Over all the years I've visited Ames, I've rarely travelled over to the West Side where Lincoln Way…read moresoon merges US 30. There's a now shuttered restaurant where my Sister had her rehearsal dinner and I sometimes passed Ames Surplus, which as it turns out has been folded into the 2-building complex that is called Jax Outdoor gear. The military surplus part of this store is not much more than a couple short aisles. Past that, Jax has loads of outdoor gear, fishing and hunting inventory, clothing, footwear, and even a corner for Boy and Girl scout supplies. It's all very high quality merchandise and a good value. I came in looking for some Carhartt pants, which they don't currently stock. I left very impressed and with a cool and nicely priced little Gerber knife. I found store staff to be friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. I'll be back in Ames in a few months (or so), and I'm be sure to stop in again. I'm sure there will be new stuff to admire or goods that I missed during the last visit. And there's no need to drive all the way to Des Moines.

This place is a joke! I ordered online 5 different pair of mens pants. Called their customer…read moreservice line to find out why the freight was so ridiculously high. I was told the customer pays to have them shipped to one location then pays to have them shipped to the final destination. I decided to go ahead with the purchase they were all name brand and still less than I could find online. Here is what I received later that day to my inbox. JAXOutdoorGearFarmandRanch Your order has been canceled Order was canceled because we did not have enough stock to fulfill your order and your payment has been refunded. Really, all of them! What a waste of time! Maybe Learn how online sales and inventory control works before trying to sell products online!

Always has what no what other stores do not. The owner is a polite and does everything he can to…read moreget what you need. The prices match or are lower than any big box store. It's very refreshing to see places like this still thrive. I've been there 3 times now for fishing supplies and have gotten exactly what I needed all three times. I knew nothing about Larman's the first time I stopped in and was blown away by the courtesy and kindness that was shown. Great store and great customer service.

From the owner: Larman's Outdoors was founded in 2015 We specialize in; Fishing, Seasonal Hunting, Outdoor…read moreElements, Yard Art, Gift Items, Small Tools & Hardware, General Merchandise, and Much, Much More. Wholesale prices to the public!

This place is great. They allow you to bring your dog inside…read moreand they have treats. The gun selection is excellent. Their selection of clothes, shoes, etc is so much larger than you think it could be until you get inside.

I might be the only person that feels this way...However I don't like hearing from the 3 older guys…read morebehind the gun counter that they all handled my firearm talking about it like a toy. My unique, high dollar purchase doesn't give you the right to touch it. Check the serial number and put it back. If it's not yours then hands off. I don't know what they've touched and I doubt they wash up. I wasn't even rude during this transaction. I said thank you and have a great day and this old guy replies "no". Unprofessional! Buy elsewhere.

Stoked and Fontenelle are just a few doors down from each other here in the East Village. They…read morehave similar "Portland" vibes and I think complement each other. Fontenelle is perhaps more fashion, while Stoked takes that theme to the sporting outdoors. Hence, there is some overlap in their respective offerings. I wandered in yesterday and admired the selections over 2 floors and discovered some interesting camping and outdoor cooking options. I had a nice chat with an owner and came away knowing that I'd be back with a better developed shopping list. Stoked has a good website to help that along.

I went into stoked looking for topo design, and they had literally everything and so much more…read more They had onewheels, camping gear, benchmade knifes and Super73 bikes. Definitely recommend this store!

Wow, I loved this store, a phenomenal collection of the best brands in active and casual wear…read more Literally, a dream stop for me! Liked the layout and customer service. Plenty ty of parking. Staff gave me space. Multiple dressing rooms. Locally owned. Among the brand names: Vuori, Hola, Smartwool, Setup, Toad and Co, Keen, Tilley, Sorely, Patagonia, and Kohl. Liked their sunglasses display too! An immediate must visit every season.

It is a good feeling when sales associates look up from their desk task, and each greet you with a…read morefriendly smile at best saying "May I Help You" or "Hello There." A kind gentle helped me find a colorful fanny pack and another associate assisted with name brand jogging suits. The fabric, and the trendy look were of reasonable value with an awareness of our global warming utilizing vendors that are planet conscious who use recycled materials to make impressive joggers. I am waiting for more pinks, royal blues, or lively mint greens to jazz up my exercise wardrobe.

Beautiful retro styled and outdoorsy clothing boutique for the guys. High end quality with prices…read moreto match. Greeted on entry and note: there is a fridge on the right of the entry with complimentary beverages--including good beer. And bourbon pours in the back (self serve).

All fine and polite service....until you need to return. Read the fine print - not many stores…read morewon't accept returns anymore. You can get store credit, but many of their items are quite expensive and if you don't want anything else you may be out a good bit of money.

Best place in Iowa to gear your Scout up at... They always have up to date stock and the staff is…read morealways helpful from the minute you walk in the door to check out. They have a tailor available for any altering or sewing that needs to be done...if you don't want to do it yourself. Sometimes you have to leave your uniform for a day or two, but it's worth the wait. The shop is located just inside the doors of the Mid-Iowa Fred Maytag II Scout Center so if you've never been here before make sure you check out the grounds and the facilities.

This is the kind of place that just makes staying away from home easier. The folks here really know…read morehow to make you feel at home. Super clean, very comfortable all the way around. The decor varies and I am sure there is a cabin that will suit you, several have gas fire places, and each cabin that I have stayed in has had a very comfy bed. There are full size refrigerators and a microwave too. There are BBQ grills there for easy grilling and picnic tables too. There is a State Park adjacent to the cabins that offers great fishing, hiking and exploring. I truly believe that this place is the Best place to stay in Southern Iowa. They offered us working guys a great rate when the other motels in that area wanted an arm and a leg for a basic room that doesn't come close to the cabins. If you are ever going to be in Southern Iowa, make your reservations early. This place fills up and for good reason. I hope to return next week and update this review with several pictures.

This is a great place for your whole family to stay! We stayed inside he motel portion with 5 kids…read more We had three beds and a pull out futon couch, and plenty of room to spread out! The room included a full kitchen and bathroom which made it nice for us to be able to cook some home made meals on the road . I highly recommend for any size party. The business is family owned and ran and they couldn't be nicer! Very accommodating and were available for a late night/ early morning check in/out. Give them a try if you're in the area