This is an amazing place to bruise through, especially if you are interested in camping and/or any outdoor activities or sports. Anything you could possibly need, you will find here! But, everything is super expensive, because it is all the highest quality of outdoor gear. This is also a cooperative business, so you join for a one time fee, and once a year, you receive a profit, based on your yearly purchase. Love REI! read more

Still five stars. We came in looking for a number of things. Kind of a scouting mission. REI has plenty to offer for hiking, camping, biking, kayaking, and more. We are looking for, among other things, a smaller tent (ours is huge) that we can easily lug around with us and REI has a large selection. We signed up for their membership several years ago. Just tell them your phone number when making a purchase and you get credit for the purchase. We picked up a UV protective t-shirt as a gift for someone. It was reasonably priced imho, very soft and moisture wicking. Brilliant. I should probably get myself one too. BTW, the company no longer offers bags. None. So bring a reusable bag if you plan to shop here. It's just another way to reduce waste and be a good steward. Some of the prices can be high, but not everything. They sell Patagonia which is an expensive brand, as well as other, more moderately priced items. You just have to know what you want and what you are willing to pay. If you check out the bulletin board upstairs, they offer guided excursions that look really fun. I check out their selection of hiking poles as I am looking to buy some. Everything from really reasonable basic models to foldable, light weight pricey models. So you have options. They have pet items. Personal care items. Clothes and shoes are upstairs. So many types of water bottles. Camping items for both the thru-hiker and the car-camper. Check them out. They are a good resource and the staff are friendly and happy to assist. read more

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REI it's an institution of adventure by it self. The perfect place if you are looking for anything related with hiking, biking, camping or just a day at the beach. Everyone there is helpful. It's an experience just to go there. Evetime i go, the staff is knowledgeable and very nice to talk to. They always answer your questions. That i find most special. I know that by going there, I won't leave without excitement or any doubts.. read more

Store was nice and clean. While waiting in line the employee named Brad, made unprofessional comments to the woman checking out. The girl was making a return and the employee told her to "enjoy shopping at TJMaxx instead". It's incredibly inappropriate to speak to a customer like that. read more

This place is awesome...so many choices of anything sports related ! I went to check on a few items in the biking section and I was really happy to see that most all of the categories had really top quality brands and varied pricing levels, so any consumer can make a smart choice. The staff here is very friendly and very knowledgeable. Pretty much any question about anything is answered by the person you ask or he/she will find someone to assist. Recreational Equipment, Inc., doing business as REI, is organized as a consumers' co-operative. REI sells camping gear, hiking, climbing, cycling, water, running, fitness, snow, travel equipment, and men, women and kids clothing. It also offers services such as outdoor-oriented vacations and courses. REI operates 165 retail stores in 39 states. It also receives orders via mail-order catalogs and the internet. This particular store in Cranston is huge and very nicely laid out.... In terms of history on the brand, Lloyd and Mary Anderson founded REI in Seattle, Washington in 1938. The Andersons imported an Akadem Pickel ice axe from Austria for themselves as part of The Mountaineers Basic Climbing Course, and decided to set up a co-operative to help other outdoor enthusiasts in the club acquire good quality climbing gear at reasonable prices. In 1956, Recreational Equipment Cooperative was incorporated. Jim Whittaker, who was the first full time employee the company ever had, climbed to the position of CEO during the 1960s and was an early board member with American Alpine Club president Nicholas Clinch. When Whittaker became the first American to summit Mount Everest in May 1963, it provided REI with so much free advertising that the following year, 1964, its gross income topped $1mil for the first time. Although the Andersons originally established the co-op structure to secure reduced prices for its members, REI now models itself as a boutique full-service retailer, with a website including order-on-the-web and free delivery to a nearby store, rather than as a low-price retailer. Local stores host free clinics on outdoor topics and organize short trips originating from the store to explore local hikes and cycling paths. REI outlets are often positioned as anchor stores in upmarket strip malls. In common with other retailers, REI stores tend to receive most of their traffic during the weekend. Although most of what it sells is brandname merchandise from other companies, REI designs and sells its own private-label products under the REI, REI Co-Op, Co-Op cycles brands. Top quality items from a well run company. read more

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Admittedly, this isn't normally the kind of store I'd go to. But I was in the area, and had some time to kill, so I decided to check it out. Contrary to other reviews, I was never approached by a worker, despite seeing multiple workers while I was there. Which is fine by me, as I'm the kind of person that will ask for help if needed, but otherwise doesn't want to be bothered and can find it off-putting if I'm approached. I found the selection to be limited and the store seems smaller than the outside or indicates. The prices seemed high, a $104 for a sweater is bonkers. There are 2 floors and although I'm sure there has to be, I didn't see an elevator and while it isn't a huge deal, for some people going 3 sets of stairs may not be that doable. While I'm not exactly a 'shut-in' I'm not somebody that is always looking for something to do outside, so I'm not an expert on the matter. But again, the prices seemed awfully high here, and there was nothing that won me over or would me get a gift card for someone that is outdoorsy or even recommend this place to them. read more

The ski service center has been a life saver and a yearly tradition for me to get my skis re-waxed. They also service bikes (Don't forget your yearly tune-up). The rest of the store is consistent with most REIs but the Re-Gear section is slowly becoming my new favorite as you can get discount gear that has been slightly used. Good for your wallet and for the environment. Everything else is pretty expensive but you pay for the professional guides and if you are a member you get 10% back on the yearly dividend. It may be cheaper to find online but there will always be something nice about shopping instore and feeling the gear before purchasing and using it. read more

I came here for a sweater and left with a new pack full of hiking gear. This location is awesome. I couldn't walk 10 feet without seeing an employee and then offering to help. However, Fred went above and beyond. He gave me a full fitting spending a lot of time with me trying on several packs...putting weights in each. Then he took me through all the bells and whistles and we discussed camping with another customer. Just a great vibe. read more

A solid option in Rhode Island when you find yourself in need of outdoor sporting equipment, clothing, footwear, and the like. I have been frequenting this REI location for some time now and am always a happy camper when I stop by. Large and spacious interior; several departments to peruse depending on your area of interest. Over the years I have picked up a variety of clothing including hiking shorts, pants, waterproof outerwear, insulating layers, and socks, shopped trekking poles and backpacks, climbed "Mount Cranston" in innumerable pairs of boots, and so much more. Are things pricey? Sure - it's quality product. If you shop smart though, you can find the deals, hit the sales, and earn coupons to save a pretty penny. The staff really make this place. They are very pleasant, not overbearing, but more than available if you need a helping hand. Throughout the pandemic and the multiple challenges that has presented, they have adapted and continue to offer their customers a positive shopping experience. For example, many clothing stores closed their dressing rooms; REI instead kept them open - taking the time to clean them between each use so customers could leave the store knowing their gear fit... avoiding the risk of going back out unnecessarily to exchange. The availability of stock has been variable due to issues with supply impacted by Covid. Despite this, staff still go out of their way to identify products in stock to meet your needs or work through finding items that can be ordered. Really appreciate this. Couple extra things to note: The REI Co-op Membership is a steal - one-time $20 fee and it allows you access to used-gear trade in programs, member dividend, garage sales, etc. This is pretty great. Secondly, (pre-Covid) I attended many free classes offered at this location. A way to connect with like-minded people on a number of topics like hiking in the White Mountains or the Appalachian Train, basics of packing a backpack, and more. Looking forward to jumping back into these sometime. read more

I thought this place was OK until I received a gift for Christmas that I could not use. I didn't want my daughter to know that I had returned it and it was on her REI account. I asked if I could return it without her getting a receipt or any notification that it was returned. I didn't want to hurt her feelings but I did not want the gift. I brought it to the store and was helped right away which was nice. I was helped by a very kind young man. I asked if I could get cash back because they had the receipt online in my daughters account that she had paid for it and had paid full price. I was giving the item back in new condition. And he thought that I may be able to get the cash back. He called over a manager and explained the situation. The manager said no that I could not get cash back. I asked if he could just tell me the reasoning behind it because I found it a little confusing. He said because you can't get cash back. He was kind of condescending in the way he said it and I wasn't being rude at all. I told him I just want to understand why the policy is in place; if the store has the money and the item why can't it give the item's paid value back in cash. He said because we don't. I said is that the reason and he said yes. Not what I wanted to hear and I truly expected more from the store. read more

I love shopping here! An adult toy store! Great shoes and clothes as well as outdoor gear

It was New Years Eve and we knew of some major sales happening at REI. A few weeks ago I discovered my snow boots were no longer water resistant the hard way - standing in a slop of snow with my feet dampening every second. With a group of friends who are more outdoorsy than me (literally everyone) we headed to the great indoors. I scanned the walls for boots that I liked, immediately spotting one pair that my heart set on. Grabbing it off the wall and holding it did not warrant attention right away from one of the sales reps, but after a few moments of blatantly trying to get attention I got it. The sales rep was nice and got the boots for me in a jiffy. Putting on the boots, and instantaneously I knew these were coming with me to the check out. It was like putting my foot in a cloud. So comfy. I was sold. read more

This is one of the smallest REIs I've ever been to and as such the selection is pretty limited. There's a considerable amount of turn over at the store so sometimes I have a great experience and other times not such much. Went in to buy a tent, couldn't find the tent section, the overly hyper sales staff who was talking a miles a minute and wouldn't let me get a word in edgewise said, "I know it can be really overwhelming in here". Um, ok. He also stopped to help another customer and mansplained pack weight for me. Thankfully another sales guy came over and they started talking so I just walked away from the wretched sales guy. He needs to take up meditation or something or breathe or listen to customers. He kept going on about how I could come back after the sale that starts next week and get my tent price adjusted. I'm told him I'd rather not, he kept steamrolling me in conversation to get me to do it. Like, I understand that's a great service but I'd rather spend $100 to never talk to him again also I don't care that much about $25 to come back in and get something "price adjusted". When a customer tells you they aren't interested in some service like that; a word of advice - let it go. You're not being helpful dude, you're being rude. The last time I bought something at REI before this was 4 years ago and I had a great experience buying winter hiking boots. So your mileage may vary. read more

I came in to process a return from an online order. Alexis helped me right away and was incredibly kind, helpful and informative. The store also looked immaculate. It was very easy and simple and truly a 10/10 experience. read more

I've been researching hiking backpacks for an upcoming 2 week trip. This place has the biggest selection of backpacks and accessories that I've seen, so I figured it'd be a great idea to try them out. Not even Bass Pro had more than 5 backpacks :( We had the pleasure of dealing with Donna. She was immensely patient, knowledgeable and helpful. I didn't feel rushed at all! She was so thorough in measuring what would fit, the different comfort levels, features for the brands, and what weight I would expect to need to carry around so I could base my decision on that. She also sighted her experience with hiking and international travel for security ideas in busy areas based on different bag features, rain protection, and at most what we would need and how to pack it! Not once did I feel like I was speaking with a salesperson. She was so kind, personable, and patient. I've never in my life had such a great customer service experience ANYWHERE! I just wish that after explaining the REI Membership Benefits that someone as wonderful as her would get some kind of incentive or loyalty reward. I understand it might be different here because it's an employee owned co-op set-up, but this is the kind of employee who really deserves it! I will most certainly be back, and cannot wait to see what the sale she mentioned was all about. Thank you for being such a wonderful human being Donna! You're a delight :) read more

REI - Bikes Near Me - Cranston, Rhode Island

Went to REI with a department store bike I bought for my 10 year old son that was damaged. Bad rear shifter amount other things. Dave in the bike shop was great. He got it fixed up same day and made it safe for my son to ride. Really appreciate him and the work he did. He was understanding of the challenge in finding a bike that was inexpensive at this time and now the bike is safe and working great. Thanks Dave! read more

As an honorary Seattleite, this place is like crack for me. However I'd like to know their logic in choosing a Cranston location as the only one in RI - it's kind of in a strange place, away from most prominent shopping and within five miles of at least two correctional facilities. Hmm. But it's in a lovely new shopping center and has all the stuff I love to ogle - North Face, Columbia, Marmot, Merrill, et cetera. Come with a bunch of money if you want to buy, the clothes are expensive (not because of REI, but because of the brands). Downstairs you'll find the bikes, kayaks, mountain climbing stuff, rock shoes, tents, and camping equipment. Upstairs are clothes and shoes. If this is someplace you think you'll shop frequently, become a member - 10% off all purchases and you'll get a refund each year (REI is actually a co-op). Right coast people - go and check out this piece of Seattle that's hiding in Cranston! read more

REI - REI Cranston Storefront - Bikes Near Me - Cranston, Rhode Island

One of the best parts of REI are the staff. They are helpful, and they don't seem stressed out and rushed. When I was looking for snow pants the woman helping me really took time, and seemed to be focusing on what was the best product for me. They were well trained. I like the store and the layout. If you arrive later in the season sometimes the selection starts to get a bit thin. I also like the giant staircase in the middle of the store, but they lose so much display space that I am not sure it is worth it. I guess the stairs get people upstairs. The quality the the clothing is high. The prices are not inexpensive but reasonable for what is provided. If you are looking for a "real" outdoor store that provides goods for camping, hiking, skiing, biking this is an excellent choice. read more

The service we received from Rachel on Sunday was phenomenal. She assisted my daughter in selecting a roof rack for her new RAV4. Rachel knew the various brands, what each one offered, how they were different and which ones REI had in stock. But, most importantly, she took time to engage us and answer all our questions, without rushing us. We were confident we bought exactly what we needed. read more

Dylan, Thank You! My fiancé and I were there for the Garage Sale and found several excellent buys. Your attitude and helpfulness was a reaffirmation of why I have always loved REI. In this day and age good equipment is available at your fingertips, great customer service is not. As a very long standing member, Thank you again. read more

Did you know that there is no time limit on returning items to REI? I just found that out and in my book that gives them another 1/2 star for awesome customer service and satisfaction. Dropped to exchange a sweet Marmot jacket and, unfortunately they do not have the correct size or color. (I am a winter - hee hee). Anyway, Timothy, the very pleasant cashier-fellow so informed me of this when I made inquiry as to their return and exchange policy. Nice! read more

REI rules. The pricing is very competitive when you take into account the generous return policy (the best in retail) and the 10% dividend. It's a bit of a bummer that membership isn't free like it was when my mom signed up, but the $20 fee pays for itself several times over. Fantastic selection, quality house brand products, and floor samples galore. I think it's really important to be able to try out gear before you buy it, and REI does too. The Cranston store isn't the biggest REI I've been to, but it's nice enough, the location is really convenient, and the staff is great. Sorry that you didn't score at the garage sale Johny, but I saved $100 on a pair of brand new panniers that needed a new 2$ buckle. And white people complaining about white people is so tired. read more

After skulking through Somerville and Cambridge bike shops, getting hipster 'tude like you don't know what, it was nice to switch up to some granola customer service. I was looking for a helmet, a very specific one with stars on it. I had looked for it online and knew REI had it at two prices: $50 for the new model, $30 for the older model (exactly the same but in a different box). I walked in and found what I wanted in seconds. As we wandered the store, which is impeccably clean, we met Mike, a great guy who reminded me of my dad. He told us something I didn't know - that REI is a co-op. For $20 you can become a LIFETIME member (that's not an annual fee, that's a one-time fee), plus you save 20% on your first purchase as a member, so it pays for itself. Then you get all sorts of discounts, on regular priced items and rentals, and get emails about member-only events like the Yard Sales. Mike also did something very unexpected, he recommended that I DIDN'T buy something, because it wasn't right for what I needed. That gave me a lot of confidence in his judgement and I liked that I wasn't being pushed to spend more money. It's expensive to begin with (thus one star off) but for clearance items or the annual sales, it's great. And it's fun to wander through and look at all the neat gadgets. read more

REI has some pricey stuff. I usually use geartrade.com, because to me, it doesn't really matter if a product is near-new or new. I am going to rip it out of the packaging and abuse it. However, I do occasionally find some items on the REI outlet website that I want. If I haven't spent the $50 min. to qualify for free ship, I'll pick it up at this store. Picking up items is hassle free. I get in and I get out within a few minutes. It's quick, and it is less chance of me walking out with additional purchases. read more

REI is a great store. If you need something for your outdoor lifestyle this is the place to go. Have used the bike tuning before. They were very good and helpful. Fast return on bike as well. read more

The store itself is in great condition and is extremely clean. The staff are always waking around and ready to answer any questions and help out. I rented some gear to go backpacking for the first time and they were great! The gear was perfect and was at a great price. Love this store! read more

Every time I visit this store (granted that's only 3 times) there is no end to the number of people milling around trying to assist me. They all seem happy, friendly, and genuinely interested in helping me locate or learn about something. Even the cashiers are happy, nice and friendly. I only wish I had more money to spend. I would love to buy half of what's in this store. There are so many cool camping, hiking, and traveling gadgets available. read more

The only problem with REI is that there is always something I want to buy. I wear a lot of there products as casual street wear because it is so functional. Had a pair of quick dry pants on the other day and my dog shook muddy pond water all over me. About 10 minutes later they were dry and most of the mud had fallen off. The service is excellent. Once in a while I might run into an attitude but that is not the norm. The membership is well worth especially if you have their credit card. My annual rewards has been around $400. Issued once a year in the spring. I use it to fund the coming summer adventures. read more

The entire staff is very friendly, and their selection of outdoor gear is truly top notch. Spend the money and become a member - its cheap, lasts a lifetime and gives you amazing returns. Also, their cycling and running department is pretty awesome as well! One of the best REIs I've been too! read more

I got a couple of gift cards for my birthday as I've been getting into hiking lately. Stopped by to look at some stuff, and ended up looking around at the hiking boots. Jenn, in the footwear department, was fantastic. Some of the best customer service I've ever received. She was incredibly helpful in finding what I was looking for (a lightweight but waterproof hiking boot for beginner hikers), couldn't size me herself (social distancing) but was very helpful in walking me through the process and explaining what each measurement was, and told me exactly how it should fit each part of my foot. She even explained the benefits of signing up for a membership. All in all, an amazing experience both with her and with my cashier, whose name I believe is Jess. Fantastic. read more

Love this REI! Friendly staff, always take returns no questions asked, knowledgable employees to answer any questions, great product selection. A little tip: wait for their garage sales! I once bought skis for a very cheap amount ($50, worth hundreds). I also bought a $150 pair of Merrill hiking boots for $12. Great finds! read more

This REI is on the small side, and lacks some of the impressive (okay, ridiculous) frills that other stores have (climbing wall, community room, etc.) But the location is a convenient 10 minute drive from my house which means it's a dangerous, dangerous quicksand-y retail hole for my wallet. The things I really love about this REI (and I've been to every single one in a 300 mile radius!): - The staff here are so incredibly kind and cool. They don't hover but can usually sense when you're confused about a product (WHY ARE THERE SO MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF CAMPING STOVE FUEL?) and will make honest, non-upselly recommendations that I'm so, so thankful for. This means they'll be very honest if they prefer the store brand to a more expensive, schmancy one OR vice versa. I'm not sure if their training includes anything about the REI bottom line, brand favoritism, etc, but these folks seem genuinely invested in letting the products speak for themselves. REI has retired their generous lifetime guarantee, but a year is a pretty generous window to test, shred, abuse anything and bring it back if you change your mind, no questions asked. And this point brings me to the... -REI garage sales!! These happen once every 2-3 months, and are basically better than Christmas. Since Cranston/RI are less trafficked by GoreTex-wearing, carbon-pole-toting outdoor crazies (no offense, but you know who you are), you can afford to sleep in a little and get to the parking lot as late as 8:30 and still get a great place in line. If you've never been to an REI garage sale, they're a real treat. Returned and (slightly) damaged merch for a fraction of the ridiculous retail prices. I've gotten MSR snow shoes for $40, down sleeping bags for $50, and La Sportiva mountaineering boots for $60. I average something like $300 in savings per garage sale, and I don't buy THAT much. Some people make out like Ponzi schemers. -The community events are limited, but the ones they offer seem really worthwhile and affordable especially with the membership discount. I've seen winter photography, kayaking, and rock climbing courses, and it seems like a great way to meet outdoorsy people in this small but mighty state of many natural gems!! As a young teacher/graduate student with a limited budget but insatiable desire to be outside/doing sweaty stuff 24/7, I'm grateful this REI is here! read more

Having just fallen on ice and broken my wrist, I thought I would consider purchasing Yak-Tracks to give me some protection from falling so off to REI I went. Those employees could not be more helpful in explaining, advising, searching their stock, and guiding one through the store. Even though the store was out of what I thought I wanted, the salesperson offered to order what we should get and provided all of the details. While I was in my search, my husband was seeking out waterproof walking shoes, and once again, another salesperson recommended and advised. My husband did purchase the product and could not be happier with the pair of waterproof walking shoes. I decided to refrain from walking on ice this year and will consider the Yak Tracks next season!!!!! Maybe...... REI deserves an award for dealing with their customers and knowing their products. read more

So, I am seriously glad I waited to review this location of REI because the service was much better the last two times I visited. The first time I went I was met with a poor selection of winter boots and an unfriendly salesperson. Luckily, the last two times I shopped I was met with with a better selection (but still not great) of the items I was looking for and a much friendlier and helpful personnel. i was recently looking for some winter gear and was helped out by a knowledgeable and fun older man who knew a thing or two about hiking in the Whites. I was excited because it appeared to be difficult to find someone at the RI location that had the experience with the gear they were selling. He helped me to pick the perfect snow shoes, sleeping bag, and poles for the upcoming adventures I was embarking on. The second most recent trip was to actually return the sleeping bag I had just bought a few days earlier due to realizing that the temps of the sleeping conditions for my upcoming trip were much colder than what I was previously expecting. The service desk agent I met with was helpful and sent someone immediately to the sleeping bag section to assist me with making my exchange. I chatted the new service person up about not only sleeping bags (I found the one I needed) but also about the hiking adventures we had in common and he gave me some tips about hiking above tree line in the winter. He was great and my exchange was made quick and easy. I also want to inform the uniformed about their membership. Twenty dollars (one time payment) gets you a lifetime membership to REI's Co-op and access to their 10% annual refund, perks, deals, and more. One of the best perks is their garage sale which is a fantastic sale of their used items at extremely discounted prices. It's a pretty good deal if you ask me. So, for an REI, it's definitely not the best selection in the area, but it's the only one in RI. REI itself is pretty good, but i hope some day that improve their selection of winter gear (including ten degree and below sleeping bags and women's winter boots). I was very dissapointed with my first experience at this location, so i am very happy that the last two experiences were much improved. read more

Rachel went way beyond my expectation and finding all the parts I needed for a roof rack for my kayak that nobody else could find her knowledge friendliness and patience and determination we're above anything I ever expected thank you Rachel!!!! read more

Long time member and loyal shopper at REI. Great store but terrible customer service. Had bought a pair of MSR Lightening Ascent Snowshoes (size appropriate for my weight) back in December and one of the frames bent after just four hikes in deep snow in NH and ME. Brought them in to get them replaced and was given a hard time by the manager. He told me that since the teeth were showing signs of a little wear that he didn't want to replace them - called it normal wear and tear. Scraped teeth are normal wear and tear and I wouldn't be replacing them - a bent frame after just four uses isn't normal wear and tear. He kept asking me in different way about what happened - felt like I was going to have to bring in sworn statements from the people I was hiking with when they bent to support my story. He finally relented but said "don't bring them back if they break again because I won't replace them again" as he walked off. Very disappointing experience read more

The young girl who helped fit my daughter for shoes was lovely! But on a completely separate note, when an order placed online was a week past the expected delivery and we were given misinformation about the credit card before we opened it, the manager, Thor, provided no solutions (none, my daughter fryer and I were trying to suggest things and problem solve.) I also found him rude and condescending, and of course unhelpful. Customer service no better. Won't be shopping here any more! read more

I have been dealing with Dave and Bobby in the bike shop for some time. Their service and attention to detail is top tier, they are what keep me coming back for my bike and service needs even with living close to 45+ minutes away. Grade A+ Staff! read more

You'll feel like a better, healthier person as soon as you enter. I plan to be more active this year, so I decided to price out tents and sleeping bags here. While the original prices are steep, the discounts are awesome; ex. Danskos on clearance for $69.99, hats for $4.99. I walked out a new member of the Co-op which, for $20 sign up, and spending $10 annually, gives me 15% off next purchase, invitations to "yard sales" they hold several times per year(deep deep discounts), and yearly dividend checks. Glad I checked it out! read more

I love this place. I actually make money shopping there. With a one time $20 investment I became a owner lol. I get 10% back for everything I buy. Get selection of great quality clothing and outdoor gear. read more