Would not recommend this REI. Not a lot of actual hands on climbing and hiking knowledge in the back packing area. Men's clothing manager is sharp but the other gal was clueless as to how to layer for high altitude climbs. Friendly at check out but they need more people. read more

From this shopping experience I remembered why I stopped shopping at REI. I am a jack of all trades so no particular day might be the same for me and that includes my clothing choice. Follow along because this prelude plays a part in my review. On this day the sun was blazing and I had some demo work outside so I am in a long sleeve sun blocker shirt, work jeans with some stains, a pair of steel toe boots and a boonie hat. I researched and saw that this was one of the few places that carried Buff Coolnet UV protection neck gaiters so this was my primary reason going to REI. I walk into the store start looking around and a sales associate pops out of now where and asked if I needed assistance. Harmless enough until I walk to the location that the neck gaiters were at then I hear on the intercom that Mr. ???? is needed in the area that I was in and the phone rang near me. Still Harmless?? I am still looking around next thing I know I see a CUSTOMER (Loss Prevention Specialist) out of the corner of my eye. At this point, you are probably saying to yourself really....Ok, let's continue then. I see some items that I have been looking for which are on sale so I pick up some Thermocell canisters, natural bug spray, a couple of first aid kits, and some other things I do not remember. I thought these would be some good stocking stuffers for friends and family. I move to look at the carabiners and this CUSTOMER slowly moves over in the same area. Now I am like really dude!!! I look around the store three regular customer on the right side of the store looking at kayaks and bike gear, two older regular customers on the left side with three boxes of boots open, two sales associates at the front. I proceed to go to the backpack sale section and as I am looking at the prices and the craftsmanship of the material, this guy is following my every move passing by me twice looking at the items in my hand. At this point, I mentally say Game On! Most Loss Prevention personnel cannot maintain eye contact because they do not want to be detected or their facial expressions tense up (micro expressions) and if the subject that is being followed make erratic moves then it is hard for them to follow a normal pattern of surveillance so every time he proceeded to follow me I did a quick button hook and end up in the same location as I started from but in a closer proximity to him. After about 15 minutes of this cat and mouse, I turn and walk up to him and said, "Look dude, I have no place to be at the moment and I have the time if you still want to play theses games!" He replied, "Sir, I am just shopping". I said, "If you were just shopping you would not have been following me for the past 15 minutes while I shopped and like I said I have the time." He looks at me and walks away as if he is shopping. I reported the incident to the Team Lead Associate at the front desk and they seemed befuddled and said, we do not have Loss Prevention, sir. I described the guy, black polo, khaki cargo shorts, chaco sandals, hairy arms, dirty brown hair and the Team Lead states let me try to find the guy you described. The store is a small REI and the Team Lead leaves and does not return. At this point I am looking at the front door and no one has exited. The other Sales Associate started ringing up my items a bit nervously making small conversation. Once she found my information in the system for REI rewards, she looked up with a normal customer service smile nervously ( she knew what was going on) and gave me my receipt and told me to have a good day. NOW, I remember why I stopped shopping at REI and order most of my outdoor gear from Backcountry.com read more

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This store pretty much saved me! Ok, I didn't go here to pick up hiking or water rafting camping gear! Now that would have been nice too because this store has everything you'll need and more. I actually started looking at bikes (no, that's not the reason I came here), but I think I have convinced myself I need a bike. As they say, advertising draws you in with the pretty colors and the setup. That must be true because I'm convinced I need the army green bike. Now the reason I came inside the store, drum roll, please. I moved to Houston for a year, and it's so hot I need lightweight clothing. I found some pretty stuff, lightweight pants, shorts, and shirts! A pair of lovely rugged-looking sandals, and some cutesy sandals too. Before you knew it, I looked at the perishable foods with the camping utensil! Maybe I need to stop glamping and go real camping. Honestly, this store has everything to make you want to try some of these sports I see on tv. I'm giving some thought to it; I'll be back! read more

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Hmm. Came here on a very specific mission, which for all intents and purposes would be classified as an epic failure. I happen to be a big - very big - fan of OluKai sandals. Seems they are a bit difficult to track down in this area, but REI listed on their website that they had an impressive stock of them. Made a special trip here because I knew exactly what I needed and, according to their website, they had just what I was looking for. Greeted in the parking lot by a very questionable woman who appeared to be trying to scam something from me (and for me, an older woman here alone, that was scary). Walking into the store, I didn't notice a whole lot of people here - be it either employees or customers. It was quite obvious by my movements that I did not have any clue as to where the shoes would be located, so I walked around like a fish out of water until I finally located them. Huh? This paltry selection of primarily men's sandals and 2 styles (in very few sizes) of women's sandals? Why the difference between what's on their website and what's in the store? Couldn't figure it out, so I went on a hunt - and that's what it was: A HUNT - for an employee. Finally tracked one down and inquired about their OluKai stock. "Well, yeah, that's all we've got in the store" was the response I got. No question about if I was looking for a particular style, or could they find it for me? I mean, after all, these are $75 sandals, so it's not like I'm shopping at Target for a pair of 10 buck sandals to wear in the rain. Well, okay, REI, if that's all you've got, I'm done. So, so disappointed, since there was obviously other merchandise in the store that I would have potentially purchased, but I was so turned off to the overall vibe and aura of this store and its employees that I wanted OUT as soon as my feet (clad in my old OluKai sandals, mind you) would get me to the door. Probably last time I'll venture here. Total waste of time, effort and a complete and utter disappointment. read more

I'm preparing for an upcoming hiking trip and needed some boots. I was referred to Eric, who was a great source of information! I hadn't considered some things about where I'm going, and he immediately turned my attention to those matters. Beyond that, he was not only professional, but he was courteous and very funny. If you're in REI any time soon, then definitely ask for Eric. read more

Easy five star review! Everyone that works here are top notch professionals! Every single person in the store will greet you and ask if you need help. The training they provide and customer service skills at this location are unmatched. I was very impressed with every single person that I came in contact with. The entire store is top-notch. Two of their employees really stood out. Luis and shoes was extremely nice and help me figure out which Hoka shoes did I wanted. He helped me try on three different pairs twice finally found the one they fit perfect for me. Also if you do a lot of walking like me let me tell you right now Hoka shoes are the best you will ever put on. It feels like Tempur-pedic mattresses for your feet. I cannot believe I've been using the wrong properly fitting shoes for this long. These shoes are top notch and if you care about your feet do yourself a favor and buy a pair. You will not regret it. Also Haylee who was working the cash register was extremely nice and helpful too. Very personable young lady. This will be my go to store for years to come anything outdoor related I'm telling you right now do yourself a favor and come here. Great products, great pricing, and great staff. Good job team! Also the 30.00 co op membership is a no brainer! The best deal every you get 30.00 gift card back the same day for signing up. You also get 10% cash back. 1 year extended return. This is literally a no brainer. Great program. It also helps the community. Everyone who simply shops here once should join. Free money and a great cause! read more

REI - Outdoor Gear Near Me - Houston, Texas

I grew up trying to make whatever shoes I had work for me as long as possible. It's hard to change that mindset, even when you have more funds to work with, so it took me a couple years longer than it should have to come in for proper hiking boots. When I did finally come in, the sales associates directed me to the section where I'd be able to get gently used gear at a legit steep discount if I joined their system for a $30 donation. I was excited because I was coming out way ahead on the used boots versus the new ones, and they were very comfortable. My next hike went so well I could hardly believe it. The next time I came back, it was with my husband to get him some hiking boots too, as we were getting more serious about day hiking. The associates stayed with us and helped us find him shoes, which is usually a stressful and frustrating exercise for him. They put him at ease and answered his questions and walked us through getting the boots, a very light day pack, socks, and convertible pants for me. I appreciate the manager and sales associates and all their help and tips about local trails. Thanks for making our experience a good one! read more

AMAZING SERVICE!! From the amazing employees helping me with returning a pair of shoes to me buying a new pair I was fully helped. Specifically Z from the shoe department. She was so helpful and was so knowledgeable about shoes. When I was unsure about what shoes I wanted and requested different pairs in different sizes she showed no negativity and was glad to help. She consistently checked up on me even when I was just contemplating what shoe I wanted. Checking out was a breeze and anytime I've gone there has NEVER been a line. There is rarely un-organized clothing racks and every employee is happy to help. The REI member benefits are also so amazing! So overall REI is amazing and this specific location and its employees are amazing! read more

Nice REI. They had more climbing gear than the Baybrook location. Staff was helpful especially the cashier and young lady at the door. I was able to find a pair of my favorite hiking shoes on their garage sale rack! I will probably make the drive out to this location every once for a change. read more

There's a lot of color choices, accessories and sizes for hydroflask at this location. Since it's my friend's bday, I bought her this 32oz wide mouth in lilac color and I'm in love with it!!! Definitely coming back here to buy one for myself! Great customer service! Employees are welcoming. Since I'm petite, I needed help getting the hydroflask from the top shelf. There was plenty of employees walking around so I had no trouble getting assistance. read more

REI - hydroflask 32oz - Outdoor Gear Near Me - Houston, Texas

I was just there for the sale going on and made conversation with a fellow associate there by the name of Eric. Not only is he knowledgeable and friendly. He definitely has the values of a good family man who wants the introduce his family to the outdoors. He was very helpful and super easy to talk to. I learned a little about him while I was there and he to me. I learned that he puts family first before his needs just like he puts my needs above his when helping me. Highly recommend this store and definitely stop by the camping section and say hi to him. Great guy and great service here. read more

Took a pair of shoes back to this store that I purchased 4 months ago for a warranty defect. The sole separated from the upper part of shoe. Manager, Paul, didn't think it was warranty defect. Since I wasn't a member of their co-op he said I had to go through the manufacturer. Very disappointed in lack of customer service. No intention of helping solve our problem at all. Bad service. Bad problem solving skills. All around horrible experience. I'm done shopping here. read more

Traveling through Houston. Stopped in to check out their bike department. Very good selection was quite impressed impressed. Store is very clean and well lit and well organized. Like a candy store for an outdoors person with a little bit of everything you could imagine. Prices are similar to what you would get on Amazon but you are supporting a local business. Staff was also very friendly helpful and knowledgeable with some questions I had about shoes and hydration packs. Will not find that on Amazon LOL. Had a good shopping experience I would recommend five stars. read more

Great products and customer service. It is a little bit pricey compared to some hiking products you get on Amazon so be ready for that.

I get social distancing, face-masks and everything else related to preventing the spread of COVID. But please help me understand the logic of preventing customers from getting within 10 feet of the hiking boots. Touch anything in the store but boots are something different. When I asked why I can't get closer they said it was corporate policy. The woman and man had no other explanation. Absolutely idiotic. I went around the corner walked into academy and paid 134 for a pair of merrell boots that were 155 at rei. I was in hopes of shopping for a better pair of boots but that wasn't in the cards. read more

Just returned from a trip to REI and wanted to share my thoughts. First, overall, I am an REI fan. I go to the store regularly, mainly looking for items on sale/clearance. Of course, a couple of times a year they have a great sale with significant discounts and the last time I walked out with a bill of over $500......and was happy because everything I bought was 50-75% off. This trip was a little disappointing, not much on sale or discounted, but I still enjoyed my visit and managed to find some items to buy.....as always. The store was not crowded (except the show area) and there was no line when I checked out. Of course, I used my REI membership card to build my annual dividend as an REI member. There were two clearance racks in the men's clothing area but I could not find anything that fit AND I wanted. It was a little annoying that I had to walk to almost the front of the store to find someone to open the dressing room and, in my past visits, this seemed to be a problem as well. When I went to look around the hiking/backpacking stuff, I had plenty of help. I needed help finding a replacement part for my Camel pack and the associate found it right away.....and I was not even close to looking in the right spot myself. They were out of one item I wanted but, otherwise, I found what I wanted. My check out experience went smoothly. I made them look up my REI membership number and they were more than happy to do so and found it quickly. If you like outdoor activities, REI is a must visit location. They have a good selection of gear and a reasonable selection of clothing....much of it higher end. The best time to shop is during the semi-annual sales, otherwise, you will be paying a premium retail price. Some items never go on sale. Several times a year, members also get a 20% off coupon on a regular priced item which is especially useful if you are making a large purchase, like a backpack, shoes or jacket. read more

REI - Outdoor Gear Near Me - Houston, Texas

I can't speak for anyone but myself here but I had a great experience today. I needed some bear spray and permethrin spray and I needed it today. I usually go to academy on the rare occasion that I need outdoor items but they messed up my order and I just didn't want to dedicate more of my time reordering and possibly dealing with getting double charged or having it mysteriously canceled again. REI is a little more expensive than academy but they had what I needed and honestly the customer service was well worth the slightly higher price. I'm usually pretty frugal but sometimes you do get what you pay for and I think this was one of those occasions. My first visit and will not be my last! read more

Great store, but took my bike to the bike department for an issue I was having. The guy politely told me that it was a very bad issue and would likely cost me hundreds of dollars to fix and replace parts, I went home and did some research on it and all I needed to do is tighten a bolt that came loose and my bike is fixed. I'm glad I didn't say okay and leave my bike there. read more

Got my Land Rover's roof rack gear here and the selection was amazing. Some of the parts had to be ordered, but I wasn't in a rush. The sales team was very knowledgeable and friendly, even taking the time to go over the rack locks in the parking lot. Huge selection of medium-to-high priced outdoor gear for you to choose from. I don't know that I'd shell out several hundred dollars for a pup tent that can withstand below zero weather, but then again I'm never gonna be climbing Mt. Everest so there's that. read more

Will never shop this place and I spend thousand a year on mountain bikes, gear and other outdoorsy stuff all for one single reason - sucky customer service! Well, ok two reasons - the selection of legit mountain bikes here is the worst I have seen at any "shop" in Houston. Customer service is everything! As a business owner I get this and I value it above all when I'm spending my $! Was gifted some cycling gloves and socks from this place for Christmas. Hadn't used them and still in package. I simply wanted to swap them for another size. NOPE. Employee and manager said absolutely not, no exceptions without receipt. Again, I simply wanted to exchange them for the exact same product but different size. I owned several retail stores myself and there is no reason at all a unused still in the package item can't be evenly exchanged. I walked out and I will never go back. Maybe this is why I have never had one single person out of the hundreds of fella mountain bikers I know recommend I shop at REI. read more

I began my camping career (now retired) with a walmartian fair-weather tent and my father's army sleeping bag (or so the story he had told me--I can verify that he was in the army in the 1960's) in November in Pennsylvania. For those who may not know what that means, is that in PA during what is called "winter", the wind blows, water falls from the sky and turns into ice (the hard crunchy part of "iced tea"), and then turns to snow, then your tent collapses, then you get hypothermia, and sometimes die. Well, after that experience, I geared up at REI. And as my recent visit to this store reminds me, they've got the outdoor goods you need. Clothing, more clothing, footwear, sleeping bags, tents, backpacks, and a massive amount of quality camping equipment under one roof. TIP: Going on an airplane and need 100ml or less containers? REI has bottles in every shape and size--way more options than any drug store or "travel" store that I've seen. This particular location has some specialist gear, but I checked out the rock climbing section and although it has some basics, it is not enough for the serious technical climber (which I was once upon a time). No climbing wall either. If you're not familiar with it, REI has a membership program where they give you a "dividend" at the end of the year that you can redeem for product or cash. Overall a good deal. I'm a fan and I'd recommend this location. read more

First of all, if you like to climb, camp, hike, ski or paddle, you probably already know about REI. It's a co-op, so, buy stuff, and, at the end of the year, you get a check. You basically share in the profits. Why shop here? Well, my friends, unlike Academy, the folks who work here actively climb, hike, camp and ski, and paddle. The gear is all quality, first rate. They have an amazing return policy. Example: Buy some boots. Take them home. Wear them. Several times. Don't quite fit right? Take em back. No problems, they are very focused on you getting what works for you. Also!! A great place to buy your casual clothes. Stuff that lasts, and you'll wear it over and over. read more

Staff here is helpful. They have a lot of knowledge or will shoot you over to someone that knows a lot about what you are looking for. I've been here before with my sister for her cycling gear and the staff was pretty awesome. They made sure she was taken care of. For the most part, it's pretty expensive for most items so waiting for a sale would be great or just purchase online and have it shipped here for free. (-)They don't have a lot of snow gear here, I was told to head over to the Westheimer location for more options. read more

I LOVE coming in here - makes me want to go camping or something outdoorsy tomorrow! It's departmentally organized, and items are easy to find. My SO appreciates the membership cash back program in which I benefit from it too! The staff is always friendly and very knowledgable of their products - functionalities, usefulness, and price awareness. Highly recommend you come here for your winter apparel/outdoor needs! read more

I get so annoyed at the shoe department here. Today I go in to look at sandals. I wanted to get a clearance pair of Tevas. The gentleman in the shoe department came over after his 10 minute phone call (it was another customer) to help. I told him which shoes I wanted to try on. We talked a little bit, and I told him two specific things: I don't like the suede-y footbed of the Neota sandal, and that I wanted clearance sandals only. Tevas are expensive enough as it is. So what does he bring back? Two boxes of shoes - in the exact style and price I said I didn't want. I opened the box to discover a pair of Neotas. The first thing that rushed thru my head was, didn't you hear me say I didn't like the footbed of this shoe, i.e., I don't want it? I didn't even take them out of the box. So I thought, okay the next one should be okay. I opened the box and it was a pair of black Nirras which were NOT on sale. I said, I only want clearance sandals, these aren't on sale. He said, yes they are. I said, according to your sign, they aren't. He acted surprised, l felt insulted as a customer (oh, she'll buy something anyway - after all we're REI) and I couldn't get away from that shoe department fast enough. I've had this guy before and he just doesn't seem competent. He is a nice enough guy, I feel badly that I am ragging on him but an expensive store like REI needs to have a top notch dude in that shoe department. *****ALSO - REI has changed their return policy. Instead of," we -don't- care- if -you- bought- it -100- years- ago, you -can- still -return- it!" to a more sensible "within the year only"". read more

Decent size store, they did not seem to have much selection besides their brand and Patagonia. Their selection is very limited on North Face. It was very clean and not too busy. read more

I've been to a few REI locations, but this one by far is my favorite. The staff is always friendly and ready to answer questions. So it was a no-brainer that when the time came for us to buy our kayak, that we would come back to the Willowbrook location. Dave from the bike department was very helpful as well as another employee who assisted in loading our boat on our truck for the trip home. As you've read in other reviews, they will take back purchases if you are not satisfied. read more

Somewhere between leaving the gate in SEA and arriving at IAH, we managed to lose the car seat adapter for our BOB stroller. Our first order of business: Getting a new adapter. We looked up REI and discovered this location that was close to the airport and also close to rehearsal dinner... Perfect! I called the store to make sure they had the adapters in stock. A very nice staff member who picked up the phone physically checked to verify that they had the part before we headed over - which I really appreciated. I know that I would not have been happy showing up and realizing that the single one in stock on the computer wasn't really in the store. When we got there, the staff immediate helped us out and got us the stroller part we needed. We were able to then spend a little more time walking through the store do some other shopping while waiting for family dinner. When checking out we didn't know we had dividend money to spend too, so thanks to the cashier for passing along that information so we were able to "save" a little. The only thing I didn't like is that this store is that it's a little smaller than some of the other REI stores I've been to. Of course, I live in Seattle which is where the _really_big_ REI store is, so maybe I'm biased and unfair (though I thought "everything is bigger in Texas??"). The store has a decent selection for its size, especially of stroller and bike equipment (it was actually pretty impressive). Great customer service, good selection = pretty awesome! read more

The service was great. I was looking for a nice bike. Mitch came over the master bike specialist and talked to is about how we can custom the bike to fit my needs. They even offered me to ride the bike on the parking lot and the ease of purchase. They even have a 100% satisfaction guarantee for a year. First time here I was happy with the customer service of the staff there they kept asking really nicely if we needed help. read more

Staff here are all very friendly and really do their best to assist you when needed. The store is always very clean and brightly lit. They do however need 2 changes in my humble opinion. Something to keep kids occupied - small play area. Better selection of jacket and fleece colors for men. Way too much black and blue and not a lot else. read more

This is my favorite store of ANY store, not just outdoor gear! Why? 1. Great sales people. Not just helpful, but someone always asks me if I need help (and I usually do) within minutes of arrival. 2. Great KNOWLEDGEABLE sales people! Every single one of them knows their stuff and have been out there doing it in the real world. (Special shoutout to Danny and Ash!) 3. Terrific store layout. Walk in and take a glance around and you know where the general sections are at. 4. Competitive prices - this isn't big box cheap, but you find great deals on quality gear by North Face, Osprey, Outdoor Research, etc. 5. An awesome membership program paying dividends at EOY, member only sales, and other perks - my wife and both have memberships. Only one drawback for me personally...whenever I go there I can't help buying stuff! And then walking out with a smile on my face. read more

Very helpful and friendly staff. I just came in to pick up a plug converter for my upcoming Europe trip but the experience was so awesome I might need to take up kayaking for an excuse to come back! read more

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Used to be a good store but things have gone wrong. Sales staff have adopted an aggressive sales pitch to get you to enroll in their store program. Sign up as a member for a certain amount and it promises savings on purchases. The problem is they are extremely aggressive, the last time I was in the store two employees separately followed me through the store droning on and on about the program!?!? Then on checkout the register person was equally annoying. Because of this I will never return there. Good luck REI, if you're wondering why your store is completely empty you might want to rethink your business practices. read more

Of all the REIs I have been to over the years, this one stands out with its excellent customer service. The store itself is nothing "special" when compared to others but I say again, the customer service is outstanding. read more

There's no REI in my hometown so I had to drive 5 hours over here to be able to try out some stuff. That being said, i loved it. The staff is very helpful and they have a huge selection of items to choose from in backpacks and such. Very patient as well when it came to having to help me since this is the first time I ever look into buying outdoor gear. Best place, so far!! Definitely worth the drive read more

my favorite store in all of america....WHY? because of their 100% satisfaction guarantee and if you become a member for 20 you get 10% back on all your purchases. what's not to like about that. for this particular store, staff - friendly and knowledgeable. not messy and very clean well stocked read more

I like this place. They had items that I normally don't see at other stores and the staff was very helpful.

I went into this REI location to buy a Novara Carema road bike. The sales rep, Ash, helped me try the small-sized road bike. I was ready to make a purchase, but Ash assessed my fit on the bike and sadly informed me that I needed a size EXTRA SMALL -- and that they needed to order it for me. Ugh. I had to wait a few days for my order to ship to store, but I received the 20% discount, which was a bargain. When the bike was ready for pick up, Rick helped me by installing my pedals and putting my cleats on my shoes. (I know, I'm sooo pathetic!). Everyone at this REI location has been extremely pleasant and so accommodating. If I had known how good they are, I would've joined REI as a member earlier. Their customer service is A+, and the road bike they sold me has a one-year guarantee. They have earned me as a customer for life! read more

This store is awesome. Great products and great people. Kate helped me out with some selections two weeks in a row; she is knowledgable and extremely accommodating. great customer service!! I will definitely be back!!! read more

Are you searching for a outdoors store where you will be treated with respect and great customer service? Do you hunger to browse countless square feet of adventuring equipment? Do outdoor activities like camping, hiking, kayaking, rock climbing, biking, running, and owling get you off? Well then, this is the place for you!! This store is complete pwnage when it comes to customer service -as stated in just about all previous reviews- and they usually have everything I'm looking for before I take off on an adventure into the wild. If you're planning an excursion or just biking to Austin, they have the tools and the knowledge to get you where you need to be mentally and technologically: outdoor clothes, bike parts, kayaks, unholy amounts of camping and hiking gear, climbing gear, shoes, hats, and much much more. Though, they do not have much winter/snow gear but I'm sure in Texas that wouldn't sell much and the variety of rock climbing shoes leaves something to be desired. (apparently they have a much more expansive inventory online) The only thing I can say that I dislike about REI is the fact that every time I leave the store my wallet is empty and I have a bunch of stuff. Their sales and clearance items do not help me spend less, instead they merely increase the amount of stuff I get. Sometimes I browse around for hours until I get a phone call or text reminding me that I'm supposed to be somewhere right now. Any REI is a friend of mine and in this digital age if they don't have it they can probably get it for you... and if not, try backcountry.com. read more