Anytime I travel and encounter a Patagonia store I must check it out. This beautiful store sits…read moreright on the coast highway in Cardiff By The Sea. Easy to find but limited parking. This store is not as big as other stores I have visited, but they still carry a lot of great items for adventuring. I like the fact that this store specializes in surf gear. I trust the Patagonia brand and their clothing and hats always fit well and last a long time. I wear a lot of Patagonia when I am on the trail or kayaking. Yes, they are a bit pricey but I like knowing that what I purchase is not going to tear or fall apart. We were greeted by friendly and helpful staff. I just browsed while my friend found herself a new hat. She received great service when checking out and I would definitely shop here in the future. Thanks Patagonia for keeping me warm and comfortable on the trail and cool when I am on the water.

Love Patagonia as a brand and this location reflects that well. The store gets busy but the staff…read moreis always helpful. Great place for quality outdoor gear and a company that stands behind strong environmental values. Customer service is great.

Jason in the footwear department at REI Carlsbad was outstanding. He spent nearly two hours with us…read moreand was incredibly patient, kind, and knowledgeable. He took the time to answer all of our questions, explain the differences between shoes, and never made us feel rushed or pressured. Even though we didn't buy shoes that day, the excellent service is exactly why we'll be back. REI is fortunate to have Jason on their team!

REI is a great store for athletic and outdoorsy clothing and gear. One of the best perks is their…read morereturn policy. You can return or exchange items for up to a year if you're a co-op member (or up to 90 days if you're not), even if the items have been used. I absolutely love my hiking shoes from here (Lowa brand-pricey but worth it), and they carry so many high-quality brands like Vuori and Patagonia. Every time I shop here, the service has been friendly, knowledgeable, and genuinely helpful. Highly recommend for anyone who loves the outdoors or needs reliable gear.

I bought a board that ended up having some issues on the first day, and instead of blaming me or…read moremaking it difficult, the staff went above and beyond to make it right and hooked me up with another board. They were also super helpful throughout the process of picking out a board that actually fit my style. They took the time to listen to what I was looking for, gave me great advice, and genuinely made sure I was happy with my purchase. They even gave me a free leash and 20% off accessories which was super helpful. Really appreciate the customer service and how they handled the situation. I'll definitely be coming back to Hansen's in the future!

Just up the coast from cardiff is Encinitas and Hansens Surf…read more I know i need nothing but another shirt. might be ok. I bought my custom XX pro boogie board here. So far, just in Maui and Drl Mar. in search of the perfect wave.

Always very knowledgable dudes working at this location with a great selection of bunker and sharp…read moreeye boards. As the tip mentions there are no long boards here. If you are looking to buy new and not willing to drop over $500 on a new stick then this is a good place to check out. I have two bunker boards and love em both 5 '9 disco and 6 '1 more traditional short board. Great value for a new board, highly recommend.

Got a sick 5'11" fat board that ive surfed in 1 foot crumble to overhead. Was only about $450 too,…read morecant beat that. Good stuff for sure. Stop in and check these guys out.

Malo'o rack is the best product for beach lovers and outdoor activities lovers. I use it every time…read morewhen i go to the beach, especially after surfing. The rack is perfect for drying wet towels and wetsuits. The amazing thing is the pads on the rack that make sure that it doesn't scratch the car. And it's so user friendly that everyone could easily pick up how to use it instantly. Malo'o rack is definitely a must have for outdoor lovers!

From the owner: Malo'o manufactures Outdoor Adventure Gear ; The Lounge Wagon, The WetHoodie, DryRacks, DryPack…read moreWaterproof Bags, SeatGuard Seat Covers, Adventure Coolers and more.

Dustin in shoes was fantastic. He was very knowledgeable about the brands and made great…read morerecommendations to lead me to the right shoe (Brooks). He was patient, attentive and made for an excellent shopping experience.

Husband and I came here to look for some Padres clothing wear. Being a sporting good store they of…read morecourse had a good Pardres clothing section. Cute beanies! The area looked picked over, a bit of disarray. But staff on the floor were busy and I must say very friendly. The young floor staff were quick to check on you if you needed anything or had questions. When we asked a question, they were quick to answer with enthusiasm. For the most part the store is clean and organized. I still find some of the merchandise to be on the upper end if you were to do comparison shopping. But, it looked like they had some good deals. We made it to the counter with our purchase with the employees checking you out, the goal being to move the line along. I don't think that would hinder us from returning.

Awesome old school skate shop, had everything you would want along with great service from the…read morestaff! I'm still seeking Master Chin in my mid 50's, will never stop riding! Will always buy my boards from McGills!

Stopped in the shop today to get some advice about a skateboard deck that I've had laying around…read more Jonathan was extremely affable and quick to educate me on what I needed to get it going. Really enjoyed the experience and will be back for a T-shirt in the near future. Thank you for a great experience experience and customer service.

Not many good ski tuning options in SD county but I'm glad I stumbled across Encinitas Ski and…read moreSnow! Fair pricing, knowledgeable staff and quick turnarounds. When I need rentals for Friends, I bring them here. They get them fitted quickly and confidently and that's amazing for a new skiers first time. They have flexible schedules for rental returns as well and again GREAT PRICING. This really is the best ski shop in SD!

I decided to take a last minute ski trip land realized my skis needed to be waxed and scraped of…read moresome rust and they were so kind and able to fit me in despite the last minute notice. The worker even helped me find a way to get the best bang for buck.

Pretty nice employees, I'll say I was a bit nervous going in reading the other reviews…read more I tried on some clothes and a nice girl helped me out, didnt end up getting anything because I didn't find anything I absolutely loved but I'll be back in the near future to check out their bags and keychains Good selection at this store for men as well

We had just come from shopping at Alo in the plaza, where we unfortunately felt watched, unwelcome,…read moreand as though the employees were annoyed that we wanted to try on several items. Walking into Lululemon afterward and being helped by Suzie was truly a breath of fresh air. Suzie was incredibly warm, patient, and genuinely happy to help. She repeatedly brought both me and my girlfriend different sizes, styles, and color options without ever making us feel like we were asking for too much. She never seemed frustrated or inconvenienced. She was open, attentive, and enthusiastic throughout the entire experience. There are several activewear stores in this plaza where we could have spent our money, but the customer service at Lululemon made us feel so much happier and more confident purchasing there. The store itself was clean, organized, and had a great selection, but Suzie's exceptional customer service is what made the biggest difference. She completely turned our shopping experience around, and we are so grateful for her help!

I was greeted by the nicest young man who walked me over to the item I was shopping for…read more Lots of stuff in the store. If your first time in this store, it's easy to get lost.

The staff was extremely helpful. Very knowledgeable regard fishing licenses & fishing equipment…read more This store location is jam packed with everything sports related. It's a fun atmosphere & one of the few retail speciality stores around. Let's keep them open by visiting Big 5 stores in your area.