Stocking up for outdoor adventures can be almost as exhausting as a 4-day backpacking trip. A new…read moreforay into winter backpacking has led to a lot of shopping recently. And thankfully, the folks at Alpine Start, specifically Leon, are here to help. My outdoor adventure partner and I came here in the summer and Leon was a huge help finding sizes for my guy, and gave lots of advice when it came to waterproof jackets. We returned this weekend in search of waterproof pants. And once again Leon was there to help. He's also very friendly and fun to chat with as you shop. The service here, as mentioned, has been great. But it is never pushy. Which would drive me out of the store (Eco Sports down the road is a good example). The prices are decent on most things, and while they don't have as big of a selection as MEC, they do have some brands you can't find at MEC, like North Face, Westcomb and Marmot. All are good brands. They carry a small selection of other items as well, like footwear, compasses, camping accessories for cooking, gloves, hydration systems, poles, etc. And they carry a selection of Canada Goose parkas, which apparently are really popular. I'll be happily returning to this shop when I'm in need of some good outerwear or technical clothing.

I went here for the first time today after reading the Yelp reviews, which were mostly positive…read more I found the staff's assistance to be very good, even thorough. They didn't rush or pressure me. Prices seemed about average/reasonable. There were some items on sale. I would recommend this establishment to others. Well done staff members, it's hard to find good service these days!

Excellent store. VERY fun to just browse and see what they have. Wonderful section downstairs where…read morethey have used & sample products for sale. Friendly staff, good prices. If you need to stock up on gear, head over to this place.

I've been meaning to write this review and just got around to it. The staff here are THE best…read moreperiod. The First time I came in I needed a box to ship a snowboard, I assumed I would have to buy one, but they looked for me but couldn't find a specific snowboard box so brought me out some ski boxes tape and scissors! Mind you I had never been here or shopped here before I couldn't believe how gracious they were! Not to mention I had a friendly dog hanging around as I was building the box! So rad! The next time I had to sell some of my gear to pay a bill and the guy working in the gear section could feel my pain and gave me a really solid deal that he really didn't have to! This place is special In Bellingham and the people who work here have to be the best spirited team in any shop around town. So that being said if you want to have a good day looking for gear or selling or buying gear by a crew who truly cares your only place to do it is here. Thanks again. Mark

Let's say Walmart, Cabela's and an army surplus had a crazy 3 way and made a baby. Now this baby…read moremay never know who his pappy is. But you know for darn sure that baby came from love, acceptance and exceptional customer service. And times are different now. I saw on discovery channel and baby that had 2 biological dads!? Like a cat !?! Wow....Axe and Reel. You little 2 daddy miracle.

Great Services | Great Products $$…read more Climbers will be thankful to have this store in downtown Squamish. They have anything you need to rock climb and enjoy the outdoors. Great selection of climbing gear and books/guides, and their selection of climbing shoes is awesome! I've never heard of some of the climbing apparel brands before, like, E9, so that was neat to see that they carry a bunch of items. They have a couple racks for sale items, too. Like most outdoor shops, prices are pretty expensive. But, I think the two dollar sign is accurate. In the back is a little section dedicated to used gear. I didn't find anything that really caught my eye though. They offer crashpad rentals!! $20 for the Metolius and $25 for the Organic pads (per day). Pretty fast and easy process to rent: pick a pad, they hold onto your credit card info until you give back their pads (you can pay cash, too), and then upon returning your pad they'll cut up your card info. Chill store. Good resource.

Loved it! A tiny store PACKED with amazing gear, clothes, guide books, and a wall-filled with cams,…read morebeaners and climbing safety. I was also super impressed with how helpful and knowledgeable the staff is. I'll be back, and next time I'll pack less, buy more from these guys.

The clothes they sell are pretty, but they cost a fortune. $70 for a t-shirt is simply too much for…read morethe average lowly mortal. If I win the lottery one day, I will look forward to doing my shopping here. Until then, I can only treat myself to an item here on special occasions. They do have sales sometimes, which softens the blow. Canadian Tire "money" can be earned and spent here. The ability to email receipts is a nice feature.

A personal interest from a most experienced climber -- what more could you ask for?!? I've now had…read morethree experiences with this outfit, and all have led to lifelong memories. Most recently, Craig Van Hoy facilitated a climb to Pico de Orizaba, the 3rd highest point in North America. I can't wait to do more. Shuksan for instance.

After reserving an item and then requesting it be cancelled by email, I went to the store a couple…read moredays later and the staff member in the store reported they were unable to cancel my reservation per policy. I paid $50 for an item I did not take with me and they did not refund. If this is policy, that's understandable, but it should be included in the reservation of when it should be cancelled by to get the refund. This occurred for my friend as well. Additionally, they did not answer their email when I made the request for cancelation in the first place and did not answer the phone. They want you to text the number but took several hours to respond when a phone call could have been the much faster response.

Totally unexpected reasonable response to shoes that wore out too early! I bought a pair of Keen…read morehiking shoes to replace a pair of the exact same brand/style I had been wearing for over a year (I wear out hiking shoes quickly) and the heel of the left shoe wore through after maybe a dozen hikes, leaving this hard plastic rubbing against the back of my ankle. I couldn't wear them anymore. Brought them into the store and they replaced them. That's real customer service. Why would I buy shoes anywhere else going forward?

What an amazing store!!! Walked in to just look around and left several hundred dollars later…read more Everyone is incredibly knowledgeable about sports and outdoor activities. The store carries all high end equipment and gear and a must go if you are in the market for anything outdoors related.

If you're the kind of person that enjoys horsing around, this is your place. Apparel, Tack,…read moreBreyers, Boots. They've got something for all the horse people in your life. Yes, some things are on the spendy side, but you know what they call the green stuff that horses eat, right?

The two gals (one older, one younger) were incredibly helpful and kind and patient in helping me…read morechoose boots I can use to ride and dance in. The boots are working out great so far and I'll definitely return for my next pair even though it's a long drive from home!

We popped into Urban Alpine to get fitted for skis. Last year we rented everything, so although we…read moreknew what size boots we needed, none of us really knew exactly what we wanted to buy. The bloke at Urban Alpine was soooo helpful! He spent quite a long time measuring and fitting boots for me, my husband and our friend. He wasn't pushy at all, and showed me a few different options. He also took into account our each of our skiing styles to recommend the best possible styles for each of us. In the end I bought some ski boots (I love them!) and he told me to come back after using them a few times to see if they can further improve the fitting. My friend found a really good pair that were more than 50% off, so he was happy too. My husband wasn't able to find any boots that fit him perfectly, but after the advice we received here, we have a better idea about what to look for.

I live two hours away from Urban Alpine, yet it is still my go to, and favourite ski shop. I have…read morebeen there multiple times in the last 3 years and bought ski boots, poles, skis, a jacket and a few small accessories. What brings me back? Well first off it's the prices and range of products. These products are largely focused on park skiers and boarders, but even if that isn't you, you can still find something. Prices are usually pretty good, especially in the off season. I have been to the turkey sale in Whistler at Thanksgiving 3 times now looking for fairly important purchases (first boots, then a jacket, then skis) and all three times I've ended up going back to Urban Alpine because of better prices and availability. The service is the best I have ever experienced in a ski shop, possibly the best I've ever experienced in any store. They always are quick to help you, and have knowledgeable and honest staff to answer every question. This is particularly nice, because the Whistler Blackcomb outlet store that is basically in the same strip mall, rarely has anybody that knows what they're talking about when it comes to skis. I have also asked on two separate occasions of they have a specific item, and when they didn't, they offered to order the item for me for no extra charge! I am always amazed by this store, and will always do my best to go there when I am in need of something ski related, even though it is very far away from me. I hope others do the same!