, because I knew I needed it to last! They keep all your buying info under your membership, so I didn't even need the receipt! If I need anything related to travel or outdoors MEC will be my first stop. I highly recommend it for travel necessities! read more

I've been buying from MEC since they were in a tiny one room space on 11 ave SW above a racket store. I've seen their gear go from underpriced, to vastly overpriced, and back to reasonable. The location on 10ave SW is great, it's huge and has pretty much everything you'd need for lightweight camping, cycling, boating, climbing etc. They seem to have gotten their warehousing issues sorted out and will generally have the sizes I need for clothing. In some areas they don't have a very deep selection so if you want a choice of brands you'll most likely have to go somewhere else. Having said that their backpack department is insanely overdone. They'll have 20 kinds of backpacks that are the same size and function. Like most retail places in Canada the staff seem to avoid talking to you or making eye contact and there is never enough people in the shoe department if there is anyone at all. For some reason they made their parking lot a pay lot. I've never paid and never will but it still astounds me that they'd do that. All told, you'll get low service with average prices but chances are you'll find what you need and a few things you didn't know you need. read more

Mountain Equipment Co-op has just about anything you might need for outdoor pursuits. The service is exceptional and the staff enthusiastic and knowledgeable although sometimes a bit hard to find. If you're new to a sport they are friendly enough not to make you feel small for asking beginner questions but they can generally help out the expert as well. They several brands and when I'm unsure of what to get I almost always default to the MEC brand - generally a bit less expensive without a sacrifice to quality (although not always). One of my favorite shops for equipment and clothing in the city. read more

I need to tell all of Yelp that I have found the perfect vegan winter coat at Mountain Equipment Co-Op. I have been searching around for forever, for a functional jacket that is not filled with down, that I would feel comfortable wearing on a winter hike, that is a reasonable price as I am sometimes tough on my clothes. Enter the Mountain Equipment Co-Op Frostbreaker Parka available in women's and men's styles, filled with a down alternative, hyperloft. I spoke with a sales associate regarding this coat, and he was super friendly, informing me that he actually had the men's style and that he has worn it on the cooooldest Calgary days, as I was a little bit wary about whether this jacket would be up for the challenge. As they didn't have any blacks in a medium in my size, I ended up calling MOUNTAIN EQUIPMENT CO OP SECRET HEADQUARTERS, and they had one shipped for me, to my door, with no additional charges. This jacket was only $140. It showed up this past Friday and I had it by our -20 degrees day on Saturday! Life rules so hard, and I have such a crush on MEC right now for providing me with the warmest things. MEC seriously has everything one needs for the winter right now in one little stop. My next purchase will be some thick cozy gloves and moisture wicking socks for under winter boots. I've also been advised that I should take my bike into MEC to get it prepared for the winter. (5/30!) read more

I live in Medicine Hat so it is always a treat to go to MEC when I am in Calgary. I am always impressed when I go there. I love being in the outdoors and they have got everything you need to be outside, well ok not everything but almost everything. The prices are reasonable and the staff is always friendly and very helpful. These are people that actually use the products. For example I was looking for some cycling gloves and the MEC employee that was helping me had just retired from a 15 year carrier as a bike carrier, so he had some good advice and he knew what he was talking about. Great store and I will be back again and again. read more

Great place for picking up outdoor gear and they recently introduced bikes to their line up. Only downside to their popularity its sometimes difficult and takes time to get service. I picked up a pair of snowshoes for my wife this week that I ordered online. I really like the ability of ordering goods online and receiving it at the local store. Oh my wife can't wait for me to introduce her to snowshoeing this weekend. read more

I hadn't stopped by in a while, and after searching online for a fanny pack for my son, saw MEC had a great selection plus in-store stock. Popped in mid-morning, I asked where to find the exact model my son wanted, and quickly found it. Service at the till was swift, courteous, and friendly, just as I expected. That's why I'm a member! read more

I love these guys! If your into the outdoors this is the place to go for your equipment. If its not here you don't need it. The prices range from affordable to fairly pricey. But one shouldn't have to buy the expensive stuff cause all the lower end merchandise is great. read more

I love MEC. They offer a huge variety of stuff for all sorts of outdoor activities. The service is good and the staff are helpful and knowledgeable. Their return/exchange policies are great. I could spend a lot of money here. read more

I go here for camping and cycling stuff and I must say that the selection and prices are tough to beat, especially for bike gear. They've got some good brands (Descante) and I always find what I'm looking for. The salespeople are not pushy whatsoever and are actually very knowledgeable about their products. Almost every item that I have bought there has been useful and great in quality. The only downside is the whole parking situation. You have to pay to park there. read more

The selection, prices, and quality are second to none. As long as you know what you are looking for this place is great. For service I would say that I have had better luck at campers village. read more

If you know exactly what you want, this is a great place to shop. If you need any kind of help, do your own research and avoid weekends. We have bought stuff here before, and the selection is truly amazing. But on a recent visit to buy bike's, we were unable to get any help at all. The place was packed, a testament to the selection available of everything for the outdoors lifestyle. A great place to look around, they have everything. But come prepared, and like I said do your own research. read more

This place is truly special. Customer service: When I walk into the store I suddenly feel like a black man in southern Mississippi in the 1960's, you feel like the staff doesn't want you there, but they can't do anything but pretend to ignore you. Products: I buy a lot of outdoors equipment, this place used to be decent about 7 years ago. Now everything is cheaply built and priced at 3 x the price of any other outdoor equipment supplier (I call it the downtown Rent markup). there is no need, plenty of other places in the city. read more

My husband and I just went to MEC today and bought our packs for our first backpacking trip. The selection was amazing and they had everything we needed, I didn't find the prices to bad either. I have actually expected to spend a lot more than we did. We spent $400 which included two packs and two sleep sacs as we are staying in hostels in Costa Rica. The only downside was the lack of service which I was REALLY surprised, every other time I have been there it was great. It was difficult to find someone to help us and there were many staff members available. We asked for help and they just pointed us in the direction of the packs. Which is not so good since we know nothing about them. We had to ask several times to get the point across that we need help choosing one. Finally another staff member who had been watching this came up and took us right over and helped us choose one. We also went to the member help desk to pick up an order and the woman was very rude and seemed like she hated her job. After that we were looking for a specific gift for a friend and that was like pulling teeth to get one of two staff members we were asking to actually walk to 10 feet over and help me find it. All in all it was a good experience. If you are looking for a one-stop shop this is the place to go. Although there are several items you can find elsewhere at a cheaper cost. I think I just caught them on a bad day where almost everyone was a little grumpy, it could be the nasty snow store coming down! read more

MEC, as it's known to insiders (or just about anyone these days) is one of the best outdoor gear supply shops in town. The Calgary location is fairly large and has great, experienced staff. One of the things I enjoy about the place is that their stuff is sweatshop free. A lot of MEC stuff is made in Canada, and what is outsourced has the highest regulations placed on (pays, hours worked, regular checks, environmental auditing, the whole 9 yards). I like supporting a place that has ethics - and follows them. Not only that, but whenever I've been there, I've had great service - purchases and returns. Their staff is (largely) very experienced and really helpful - particuarly when you have no idea what you need. This was my experience recently purchasing a large backpack for travelling in Europe. I had someone help me find something comfortable, explained to me the right fit, and put in a few weights so I could see how it felt. There is a membership fee, but I think it's $5 dollars for life, or something similarly inexpensive. Definitely worth it. read more

I'm not an avid MEC customer but when I do need the the outdoor items for whatever the adventure, it's the place to go. As I needed a few final items for my trek over to Thailand, MEC comes through again. Service has always been consistent and all the staff, knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. Thanks to the Scottish follow for your help with my new daypack...I like the limie green and it saved me enough money to pick up thing or two! read more

MEC is great for bike repairs. My chain broke on a day of heavy snow. It only took a few hours and they had to replace about 5 parts on my bike but they only charged $10 for labour!!! Great work and great service. I'd say this is one of the top bike shops in the city for repairs. read more

yes, as good as it gets in kowtown. My advice is to play it like a game when you go, expect nothing and try at all costs to avoid the staff. (for the bike section). "doctor heal thy self" is the motto you should take when entering. expect staff that know less than nothing, and if they do give advice make sure you keep the receipt because you will probably have to exchange or return it. 10 spd chainrings on 7 spds, 27" tires on 700c rims, scary repairmen that shock with lack of product knowledge. "doctor heal thy self" is the motto you should take when entering. The good thing here is some that some of the buyers at HQ know how to make a decent selection of stuff that people who own bikes need and will keep needing. and to me that alone is worth the duh duh staff. Because of the gross incompetence of all the bike stores in calgary, my knowledge is gone from zero to expert in a very short period of time, kind of nice to get dirty once and a while. read more

Went here looking for some snowshoes for the upcoming season. I've tried some other brands, and i've had trouble with the bindings, or the length not fitting, etc. The people at MEC were super friendly, and really knew about snow shoes! I really feel good about my new MSR Evos. It's all about the bindings! read more

I went looking for a petzl rope (60m), chalk and stoppers (Black diamond). I found exactly the same products right across the street (in atmosphere). I told the guys if they could give me the same price... No one answered me, so, thank you for the free parking but I got the rope from Atmosphere read more

Pretty much the best outdoor store chain in Canada if not the world. MEC brand stuff is a great way to get something that is high quality, ethically sourced (or even made in Canada a lot of the time), and most importantly cheap. The employees are very knowledgeable, they don't just work there, they live the lifestyle and practise what they preach. Sure you have to be a member ($5 for a lifetime membership) but it is well worth it just to have access to this fantastic chain in most majour Canadian cities and online. read more

MEC has always been my first choice when buying outdoor gear. They have an amazing selection and always seem to cram more into the store every year. The staff are generally really good with the exception of their ski department. They don't know enough to fit boots properly. The best part about MEC is their return policy. No one else even comes close to matching their policy and they are so easy about. No hassles, no fuss, just a full refund and away you go. I'm also a big fan of their corporate responsibility and how they source their products. read more

Good advice on clothes and boots. Service is really good: they do not try to sell you the most expensive item if you do not need it. Bought a winter coat and boots and both are very good. It is expensive but the quality is great. I also like the community engagement and the fact that it is a cooperative. read more

Biking , hiking , kayak, clothes, do it love it buy 90% of my goods here. Always helpful. And lots of selection.... Nothing else to say if its outdoors save some time just go here, or check it online. read more