If i could give this REI 10 Stars i totally would. I had a friend who fell on hard times and found himself on the streets of Seattle with very little necessities. I decided to take him to REI and provide him with a few things. We really weren't sure what he needed other then the obvious. Jeff, the awesome manager stepped in and really helped us out. Was very non Judgmental towards my friends situation and was very helpful. All of his staff were very professional and it was obvious that they arent just there for a paycheck, they take time with their customers and cater to the customers needs rather then just telling them what they want to hear. Great Job Jeff, you know they say being a member has it's benefits and so far having the privilege of working with Jeff was the best benefit to date. Thanks REI and Jeff, you're the man!!! read more

The king of REI's is here. Located in SLU and seen from the freeway. They have a huge rock for top roping! I have yet to try it but it looks pretty fun. I'm a climber myself, so I go elsewhere for climbing. I bought my first pair of climbing shoes here last year and I was relatively new to climbing so I didn't know how tight they should fit. The person in the climbing area helped me out a lot and I was happy with my first purchase. I would recommend becoming an REI member! There are a lot of benefits such as getting 10% back on purchases as well as 20% three times a year on regular priced items. I love coming here. Parking is free for an hour. I would recommend going past 6p and trying to find street parking because it's free! I know I can spend a realllly time browsing everything. You can find everything you're looking for here. There was a time they didn't have a vest, but they were able to order it online for me and ship it to my house for free! Recently, as I was waiting to try on some clothes at this past sale, one of the workers recommended that I try on a smaller size in a base layer as they can run big. I just thought it was really nice to have these personal interactions because I am still quite new to camping and such. Everyone I've interacted with here has been really nice and helpful in picking out the best items for myself. read more

I've been coming to REI for years, they have all things needed for any kind of adventure, fitness, warm clothing, etc. However, the last time we went really reminded me how much I really appreciate having REI in the area. We called in to see if they carried Fitbits, which they did so we decided to stop by. However, when we got there, there were none out on display so we asked a staff if there were any more available. I didn't get a chance to get his name, but this employee went above and beyond. He went downstairs to their inventory to look for it and informed us that it would take a bit of time. When he returned, he was empty handed, but quite apologetic. Not a big deal as we knew the FitBits were sold out everywhere and he had already spent a good 15 min helping us out. We were walking out the door when the guy came out running, like literally running, to catch us, with two FitBits in his hand! One in my size and one in the bf's size. When asked where he found them, he replied, "the last place I would've ever looked." It really says a lot about the service here as he continued to look for the fitbits even after we had accepted that there were none to be found. Bonus points for the effort he put in. It was right before closing so he could've easily just said they were sold out since none were on display, but instead, he went everywhere and found the last two they had! Tip: -Lifetime returns on all products -Free parking for the 1st hour of shopping. read more

As almost everyone else has said, this is the flagship REI store. They literally have EVERYTHING here. I love this REI because unlike some of the other area Seattle stores, they have large sections for everything. I only gave 4 stars because the parking garage is horribly designed and always, always, always, a disaster to get in and out of. Seriously, who designed this garage?! Anyway, the real "Garage" in the basement where you can get discounted used items is sometimes a gold mine. We have bought a few items from here that were extremely discounted and in almost new condition. The rentals are also very convenient (just be sure to get a membership before renting, since it's a lot cheaper). I love this location though because they have everything and you can spend hours here or just a few minutes (if the lines aren't too long). read more

Took a while to figure out how to actually get into the building, but hey... You'd assume the clientele should be in good enough shape to walk around for a bit. I ended up buying a pair of hiking boots and socks for me and a North Face half-zip pull over for my wife. Thought it was pretty great they had a spot to drop off used shoes/boots for recycling. Super knowledgeable staff who were willing to go out of their way to help out. read more

REI is the biggest outdoor shop I've been to so far. They offer everything from clothing for different sports, over shoes, Snacks, bag packs, tents, ... up to bikes and kayaks. Whatever it is you need for some outdoor adventure I am pretty sure you could find it here. I was lucky a few times to get some great items as they were on sale, otherwise this shop is more on the expensive side (in many cases far too expensive for me, comparison with other shops and online stores is recommended). For me the staff members never have been a big help, so I think that is something they could improve on, they could also stock up on plus size clothing and some more "neutral" stuff (not every woman wants to be dressed in bright pink, purple or turquoise - gender shit as its best). Otherwise I like this store, you can park in their garage (free for 1h, they should offer free parking no matter how long for customers with a receipt in my opinion), you have a huge variety of different outdoor gears and if you have to wait for some hardcore shoppers you can take a seat in front of the cozy fireplace they have inside :) read more

REI Flagship Store with a Gigantic Rock Climbing Wall. This store is great. One can only wish we had outdoor goods stores half as nice on the east coast. The climbing wall was insane. I almost made it up to the top. The climb down was a lot harder than going up. read more

What a gorgeous store. The inside is cavernous but you still know where to find things. Like honey stinger waffles that came in *very* handy on a bike ride later that afternoon. The difference is that they have all of the things. There's a huge hiking hill to test different pairs of hiking shoes. There's the giant climbing tower. There's a playground that occupied my toddler for a good 20 minutes while mommy shopped. The bike section of this store is the size of our home REI store back in Oak Brook. It's nuts. I even got some handy information about Olympic National Park at the Ranger Station. With this, and the waterfall, and the halfway-decent location, and the free-for-an-hour parking, I really hope REI starts making more of these. Especially with the waterfall park just outside the parking garage. It's an amazing store, and I'm certain it'd be paradise -- if we enjoyed camping more, that is. read more

Like all REIs I've ever been to, this one is fantastic! The sales staff are always friendly and happy to help me find what I'm looking for. Yes, everything here is expensive. It's heartbreaking to shop there but the quality is great and sometimes you have to suck it up and pay for the quality gear you need. I also highly recommend the Garage Sales to help cut down on cost. Not only is the store great, but they also offer classes. I took their intro to climbing class and the instructor was very patient and knowledgable. We spent a lot of time climbing and with only 5 of us in the class, got lots of personal attention. Prices are lower for members, so consider a membership before booking anything. read more

Generally have more staff, better selection than satellite stores. It's full service: action sports (skiing, kayaking, canoeing, swimming, snow sports, etc), hiking, camping, and more. The website has a "find in store" function so you can check, double check by phone for product availability! Make sure to call and check availability! The site function is not always properly synched with inventory - and put your product on hold because they go fast!! They also have a park ranger station for questions! read more

Love this store, and walking through the garden/trail/outdoor space outside is the perfect way to get in the outdoor enjoyment frame of mind. I've been to some club meetings and presentations here, and they tend to be quite good...it's pretty wonderful that REI has outdoor club meeting space available. I take most of my outdoor gear purchasing business elsewhere but I love looking around REI to get an idea of the variety available...and occasionally I'll buy something here on discount. I have friends who salivate over the REI basement and are constantly telling me about all the great deals they've gotten (apparently the best day to go is Monday, after all the weekenders return their gear!). As an added bonus, I like that the store has spaces set up for kids to be kids...little mini jungle gym on the top floor, what? Way better than your standard boyfriend couch offering! read more

Steer clear during holdings or member sales... Wanted to buy some hiking boots. Waited around for 40 minutes without any acknowledgement and was usually brushed off because staff was busy with other people. Seemed like the customer to staff ratio in the boot department was at least 10 to 1. They should start a ticket system for people to wait in line and at least communicate with their customers the estimated wait times. Left without boots. It would have been another hour or two to get out of there with the boots. On the plus side there was a table set out outside for $10 sausages. Those had some fancy names like caribou bacon beer brat. Big name, but small flavor. Get the kielbasa. :) The park outside is nice. I love the waterfall. But overall it was a stressful unproductive experience. read more

I have a love/hate relationship with REI. Every time I go here one of two things happens: 1. I find nothing I want and leave quickly or 2. I spend 4 hours and ~$500 here. Guess which one happened this weekend. First I got a new sleeping bag and Thermarest. The guy who helped me was very informative and patient. He explained about the new rating system versus the old and helped with comparing ratings for different bags I was interested in. I settled on a synthetic bag (no freezing in a wet down bag for me) and it is super toasty. I found the same bag except in the regular length for $80 in the Gear Garage. Decided on the long (so the bf can borrow it for super cold weather) but somebody is gonna score a sweet bag at a sweet price. Also found rock climbing shoes and mountaineering boots from the Garage for a total of $60. I was planning on renting for the time being and saving up and getting them in the next couple of years but then they just fell in my lap. The lady in the climbing section was super helpful with making sure the shoes were a good fit. Tried them on the little test wall and they were great. Score! An alpine harness and belay device, shoe waterproofing stuff, and a workout shirt later I was out of there. The Gear Garage is definitely hit-or-miss but when it hits, it is amazing. Filled with all the returned goodies that people just decided they didn't like. And the dividend is great (like 10% on full price purchases) so you basically get your sales tax back at the end of year. read more

REI heaven is its Seattle flagship store. The entry is beautiful and the store is nice. A friend and I were there last weekend and I was thrilled with how many more choices I had compared to my local Anchorage store. (Happy to have our store though, REI, so don't leave!) The employees were friendly, we had plenty of changing room space (especially for a weekend day), and we never felt rushed. The cashier was funny and friendly. If the lighting in the changing rooms made it possible to distinguish colors better and to see oneself better, I'd give it five stars. The lighting in those stalls is really lacking though. Too bad because the rest of the store is so nice, bright, and shiny. I've been an REI member since the 1970s and I love this retail cooperative for its one time, low-cost membership payment, high level of customer service, and returns policy. Although the prices are pretty high, I know I can take a risk with purchases at REI because I won't get stuck with disappointing merchandise, and as a member I receive a dividend every year as well. Also, I always feel treated respectfully and that is hard to come by in retail and service industries these days. Overall, my first visit to this store was a very satisfactory shopping experience. The REI flagship store is the cherry on top of the REI ice cream sundae! read more

This place was built with love of the outdoors. If you're an REI fan, take an hour while in Seattle and check it out. :) read more

I'm not an overly outdoorsy kind of gal. And by that I mean that I'm mostly allergic to outdoor activities. So when I go to REI, I'm usually clueless and need a lot of help from salespeople. And I haven't really found a lot of good help (except the shoe department). Since the products are such high quality, I wish the staff knew more about them and what works best and not as well for the circumstances given. I went to the women's clothing section asking some very specific questions. I was told, "everything in this department will work." Um, thanks for that. read more

Visiting from SF. Amazing store but it should be since it's the REI flagship. Outside looks like a park; even has a test track to ride mt bites on & a small hiking path as well. Can't even see the store from the street. It's surrounded by trees & even has a waterfall running thru the grounds. Have to walk up 2 flight of stairs thru the trees to get to the front door ( unless you park in the garage and take the elevator. Huge interior space; 2 stories high. Has pretty much everything that REI offers on the floor but like most REI stores there are sone stocking issues. Nevertheless, wish ALL of the REI stores were as large & attractive this one! read more

i love love love REI. But after every experience i've EVER had at this particular branch, i will resort to do my REI shopping strictly online. EVERY SINGLE TIME i've been here i've had the worst customer service experience of my life. But, alas, i continue to return because of my love for the product, and a shop that sells so much great stuff in one store. But after 6 different negative experiences, i have thrown in my towel. They don't care about the customer. You have to seek out someone if you need help, and even then (if you can find an employee on the floor) they act as though they are put out that you, the customer, has a question. Hunny and i tried to get our snowboards waxed and edged 3 separate times, and every time we got turned away without even an apology for the 2 week wait time -- it's like, get some more help back there! the gal was sitting doing a crossword puzzle for chrissake... Rei.com from now on... all i can say. UPDATE!: I went back this past week (July of 09) and the customer serice had GREATLY improved! wow! we had at least 3 people ask us if we needed help as we were walking the aisles. Of course, i'm assuming it was this yelp posting that did the trick. ;) whatever did it, thank you REI, i love you once again! read more

How can you spend ten minutes in a store trying to find a section (athletic swimwear) and not find one, then spend five minutes trying to find a help and not find it, and then finally end up waiting in line at customer service for another five minutes to get directions and be told that they 'don't know if we carry swimwear.' When I finally found help it was on a different floor and I had to insist that the clerk help me find the section. It turns out, after over twenty minutes of searching that REI returns their stock of athletic swimwear (but not goggles and nose clips evidently) at the end of the summer. My real question is how can you have approximately a city block to display sporting goods and not be able to carry swimwear year round? Also why is help so hard to find in this store and why don't the clerks know their store? Lesson: don't go to REI if you have an atypical request... I am sure they are great if you are a climber, camper, or want a big puffy coat... read more

Climbing wall!!! I wanna go!! Instead, bought cool bamboo hiking socks- saw a woman napping in a tent- can we live here? ;) They kind of have all the equipment we'd need...... I hate shopping - unless it's books or sporting goods/outdoor/camping/tri gear stores, in which case I can get lost in a whole world of imaginary pursuits and need to be dragged out by my husband. We came here on honeymoon needing some hiking and camping stuff for the second half of the trip - I wish they had a store like this closer to home (even though I can still find plenty of ways to lose track of time at our local REI). read more

Review for the Bike Shop: Really fast service, very helpful, and the staff are knowledgeable or can point you to someone who is knowledgeable. Great variety of add-ons and components in stock, or they can order almost anything for you. Very reasonable labor rates. I've been able to get walk-in service a few times for small fixes, but I always call ahead to make sure they have some room in the schedule anyways. Best time to go: weekday, before lunch. read more

I'm more of an indoor kind of girl than an outdoorsy one, but I read somewhere that this location was worth the visit - JUST to see how it was designed. And whoever wrote that tip, was 100% right. The entrance is really unique, you feel like you're walking into a small forest, there are water falls and special bike paths all around. It's just a little bit breathtaking, and unlike any retail entrance you've been to before. Now for the inside, WOW, two massive flours of just about everything you could think of. The staff are incredibly friendly, and I had a rather educational chat with one about heart rate monitors. I spent far too much time in the yoga gear section, and the hat section. Come visit if you're in-town, it's worth checking out. read more

I came here on a Saturday looking for some hiking shoes. Even though the shoe section was packed, there were several associates, and I didn't have to wait long for assistance. I wound up talking with a few people by the time I was done, and they were all very friendly and helpful. They had a large selection of shoes, and even a little "rock" area you could walk up and down on. They also have the shoes priced the same as online retailers, so you won't pay extra by coming here. read more

This place is the mamba bajama of REI stores. Good God this place was huge. I especially like the garage sale area that was open at all times instead of having to wait for a crazy Saturday event once every few months with long lines wrapped around the buildings. read more

I had to extend my stay just to check out the place. This is mecca of REI. Service was just what you'd expect from REI, funny and good sport. Though it's a little overwhelming store and I miss smaller REI on east coast (am I cRaZy!?) I wish I had my own harness and shoes on that trip, I didn't know they had wall. I love that fact that REI is a Co-Op, and I get dividend. This is type of biz I like to support. read more

This place is like a gigantic swank treehouse. It is seriously huge. For a co-op, it sure feels corporate. Overpriced when it comes to apparel, but a good place to get simple things like waterproof matches, emergency space blankets and first aid kits. The parking garage is cramped, but at least it's free if you stay less than an hour. read more

I'm sure that I'm treading trodden ground, but REI is REI. The return policy is extraordinary, the co-op/dividend idea is novel (almost quaint these days), and the selection is unparalleled. I still shop elsewhere for many things (Second Ascent, recently Feathered Friends), but one week before any outdoor adventure, a trip to REI for food, gear, and odds and ends is a must. Just never, ever, ever, go on a sunny Saturday or Sunday. Trust me. read more

Gotta give three cheers for REI. (I've given them boos in the past too so the good must always balance the bad I say..) Stepped into rentals today to get the 9 year old a backpacking pack. After a weird brush off with an older lady who rudely informed me that the other old lady who appeared out of the blue was in the queue before us. (?!!?!!!?). I seriously looked around for a take a number sign. Soon, a young man, Rodrigo, showed up. When I told him why we were there he sighed and I thought oh no. Turned out it was a good sigh. That really awesome employee spent 45 minutes with my son, trying on different packs, adding weights so he could see if my son could handle it... Filling me in on every last detail about how he should carry his pack, how it should fit, explaining it to him on a very 9 year old level way. "The clip should be where your belly button is, and right below the last rib, that is called the floating rib by the way... Here let me measure your spine so you carry the weight correctly.... That part of your spine is called the C7, just for future use. You know, I really want to adjust this part of your pack, is it okay with you if I do that? (It was on my son at that point and the employee would have been reaching into personal space and he gave full respect for that)". When I thanked him for attention to detail and care for my kid his response was "of course, that's my job"! Ah. REI, and everyone else in the customer service area... the more employees like this that you hire, the better. ;) read more

Ok, once the "wow" factor from all the cool things like the climbing wall and bike path have finally worn off, let's get down to the core of why you would be here, for the gear to go on your adventures, epic or more down-to-earth. I've been an REI member since 2002; my father-in-law has been a member since there was only ONE store in the entire nation, so I have someone with perspective from which to guage my REI knowledge. First, as big as this store actually is, the gear selection seems to narrow down every year that I visit. For example, circa 2003, if I wanted Gore-Tex running shoes, there would be at least 10 different shoes to try on, seriously. Now, I'm lucky to get to compare three, maybe four different shoes. The selection is still there on-line, but I really do come to expect the selection from the Flagship store. This trend goes on to bikes as well, you used to be able to at least fantasize about that $5k plus machines to attack the trail, but those are rarely, if at all, in stock. If you haven't been to this store, it is worth visiting. I personally think that the Denver Flagship store, with it's river running right next to it, has a much nicer layout, gear selection, and overall vibe than the Seattle store. read more

Went in to exchange a water container that had failed. Yes it was just over a year since I purchased it, but it had obviously failed due to poor quality. They won't stand behind their products, even though I had it right there to show them. Too bad, I've been a customer there for 32 years. read more

LOVED it! They were so helpfull in fitting me to packs and pointing me n the drection of items I need! I bought my membership and am ready to become a regular! My son loves the play area and I plan to take im rock climbing ASAP! read more

Of all the REI's I've been to (bay area, nyc, portland). This is by far the best one. Here are the highlights: - Bike trail around the store to demo bikes - Water filter demo area - 2-3 times the size of any other REI i'm been to. - mini elevated rock trail to demo hiking shoes - childrens play area - park ranger info desk - extensive map selection with table to open them up and compare Prices are average. read more

I love REI flagship store! It's so big and have everything you need and more! Staffs at check out and return are super helpful and friendly. Parking garage is very nice especially in this area. They do have good sales quite often. Don't forget to check out their sales rack upstairs as well. I found good price for clothing a few times. Being a meme bee is also a plus! I love getting dividends every year even though I seem to use it all plus more right away lol. The outdoor area is really to try out your hiking shoes/boots and you can even try our bicycles! I always have fun hanging out in the tents and camping chairs they set up on the first floor. My friends who have small children told me it's their favorite place to take kids to when it rains . read more

The gear that they have is always top notch and backed by their great guarantee and return policy. Also the rental center had a bunch of gear to get you out climbing or hiking. Don't forget to check the garage for returned gear for cheap prices... read more

REI has gone downhill in recent years. It seems much of their store now is filled with expensive useless junk, and I struggle to find inexpensive staples such as iodine tablets or sleeping bag detergent. Their staff can be hit-and-miss, regarding knowledge or willingness to help. read more

This is the flagship store, and they act like it. The staff are helpful, but not too intrusive. The selection here is good for a variety of outdoor activities, and this location boasts a bike trail for testing bicycles. The only real complaint that I have is that they have a minimal offerings for shoe laces, and they do not put all the shoes out that they have in the back. The shoes that I was looking for were apparently in the back the whole time, and I just needed to ask a clerk to find them for me. Wish I had known that before hand. read more

I LOVE REI and especially the Seattle Flagship location. If you live in Seattle, you pretty much love REI. How could you not love REI? They give back 10% each year for being a member if you purchase regular price items, and they guarantee 100% your satisfaction. Also, the sales associates are all very helpful and friendly and truly care and enthusiastic about sharing their helpful knowledge and advice. I've had a few issues with some of my purchases (some used) and they gave me a full return with no questions asked. Many outdoors companies have good return and warranty policies in general, but REI fully guarantees your satisfaction, so shopping here gives you peace of mind. This location is HUGE and the waterfall and ambiance makes it even better. The only bad part is that they only have free parking for an hour, and it's really easy to spend more than an hour here. But then again it's Seattle so free parking is hard to come by. I highly recommend this REI location and just going to REI in general! :) read more

Drove from Bellingham to the Seattle store due to the Bellingham REI not having in stock the carrier that I initially wanted. When I arrived, salesman Evan immediately came to my assistance and was very helpful in assisting me decide which carrier worked best for me. He was not only helpful but very patient as well as I know I may have changed my mind a few times. I eventually got a better carrier than I planned for which was fine with me as they had a great sale going on and I had some $$ that I had to you on my membership savings. Of course one cannot just go to the Seattle REI and not look around and enjoy all that REI has to offer which I truly enjoyed doing. All and all, it was well worth the trip down to Emerald City and Evan made it great! read more

REI reigns as my favorite store of all time. I could (and have), with no shame, spent hours and hours in REI just gawking at all the cool gear. Occasionally I buy something - but only if it's on sale. Thriving in the outdoors is expensive, people! Unless you're Bear Grills (i wish). Anyway, my most recent purchase was a new $170 sleeping bag for $60. Lucked out. The most impressive characteristic of REI is it's return policy. Although I despise any neglect to the permissive REI, I often see people return highly used stuff with ease. Obnoxious, but respectable nonetheless. If you haven't had the REI experience, i suggest you make your way down there asap. And when you get there, feel free to just let yourself go: it's invigorating ;) read more

I'm a millennial and I spend my disposable income at REI. My tinder profile says I enjoy hiking. every time i forget my nalgene in the uber i come here to buy a new one. Pro tip: know what you are shopping for BEFORE entering and shop just the essentials. if not you will leave with a bunch of car camping gizmos that seem highly useful but will end up in the back of you closet for months at a time. A+++ will buy more stuff to put in the back of my closet. read more