I've been a few times since my last review and have had improving experiences with staff on the floor, the bike shop, and the registers. There are still some unnecessarily irritable staff, but hey, it's Reno. One manager was nice enough to let me bring in two REI-purchased bikes for the free one-time bike tune-up a year after purchase, though I had to go over the head of bike store staff, one of whom didn't call me when the bikes were ready to pick-up. Prices overall haven't kept up with the internet age, however. As far as I can tell, REI survives primarily by selling clothes (hard to try online), stuff for oh-crap-I-need-(whatever)-for-my-trip-tomorrow moments, and the members-only garage sales. On that topic, the garage sales are still a complete crap-show. Absolutely the worst "system" I've seen at any REI store. Not because the stuff is crap (some is), but because they still cram way too much stuff all at once in too small a space. (as an aside, I find the prices also to be overall crappy relative to other REI garage sales. One can easily find/win lightly-used stuff on ebay for 20-50% lower than many prices I've seen at REI garage sales.) Anyway, all this garage sale "planning" does is 1. encourage long lines of people waiting for the store to open (about 200 people by my a recent count) who then rush into too small a space to act like crazed loonies 2. hoarding behavior: imagine a dude carrying around 10 backpacks for 20 minutes until his adrenaline is finally low enough that he can sit down to spend a half hour deciding which one is the least crappy (then throwing the rest back in a disorganized heap), or the family staking out piles of stuff on the sidewalk and in the way of everyone else. 3. less-than-safe conditions, especially for children. The only upside is that they seem to be increasing the number of staff to oversee the chaos, and they seem to keep cooler heads than they did last year. I know some managers think they know a lot about organizing garage sales (they've said as much to me). They don't. read more

Good products, good prices. Every time I bring a snowboard into the service department for waxing/edging, they are dismissive and tell me it will take multiple days to get it done. I go elsewhere for my winter sports needs because of this. read more

Having frequented this store over multiple years I have come to this conclusion, product selection is acceptable, price tolerable, and floor staff is generally congenial and not unnecessarily intrusive. On the other hand the cashier(s) have consistently been unusual, strangely socially inept making every, and I reiterate every transaction notably uncomfortable. read more

REI is REI no matter where you go and this place does not disappoint nor impress. I happen to like REI so I am going to give this particular one four stars for meeting my expectations. What you can expect: 1) A large variety of items pertaining to most things "outdoor". 2) A large staff with a collective knowledge pertaining to most things "outdoor". 3)High quality gear for a relatively high price 4)Online ordering for in-store pickup = no shipping fees 5)Good membership benefits and discounts for signing up. There is not much else to it. This is an outdoor store which caters to customers willing to pay a premium price for high quality gear. The best thing about REI is the satisfaction guarantee. If a product does not work exactly like you need it to or want it to or were expecting it to then you can most likely exchange it for something that does or get your money back (or at least store credit)......can't argue with that. read more

What a nice, clean store with a nice greeter at the front. I'm not the outdoors type and this is the holy grail for those who are. They have gear galore and clothes, and I've probably missed something as I don't shop the entire store. I was searching for those RFI sleeves (Radio Frequency interrupter) for my credit cards. They come in a really small packet of 3. The last time I bought them at REI, was about a year ago and they finally started to deteriorate with use. I couldn't find them and the cashier who's name I don't recall, (and I don't have the receipt) was nice enough to call an associate to get a pack for me. She wasn't busy at the time, so she rang me up there and then. I was highly satisfied and only regret that I didn't get the associate's names so they could be praised. Thank you REI! read more

I love this store. Great selection of our door gear--boots, coats, etc. Nice selection of casual wear too. They also have great socks. Yes socks. I particularly like the merino wool socks and their overall selection of running sucks. These aren't your standard 12 pack of Nike socks. We're talking 18 bucks for 2 or 3 (if you find a value pack) pairs, but these socks will protect your feet if you are serious runner. No blisters, no cracked feet, etc. Just awesome and totally worth the price. Prices are a bit higher here, but you get what you pay for. Products are great quality and the store stands behind what it sells. Can't beat that. Well worth it. Also, if you spend the time you can find some GREAT deals in their clearance stuff on really nice merchandise. read more

I've been shopping at REI for the past 10 years in another state, I just recently moved to Nevada, reno/sparks area, and yesterday I went to REI in Reno, ugh, I had the worst experience ever, too much to mention, let's just say, very rude, criticizing sales person, and extremely poor customer service from the checkout employee. Ugh, it took over an hour to get what I needed, which should have taken less than 30minutes. I Seriously regret spending $200+ there,... after all that transpired, i almost went back inside to return every thing and get my money back, but I'd already wasted enough time in there already, I could only imagine how long that would have taken, Besides I got the necessary items I needed, I didn't want to waste more of my time by going somewhere else. So, enjoy my money, I'm not coming back!.I will never recommend this location. read more

I've been an REI member since 1999; the store itself is great, good selection of gear, etc., so my issue was with one of the retail managers. I was in the store today to purchase new hiking shoes. I was given the shoes and sent to the children's section to try them on as they only allow 3 people at a time in the shoe section. I sat down on the bench and bent over to try the shoes on - I wear a buff as a mask and the buff slipped down. To be honest, didn't think much of it as I was the only person in the aisle. About 30 seconds later an employee passing by stopped and asked me to pull my mask up. I told him I have a medical condition (asthma) and he said it didn't matter, I had to wear it, so I pulled the buff back up and went back to trying on my shoes. One of the retail managers, Ray Tomlinson, then came over and asked if he could help me. I said no, I am just trying on some shoes. He then said well you need to wear a mask the entire time you are in the store. Now mind you, I AM wearing my mask, so I am not sure why he was telling me this except I guess the employee sent him over to lecture me. I told him I am wearing my mask, I do have a medical condition, but I am wearing my mask. He then proceeded to tell me that I can order online and they'll do curbside delivery. Uh...I have the shoes right here, I am good, I don't need curbside delivery. He continued to talk and at this point, I felt like I was being harassed unnecessarily. I mean literally my mask was down for 30 seconds and I put it back on when the employee asked me to - this was completely over the top and ridiculous. I interrupted him and told him that I was wearing my mask, I just came for the shoes, and to please leave me alone as he was now harassing me. He said he wasn't harassing me, but he did finally walk away. REI - if someone put their mask back on after you ask them, then just leave them alone, there's no need to lecture or harass them. We've been doing this for the last year, we all get it. read more

While REI is not super pet friendly they were incredibly helpful today and let me bring my dog into size out his pet gear that we bought from them today so thank you for that we appreciate it read more

They have the best return policy. Might have to be a member to get the best deals? But anyone can shop there. Pay a little bit more for their merchandise probably because of their outstanding return policy. A good return policy might be more important than low price with some purchases. They usually don't charge a whole bunch more for certain items. Skiing, boarding, biking, outdoor equipment hauling, clothes, camping and climbing gear all in one place. Clothes are okay, but there are online competitors with decent return policies that sometimes compete better and have less out-of-stock problems. Depending on the item, price and convenience you need to determine which is most important and shop around. read more

I came here because I trust the staff to know the gear they're selling. I know they have the best gear, and i expect to play full retail. But for some things, it's worth it. I got fitted for ski boots that I can trust with my life. They're great, but i wouldn't have found them without expert advice in this store read more

I love that the people here are so knowledgeable. Anything I have a question or concern about, I can find help. Th classes they offer are convenient. I like that they keep community oriented and have volunteer options. Great selection and quality. The fact that I can bring something back if I have a problem or discrepancy ANYTIME, makes me a dedicated costumer. read more

Such a great go to store for everything "outdoors"! It's not like the big box outdoors stores in town that have so much junk, it's hard to find the quality! This place just has the quality! This is the first place I go for a gift for my super outdoorsy hubby, or my hunter dad! The staff is very friendly, except they all push their reward program to much! My hubby and I have made a game out of how many times we will get inundated by their program. If you want to play the game also... Here's some help...It's usually 5 times a trip. (More during the holidays) if I'm there alone, I try to avoid staff interactions, because I don't want to be cornered about the program! But, other then that, we love wandering thru REI. Every trip makes our adventures that much better! read more

I love this place!! Reasonable prices for something that I can return if I am dissatisfied....ever. Nice helpful people make my shopping experience great! Just bought a pair of bike shorts, clips, and shoes. Glad they are here in Reno! read more

I really enjoy going to REI. Yes, sometimes their prices are high, but no worse than some of the other stores in town. I find that most of their equipment is competitively priced with other chains. I love that they have events that you can go to, ranging from free to a hundred dollars or so, as they have provided me with opportunities to learn about new outdoor activities or just learn more about one that I am already interested in. I just recently purchased a new backpack for a trip I am taking later this month, and the sales associate was extremely knowledgeable. Not only did he know a lot about the products, he also seemed genuinely interested in helping me find the best piece of equipment for my budget, even offering to show me how to pack my old pack before selling me a new one. I instead decided to go ahead and make the purchase, and my experience throughout was excellent. I have been a member for a little over a year now, and I find the store credit you get back at the beginning of the year helps me get the gear I want when I want it. read more

Awesome store! What's not to like about REI. They treat customers well, have great closeout deals, and the garage sales?! Love REI. read more

REI, started out as a co-op in Denver if my Dad recalls correctly. Stands for Recreational Equipment Incorporated, if I recall right from my dad's 70s down sleeping bag, (I really enjoy that I own this bag now). This is my go to store for outdoor gear replacement parts, good selection to fix stuff. I buy a lot of my gear here--I'm a hiker/backpacker-- sleeping bags, tents, water bladders, sleeping pads. I just love this store, and have dreams of backpacking more comfortably swimming in my head... For those that say expensive; you get what you pay for in outdoor gear. Cheap tent = hours of wet misery, trust me, sopping wet in the wilderness is not a situation you want to be in. Cheap rainsuit, the same. But do your homework cause some things you could pay a higher price for lesser gear. read more

I love REI!! They have the best equipment for almost every outdoor sport or activity. Become a member to receive an annual dividend. I have been a member, loyal customer, and a student of REI for almost 30 years. Great service, great products, and great classes!! They have locations all over the US. www.rei.com read more

Checked out REI for some new hiking boots and was impressed with their large selection for women. They have an awesome little rock climbing section to test them out which is a little silly but was critical for choosing the best pair! I found a pair that was perfect for me. Pricing is on the higher end but they do offer quality products and great warranty with a membership. Most of the staff were helpful and polite. read more

Good selection of bike gear, hiking gear, maps and clothing. Got my grips and new hydration pack here recently, pack was REI brand and was considerably cheaper than other packs but good quality. A good quick stop for ski stuff too. Bad location though. read more

Visiting Reno to ski at Mount Rose and the base patch put on my ski by Mountain View REI (Feb 2014) came off first day I'm on that pair of skis! Ray (mgr) took a look and agreed they would take care of it. *Hugs*. Their Master Ski Tech was able to get it done the next day and I only had to pay for "minor base work" (they also waxed both skis). Woohoo! I don't expect that fast of service normally. But they understood snow conditions were "on run" and these are my "on-run" skis (K2 Apache Recon). Very very thankful! :) read more

The first impression of REI( the company and the employee there) gave me were: Friendly; Knowledge; Helpful. The first time I shopped at REI was at this location, i got hooked ever since. Today I came in for a GoPro, I stood there for a sec to see if any sale associate will come ask me if i needed help, cuz that's how it usually works at this location, but i guess i came in too early they just opened, so I signaled the cashier that i need help here, and a girl came and helped me, I asked her some questions about gopro screen protector , she didn't know the answer, so she open the a sealed product to let me see it, and it is what i'm looking for, so I bought it along with the GoPro. They are always so friendly and helpful, i don't think Best Buy will open a sealed product just to let me see if it's what i want. The other day I was looking for a backpacking tent, and i knew nothing about tent, so one of the associate asked me all kinds of questions to determine which tent suits me better, and i love the tent i got there, it's a REI brand too. Anyway I just love to shop here, every time i shop here i will spend at least 30 mins there just to look around, cuz the got all kinds of stuff there to look at and buy from. I think i spent too much time there they might think i am a thief. lol read more

Great selection, helpful staff, and fair prices. Yes, things are expensive here, but you are buying good quality products. I really enjoy coming here. Hope to be back soon!! read more

I love REI. The whole membership thing is the real deal, not gimmicky or weak in any way. I've always had great customer service in-store, although I will say some of the young employees are not as knowledgeable as they would have you think. But hey it's a great place to work for teenagers, so what are you gonna do...they gotta learn somewhere. I love getting my "dividend" every year, and I often order stuff online. Hit up the clearance racks, there are some gems there. This store in particular is just so-so as far as REI's go, but it's the only one near me, so I guess I'll claim it as my go-to... read more

Called ahead & asked which hitch bike racks they have on showroom floor. Arrived, phone info inaccurate. Wanted to see the Yakima Ridgeback 2 bike version out of box. No way would the salesman do it. Really aloof, not impressed at all w/ customer service. read more

I'm surprised at the exceptionally low level of customer service we received at this store. I won't go into details here (I already emailed their main customer service email address to highlight my concerns). Checker, Michon, was absolutely horrible. She rolled her eyes, spoke to us with disgust and answered a call mid-transaction while putting a finger up. Ugh. Come on, REI. You can do better :/ Will be visiting their local competitors from now on. read more

I went in to get a cargo carrier for my Xterra. I had researched online for one but seeing the one I picked out in person, it was not what was necessary for my vehicle. Two of the employees (I didn't get names) were extremely helpful. They measured my car rack, assisted me in installation of my crossbars, and helped me find an appropriate cargo box that fit my hauling needs and my car's roof. They guided me through the installation of the cargo box and everything went smoothly. read more

I've been a member at REI for over 15 years in Reno. They carry a broad selection of outdoor gear minus hunting gear - think all type of skiing, rock climbing, back packing, bicycling, and kayaking. They still have a broad focus, so for super specialized gear, you will still need to go to an outdoor store with a closer focus. I don't think their margins are too big, since they are a coop (members get a dividend refund based on how much they buy every year); but some of the gear/clothing isn't cheap. They have a gear repair shop that can service a broad variety of gear (again, members get a discount here). Their legendary return policy ended a couple of years ago - now you can return gear only up to a year from purchase date. In addition, they offer classes, workshops, and tours (some free, most not free). They're all over the US, so you shouldn't have any trouble finding one out of town. read more

REI made my customer service award for the year today. I returned a pair of pants that had a seam come undone. This was my first try at returning used gear from REI. They promptly looked up my purchase using my phone number and issued me a brand new pair. I also received a dollar in change as this store's sales tax was lower than the Berkeley store where I purchased it. The ease of using their return policy is definitely worth it. Salespeople are always friendly and helpful as well. I will definitely continue to make this my #1 place to shop for outdoor equipment. read more

I just learned they're a co-op. This is great I think! Another thing: They Have a GARAGE SALE for members to come and buy slightly damaged or opened products! I love garage sales. Membership is lifetime (costs $20) and you get 20% off at the store when they send you coupons. The place is reasonably priced if you get the 20% off. The only reason I don't give them 5 stars is because they're still more pricey than the internet on most things. Otherwise, way to go. read more

Terrible service. When you buy their top dollar flashlights, they don't carry the speciality batteries. Must order online. Come on, it was a $150 flashlight! Useless without the 18650 Lithium-ion Battery! read more

Expensive. Like - really expensive. But - they have really cool stuff. However, I was there looking for items for geocaching and they're not really decked out - they didn't carry a lot for this particular hobby. REI used to carry more, at least at a different location. Oh well, I will just get my needs met online. read more

Very cool store but low supplies. I came a couple of weeks ago for paddle board accessories & all they had was 5 items in an end display. They did let me know that I could order more online. I came back today for riverside tie down and they were bare shelved on all but 1 set if 9 foot ones to which they said they they have sold a lot of sups lately & I could order them offline. They are the same or close in price as the stores in Truckee but the stores up there stock a lot more accessories. Please start carrying stock. Its a bummer when come for stuff & have to make trips to other stores to get what I need. Still a cool store read more

Dropped off my board for a tune up and wax and these guys did a great and timely job. Definitely going to go back again next time my board needs it. read more

It's a national chain, and it's not a place I shop at regularly, but I do like to pick up my occasional online orders here (free shipping to REI stores!) when I'm doing airport runs. Its location to the airport makes it a convenient time-killer when flights are delayed, and while not as large as some REI stores, it's got a reasonable array of merchandise. The staff are nice enough, though I've never really researched any technical gear here. That sort of thing I save for my local shops. read more

It's not cheap, but you really do pay for what you get: high quality gear that can be returned without any hassle if anything goes wrong! I used to think REI was lame because its gear was so pricey, but they really do have the best shopping experience and customer service of any store I can think of. read more

I have frequented this store on numerous occasions and I have always waited to check out for extended periods of time even if I am the only person in line. Once I am actually waited on they have always been courteous and helpful but the extended wait is always a drag. Good luck finding any one to help while shopping also. Love the merchandise but this store really needs to step up customer service. read more

The best outdoor/active store in the area! Pricey, yes, but they have everything you need.

Excellent service in helping me find the best replacement hiking shoes. Sales team knows the right questions to ask and reviewed all options thoroughly. The only reason they aren't getting a 5 is because they were a bit understaffed in multiple areas. read more

I'm pretty big into cycling, and the bike shop at REI is very nice. The sales people are very well informed, and extremely professional. I was very impressed with the helpfulness and general good attitude of everyone that worked there. I had a lot of bad questions (basic) that I just needed clarification on, and the sales person never once made me feel like he had something better to do. I look forward to a long business relationship with this company. read more