REI in VA was awesome, Yes it looks like the same as everywhere else but must be the way REI hires the people. Joe was great, he measured my foot and gave me a lesson on shoe materials and I enjoyed the expertise he had in comparison to the other shoes. I was looking for a running shoe that was water resistant, we compared ON and Salomon. Eventually went with his recommendation with Salomon. The shoe prices are great only with REI membership which gives you a discount. I enjoy shopping at REI. read more

Came a couple of times for shoes. Tried on a pair, needed a larger size, and waited....and waited...and waited...and left. With 5 customers and 3 associates it should have been possible to get that box out of their storage. Total waste of time. read more

Really hard to find location. It's tucked away in an old industrial area. Everything here is hit or miss. The standard of products and staff training are all over the place. Sometimes items are already damaged (eg discoloration of bags or shoes). So when you see it online and pick it up here, it's not good. The trade in staff are hit or miss. I bring in items all the time. Most of the time staff don't know what to do with "trade ins." Other times, they reject my item one day. And then I just bring it back another day and it's fine. There's been times when i use the item and technically could still "return it." And my item will get rejected. One time, they told me my shoe had a "crease" in it and wasn't "new enough." Isn't that the point of trade ins? Either way, I brought it back in the next day and the other staff told me it looked brand new and took it. Also, the no bag policy. I have to just hold on to all my purchase and I drop them on the way out all the time. Even a paper bag will do, but I feel like they are cutting corners. On the bright side. The bike shop staff are incredible. I've never had any issues there. I think staff training goes a long way and they really need of re examine the training at this store in particular. read more

REI has all your needs and more when it comes to outdoor activities and adventures - running, cycling, etc. Some of my family members have the Co-op membership, so we came here to take advantage of some of their sales and the extra discounts. I always like checking out their Patagonia collection, as well as comfortable/casual wear for tops and pants. There didn't seem as many SAs on the floor, so it was kind of difficult to ask if there were additional sizing, patterns/sizing, or if there were more in stock in the back. Plenty of parking in their private lot, adjacent to the store. +difficulty in finding available SAs +offers good discounts for Co-op members +plenty of parking in private lot read more

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As an REI member I was able to walk in, get my bike inner tube changed out for $6 as I checked the store out and got a general fitting for my appropriate bike size all in less than 30 minutes. Mikey seemed eager to help me out, REI always seems to hire good employees and must create a great work environment. read more

To a degree I do like this REI. Very good MRE style meals for camping/backpacking. Also I got some back up polarized sunglasses for $35. They aren't my Oakleys but work well. The biggest problem I have with REI is their costs and tents. I despise their tents, as they are more complicated than they have to be. Their clothes are absurdly pricey. Do yourself a favor and get at a discounter or online. The bikes are also overpriced. I will commend their employees. REI hires outdoor folks who know what they are selling. That's very beneficial. I've always been impressed by their service and expertise. read more

REI-produced items are often of low-quality. People need gear they can trust. my REI branded 3 person tent is useless now, as the shock cords are slack!!! read more

This is a pretty good REI. Highly recommend coming during the week if you need specific gear and need help of a passionate employee.

In preparation for a trip that will require a lot of walking in cold or rainy weather, I came to this location to shop for hiking boots. I had several employees pull different styles and sizes for me and was almost ready to throw in the towel for the day with my search when Melissa walked by. She had incredible patience, knowledge, and a sense of humor that helped me finally find perfect boots. Melissa's sunny disposition was such a breath of fresh air for the Tysons Corner area. read more

OVERALL: came here for hiking sandals, found a good selection for men's and mediocre selection for women's. Thank you Will T for being super nice, knowledgeable, and helpful! I went here today with my boyfriend and we waited 30 mins in line to try on shoes. When we finally got into the shoe section, we were greeted by an employee who seemed frustrated that he had to help us. He COMPLETELY ignored me like I didn't exist, and only helped my boyfriend. For example, I asked him if I could try on the same Teva styles as my boyfriend and he just told me to go look in the women's section without even asking for my size. He then spent 95% of the time helping a guy at another bench, while barely paying any attention to us. It was honestly so ridiculous and borderline sexist. I would've left a one star review if I wasn't helped by another staff member (Will) who noticed that I was being ignored by the person assigned to us. He apologized for me having to wait so long to be helped and immediately helped me try on the sandals in the sizes I wanted. He was really patient while helping me discern the differences between the sandals. He also explained to us the benefits of an REI membership, which seems like it would definitely come in handy. Ultimately I wasn't able to buy the shoes I liked because they didn't have the color in stock, but I came out of it with a much better understanding of hiking sandals. read more

This REI store, tucked behind a back street in Tyson's Corner (next to Golfdom), has apparently been here for five years. Although big fans of REI generally (despite the prices), we used to go to the REI location in Rockville regularly. Then the Rockville store changed locations, and the new store just wasn't as nice (smaller selection, layout wasn't as logical as the original store, staff was nice but not as knowledgeable) - so when I saw there was a Tyson's location when our kid was looking for Teva sandals, we figured we'd check it out. Saw the other reviews regarding this location, but I have to say, I love this location. Staff were extremely helpful and knowledgeable (thanks Will from Utah in shoes!) and the selection was great. We ended up spending quite a bit in clearance and impulse purchases, and will be coming back here (rather than Rockville). read more

REI was good in general. Ski machine waxing is waste of time and money. Assistant didn't hear that I asked hot wax, I didn't check what was in pink copy. read more

REI - Machine waxed. - Outdoor Gear Near Me - McLean, Virginia

Love REI! They have such a great selection of quality clothing and gear for active lifestyles. Their sales are insanely good and I love that they buy back and resell used quality goods to cut down on waste. Bravo! It's hard to walk out of there empty handed. read more

Probably the worst customer service of any REI, let alone retail store. There seems to be a lack of product knowledge with the store staff, which is crucial to any physical retail store that wants to compete with online retailers... I was redirected from one person to the next, for which no one seemed interested in assisting me... I think that I've let my memberships lapse each time because I always had issues with redeeming at the register. Backcountry has been a great site with competitive pricing, and it is nice to support a business other than Amazon these days. read more

My sister and I came in today both in need of new shoes. The store was particularly busy for Labor Day, but despite this the staff did a phenomenal job of working with us to figure out the best shoes for our needs. I was particularly impressed by Kevin and Tina's attention to detail while managing a flurry of customers demanding their attention. Both of them made sure to ask plenty of questions about the various shoes we tried on to make sure we were getting the best fit and function. read more

The staff at this location could use a refresher on customer service. When I walked in holding my snowboard, no one thought to greet me/tell me that the ski shop was already closed for the season. They were also only moderately helpful in providing information on when the ski shop had closed (March 11th) and when it would reopen next season (sometime in November). The store itself seemed fine. read more

Great selection and super helpful staff. I've been here several times and always had a good experience. Today, I came to collect an online order via curbside pickup. I didn't realize the window for curbside pickup ends at 6pm, and I arrived at 6:12. I had my dog in the car with me and it was super hot outside, so I couldn't go inside to get my order. I called the store to see if they could possibly make an exception and meet me outside with my order and they were happy to help! I was expecting that I'd just have to come back another time, so I was really appreciative of their willingness to help me out. read more

I would agree that this store is in somewhat of an awkward location, but once you find it, consider yourself "in the game!" They have (in my opinion) a surprisingly pleasing selection and the staff was super helpful and friendly. Plus, they had a great selection of ORGANIC energy gels & bars!!! read more

REI - Outdoor Gear Near Me - McLean, Virginia

Loved the 4 folding chairs we bought from this Tysons Corner REI. My chairs came in 2 huge boxes! Two very kind sales associates: Kaitlyn and Kathy, carried them out to my car, without me asking for help--and were so professional and friendly. When I offered a tip, they turned it down! Wanted to do a shout-out to REI re these two great employees! read more

You have to love the 2 level REI stores. This location has plenty of space to fill and it's well-organized. Most of the clothes and shoes are downstairs. There's an elevator in the back and stairs in the middle of the store. Every staff member greeted me and asked if I need help as I walked by them so great service! If you're looking for it off of Leesburg Pike, it's in the shopping center behind Woo Lae Oak. Still don't know where that is? It's on Watson Street behind PetSmart and Chics and Wings on Leesburg Pike. Or, if you're heading south on International Drive, it's your first right immediately after you cross over Chain Bridge Road. read more

A+++ customer service. Shout out to John in ski/cycle department. I am so grateful for your help with my cycle shoes, fit, and clip installation; all this on a busy Saturday afternoon. Store was clean, orderly, and they had a good selection of shoes in my size. read more

REI gets 5 stars on everything except price. I'd been procrastinating the unpleasant task of buying new hiking boots. This REI is so popular that coming to the shoe department on a Saturday morning would've been a mistake, so I went on a Tuesday lunch break (and still was surprised to find 3 other customers). Nonetheless, the woman working the shoe department was very attentive - suggesting shoes based on my tendency to overpronate, my chaffing ankle issues, and my desire for extremely waterproof shoes. She was knowledgeable enough to answer all of my questions, and even when I'd gotten distracted by the latest model of running shoes, she knew that this generation of the model I wanted had a wider toe box than the last generation. Ultimately, I paid about $30 more than I would've paid online, but it was worth it to have someone direct me to the right shoe. Plus, there's a 1 year return policy so I can return the shoe for any reason, even if I'd already worn it multiple times. This $30 is worth the extra insurance to me. Also, for anyone else who is curious, the shoe department folks are not paid on commission (although they have a very low and easily attainable goal number of REI memberships to obtain). read more

Had no idea REI was located here. Not exactly great real estate considering you'd only find this place if you were looking for it. They really need a bigger sign if they want to drive more traffic into their store. Seemed like a great place to get all your not so common or specialized gear. If you are looking to buy a high ticket item, definitely consider getting the $20 lifetime membership which saves you 20% on one item. read more

I've stopped in several times since my initial visit and have been pleased with the customer service, and selection, so giving this location 5 stars. All-around, REI is top-notch in compared to its competitors. They guarantee everything they sell, offer all kinds of activities for members (join if you're not already a "member!"), and even have sporadic garage sales with excellent deals. I do most of my shopping here (hiking gear, yoga apparel, etc.), because of the fact that they're a member-owned company that truly cares. read more

Really disappointed. They convinced me to buy a membership on Monday and said how great it would be. I then bought my daughter some hiking boots. Upon getting home I asked her to wear them around the cul-de-sac to break them in. Five minutes later she came back in and said "mom, there's pieces flaking off." I went back to the store and asked for a refund since they were dry rotting. The cashier said the boots were "resupply" and they wouldn't take them back. I said they really should take them back since they sold me a faulty product. I mean the boots are dry rotting and we couldn't even use them once. The cashier said the boots would have gone through a thorough review and were determined to be saleable. So basically I spent $100 for her to wear them for 5 minutes. Honestly when you did your sales pitch to convince me to buy the membership it seemed like you would stand behind your product. Buyer beware, I guess. read more

We came in looking for go-to daily shoes that would be for good running/playing for our middle schooler's flat feet. Cameron worked with us for over an hour to help us find shoes that felt good! So grateful for his knowledge, patience, and perseverance! read more

Great customer service. Its off season to buy a pair of swimming goggles and I went to two different stores looking for them. My last trip/hope I stopped by REI. I was so happy they still have their goggles out. The staff was very helpful, friendly, and professional. I didn't catch the lady's name (short hair, wearing glasses, my height (short 5'6" or 5'7"). She was very nice and attentive. She was very kind and happy to help me. I did noticed most of their staff were nice. They look at you in the eyes to make sure they can offer you help. I will definitely come here again. I love great customer service and going to an organize and clean store. read more

New & spacious (athletic) apparel store. Friendly staff. And when we went? Quick checkout. Please, please have more staff on hand, for us illiterate, dumbfounded folks. We went straight for the heart rate monitor watches because that is what the hubs was looking at. One employee said there was actually another employee in charge so we sat and waited...until another employee helping someone else happened to come by. read more

It's an ok store. Every REI is different. They have a clothes here and not much of a board selection during winter season. The clothing sections is all downstairs. Sometimes they have some sales. As far as service, just one complaint. If you get your boots molded, it's $15 for members. I called and that's the price they told me. When I got there, they kept saying $30 but gave in eventually. If you go to the San Diego location, molding is free to member and you can do it yourself. read more

Always have been a big fan of REI and very happy with our membership and the dividends and other special deals. This location is good size and has a serious product collection of gear on the first floor and clothing downstairs. North Face, Kuhl, arc'teryx, all the good stuff. Staff are helpful but don't hover over you like a helicopter parent. If you like the outdoors and need gear check this place out. read more

REI - Outdoor Gear Near Me - McLean, Virginia

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I cannot speak more highly about the product selection and customer service at this location. My husband and I went in today looking for a kayak for him so he could join me on occasion while I Stand Up Paddleboard. PD helped us get the right kayak and paddle, as well as a J racks for my car. We settled on an Ellie 100 XE in a sharp looking lime green. The Yakima J racks we selected proved a bit of an issue as it took some trial and error to find a compatible set. Adam was a great help in that, assisting us in getting it mounted. We all thought we needed an adapter kit, but it turned out we needed a different brand of kit altogether, going with a Thule universal mount. Adam and PD patiently got us all sorted out. Once we got the racks mounted and returned the wrong kits and bought the ones that ultimately worked, PD brought out our new kayak, then we realized that while we had been messing around with the roof kit, our car battery died. No worries, PD swung around in his jeep and gave us a jump. I've shopped a several REI locations and have found everyone I've encountered to be wonderful with customers and focused on making sure we leave well equipped and happy, but these two REALLY went above and beyond today. read more

REI - Outdoor Gear Near Me - McLean, Virginia

Havent used this REI much but when I come in I'm always being harrased by employees every 2 minutes. "You look confused, what did you need?". They seem to have nothing else to do but stand right in your path when I already know what I'm looking for. They aren't even knowledgeable of the gear they carry, I'm the one educating them it seems. read more

Dropped off my bike for a tune up. All they did was over tighten the bolts(stem, brakes and shifter). mentioned creaking coming from the pivot and asked them to torque them..which they didnt. Replaced a cable that wasnt even bad. Pumped 40psi on each tires...????.....didnt even lubed the headset nor the bottom bracket. They need to hire real bike mechanics. Very disappointed with the quality of their work. read more

One of the worst visits to a retail store I've had in a long time. Wanted to find some hiking shoes while on vacation and was hoping for a pair of Merrell or other boot. Was spoken while checking out the place but wanted to explore the store as this was my first visit to REI. Loved the selection of everything! There were customers in the shoe area with an associate trying on pairs while I looked. Was really excited to find 3 options I wanted to try on but after 5 minutes of holding the ones that I wanted to ask about not a single associate approached me. I even held them up...really disappointed in the experience. After a special request to stop at REI I don't think I will be back in one again. Too bad the customer service is not as important as overpriced merchandise or a beautiful display store to just look at. Bye REI! read more

Yesterday, my husband and I visited the Tyson's R.E.I. Store and we were incredibly grateful to Rhonda, P.D., Brandi, Will, and others for their expert knowledge and guidance. From Rhonda's advice about rain gear and other clothing, Will's and P.D's help fitting me with the perfect pair of hiking boots to P.D's trip advice and finally, Brandi's courteous, efficient checkout process. Everyone at this store provided excellent service without sales pressure. The equipment is top notch and the prices are fair. This store is an excellent place to prepare for any and all outdoor activities. read more

This is regarding one particular sales associate. I came by to shop here twice and was snubbed by the same sales associate - how unlucky for me! I was shopping for specific waterproof items and I was asking for his assistance when the sales associate ignored me and recognized a family he's helped before apparently and went to help them even though I was there first. Then on a different occasion I stopped by to ask about shoes and he was the only sales associate that was unoccupied and had no choice but to give him a second try and he said he had to run to the back. I spent $20 on a lifetime membership and I don't ever want to return to another REI store after these 2 failed attempts. I wish I could just get my $20 back. read more

Wow. REI no longer guarantees past a year! I feel like I'm breaking up with an old girlfriend. I have an MSR filter bought from REI 2-3 years ago. I've taken it on 3-4 trips and taken care of it. It failed on my last trip. I took it back to REI today to exchange it, and was told I couldn't. The whole reason I became a member and shop at REI was for the no questions asked return policy. For years I've been paying a lot more for stuff I can find cheaper online or at other places. This is two times in a row REI has failed to stand behind that guarantee for me. The first was for one of those Light my Fire spork things that snapped. They wouldn't exchange it because they said the color of the one that broke didn't match what was on my sales history. I've never bought one of those elsewhere, but no, stuck with the broken one. Now, on an expensive filter, taken care of and lightly used, I'm told, sorry you need to buy a new cartridge. Well, if there's no longer the security of the REI guarantee, why should I spend more at REI for just the one year of security that I can simply get with a manufacturer guarantee that I can find a lot cheaper elsewhere. This makes me sad. Just the other night I was talking with a family member who also cited the lifetime guarantee as the reason for choosing REI. It really does feel like breaking up with someone...same pit in my stomach, but there you go. It's a sad good-bye, REI. read more

This review is about their return process and the customer service regarding the return process. I ordered a jacket from REI.com and ended up not liking it. The problem is the jacket was shipped without a receipt. I called the Baileys Crossroad store to see if it would be a problem getting the refund. They were able to locate my order using my name within a minute. They also told me that I can return the jacket at any store because the information was in the system. I was at the Tysons Corner area and decided to stop by this store to return the jacket. There were two cashiers there. They both did not know how to locate my order. They paged another person over to help. This person seemed more experienced with their system, but he also did not know what to do. I told them the other store located my order using my name a few times. I showed them the email confirmation I got. After trying for 10-15 minutes, they finally asked for my name and were able to locate the order right away. One of the cashiers was left to process my return. He asked if I wore the jacket when the tag was securely attached to the zipper of the jacket. This was another long process with the cashier trying to go through the transaction twice and wanted to give me the refund in store credits. All the while without saying a word to me. I had to guess what he was going to do. I understand this is a new store and the staff might need more training. I would not give them a bad rating because they were not able to locate my order right away. The whole experience was very unpleasant because they did not handle their customer service well. I will not go back to this store again. read more

Good store and pretty good customer service. The prices seem to be a little bit high but I the end of the day it's worth it. Great products I can easily spend thousands and thousands of dollars in the store. read more

REI - Outdoor Gear Near Me - McLean, Virginia

I paddle. I hike. I come to this store most often to buy gear for both. Of late I've been recovering from health issues that have stopped me from doing both hobbies for several years and I have been re-equipping myself, so I've been here a lot. This store has one associate in particular named Mark who is top notch on paddling gear. When I need help with a purchase I ask for him, and if he is busy, I wait. He's one of those people who know and actually use the products himself because he is an avid paddler himself. Because he actually uses it himself, he can tell me what it actually feels like to be in a given boat or how certain equipment is likely to function in real life conditions. I've had other REI store associates, including at this store, give me advice on equipment, including PFDs, that was downright bizarre and obviously wrong. But this guy gives me the info I need, the details I've forgotten about, and the info I didn't know to ask about. The store is lucky to have him. I don't have a go to person for my hiking needs in the same way. Partly that reflects that more people hike, so expertise is easier to come by. Also, I still have more of my old hiking stuff and it is in a better condition than much of my old paddling stuff. With that said, I have gotten great help in this area too. In particular, I spent at least two hours here trying to find the perfect hiking boot. At one point, an older gentleman had to clock out and leave for the day. Then he came around and gave me some more tips and advice. I have a particular issue because I badly sprained my ankle once when hiking the Billy Goat Trail and now my ankle is prone to roll out. That, plus my tendency to get wet by exploring rivers, lakes, and waterfalls, meant I had some specific considerations in my purchase (waterproof and serious ankle support). But the staff here got me squared away and I am happy so far. The location is a little out of the way. It's about a block from Tyson's Center, but it's up a street that no one ever seems to go on. The parking lot never seems full. This worries me about whether the store will stay in business. I hope it does. I also am a female shopper here at a store clearly geared much more toward men. This translates to the women's version of a product being less well stocked and having fewer options than the male version. It has also led to some confusing situations. For example, while shopping for the hiking boots I mentioned earlier, the (male) employee kept telling about what he had done with a particular boot, how the Boy Scouts used it, etc. This finally prompted me to ask if he was showing me a men's hiking boot. He wasn't, but be prepared that people here think only in men's terms and the fact that women too love the outdoors can come as an afterthought both in the approach to sales and the selection of merchandise itself. Then again, that's true of REI on the whole, and of many other stores as well. read more