The person who helped me in the shoe section, Lucas (?), went above and beyond for me. He knew off the top of his head the exact shoe in the brand I wanted that would fit my needs. He even checked my current shoe's tread to see what kind of walker I am. He had other shoes ready if I didn't like his selection, but he nailed it on the first try. I don't want to shop for shoes anywhere else! read more

I really like Richmond's REI, it's pretty well organized and usually has what I'm looking for. Like most people, I come here for all my outdoor needs, especially when it comes to camping. It's located near the Whole Foods in Short Pump and has a lot of free parking out front. You're able to do curbside pick up if you want too. I usually go inside because I enjoy looking at all their goodies and daydreaming about outdoor trips. In the past, I've gotten climbing gear, camping gear, and apparel here. While things are pricey, I appreciate what great quality their stuff is. And I while I have never used this before, it sounds like they repair the stuff you get from here for you. I just learned on a recent trip that you can use your receipt to get free access to state parks if you're a member which is so awesome. I'm excited to use this for Pocahontas State Park next time I go. The people are always super kind here and willing to help with any questions you may have. read more

I needed some hiking shoes. I told the associate what I was doing and he recommended some shoes. I went with his recommendation. The associate that checked me out was extremely helpful too. The shoes were what I needed to get the job done! Thank you! read more

I stopped in yesterday to pick up a sleeping bag, and I was successful in finding it. While I was there, however, I was approached by an associate who asked if I needed any help with sleeping pads. I said I wasn't going to buy one, but I do have some questions, and he basically ran off. While everything else went great, this was the only thing that turned me off of REI. I'm sure I'd go back though. read more

I stopped in today to purchase some composite pedals for my Canyon Inflite and Keith welcomed me and knew exactly where the product was and provided excellent customer service. Keith is very enthusiastic about cycling and is quite knowledgeable as a technician. Would definitely recommend going to him for any service and advice. read more

REI is dangerous. I mean, I can almost always find something and today was no exception. My husband and daughter love to visit REI because we enjoy hiking, go skiing with friends and generally enjoy the outdoors. On this trip we were buying hiking boots for my daughter and socks for my husband. I also ended up finding a Kuhl jacket for myself. I shouldn't splurge but...why not. If you enjoy hiking, camping, biking, water sports, etc., you should visit REI for an amazing selection of gear, including clothes and all the accoutrements for your chosen sport. They are a little expensive but the quality makes up for it. Join for $20 and get a check in spring that reflects your dividends as a co-op member. read more

Tried to come in to buy a bike - the man standing there by the bikes doing absolutely nothing was actively unhelpful. Asked if he could help with sizing, he said to look online. Then he stood there doing nothing while we tried to figure out what bike to get - ultimately walked away to the counter of the bikes where there were no customers and watched us from afar. 0 customers service. Really laughable. Why entertain a brick and mortar store if you can in fact get better customer service online. read more

I could easily empty my bank account here, and may even feel good about it. Made my first trip to REI yesterday, and walked away with an Osprey backpack, some Eno accessories, and a Patagonia bathing suit. I left feeling confident in my purchases. Why? 1) I learned that an REI receipt is good for admission to national parks. 2) The service was great. I like to be left alone, until I need help. No sales sharks here, and when I needed help, it was easy to find. 3) This was the first time I willingly provided my mailing info, as I'm actually interested in their products, and they foster a feeling of trust, so I know I'm not going to end up on a bunch of spam lists. Definitely an asset to the community. Being in Short Pump would be the only negative I can think of, but hey, Richmond has an REI store, and tons of cities would love to be able to say that. read more

Had a great experience at this REI! Wish I had one closer to me in South Carolina. Excellent assortment of outdoor clothing aardvark accessories. Look forward to returning. read more

Definitely recommend this REI store in Short Pump if you're looking for a place to have your bike serviced! I took my mountain bike here for a full tuning service. Jack and Skylar in bike shop are excellent! Jack did the tuning and safety checks, replaced worn brake pads and made adjustments to the hydraulic brake fluid, lubricated the chain, and cleaned up the frame. Skylar helped to check, adjust, and set the front and back suspension. They were very good to explain the work and the proper way to set the suspension. The tuning was completed ahead of schedule. My bike looked and rode like a new bike when I got it back. read more

Bought a kayak from their website and had it shipped to the store. I got an email that the kayak was at the store so a few days later I loaded my friends kayak on my truck and headed to REI to pick up my kayak so we could take it out on the water right away. Once I got there and showed them the email, they spent forever looking for it and then told me it was sent to the wrong location. The employee was very apologetic and told me they'd ship mine to the correct store and when I come to pick it up they would give me a discount for the trouble. Once my kayak finally got to the right store I went to pick it up and told the manager about what happened and she didn't care. She wouldn't give me a discount and was extremely unhelpful. I'm just salty because it was such an inconvenience and I honestly think the store itself is a very nice store, but that experience left a bad taste in my mouth. read more

I'm disappointed that REI didn't build in the city. This was a great opportunity for urban-infill, instead they are in a parking lot in the Short Dump. This is clearly against the REI ethos. It's promoting and supporting sprawl. I've been in may REI stores including the HQ location in downtown Seattle, and this store is lacking the polish that I'm accustomed to. It's one story and has all the charm of a Pet Smart (I've never been in a Pet Smart, but who should?). REI can be pricey, but it's a great place to see gear firsthand, get inspired (normally), and reignite your passion for the outdoors. I wasn't having any of that. After leaving, I had a sudden urge to buy a 10.5 x 60 climbing rope to garrote myself from a parking lot lamp. read more

REI - Outdoor Gear Near Me - Glen Allen, Virginia

This is definitely as good as it gets for a comprehensive outdoors store in Richmond. It's a shame that it has to be way out in the suburban hell of Short Pump. While the prices aren't necessarily cheap, the rewards program has some great perks. I really appreciate that the employees are knowledgeable, friendly and eager to help. I recently brought my bike there for a tune up and it was a seamless process. read more

We need more outdoorsy stores in RVA. REI is a great addition to the short pump area and it's in the same shopping center as Whole foods. They have specialty merchandise in the categories of: bikes, kayaking, running, hiking, camping, etc. They usually almost always have something that I need: bike lights, glow in the dark toys, kites, and clothes. Although some of their items are a little bit pricier than say Dicks Sporting Goods, their selection is more focused and they carry a lot of different brands most stores don't. Sometimes I dont think they have enough staff on hand to help the customers and the check out lines can be a little long. I almost always know what I want and where to find it so needing to find an employee is not high on my list. read more

After a less than desirable encounter with Contes Bike Shop, I reluctantly headed over to REI with my broken spin shoes. The staff were friendly and quick to help-- at no cost! Thankfully, their kindness, expertise, and efficient service has challenged my snobby preference of boutique bike shops. read more

I cannot believe how poor the service I just got at this REI. I am going to Winnipeg this weekend and needed some warm gloves. The man who helped me was so judgement of my choices. He was saying I needed $150 gloves. Listen man I'm not some rich human who makes tons of money. He was saying how I won't be happy with anything else I buy. I bought $50 gloves (which is the most I've ever spent on GLOVES) and he gave me such dirty looks. He was being so rude to me. I get that Richmond isn't a winter store but I'm not an outdoorsy person. SORRY I DONT KNOW THINGS, that's kind of YOUR JOB to educate me nicely. Don't go here. I don't know the guys name but he had red hair, a beard, and for sure in his 40's at least. If you love attitude and feeling stupid than you'll LOVE IT here. This place is NOT Richmond friendly. read more

The staff here is top-notch. Seriously, I left with such a great appreciation for the help given to us by the REI staff during our visit. Real talk: I'm not very outdoorsy. I love being outside, but I'm not a fan of bugs, and I need to have toilet paper. I'm ok with tents, as long as I have a sleeping bag, but I'm still not a fan of bugs. I fully embrace my lack of outdoorsy-ness, but at the same time, I'm always up for an adventure. And I'm always ALWAYS up for pushing myself past my limits. So when my mom asked my fiancé and I if we wanted to go to the Grand Canyon, we didn't skip a beat before emphatically answering YES! Well, having never done any serious hiking myself, I was in need of boots and a backpack. Enter REI. My mom and I ventured over on Saturday and the sales associate with whom we worked was so incredibly helpful. He told us the differences between some of the boots we were considering, and he explained to me how to test whether or not the boot is the appropriate size. I ended up with what I hope is the perfect pair of boots... I plan on breaking them in over the next week and 1/2 in preparation for our trip. I really enjoyed my experience at REI because I never once felt pressured to purchase anything, and I felt like the staff really knew their stuff. None of our questions stumped anyone and I could sense the confidence in the answers we received. Not to mention, the selection at REI is fantastic! Definitely a must for any outdoorsy, sports-loving folks. I know it's a chain, but it certainly didn't feel like that at all during my visit. The staff is seriously focused on the current customers and enhancing the daily experience. Kudos! read more

I'm not really sure why this place has 3.5 stars? What more does one need in an outdoor store? They've got canoes, kayaks, every boot you could ever want, clothing, exercise gear, coats, water bottles... the whole 9 yards! I came in here looking for some Chacos. Now, don't let that fool you. I am by no means an outdoors-y girl. If, by outdoors, you mean sipping mimosas on a patio during brunch or laying out to perfect my tan? Then yes, I do love the outdoors. But if you mean camping in the woods, then no. Absolutely not. Ok, ok I'm being dramatic. I do enjoy hiking, learning about wildlife, and I've always wanted to try kayaking. On a scale of 0-adventurous, I'd say I'm about a 5. I did not find the Chacos (they only had 3 pair! What's up with that?), but I did enjoy exploring the store. I have a ski trip coming up and I will definitely be back to prepare for it! read more

A lot of reviews in here are super picky and expect the staff to leave them alone when they want, yet be there when they want; while also carrying every item ever found mentioned in an outdoor blog for the lowest price possible. I enjoy going to REI because the staff are nice, knowledgeable, and invested in Richmond area outdoor sports. read more

I am a member and love checking out the new outdoor gear. I love that they even have rock climbing equipment. We attended a class Monday evening and it was taught by David. It was very interesting and everyone at this location is friendly and more than willing to help and/or share expertise with you. They also have onsite parking read more

I haven't had any other REI experiences except for the one in short pump... so i'm reflecting from a clean slate. I went in recently to buy a backpack for my first extended trip. I have to say i expected the in store selection to be a little bigger, but it may have been a blessing for a first timer who's head was spinning with all the different criteria to consider. I've been in twice to look at packs and both times an employee helped me for as long as i needed them to ! In fact, they packed and unpacked bags with weight for me 5 or six times until we got to a bag that fit perfectly! Overall i felt like i was speaking to people who knew what they were talking about. On another note, i've been interested in Vibram five finger shoes for a while, and have done a lot of research on them. I felt that what i had read conflicted with what the associates were telling me, and different employees recommended different models when i told them what i would be using them for... would have been nice to hear some consistency because selecting a style got really confusing. read more

Great for outdoor gear wish they didn't follow me and my husband clear across the store not even hiding it we've been members for years and the one in South Carolina has never been so insulting. Was coming back from a hike in Shenandoah and wanted to check out some gear. Worse service I've ever received I hope you do better it's 2021 damn near 2022 this shouldn't be acceptable ANYMORE read more

Seriously there is nothing negative to say about this store. The employees from back of the house to front are impeccable and always welcoming and helpful. The prices are HIGH but worth it when you realize how nice all of the staff is. BIG change around here in the "burbs" NICE! read more

The Richmond location is great! I found he staff to be super helpful and knowledgable. I haven't been to an attic sale yet here at this location but when I do look for an update. I honestly feel that a well organized and affordable attic sale is the true test to determine how good your local REI may be. So far so good here. read more

Bought a Yakima SkyRise 3 RoofTop Tent. Went in to just look. Lady convinced by to buy from them and not Amazon...because why?? If I become a member, I'd get 10% back on dividends...why not?? So I paid $1400 for this thing and $20 membership fee. Got my check in March. Love it. So then REI says they'll have the Annex to go with the tent soon. So I ordered it. On March 26th. They kept sending me emails saying it's backordered. Fine, I have no problem with that. 4 emails later they up an cancelled my order with no notice. I'm like, WTF. Because I used my $140 dividend to purchase this thing..and it was a weekend where members were given 20% off...so I only ended up paying $68!! Super deal! Anyway, I call REI...they were like, Yakima is telling them they don't have any in stock. So I call Yakima HQ. Kevin from Yakima is like..WTF, REI?? No..not even close. He stated there were over 100 Annexes ready to go at the click of a button. So Kevin from Yakima HQ calls REI in Richmond, VA and says, WTF people??? We have plenty in stock. So Kevin calls me back from Yakima and says...listen..I squared it away with REI...you will still have your dividend..your Yakima Annex will be shipped tomorrow!! AWESOME!!!! Or so I thought. So what do I get in the mail 4 days later?? My $140 check back from REI. Long and short?? Screw REI...I should have went with Amazon in the first place....I purchased my Yakima Annex from Amazon, got it in 2 days Prime. Either way...REI is overpriced and apparently don't know the left from the right. Go there to look at an item..then by all means order it online from somewhere else like Amazon or CampSaver. The. End. Oh...I forgot. I called to cancel my membership....right? Because they can get that 20 bucks a year down pat....anyway, I called, wanted to cancel. Nary a why...is everything OK? Just ok. and bye. Really. The. End. read more

I shop at REI for a variety of reasons, mostly being their return policy, and that they're now located locally. This location leaves some to be desired. First, the actual location is very awkward to get to, and deal with. It's around that weird fake city in downtown short pump. Second, it's on the smaller side, and everything feels a little cramped. Which probably explains why my last issue is that stock is all over the place. More often than not I end up having to order things online because the stock is all out on items, but over flowing with others. It's almost like a sale, when all that's left are smalls and XXXXXXXXXXXXLs. Some very weirdly shaped people are going to have great convinence. If you gravitate more towards hiking than biking/water sports you may leave disappointed. I feel this location shifts more towards those. The staff is polite and helpful, but suffer from always being around when I'm just looking and never there when I actually do need help. All in all, an average location, but not the best by far. I don't feel guilty about occasionally taking advantage of their return policy as I would other stores. read more

I love the short pump REI! I have shopped in many REI's and this by far offers the best customer service. I don't buy a lot...but its my go to place for shoes and sales etc... in retail customer service is a huge deal to me. REI folks have always been super friendly! read more

They have a really good selection and they carry high quality products here. I am able to find all my favorite brands and products here. The staff is friendly and helpful. I can send hours in this store. I have the membership and find that I get a lot of out it. read more

This place is awesome. The people who work there make it so. I bought an item over a month ago and I threw out the receipt, and of course it didn't fit. Asked if I could return and since I'm a member ($20 for LIFE) they can look up purchases by member # without a receipt. The gentleman who helped me was so helpful answering al my questions and giving me ideas. read more

I love REI. Been a member since 1997. This store is decent. It's one floor but super high ceilings...why not just make it 2 stories and carry more products?? But they had the main components of their stores: bikes, camping, clothes, shoes, gear, etc. Staff here was friendly and helpful. The long line to check out went away quickly and I ended up with no wait. They have a new 'member' perk from time to time. Reminds me of kohl's cash. Spend $100 and you get $20 store bonus cash to use over a certain time period. Too bad I would have to pay shipping online to use this since there is no store where I live. REI membership gives you back 10% on full price purchases every spring, so I like to shop and get my rewards. I only had $50 this year, but I enjoyed buying more! :) Their return policy is very open. I returned some ski boots they had fitted me in after a weekend trip. The boots just did not fit. They took them back! Their brand clothing is just as good as the high end brands. Why pay more for layers when their product is good but better priced! read more

Went in to find the Patagonia Nano Puff jacket and met two fantastic sales ladies who helped me navigate the overwhelming inventory of winter wear. Great customer service & amazing options for the chilly weather. read more

Love having this so close to us in Short Pump. Prices are full retail, but they have a huge variety of products for hiking, camping, cycling, kayaking, etc that it is a one stop outdoors shop. Get a REI visa and you get 15% back on REI purchases. Lots of sales and coupons throughout the year. Example: got a bike accessory this week retailing for 169. Put it on REI card for 15% back and got a 20 coupon for spending more than 100. REI's store brand items are also great, such as their Novara cycling brand. Bike shop at this location is great. They let me watch a recent repair to learn how to do it and recently gave me a set of mounting screws for free after mine fell off when I was cycling (my fault). read more

My VA REI stop, not as good as some, better than others. Place this as a middle of the road REI as far as space and range of merchandise available on the floor. Great staff and good programming! read more

I was searching for a backpacking pack and my friend recommended me to go to an actual store and try on the packs in person. The cash register was quite busy when I first walked in, so there wasn't a lot of employees on the floor for assistance. Not long after I was able to get help. After telling the guy the trips I plan on doing, he was very helpful in recommending the size of the pack I should get. He also help me tried on the packs and told me what I should be looking for with the packs. After picking out two I liked, he put in weights for me to try on, which definitely showcased the comfort of one of the two backpacks. I learned a lot and if I were just picking a pack by myself blindly, I would have missed many details. read more

Pretty good selection of products here. Wyatt was very helpful with my dad looking for new backpacking gear. I found some of the employees to be standoffish but I will probably return because I love REI and this is the only one I have within an hours drive. Better interaction with customers is what would make this a 5 star review. read more

Amazing store and great service. Outdoor gear is always pricey so you will definitely pay top dollar here!

I went REI looking for ski gear for my trip. The ski clothing section was limited. The employee working in the clothing section was very helpful and friendly. He gave some useful information for finding snow pants. Also, REI has a better ski selection online. Customers can ship to the store free of charge. Merchandise arrives within a few days for most things. I appreciated the customer service. REI is a good choice for outdoor gear. If you can't find things in the store,be sure to check online as well. If you're a frequent customer,join REI membership program for savings. I give REI a 3.5 rating rounded up to a 4 because of good customer service. read more

The first few reviews are pretty rough on this location, but since they're all over a year old I have to assume management listened and started screening employees better. Although I did have one issue with an employee insisting that they didn't carry the Camp Dome 2 because it wasn't an REI tent, at least until I showed it to him, for the most part I've found them to be really helpful. Some of the employees are clearly not outdoorsmen, but when one has been unable to help me with something, they've found someone who could. When I bought a 16-foot kayak, they carried it out and helped me load it and tie it down, which took quite a while, in the June heat. Yes, it's smaller than some locations which limits available merchandise, but with the internet you can order whatever you want, so it's not a big deal. read more

They have a lot of stuff, but never once did an employee approach me to see if I needed help. They have some cool deals for REI members, and an amazing selection of just about everything you could want, but the service is lacking. Will I be back? Well, probably, because it's still a cool store, but it certainly won't ever be my first option for gear. read more

Yay for REI! I am beyond happy that my favorite outdoor store has opened up in Richmond and from the crowd at grand opening it looks like I'm not alone. Free nalgene's didn't hurt either. This REI isn't as large as others I've been too, but it works. read more