I love REI. It's one of my favorite stores. This is the perfect place to find all your outdoor needs. It's a massive store with lots of parking out front. You will find a multitude of camping, hiking, biking attire and goods. I'm a sucker for a good hiking shoe/boot and thankfully they have a wonderful assortment to choose from, whether it's Alta, Hoka's, or Merrell (my personal favorite). It's super easy to ask for help from one of the friendly staff. And be sure to join the membership program to get discounts and special deals at the co-op. read more

Great company great quality merchandise a pleasure to deal with them, all the employees are great and so helpful!!

I stopped by while in the area to look for cold weather cycling gear and shoes. The staff here were all attentive and friendly. Store was neat and organized. I was amazed by the items they had available and the sales and clearanced ones as well. Eventhough I did not leave with items I went in for, I left with knowing I can get a lot of other items in here. I was informed of their membership that unlocks valuable savings and deals that I could not pass over. In addition to the $30 life time membership, I received a $30 coupon off of my next purchase; which meant my membership is FREE! If you are looking for that item used or new come to REI and get the membership or purchase you are looking for. Do not pass this store up without checking it out. read more

See all

I couldn't believe it when I heard REI will take a return of shoes, even if they have been worn and it's been awhile. Being a Coop member, this is a perk. Still skeptical, I took a pair of almost year-old hiking boots back. My receipt was easily found in my member portal and the return was seamless. No questions, just great customer service. I left there with almost $200 on a gift card I can use another time. read more

We have been members of REI for many years but today changed our minds. One of the employees blatantly followed us around, clearly making sure we did not steal anything. We also happened to be the only two people of color in the store. We expected so much more REI. Do better. This is the last time we will visit this location. read more

Came to REI for some new indoor cycle shoes. They have a good selection and very friendly associates to help you find the perfect fit. The store also offers climbing, hiking, camping etc options. I'm not that adventurous but if I ever become so, I know where to shop :-) read more

Took over a week to get my bike fixed and the price ended up being more then initially quoted.

I see that REI is pretty much only for multi-millionaires now. $200 pocket knives and $850 bikes!!! $100 climbing cams! Fancy overpriced sunglasses. It is very disappointing. I can barely afford a snack bar in this store. I guess I will be shopping Dick's and Amazon . . . I bought gear off Amazon while sitting on REI's comfortable couch! Ha ha. It's ironic. Got a good price on a Buck knife at Dick's. read more

REI is loosing its luster (and authenticity). More of a place for glampers. No longer the legit outdoor place that I loved for 20 years. Even the employees are more or less "day hikers" vs actual enthusiast. I remember going in and speaking to the staff about real trips they've taken and comparing notes. Now, it seems if you go in and ask for certain items, it's a canned response they probably heard in a seminary vs real world experience. Cycling equipment isn't even worth discussing. Just don't. read more

On a new E bike from them was it an accident a couple weeks later took it back to get it fixed it to forever to get it fixed when they promised it would be done quickly and then they keep changing their mind about what was wrong with it when I finally got the bike back it was butchered and I had to take to a small town shop to get the problems corrected the repair crew have no idea what to do besides squirting oil on chains never again read more

I just wanted to say thank you to TRACY in the Bike department for her exceptional help and patience employees like her or why we keep coming back to REI. read more

REI is still a pretty good store that generally has good quality products at a reasonable price. The selection nowadays is not the best though. I understand that right now supply chain issues are hitting everyone but even prior to COVID it felt like their in-store inventory wasn't that large. The employees have always been friendly and helpful but I haven't found them particularly knowledgeable. This is still a good business that I like supporting but it doesn't quite feel like the outdoor superstore I used to think of it as. read more

This store no longer carries legit outdoor equipment. This is a leisure lifestyle clothing / glamping store.

Have always loved the hands on shopping and atmosphere. Most often so friendly, today a little over friendly! Why yes sir my heavily melatonined significant other are "enjoying the free air conditioning?"... at least online shopping isn't so judgmental read more

REI is a great store for outdoor equipment. It is sort of a balance between serious outdoor clothing and more hip brands. But it's still a great place to purchase if you enjoy the outdoors and supporting a great brand. read more

I'm not a frequent patron of REI, but the one time I ventured into the Timonium store, I was pleasantly surprised. Though this branch doesn't have most of the items that are available on their corporate website, customer service here is immaculate. I told the staff what I was looking for, and they were so friendly and so helpful. They invested a lot of time in me, showing me what was available and what could potentially fit my needs. read more

LOVE IT! Customers may act like they've never seen black folks but the service here is AWESOME. And we lucked up and came on the huge garage sale weekend. now the rain boots we came for weren't on sale....but i can't help but love the excitement of a sale. lol. quality stuff. quality stuff. :) read more

This location is all about greed. I wanted a Forerunner 305 for a gift and they upsold my husband a 110. They said it has just as many features and it comes with a heart rate monitor. They said this is new, sleek and more of what I want. (Dude had the nerve to pull a monitor out of a box and acted like that was what my husband was going to get.) My husband thought since he was paying 60 dollars more and this looks more up to date, he was doing a good thing... 110 has MANY less features than a 305, it did NOT come with a heart monitor and he upsold my husband a membership - WHICH I ALREADY HAVE. I like REI, but I would never go to this store. Now we have to travel back (we do not live close to this location) to return a 110 because they are greedy and did not have a 305 in stock. NEVER will I return read more

This is the place to go if you need to get outdoor gear. They've got specialty areas for biking, climbing, hiking, camping, kayaking, etc. You can find all the accessories and apparel to outfit you for your next adventure. If you're looking for a gift, you can pretty much find something to satisfy that adventurous spirit. If not, get a gift card and your outdoor enthusiast can find something that suits them. Join the coop and you'll get credit at the end of the year. If you spend enough, you just might get a dividend check at the end of the year for your next purchase. read more

As a place to shop: 5 stars. About the best selection of gear around, co-op program, good prices, friendly return policies, always something on clearance. As a place to keep your budget: 1 star. If you like adventure sports - you will spend money. You will likely spend money on something you won't use near as much as you expect. For example, we almost bought a canoe today - a beautiful, used-only-once, cruiser (will handle lakes or 1st class with ease, they told me) - that was over 60% off. It would have been great! Of course, if we had bought it, we'd have used it once in the next 5 years. We managed to resist the urge - but it was real hard. read more

I like the set up of this store better than Columbia for some reason. First of all, the service is great- the guy helped me pick out a bike rack and got me set up. I found a really cute bike/skateboarding/snowboarding helmet on SALE. And it was my size. No dorky bike helmets for me! I also got a water bottle and had to not cruise the rest of the store because I knew I would have wanted to get way more stuff. REI may not be that cheap but it's quality and I like their business model. I'm a member and get that little dividend back too. I just wish I had bought this stuff during their 20% off window. read more

Spectacular customer service at this place. I stopped in to rent some sleeping bags for a quick camping trip and ended up paying the 20 bucks for a membership and learning more about REI then I ever expected to know. I dig the set up of this place as a co-op and the staff don't seem to hate their jobs. Everyone was very knowledgeable, helpful, and down to earth. I kept my bags an extra night and they didn't charge me for the extra time, pretty sweet deal. Notes: -They do attic sales for members where returned items are drastically marked down. Some items have flaws or need some work but everything is usable. -A bad ass return policy. -Tons of discounts. read more

This place is an outdoor lover's dream! It's got just about everything I need for climbing and hiking even if the climbing section is a little sparse. They had some good sales going on this weekend which is great since I can't really afford most of the full price stuff. It's not that REI prices are above normal, its just that high quality outdoor gear is always expensive. But I found some good deals so I can't complain! The cashier was friendly and I found exactly what I was looking for. Success! read more

I've been shopping at REI ever since EMS left the area. I would give this location 3.5 stars, but that isn't an option, so since I am feeling generous, they get four. Parking lot in front is massive, plenty of spots, but keep your head on a swivel, it is a busy lot with lots of traffic cruising around. The store is landscaped nicely and I dig the mountaineering axes for door handles. When you walk in, there is a wall which has pictures of the staff in various outdoor activities. I wish they had a more robust bio of the employees though, it would be nice to understand their specialties and passions. You can walk either left or right (left towards the registers/returns or right into the bike/climbing section). The back right of the store is the shoe/boot section, the front right is where they keep the boats, on the far left is where you'll find backs, sleeping bags, and pads. The women's section is generally in the back left and the men's is generally in the middle/back/right. I can count on one hand the number of times I have been greeted walking into the store over the last ten years and still have a few fingers left over. The staff always seem to be busy, but rarely do they make eye contact or approach you (unless you are in the shoe section). Their selection is good, I can generally find everything I need. The perlon cord is in the bike shop area. A bit of advice, it is sooooo worth it to sign up as an REI member. I have gotten so much cool stuff for free with my dividends. read more

The manager of the Timonium store was not at all helpful. I was trying to return a pair of $120 tennis shoes that my elderly mother wore only one time. She purchased them in May 2016 and never returned them when they hurt her feet. I realize that their policy only allows one year for returns, but it's not as if she wore them for a year and then wanted to return them. She wore them only one time, and they are in perfect condition. The manager was adamant that since there was nothing wrong with the shoe, she would not let me return them for a refund or even store credit. She said it was up to her discretion as manger as to whether she would allow the return. I feel like she should have considered the circumstances and showed a little compassion. I have been a long-time member and do not plan to shop there again. read more

This store is great. Associate Kevin went above and beyond. This is what retail should be. A great experience.

I could live in an REI. I mean seriously. They have food and shelter. What else do you need. To shop at REI is like learning to become a jedi. You have to take advantage of the sales that they have. The sells are only a few times a year so you have to be ready. I have found really good deals in the sale racks or in the back corner when they have returns. The garage sale is another great way to snag some deals as well. I am not saying their stuff is overpriced but it is like paying sticker on a new car. So you really don't get a discount unless it is sale time. Or do what I do and go there to try something on and feel it out then buy it online. You do get the member benefit of the dividend to use in March or something. I do find the dividend business to be a bit shady at times. Mine always says $0 and even some purchases show a dividend earned and others don't. So I don't know if it is a full price thing or something to earn it. Either way you can earn something on the backend. Plus they have workshops and classes you can take. A lot are free or a small charge. read more

Staff here has always been helpful and enjoyable to work with when I have come in for various types of gear. I have been coming to this Rei off and on for over 7 years and have never had a bad experience. read more

Shopping, if you are a member, is great. This review, however, is about the bike shop. I recently dropped off hybrid bicycle for a bronze level tune-up. I was going to be out of town so I arranged to pick up my bike in five days time. It was "ready" when I arrived to pick it up. I'm no Bike mechanic, But this bike does not seem as though it is been tuned up. Shifting is a nightmare. The brakes are squeaking like mad with very little stopping power. The chain had definitely not been cleaned. Maybe they dumped lube on the dirty chain. I don't know. When I first went into the shop but I assumed the bike would need more love than the bronze level tuneup provided. The on duty mechanic looked it over and said bronze was all I needed. I don't understand why my bike is in the exact same shape as when I dropped it off, save for some new tires that I had them put on. If my bike was in need of a higher level of service I would have gladly paid more. But no one ever suggested it. They just took my money and watched me walk out the door. I will continue to buy products from REI, but I will never use their bike service ever again. I will strongly recommend to anyone asking that they go to their local bike shop and skip REI for mechanical assistance. (I reached out via Twitter to ask about what I should have expected with a bronze level service. The response was snarky - not cool) *****Update: Obviously REI reads their reviews on Yelp as a manager called me on my mobile asking for me to call them. I had already had someone else look over my bike and make the necessary adjustments and declined to engage. But it is good that they take the reviews to heart. read more

Mark D. was right in his review about rude and condescending service. The last time I was in the store to buy shoes with my wife, the people in that department waited on everyone but us. If not for us having a rei card and thus dividend money, we would have got up and left the store. That experience has taught me that it is better to use their website and outlet store online rather than be treated rudely. The last year we went with our dividend money the same thing happened while buying shoes. Twice in a row means that standard operating procedure is ignoring some customers while falling over to take care of others. read more

Outstanding service by knowledgeable personnel. The staff was able to answer all of our questions while not trying to over sell us. We will return again. read more

I'm mid twenties. Maybe it's because I'm young? I went in to buy a hiking boot. I had to wait to be helped which is fine. I had some questions about shoe stuff. I was mid question and the associate excused herself to go back and help the original people. She wasn't even with me that long. It was an older man buying. Maybe he looked like he'd pay more and she was more worried about a commission. I waited but I felt snubbed. She came back eventually but just stared at me instead of answering my original question. I left. I've been to other outdoor stores. When I went to those I didn't feel like this. Screw this place. read more

First off I would like to let anyone know that shops at this rei location that if you ever have to deal with a manager by the name of Sarah ( short haired woman) good luck because she is the worst example of good customer service I have ever encountered. I went in to return a Patagonia sweater my girlfriend had purchased for me because it had a small yellow stain in it. I did not have the receipt however had the tags and they were able to pull up the buyers information in their system. Their return policy states that an item must be returned within a year unless there is something wrong with the item. Clearly buying a piece of clothing with a stain on it doesn't matter. I asked to speak to a manager and a woman named Sarah came to the register was rude, basically told me I was lying and did nothing to help me and on top of that clearly does not follow rei's return policy. I highly suggest that if you ever have any issues with anything at this store location to AVOID I repeat AVOID having to deal with Sarah because she is the worst manager I have ever dealt with and I love shopping at REI but I will never shop at this location again. read more

In terms of backpacking, camping, hiking and everything outdoors, they have it. The store is organized, well kept and has plenty of parking. The staff isn't really interested in helping and kinda look miserable. Although they have everything outdoor related, you'll pay MSRP prices. Everything in the store is grossly overpriced and unrealistic. This is certainly an upperclass outdoors store. Issue is, I would be considered upperclass and I'm not paying $200 for a rain jacket. They have all the big outdoors brands like Columbia, The North Face etc. but you won't get a store prices, just that inflated MSRP the factory puts on their stuff. Realistically, you could get the same stuff at Dicks Sporting Goods or even amazon for significantly cheaper. Don't believe me? Go in their store, select and item you like and pull out your phone to look. The way they discount their enormous prices in by you paying $20 for a lifetime membership to their "co-op" and getting 10% back a year. I guess this is somewhat helpful if you shop here often, but it fails to bring in the masses who only shop once or twice a year. Yeah, it's a great store and has literally everything. Just toooooooooo high end. read more

Normally I don't review the über chains but after a particularly bad experience at my "hometown" REI (see http://www.yelp.com/biz/rei-bloomington#hrid:YmOoUx_0nQQ0sMsDtsM-jQ for the dirty), I had my faith in REI restored after visiting the Timonium store. Great customer service, the usual great stuff...no bad taste from the interaction. Don't miss the garage sale coming up! read more

We live in Westminster, and make the trip to go here. We have Dicks, but it doesn't come close to REI. We are a hiking, camping and biking family, and this is the place to go to outfit for our activities. Prices are high, but the quality of merchandise is worth it. read more

Poor selection of overpriced merchandise. Rude and condescending employees. Why would you pay more money for a product that isn't really what you want just what they happen to have in stock? You could shop better selections with lower prices at websites like mountain gear, sierra trading post, camp moor, zappos, backcountry, etc. You could also buy products directly from companies like The North Face or Patagonia without paying REI's price markup. read more

This is going to be hard review to write! This review is specifically about a skinny blonde associate named "Betsy". I honestly am not even sure if that is her name as she had her name tag covered. What I see in my receipt is "Betsy" as associate. She was one mean rude cold skinny short hair blonde middle age lady. I had a 5-star experience with Tommy and three other associates here. They were all helpful and had a horrible experience with a middle-aged skinny blonde lady at check out. I am describing her appearance because she had her name bag covered and all I can see was cashier name Betsy. Here is what happened: I had to return a roof rack as I had a sudden move and due to my living conditions I cannot keep the sup and the rack. I honestly shared that with a gentle man at this REI (I wish I had paid attention to his name); he said it is understandable and he would do the same thing. He grabbed tools from bike shop and helped me disassemble my roof rack. I left the rack at the check out to grab a jacket, a pair of shoes and then take care of the return and check out all at the end. Tommy was amazing helping me choose shoes and jacket. Once I got to the checkout line, Betsy was the only one. She asked me why I am returning the rack and I honestly told her my reasons; she gave me a cold look and told me that REI's return policy does not allow her to return the rack for that reason. I was stunned because her coworker responded very differently to exactly same reason 30 minutes earlier. When I told her about his drastically different reaction and she said "I have no idea who he was and you should take the rack and try to sell it online myself". I said" you are pushing me to lie about the reason for return" and she said "she doesn't care" so I said" the rack makes noise driving over 65 mph" and she said ok so you are lying and I will return it! She processed the return and the whole time was mumbling; I ignored her and eventually she made a mistake and if it wasn't for my close attention she was going to refund me about 79$ less! Ma'am: your attitude is not the attitude for REI; you clearly either had a bad day (which you need to isolate it from the customer) or this is how you treat the customer (which is so not the experience I had in a dozen of other REIs). This is not cool; you make REI look worse that the worse of the retailers... read more

ReI is a great place, it has just about everything you could think of and more. If your looking for something in particular they most likely have it and a great team of staff members that will help you out. This is the place to go if you need to get outdoor gear. They've got specialty areas for biking, climbing, hiking, camping, etc. Dont really know if I would go anywhere else to get stuff for the outdoors. read more

Everyone was really nice and very helpful. Disappointed they didn't have my size in several hiking boots but was offered to have them shipped to me. read more