This was a nice REI. They had lots of items to choose from. Great service by the staff in the floor when I was looking for a certain size jacket. They've also got one of the best value-priced sections I've seen with all types of discounted return and lightly used items for sale. read more

We came in today in search of running vests and shoes today, everyone we encountered was extremely helpful and kind. It's the kind of place where you can tell people genuinely like their job and are passionate about the product. I would especially like to compliment Dan in the shoe department for being so thorough with his explanation of what kind of shoes would best fit our specific hiking trip and demoing different hiking knots. Keep up the great work! read more

I'm gonna hold on a full 5 stars after many recent experiences over Christmas. Products = 5 stars Service = 5 stars Inventory = 5 stars Return policy = 5 stars REI Membership = 5 stars I always recommend REI. read more

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Good size store without being too overwhelming. A nice variety of merchandise and brands. Staff is helpful when you can spot someone on the floor. Could use more sizes available on the floor. Sometimes I go to the app while I'm in the store to find the correct size and order from there but I like to touch and feel the merchandise firsthand. Prices seem decent for what you are buying. My husband loves it here so there's that! read more

Outdoor adventure store; clothes, shoes, bikes, kayaks, gear, snacks and more under 1 roof near Pembroke Target. Convenience comes at a premium price, though they do have some REI brand items at lesser price points; clearance racks exist, sometimes as a sidewalk sale, but I still find prices to be on the high side. Perk of REI is they have lots of nationwide stores in case something breaks or doesn't work. This store is clean, employees are friendly'ish, and the shared shopping center parking lot has plenty of spaces. read more

REI - Sports Wear Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

So I called to check to see if I can exchange my shoes and was advised by Kate to call the 800 number because she was busy at that time. She didn't even offer to call me back or apologize for the inconvenience. I even had to prompt her for the number This is not the customer service that I would expect from REI. Very disappointing! read more

I'm in love with REI. How in the world did I go this long without REI in my life?? Staff-5 Cleanliness-5 Location and parking-5 Availability of products-5 They have EVERYTHING-5 Knowledgeable employees-5 Store is friendly and helpful and Im totally in LOVE with REI. I think this place is a must and you should really join the co-op. It's a no brainer. Even their website is a 5 star experience. Little story. I had purchased Altra timp3 shoes at the store. Loved them so much that I wanted a 2nd pair. Heard about their big annual sale and went. The shoes I wanted were discontinued in the store but staff helped me. I went online and saw the shoes. Showed them the Altra timp 2 that I wanted. They were EXTREMELY helpful in convincing me it would be a good idea to just order them. I usually like to try stuff on but I took their advice and did it. They were so great. I have never in my life had such great experience . END OF THE STORY. I got the shoes within a week and I love the shoes and the staff was right in the size and the style. THANK YOU REI read more

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Went in to look at sleeping bags. I was over there for 20 minutes looking for a pacific one. Finally found the one. I am still confused to where I was over there for roughly 20 minutes yet the only employee I seen was over somewhere else starting at her phone. No, they were walking around in circles staring at there phone. I guess I will start getting my gear online. I remember back a year ago. Every employee would make you make you feel welcome. Now it's just people working there staring at there phones wile ignorance read more

Love, love, love REI. After shopping at the SoHo REI in Manhattan, I was ecstatic that a store was opening in Virginia Beach. And in the Town Center area...YAY!! I've bought lots of clothing items from both the store & on line. You can buy on line and have your purchase shipped to the store with no shipping charges. You'll get an email when the item is ready for pickup. Shipping is also free if your purchase is over a certain amount. Nothing touches my recent purchase. I am SOOO excited. I haven't been able to ride a bike for decades because of bad knees. I had them replaced (the knees....) eight years ago. So finally, with my sister's encouragement, I felt ready to try a bike. I can't walk long distances because of a bad back that quickly starts to hurt. So I needed a way to get active exercise. A bike seemed perfect. I knew exactly what I wanted (an Electra Townie Cruiser) & went to the Laskin corridor bike shops first. Both were very discouraging, indicating that demand had been very high during Covid. Neither expected another shipment for many months. I stopped at REI on the way home, not realizing they were also a big bike store. They told me they were out of stock in the store but I could order on line and have it shipped to the store. When it arrived they would assemble it and contact me to come in and have it fitted for me. This approach worked great!! The REI App indicated it would be a one month's wait. But that was OK. They had the exact bike & color I wanted. And I got a 7 speed for less than a 3 speed elsewhere. In addition I received an on line digital gift card, which I used to purchase a basket, lock, lights & water bottle holder. They put it in my SUV and I immediately drove it to its forever home. What a great experience!! REI is a CO-OP. You purchase a $20 life membership & receive dividends in the form of REI credits every year. What can be better than that!! The Virginia Beach REI is a stand alone store on Independence sitting on an out parcel on the northwest side of Pembroke Mall. Parking is plentiful, some parking spaces right at the front of the store. Getting back into the traffic flow, either on Independence or Virginia Beach Boulevard, is easy with traffic lights to assist you. The store is very clean. Employees are helpful & friendly. And they even have "At Risk" Hours during Covid. Try it, you'll like it. No.....You'll LOVE it!! read more

REI - Sports Wear Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

Came in here on a whim b/c we recently went trail walking at some state parks and got obliterated by mosquitos. We really wanted to be able to do some of these trails in comfort while not getting wrecked or bitten. We were very welcomed by the staff and were all given tours of the area and what we needed to be able to accomplish our goal. We're not seasoned hardcore hikers by any stretch of the imagination but we just wanted to be comfy. The lady who helped us was patient and friendly. I saw her helping a bunch of folks and she even convinced me to get the REI membership. We are fairly lucky to have this facility near us. I spent quite a bit of money but didn't even bat an eye b/c I truly felt like I was getting our needs met and with quality clothing. I look forward to testing out some of the clothing this weekend and seeing what we need next! =) Food Taste: n/a Overall Service: 5 Value of food to cost: 4 Facility: 5 Repeat customer: yes Dog Friendly: yes read more

20 year REI member here. I've never ever had a bad experience at an REI. I live in LA but I'm from VA Beach originally and you'd think Los Angeles would be the place I'd find the rudest REI employee. Nope. The rudest employee is Ryan here at REI in VA. I complained and someone else came to help me which was fine but this left me with a really bad feeling. The customer next to me that witnessed the interaction was as perplexed as I was as to why this guy was acting like such a jerk. I'm sure Ryan is just an outlier but in my opinion REI can do better with their training. read more

Never had a need to come by a place like this, but I'm so glad it is around! Decided on a quick kayak trip and REI had it all and then some. As of a month ago, REI now offers kayak & things rentals. Brand new kayaks for only $30 A DAY. Such a steal & the kayaks are great. Now's the time to try them before the price goes up! Stopped by on a Saturday around 1 and went to the shop area to get the rentals going. They have a price board up for all of their rentals. The process seemed a little longer because there was some confusion and many things to be clarified, but the employees were great. The kayak was a $200 deposit down. There's even brochures that give many places to go paddling all through the 757 and more info about their rentals. After that, it was time to get things strapped to the car. Now this process is what took us so long (about a 90 minute stay from start to finish). Not too hard once walked through the process but since everything was new, it took a lot longer than expected. Shoutout to B-Rice for the help!! He got us right together since he does it all the time. The other employees could figure it out how, but I'd say they weren't an expert like him. Overall, everything was great to include the kayak trip. We actually ended up strapping up both kayaks in under ten minutes on our return. Just make sure you have some strong people with you! Also, make sure to keep up with all the pieces so things are not to get lost in the sauce. Great experience. read more

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Alexis in foot ware is beyond amazing. Totally helpful and super patient as we were trying to find the perfect pair!

Really love the quality of the merchandise here. The quality is there. Great customer service. Shoutout to Charlotte for her excellent customer service. Unforgettable service. Looking forward to shopping here again read more

REI is more than a store that has the best selection and quality gear. I just took part in this stores first campout at First Landing State Park and I had such a blast. What stood out the most was definitely the REI team. Kaitlyn, Kate, and Stephen were beyond exceptional. So friendly, welcoming, prepared, organized, and inclusive. I drove from Jacksonville, NC almost 4hrs away and I would do it again because the 3 of them worked so hard to make it such a great experience. I wasn't sure what to expect at first because I've never done one of these events. They had an absolute toy store of camping gear already set up when we got there. Hammocks, games, lanterns, glow sticks, string lights, community fire, chairs and blankets, charcoal for the grill, A1 s'mores stuff, coffee and snacks for the morning, and even a gift bag with a stainless steel cup. Be prepared to get the camping gear fever seeing all the gear in action. I ended up going by the store and spending $200 on a whim (no regrets). A lot of thought and effort went into putting an event like this together and it just showed how great a job REI does of assembling their team because every employee I met from that store doesn't seem like they are working. It seems like they're doing what they love. I enjoyed it so much I will definitely do another on and I think I'm going to have to consider booking an REI adventure sometime. Thanks again to Kaitlyn, Kate, and Stephen for making the weekend so great. People like you help me forget work and focus back in on some of the simpler joys in life like a relaxing weekend with like minded people. read more

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You cannot go wrong with REI, at this location everything is clean, friendly staff and almost always has what I am looking for. The staff is very knowledgeable of the products and friendly. My only problem is I have more wants that my bank account will allow. read more

Usually if I come here it's to browse. I have ordered items online in the past before we had an actual REI in town, when the only closest location was in RIchmond. I feel like you get better deals online. Yes this place is pricey, but they do have quality items and you can get discounts if you pay to become a member. Most of my encounters with floor staff have been very pleasant. This most recent visit was no exception. They were all friendly, enthusiastic and seemed quite knowledgeable regarding the products. Kate pointed out certain features of a product and was able to answer my sister's questions in how they were comparable to a different brand. Staff seem to be competent in guiding customers in a certain direction based on price range, type of activities and conditions in which the equipment they are seeking to purchase. From a novice's standpoint, I find it quite refreshing that majority of the employees on the floor are actively involved in certain outdoor activities and have their specialties in which they are knowledgeable and well versed. I could be wrong but a lot of them seem to be transplants which proves to be helpful. My explanation? Unless you travel a couple hours outside the Hampton roads area you're not going to find super challenging terrain or various outdoor activities that you would typically find in Colorado, West Virginia, Tahoe, Blue Ridge Mountains etc so of course staff in those REI locations are going to be extremely knowledgeable. So I feel for this area, they did a pretty decent job of hiring floor staff who are helpful and knowledgeable. I love nature and the outdoors but I know the ones helping out with products have an extreme love for the outdoors and all activities that encompass it because they seem to be on the level of diehard. Where as I personally would be a level of 2 maybe 3??On the scale of activity level of outdoor sports in certain areas. There are other options out there such as Outdoor Provisions and Wild River Outfitters also but in general outdoor equipment is just plain expensive bottom line so doing price comparison will have to be a personal quest. Ahh... they also have some free classes re: informative info from hiking to bike maintenance etc but you have to sign up online. In addition REI has vacation travel trips that are full on active. read more

What could possibly be the reason not one, not two but SIX employees gave us eye contact, and did not say ONE WORD to us in the 20 plus minutes we perused the Va Beach REI CO-OP store? Did we look lost? Yes, we were trying to purchase two pair of cycling shoes with cleats (price point: about $100 each. Add in Delta cleats at another $22 each--we were looking to drop about $250 on just shoes. I was hoping to get some workout gear too so this could have been a $300-$350 sale). Did we have to find the cycling department on our own? Yes. Were there two green vested employees working in the cycling department (one was engaged in repairing a bicycle); the other one helped two other people that came in after we did? Yes. So what was wrong with my husband and I that we were not worthy of any assistance? We had on workout gear just like the couple getting so much help at the bike counter We did the proverbial "look lost" thing. We picked up random shoe boxes; we tried to decipher European sizes and tried our own guesstimates of the conversion to US sizes. We looked around and back at the bike counter--STILL NOTHING. We finally went to the cycling employees to ask for some "try on" socks at that counter. He waved down another employee to bring us the socks. She was kind enough to find us two (but she didn't stick around to offer any assistance. It was almost like "this isn't my department so let me hurry up and get out of here" kind of exit). We muddled around until it was clear, NO ASSISTANCE was coming. And it was that moment that I knew my money would not be spent here. I went to the cashier station; I stood in front of the green vest female employees, they kept talking to each other but did not acknowledge me--they didn't bother. I walked to the rear of the store near the yoga pants to see if my "I'm a customer...does anyone want to assist me?" body language would evoke some help...NOTHING. The male cashier spoke as we began to exit. I let him know how we were treated (or lack thereof). He apologized profusely but this $300 potential sale walked out the door. Epic fail, REI. I don't think I need to state the obvious as to what could be the reason we were not helped. Look at my profile pic and draw your own conclusion. I know this-I will NEVER return. read more

Great selection, really good sales. Really convenient location with other shops all around. Clean facility and kind staff.

I can't believe I didn't review REI - I feel very strongly like I already did when it first opened.... but Yelp says I haven't and I don't see it - so here I go! I've been here several times since this store opened - I love the new shopping area with Target and Fresh Market all right here! Yasssss!!!! This store is pretty large and if you are like me and LOVE outdoor goodies you can come in here and roam around for hours spending loads and loads of money. It's worth it if you are like that to become a member so you can get some of that money back later in the year. I believe it is a one time $10 fee to join so it's worth it. You can also track your purchases online and it makes returns or re-orders really easy later on. I often ask the staff for advice on products - like hiking boots for a 10-day road trip/hike trip through Colorado, Utah and Arizona this summer with some pretty intense hikes in Colorado and Utah happening - they are very helpful and most of them are pretty enthusiastic about the outdoor lifestyle so they are a wealth of knowledge about what might be best. Also - they typically have tried a lot of the products so it's always best to ask them which they prefer. The return policy is on point - you can return ANYTHING if you don't like it - even if you have used it. It's crazy! I love it because this is not a cheap store - so I am very loyal to any place that I can spends loads of money at and know I have a satisfaction guarantee. read more

Popped in looking for a replacement pocket knife that my husband lost a while back. They had what I was looking for and the staff was wonderful. Everyone was friendly! How does a company pull that off these days? read more

This place is pretty neat, they have all the gadgets for camping, hiking, biking, etc. They have a great selection of bikes (mainly mountain bikes and racing bikes. They sell clothing apparel and shoes. This place is pricey, but you get what you pay for. Customer service is knowledgeable and helpful. Check this place out if you are an outdoorsy kind of person! read more

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This is a long overdue review. I visited REI in late 2016 prior to my trip to Europe, where at the time, had temperatures well below 0 degrees. I told the associate my trip to places where it would be super cold and how I needed the right gear to stay warm. He helped me get a warm jacket, thermal leggings, snow pants, and gloves. Unfortunately, they didn't have the snow shoes I wanted but this dude hooked me up with the right stuff. I toured Europe where temps ranged from -40 degrees to 20 degrees (on a good day). Sure, I was cold, but never did I feel like I was missing something. Fast forward to today and with this snow storm I eventually had to make my way outside to shovel snow. I was well prepared for this. I had the jacket, thermal leggings, snow pants, and gloves. If you're ever preparing to go places where it's really cold, REI has got you covered. Most of these items sit in my closet but I know that when a day like today comes, I have nothing to worry about. I should probably go back just to browse around. read more

The bike shop @ REI is the best in the city! They put love into your bike when they work on it! Thanks guys...

I have an unhealthy obsession with REI. The people are always friendly and go above and beyond to help (even with non-store related questions). I get the impression that they might be more obsessed with REI than I am. Also, there are some cuties that work there. read more

Pretty nice REI. I just wish they had more selection i certain items and more sizes. I'd also like to see them carry more clothes for women that have utility --- pockets for example and bug deterrent clothes. Staff is helpful. read more

Went in for new shoes, every person I walked up to for help either walked the other direction or said "we'll get our footwear department on it" with nobody ever actually coming to help read more

REI bike team did a great job servicing my 30-year-old bike. It runs like a brand new one again. 2nd, I dropped it off Saturday afternoon, I got it back on Sunday evening. read more

the store and staff are great! Five stars! However the product manager did something incredibly wrong. REI was selling a great product called A.L.L. Seasoning. it had stellar reviews and consistently sold out. When I went to re-up on the amazing seasoning I was told that the last one had been bought by an employee and that they didn't know when they were going to get more. I happen to know the person who owns the company so I called him right up. he then told me that the product manager told him that they were no longer going to be selling his product. The employee who was assisting me (and also the person who grabbed the last bottle of jerk seasoning) was able to hear the conversation and audibly gasped in surprise. He went on to say that the product was a huge hit at the store and it didn't make sense that they would stop selling it. I was also appalled because the only reason I shop at REI is because the seasoning were being sold there. so as a customer I wanted to let everyone know that, based off of the popularity of the product and it's high demand, the only reason I can think of for the product to be pulled is because of the "R" word. Racism. nothing else makes sense. so to be clear, Im saying that the product manager is racist, and has caused REI to lose at least one customer and after this review I hope they lose more until ALL Seasoning is returned to the shelves. read more

First time customer, now lifetime member. I wasn't familiar with REI before my need for a bike repair. After a few recent bad experiences at Dick's sporting goods, where I initially purchased my bicycle and gear, I decided to look up other repair locations near me. Seeing as it was a Sunday (and Father's Day), I didn't expect to find much luck, but found REI to be open and only a few blocks from where I was. I gave the store a call to ensure they did repairs (again, wasn't familiar with REI), and after a brief hold I found myself on the phone with Randy, one of the technicians. Randy informed me he was getting off work at 5pm (time approximately 4:30pm), but said he'd be happy to look at it if I could get there. Worse case scenario I was looking at a two day turn around on repairs, which was much better than my experience with Dick's Sporting Goods already. After arriving to REI, we were able to quickly locate Randy, who said he'd look at the bike right then and there if we didn't mind waiting about 20 minutes. Of course we didn't because it gave us time to walk around the store and fall in love. Anyway, 15-20 minutes pass and Randy comes to find us in the store to let us know he's finished and tell us what he's found. "Oldest mistake in the book, they didn't check it and there was a nail stuck in the tire." THANK YOU, RANDY! TWO inner tubes replaced by dick's sporting goods, both of which immediately had a slow leak and would go flat over a few days. After having my bike for 3 weeks, still having issues, and being told it could be another month before they could look at my bike again, Dick's Sporting Goods lost a customer and REI gained 2 (my fiancé is also sold on the co-op). Another gentleman checked us out, but I can't remember his name. Really nice guy also. Great customer service all around!!! Will return for all my (our) sporting good needs! read more

Finally! A closer REI location! REI is awesome for multiple reasons. One, it's not your typical store/company. It's actually a co-op! Meaning you get a share of the company through your membership and you get dividends back at the end of the year! Second, the staff are super friendly and knowledgeable. They really know their stuff! I could honestly come here just to browse and learn so much about hiking, rock climbing, camping, and the works. And lastly, it's freaking REI! Who doesn't love outdoorsy stuff! Okay maybe some people dont, but for a fan of all things outdoorsy, especially since its now summer, I will fangirl this place all day! It's just a fun store. Open floor space and lots of neat things to look at. And yes... it is a little pricey, but wait till they have their ridiculous sales! Plus your membership comes with a discount :) read more

Love this place! If it weren't so far I'd be there all the time. Recently bought a kayak and the staff was knowledgeable, helpful and super friendly. They even told me of the upcoming sale which saved me a substantial amount off my gear. read more

I didn't have the same experience at this REI as I did my previous home REI store in Denver. I am new to the area and was excited to have a REI store locally. After several visits, I have come to the conclusion that they still offer the same great brands but the staff lacks product knowledge, outdoor experience, and most of all GENUINE customer service. If you're looking for a BIG BOX store to get your gear then this is your place, but if you have questions or need guidance you need to go somewhere else. I have taken my business to Outdoor Provisions in Hill Top and am so thankful I have options outside of REI read more

I love REI. Why? Probably partly because I'm a sucker for great branding. When I used to travel a lot I'd go through Seattle often and REI was a certain comfort away from home. They had a cafe there where I'd get a healthful meal and then browse the store imagining what adventures were waiting in the great PNW. But that's REI in general and REI Seattle specifically. REI VA BCH is great because I know I have available to me my outdoor needs within driving distance. I know what I want usually before going in to pick up something so customer service, while important to me, is really only something that comes into play when I'm at the checkout. I'm happy to be left alone to browse without being bothered. I'll ask if I need help. I'm a member and I think that's really where the benefits come in (annual dividend, member discounts and rewards all add up). The staff at VABCH are decent, the shop has everything I need for my outdoor adventures when I don't want to wait on shipping from online purchases. It's a cool store. read more

Love it here!! The classes you can sign up for are so informative and fantastic, and the staff is quite friendly and always attentive.

If you need bike service, go somewhere else. Anywhere else. Had a problematic rear wheel I wanted replaced with a much stronger wheel for a trip a week or 8 days in the future. Went to REI to make sure I got an informed choice on exactly which wheel, spokes, etc. No problem, right? The ordering took longer than anticipated. Okay, stuff happens. Once it arrived, attaching a brake rotor became an issue, (Hey, what do you wanna do about a brake disc?) although it had been discussed and decided upon at the outset to avoid delay. Okay, another delay. Upon getting the wheel home, found that the installed rotor diameter was 3/4" too big & would not fit the bike. Upon going back to the store, found that it would be another 5 days before that might possibly be corrected. The big trip I have been training hard for over the last 4 months is now a wash, the wheel will theoretically be done after my supposed return date. Was advised of the additional costs for labor & parts to correct the wheel, but when questioned, staff agreed Management "might" cover that cost as the original parts were not correct. I have gradually learned from bitter past experiences over the years to true my own wheels, adjust my own brakes and gears, replace wheel bearings and bottom brackets, regularly service & replace my chain, and therefore I thought it would be relatively safe to give a bike shop some business and have an experienced mechanic order the right wheel and the right rotor in a timely fashion. Learn to do it yourself, no matter what it is, whether it is outside your comfort zone or not rather than trust it to REI bike maintenance. Believe me, you cannot possibly do worse no matter what mistakes you make (which you will learn from and do better next time). I mistakenly assumed that a big chain store with a good reputation could naturally do a better job than I could without specific experience or guidance. They can't. I should have done it myself, and so should you. read more

I love REI, I'm a member and shop there frequently. But, their bike section is the worst. I brought my bike to have my brake and gear changer cables extended because I put on higher handle bars. The handle bars were all the way forward because of the short cables (un-rideable). I dropped it on Thurs, they informed me that it would be ready on Sun. I called on Sun and it was not ready, due to a back up. So, I called on Mon still not ready. They inform me that they will call me when it is ready. No call, I call them on Wed evening and it is ready. I was busy that night and asked if I can pick it up on Thurs. No problem. When I went to pick up my bike the handle bars were still all the way forward, I touched the rear brake cable along my frame and it came right off. When I turned the handle bars the gear cables would change gears. The bike was in worst condition then when I dropped it off. I told them that this was unexceptable. They finally made the correct repairs. Nearly a week late, in a unrideable condition with NO rear brakes. I received NO apology or discount for endangering my life or my inconvenience. DO NOT GO THERE! read more

REI has always been one of the high end outdoor sporting equipment retailers in the area. The new store is incredible, the bike shop looks really cool and all the really cool equipment, but this store is a lot more then just equipment, they give away knowledge and great advise. read more

We Receives amazing help today from Rhonda on a new bike mount for our car. She is so knowledgeable and gave us great info to ultimately buy exactly what we needed. Thanks so much!! The store looks great!! read more

So much to offer (including knowledge about products)! Patrick was super knowledgeable and made our evening shopping for an international mission trip incredibly fun and productive! read more