I received a set of six Yetti mugs for my birthday they didn't fit my cup holders on my boat so I went in to exchange them for a tall style. When I arrived the answer was no receipt no exchange. I've been an REI member for over 42 years. Needless to say super poor customer service and the manager made me wait 10 minutes only to say the same policy. I guess I'm used to Nordstrom, Costco and Home Depot. REI doesn't even come close in regard to customer service. Pretty poor experience. read more

Great REI store that rents skis for the season for both kids and adults. It can get busy so if you want to avoid crowds, go at times when other people can't - afternoon midweek, early morning, etc. there is free parking at the garage underneath the store and they offer classes for REI co-op members. The store has a large selection of outdoors gear for whatever activities you might be interested in. Worth a trip to check it out! read more

The entrance to the downtown Seattle REI is a trail system. It is pretty tricky to navigate, but it is also a total retreat from the city. There are tons of tall trees and even a waterfall! It is best to find the direct route from the parking garage to the store entry. The actual store entrance is on the opposite side of the block from the parking garage entrance. This REI location is a huge 2-story store packed with outdoor gear. Apparel is upstairs, and outdoor toys are on the main floor. A lifetime membership to REI is only $20 and you get 10% of whatever you spend back at the end of the year. It's pretty cool. Parking is free under 1 hour. If you need anything, just look for the employees. They wear green vests and they are always willing to help direct you to whatever you are looking for. read more

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This is an amazing REI. It was not at all on our radar, but I'm glad we ended up here. The only downside is that you have to pay for parking outside of the free hour (depending on the day of the week). The store is huge, spacious, and just has that Pacific Northwest feel. Walking in and seeing that centerpiece rock climbing wall, you definitely know you are at their flagship location. Honestly, we came here to use the bathroom. Said bathrooms happened to be located right by their clearance section. That was our undoing. I've purchased things from the "REI Outlet" online, but actually shopping at a location that has these items in person was too much temptation. And as with all REI stores, the employees were just wonderfully helpful. They helped to track down the shoe size I needed (which I wasn't expecting for the clearance stock). read more

We are two women over 70 who bought e-bikes. We HIGHLY recommend the Thule EasyFold XT 2 hitch from REI. It's made for e-bIkes and comes with a (somewhat short) ramp to help guide your bike onto the rack. (We got the 53" ramp option.) We LOVE ours. Just want our older pals to be safe when getting your bike onto a car. read more

REI - Outdoor Gear Near Me - Seattle, Washington

A wonderful REI location near South Lake Union. Outdoor area is complete with waterfall and a bit of nature. Free parking on weekends and short term parking on weekdays. A huge selection of items and classes at this location and friendly staff. The checkout lines are a bit confusing is the only negative here. They even have a coffee truck inside to truly fit Seattle's culture. read more

Big fan of REI for many years. This location is the flagship store and it is MASSIVE. Be ready for an overwhelming amount of supplies and gear for your next adventure! Parking is provided and you pay hourly. From the entrance of the parking garage to the actual store, this location is well decorated and makes you feel like you are not in a city. I enjoy this store mainly because my husband and I love being outdoors and are slowly building our collection for backpacking and climbing gear ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ REI will allow you trial anything they sell and have a ONE YEAR return policy. They have superb customer service and they do not make commissions, so if they sell you anything it is truly because they are passionate about it and believe in the product. This store is filled with purposeful products, very minimal items that don't last a long time. Ask them questions! They will be happy to provide answers. Also for pet lovers, they are welcome! Ignore the signs that say otherwise, just make sure they are well behaved of course. read more

Great service, great price. Staffs are very friendly. Highly recommend this place. I finally found my jacket that I've been looking for.

Great customer service! I was fortunate enough to have an REI friends and family coupon and wanted to make good use of it. Washington has so many beautiful and challenging hiking trails so it's important to be well prepared. I learned this the hard way after having stuffed awkward-sized reusable water bottles in my tiny backpack and summiting Mount Si in ill fitting hiking shoes. As my knees screamed in pain that evening, it was easy to see that my current equipment just will not do. Off to REI! I did a bit of research on my hiking needs prior to heading to the store. REI's website has great reference information on how to select proper hiking shoes and trekking poles. However, once I got to the store, I was quickly overwhelmed. So very many hiking shoes. And a variety of trekking poles with significant price, hand grip, and metal choices. And don't get me started on trying to sift through what must be 300 backpack options! REI staff to the rescue! In the shoe area, I found an available staff member to help. My largest complaint with my current hiking boots is that I feel every golfball sized rock through my shoes and my feet stay sore for an entire day afterward. I also suspect that my shoes have a lot to do with the aforementioned knee pain. Per the REI website recommendation, I knew to ask for sturdy outsoles made of polyurethane as opposed to the EVA material. I also have a small foot size that isn't carried in many styles. The patient staff member measured my foot length and width and then came back with options. He took the time to explain the features of the shoes and why they were the best choice for me. He also explained why wool hiking socks and shoe insert insoles would be helpful. After walking on a few large rocks I found in the store to test the shoes, I was sold. Post adventures in shoe land, I made my way over to the trekking poles and found yet another very helpful sales representative. He explained the differences and details I hadn't noticed, including pros and cons, and had me test a couple of options for fit and feel. Found a great pair! That same representative then helped me select a backpack with a built-in water bladder. As a petite woman, it took several options to find one that was the right fit. If it wasn't for the sales rep, I would have been lost in a sea of backpacks and wouldn't know how to determine correct fit. Both of the sales reps with whom I interacted were fabulous, patient, and really knew their stuff. Even though the prices are higher, I am so happy that I chose to come to REI rather than try to select items for myself on the internet. Thank you REI team! read more

Wow. I feel pretty lucky that the flagship REI is so close. And, TBH, I also feel pretty blessed that my first ever REI shopping experience was at this epic location. I won't go into too much detail about all the special things that make this location amazing. Why? I don't want to ruin it for any first timers like me! But just know that this REI is like the mecca for outdoor, hiking, and active life gear. If you want to do something outside, REI has you covered. If you've been following my reviews lately, you'll know that my man and I are in the process of prepping for a Mt Fuji climb! We snagged most of our attire at The North Face. However, gear-wise we knew REI was going to be our one-stop-shop. And holy moly, it was. We found more than I even thought we needed! Walking sticks, dry bags, first aid kits, headlamps, gaiters, gloves, hats, hiking snacks, I could go on and on. Basically anything we couldn't find drastically cheaper on Amazon, we snagged at this outdoor wonderland. My 5-star rating is because we found everything and more that we needed at REI. Service-wise, I think I'm more at a 3.5/4 star rating. We didn't need much help as far as advice goes. However, I did get some assistance while I was shopping gaiters that was quite useful. But I asked for that help. Otherwise, in the hour+ time we spend there, not one person asked us if we need help. That was a bit weird to me. But I've always said I'm fully capable of asking when I actually need help. Checkout was fast and super-friendly, though. So that was great! read more

Very cool place for active rest! Mountain for rock climbing, tents, equipment all this you will find here. We liked the wide assortment, as the store itself is made in this style, everything is in harmony and active staff! The track for bicycles is an interesting idea! read more

WOW. Obsessed. Will be back. Ended up perusing the returns section for hours and found a camp chair, shoes and a sweater! This store has EVERYTHING, from the outdoor bike path to use to trial new bikes to brand new camping gear to gently used returns. I could have stayed for hours. They've also go lots of kayaks and bikes and sleeping bags and tents and swimwear and shoes and the list goes on. Best REI I've been to. read more

Coming to this REI and dropping several hundred bucks is a totally normal Seattle activity. They have sooo many things in the store, it's simply mind-blowing. They have bikes, clothes, camping equipment, backpacks, fishing gear, etc. etc... The membership is also a good deal ($20 to join and 10% back on all purchases) and now you can cash out your dividend. Cool! Free garage parking for 3 hours on the weekend and 1 hour on weekdays. Generous return policy (1 year). Why the low rating? The customer service is spotty. Warning: DO NOT come in on a Saturday morning. You will regret this life choice. The store is stuffed to the gills with people, and you may have to fight for an employee's attention. The shoe section was so understaffed. I was looking for some trail running shoes. I knew which ones I wanted, I knew what size, and all that, but I waited 15+ minutes for someone to grab the shoes for me. When I finally got them, I needed another size. Unfortunately I was unsuccessful in tracking down an employee for over 10 minutes, so I just left, empty-handed. Employees were literally ignoring customers because they were so busy. It was so awkward and rude. I'm going to try going back on a weeknight and hopefully I'll get to try the shoes. read more

I love you REI. I love all REIs. From their holiday sales, to their garage sales, you can always find something to buy. Yes, sometimes their items are expensive, but you are paying for quality and service. I mean, you can probably find off brands on Amazon for cheaper. But REI's return policy can't be beat. Parking: Free 1 hour parking in the structure. I have always found street parking too nearby. This store is huge. I love their displays. read more

SUPER cool and large REI! They had an outdoor bike trail, full size climbing column, and even a live WA ranger station. We heard there was a rain room to try out rain gear, but we didn't see one. They even had a full sized room area that was exclusively for clearance items and another smaller section for gear you'd see at parking lot tent sales. The store had two stories packed with gear I've never seen at my local REI's in LA and San Diego. Pretty certain we spent a good hour or two just exploring the store read more

What can anyone say about REI, except it's the best! When we lived in Chicago, I thought we had a nice REI. We did a fair amount of camping and always seemed as if we were coming to REI for something. Then we moved to the NW and we were blown away by the size, scope and selection found at this store. Heck, it's their Flagship! You can find Topo maps upstairs, various shoes, including every size of Keens ever made, tents, LED flashlights, rain-forest clothing for that weekend trip to Forks. It's incredible! And, I haven't even mentioned the climbing wall. Two stories! Just be careful in the parking lot in the basement. It can be a tight squeeze! LOL read more

This one of the nicer and bigger REI's I've been to. It's smacked dab in the middle of the city. I like the outdoor water features and how it's decorated. The ambiance made it feel like you were in the woods. Parking is free for an hour, so I would suggest you figure out what you want to get and make it an in and out experience so you don't have to pay for parking. read more

I'll just share a couple recent REI experiences. Bought 200.00 worth of gear in Seattle and the 1 hr parking limit in the structure cost me 3.00 after I sent a 1/2 hour in line for Memorial Weekend Sale. Next, I ordered Oakley sunglass for delivery to the San Diego store. Promised for Wed June6 and by Sat the 9th had not arrived which botched the birthday gift I planned for my Brother. Hope your experiences are better. read more

If you're an outdoor enthusiast, then you probably already know about REI (Recreational Equipment, Inc.), and you may have checked out one of their many stores around the country. However if you're ever in Seattle, and have the opportunity, you should definitely go to their flagship store. As you approach this incredible facility, the first thing that you'll see is a 5-story glass tower to one side of the building. As you get closer you realize that this is actually a glassed-in enclosure around their indoor rock climbing wall. This store has an indoor mountain biking trail, a hiking trail, a small forest area, and so much more -- plus they are packed with true subject matter experts that can answer your questions about buying kayaks, canoes, backpacking supplies, hiking boots, mountain bikes, climbing supplies, and outdoor clothing. Now it's not just enough to talk with someone about a pair of hiking boots or running shoes, so why don't you lace up that pair and go for a little hike around the indoor trail. You want to check out a particular bike, then go for a spin on their special bike trail. How do you use climbing ropes? Well, we have this indoor rock climbing wall so that you can find out. Truly amazing! I thought that the selection of items was great, and the help that I received from their associates was stellar. Everyone was very welcoming, and willing to share their expertise as I asked my questions, and tried out several items. Thankfully I live clear across the country from this store, or I would be totally broke! I could easily spend a couple of hours wandering through the different sections of this store, and trying out the outdoor equipment. This was really a fun and unique experience! read more

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Destination REI... This is the flagship store, and a mecca for the NW vibe of outdoor living and healthy lifestyle. This store does this to excess, boasting an outdoor waterfall and micro-rainforest, indoor climbing wall, and an indoor kids play area, great for rainy day play. Its ridiculous how expensive camping has become, don't you think? Take a step in to REI's flagship store to witness first-hand how this social transformation occurred. Dang, there have some pretty cool, geeked out camping gear in here. And I like it! While Target (Coleman) camping gear sometimes keeps things more reasonable, there are just some things camp-wise you can only find at REI. Our favorites include their high tech portable camp stoves, lanterns, recycled plastic mugs for coffee, portable canvas camp bags, portable wash basins, comfy therma rests, camping pillows, sleeping bags, fire starter, and camp suds. Oh, how I love the camp suds. At least a small REI stock up is just required each summer. Sometimes I wonder if I'm really camping, or taking out a second mortgage on my tent. Apparently, I have acquired a taste for the finer things thanks to REI. I have to say that this REI has become our camping and sports shoe shopping headquarters, and I do like that spending is offset somewhat by the end of year dividends we get as members. read more

This is the place that gave me the bug to visit a REI wherever I go. What a toyland for adults! Camping, sporting gear, shoes, and other clothing- whatever you want. And this is the flagship, one of the biggest stores REI has. I always enjoy visiting! read more

Not sure I can give the most accurate representation of this flagship REI store, because within minutes of being inside of it, I start to have a total panic attack from the amount of people, noise, and heat emanating within the place. I usually have to find a quiet, calm place (outdoors) to chill out while my friends continue to shop. The store is massive. And gorgeous. And it literally has everything you would need for outdoor activity. But it's also very expensive. I have been here a few times with friends who are REI members just so they can use the member discounts on items throughout the year. I do appreciate that they go out of their way to let you test the products - bike trails, a rock wall, even a rocky path to walk along if you're trying hiking shoes. Plus, I think you get at least an hour of validated parking. It seems like camping and hiking are very pricey hobbies. Me, I will stick to being lazy. read more

This place is HUUuUUUGE! Why shouldn't we go to the REI flagship store if we're in the area?!!? There are multiple levels at this REI. . . A huge rock wall.. a whole course outside in case you want to test out your bike or your rollerblades? There's small hiking trails around the store. It's a whole maze to get in... it's nice. Walking around in here seems like as if you're in the forrest. :D There are tons of things they carry here that they don't have in other REI stores too! read more

Garage sale let down Drove for an hour this morning to come to get "epic deals" from the REI garage sale only to find out that there would be no sale at this flag ship store today. This sale was advertised, pretty heavily, on their website and emails sent directly to consumers. I was extremely disappointed ( and annoyed) to find a laminated 8x11 piece of paper tethered to the entrance gate "NO GARAGE SALE AT THE SEATTLE LOCATION TODAY! (*all other local REI store are holding garage sales)". A revised email would have been a nice touch, or even someone to answer the phone when I called this morning. read more

REI - Outdoor Gear Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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This was my first REI experience and it was amazing. The store is HUGE, there is such a large selection for everything outdoor related you could possibly need/want. I'm not a huge outdoor person, I enjoy hiking but have never gone camping so the amount of dried/instant food they had was overwhelming. Our main focus was to buy a new pair of hiking shoes, and as suspected they had a ton of options. Fortunately, the customer service is excellent and one of the employees helped us find the perfect pair! Prices are on the high side, but worth it in quality. read more

I really wanna hate REI. Alas, I can not. You see, I have teenage sons. They are those rugged Boy Scout types, literally. I've spent a small fortune in REI on some gear that's made the muddy monsters very, very happy. And, we have a standing agreement, if I pay for all that tackle, or gear, or whatever, I don't have to actually go out in the woods and such. It's like self-ransom. read more

They're no longer dog friendly. We were asked to leave the dog tied up outside or to shop one at a time.

REI offers such great, attentive customer service that will help you understand and suggest high quality outdoor gears of all types from cycling and hiking to camping and kayaking that suit your needs. My friends and I are not the most outdoorsy person so we didn't necessarily know the types and nuisances of different types/styles of hiking shoes. However, the staff there was so down to earth made us feel comfortable and my friend definitely ended up with the shoes that she felt really comfortable in and was definitely happy with her purchase. I also particularly love that they even have a fake hiking trail there that has rocky, incline, and edge of the rock area that you can try on their shoes and walk on that path to get a much better idea of how you'd feel with on the trail before committing to buying them. Sure...prices at REI is along the high side, but that's to be expected of high quality outdoor gear. read more

I can't believe I've never been to this REI in my 31+ years of existence. I've only been to the Lynnwood one based off of where I live. First thing is the beautiful oasis of plants and water right in the heart of SLU. What a hidden gem! So peaceful. If I worked in the area and had hour lunches, I'm pretty sure I'd go there all the time. This place is pretty massive. They have all the usual REI items. Camping, backpacking, etc, etc. Staff is very helpful. Almost a little too helpful. :o One of the gals that works there showed us a bunch of backpacks for our upcoming trip. We were very happy with her, but just ended up being information overload. Not complaining. More just rambling. Ha read more

Finally got to visit THE REI! My first impression as I walked up to the main entrance from the parking lot was.. wow.. this place could be like Jurassic Park's research facility. There's a waterfall, and everything was designed nicely. There are wooden embroideries around the elevators. Attention to detail is topnotch :) Came here to try on the newest rage: Webbed shoes! REI has a massive selection of them! Their service is friendly, and they actually take the time to tell you that you should'nt get frustruated and give up trying your first webbed shoe :P Lots of other outdoor selection. I took my time and walked into large tents :P Took my time to do climb the pinnacle (rock climbing wall). For a mere $7. Staff there: Eugene was very patient with me and encouraging! I'm afraid of heights, but he helped both me with both mental and physical tips. "There's a rock to grab right on your left", "You can do it, Don't look down, Its all in your head" and all that positive jazz! I was only able to climb up half the wall because of him!! :D If it wasn't for him.. I'd probably never get off the ground :P Thanks REI for this outdoor experience.. indoors :) read more

I was excited to visit REI's "flagship" store in Seattle, however it left me a little disappointed...and I probably won't be shopping at REI's any longer, as most of what I saw was away from their touted co-op roots and more of what they truly are which is just another corporation. Yes, there are lots of bells and whistles at this location...neat animal carvings, a super-cool climbing area (which was actually closed when we visited), an outdoor trail to test mountain bikes, lots of props and good displays that catch your attention, which is good marketing on their part to catch the consumer. However if you look at the basics (like the prices) I was blown away...I picked around for about an hour and didn't find anything I was actually going to buy solely based on the high prices. I even found the "clearance" corner of the store....STILL the prices were rather outrageous, with some items even claiming to be 40 percent off. So I then found the used section, which was right behind the clearance area...prices a little bit better, but for used gear, still very high. I did eventually break down and buy a used pair of hiking boots for $50, mostly because my own pair's soles decided to fall off ironically right when I was looking at shoes. I took it as a sign and decided not to question fate...however I will question going back to any REI's any longer if this is what they have become! My best advice is yes, if you want to take in their flagship store for its flashy-ness I would say its worth a stop, however I will stick to getting my outdoor gear other places from now on. read more

REI - Wow! - Outdoor Gear Near Me - Seattle, Washington

The best thing REI has going on is expertise. I find that some employees have very good knowledge of their department, paired with great attitude--and those are the main reasons I haven't removed REI from my shopping stops. I've also heard great feedback about their equipment rentals and classes (although I have tried neither so far). Otherwise, my visits over the past 3 years have resulted in purchasing only small knickknacks, but not what brought me to store in the first place. For example, late this January, I stopped by for a new pair of snowboarding mittens rated for lower temperature ranges (around -20°C/-4°F), and an MIPS helmet to replace my foam one. While there were some MIPS helmets, the designs were very vanilla: safe and boring colors, without the special vents or new magnetic buckles. As for gloves, the choices were even more appalling. In the end, Amazon came to save the day. REI may be a good place for generic gear (if you're just a beginner in a particular activity or aren't picky about features), maybe some chat with a department expert, and possibly finding a quality item on sale! But for the most part, my recent disappointing visits are starting to convince me that it may be time to visit more specialty shops and continue polishing my online shopping skills :D read more

This is the Disneyland of REI's. It had mini-trails, beautiful landscaping and a waterfall outside. Honestly, you could easily pretend you're on a trail when you're in the thick of it. Inside is massive, every department well-stocked and every employee a wealth of information. Well, at least the three we spoke to. In the shoe department there's a faux trail-like thing so you can try on the shoes and see how they feel on different surfaces. Kind of awesome. Went there to get a rain shell for my bf, some tech compatible gloves for me and they were having a sale on REI co-op clothing so I snagged a base layer tee as well. Oh, and a Seattle hiking guide. Super useful when google maps quits life out in the foresty bits. Even the bathrooms are nice here. Parking is free for the first hour. read more

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You've got to come here. I mean, come on, you really do. Forget for a moment that REI might be a huge chain and no longer your local co-op. Forget for a moment that REI on the whole has a somewhat limited, although still expansive selection of gear, and forget for a moment that you might or might not like the great outdoors. Seriously?!? You're going to skip out on this place?? It's freaking GIGANTIC. All other REI's are put to shame. If you've seen it on the website, it's there. The used gear sale is always on on the lowest floor. They have a 60-something foot climbing wall!! SIXTY feet!!! They have a test track for hiking and mountain biking!! This REI the size of a city block and has it's own parking structure. Go just to gasp at it's size. As far as all that other stuff... REI has good, quality (not the best, but very good) outdoor gear for the casual and enthusiastic outdoorsman. The staff is helpful and they know their stuff - but who cares, this place is huge. read more

REI - its... just... so... BIG - Outdoor Gear Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I'll start by saying that REI is one of my favorite stores but my experience this afternoon was so annoying. It should be no surprise to REI that there will be a lot of customers on a Saturday afternoon in August. With a line of at least 50 customers waiting to check out, there were 3 tellers!!! How is it possible that management do not have more tellers available. After waiting 10 minutes I dumped the items I wanted to purchase and left. I estimate it would have taken at least 40 minutes for me to check out. Ridiculous! read more

My friend G. Master B. introduced me to REI... We use to go to the REI in San Francisco on Sunday's hungover... Initially I wasn't too sure about REI, and having to pay to be a member and all that jazz. But they basically pay you to be a member... After each year they send you 10% of what you spent with them... Their returns policy is top notch (LL Bean -esque)... I had a pair of ski boot liners. They gave my feet and shins a lot of pain... (usually when you break in a new pair of ski boots there is some pain, but this was above normal)... I wore them for nearly too years, broke em in... sweated in them, etc... Still in pain I took them back to REI and gave them my story, they gave my full 100% credit to my original method of payment... I like to shop with them both on line and at their stores. read more

I absolutely love REI, this place is an outdoor person's paradise! the down side is you can also go broke here, i often find myself wondering into here and leaving with more gear than i actually need. you can't beat the great selection of quality stuff and very helpful & friendly customer service. i remember looking for a pair of Prana shorts and the computer said they were available so one of the rei employees searched the entire store for me. if you've never been to the flagship store, it's huge! needless to say, i really appreciate the effort that the employees here put in to help you find what you are looking for. also the people who work here have great insight insight and knowledge into all sorts of outdoor activities. my favorite part about REI is the membership and 100% satisfaction guarantee on all the things they sell. there's been numerous times i went in because i found out something was just not the right fit or it didn't work out for me. customer service understood my concerns and gave me a refund EVERY time! the membership gives you a 10% annual dividend on your purchases and special member only discounts. there are also plenty of events that the store hosts each month. check out the monthly calendar for a list of classes (free & paid) and outdoor outings/volunteer events. there's a rock wall here too and a food court. the wraps are spot on. gosh there's so much here i can't list them all. highly recommend this place for all your outdoor needs, make sure you save up though cuz it can turn out to be a costly purchase read more

Ugh, what can I say that others haven't said already? I -love- this kinda store. Almost more than Nordstrom. OoooOOooohh wait, I know what to say. YES! YES! YES! OMG, YES! *takes long drag off of a cigarette* Yeah, I love REI. Especially -this- store. read more

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I love REI regardless, but this location is nothing short of magical. From the waterfalls and bike paths around the store to the wooden shelter inside, everything about this REI is phenomenally executed and their selection is unmatched. They have an actual climbing wall inside this location. I haven't tried it out yet but it's pretty high on my list of things to try. It's located close to a grilled cheese restaurant and to the main amazon campus, so in my opinion it's got a great location! You can find pretty much anything you'd imagine for camping and outdoor activities here, it's by far the biggest REI I have seen. This is the kind of place that I'd take people from out of town to even if they weren't outdoorsy/didn't need anything in particular; just a really cool place! (TBH, I like it better than the giant Nordstrom downtown) read more

This store is an outdoor enthusiasts haven. Two stories of products and super helpful staff to help you find what you need. As you walk up they have the outdoors in the middle of the city with a waterfall and mini forest. They even have an outdoor bike test track and indoor rock climbing wall. Great vibe and nice people. Loved the fire pit too. read more

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