REI

This is the flagship store in Seattle. Very interesting exterior, didn’t expect to see a miniature trail and a waterfall there. The outdoor patio had a lot of seating The store is big and larger selections Overall this is the most beautiful REI’s I’ve seen well worth a visit to see this unique store The employees are awesome and very helpful.

I have always enjoyed visiting my hometown REI back in Madison, Wisconsin, but a trip to the flagship store was a treat. With a mountain bike trail and a fire in the fire pit right outside the main entrance I knew this was going to be a different experience than the big box vibe I sorta get back home. I love the variety that is available and enjoyed walking both levels taking it all in.

This is the flagship store of REI, but it is more than that. It acts as a celebration of the history of outdoor exploration in the United States and particularly in Washington State, with maps and diagrams of the great mountains of the state and the wandering beautiful hiking trails leading to exotic and mysterious sites. There are quotes about the natural environment on the walls from many of America's great writers and naturalists, and there are even books by Walt Whitman and Henry David Thoreau spread out across the tables that one can read at their leisure. All the gear you could possibly want is here, so come here for that, but don't just come here for that. Come here to breathe in the atmosphere, passing by the wandering river and dense forest surrounding this area and revel in the treehouse-like environment, with spiraling wooden steps that lead to an upper floor with a brilliant overlook of all the gear and all the pictures of natural environments in Washington state, particularly Mount Rainier. This is a sanctuary dedicated to outdoors exploration and traveling in the wilds and a general sense of wonder.

As a former REI employee, I can confidently say this store excels at meeting all your outdoor gear needs. While it’s not the only option in town, REI stands out for a few key reasons: Diverse Selection: A wide variety of brands tailored to our community’s unique outdoor needs. Community Engagement: Educational events and classes for everyone from newbies to seasoned adventurers. Streamlined Checkout: A quick, efficient shopping experience. Overall, this is the place to gear up before your next adventure! Here are some top picks to check out: MSR Stake Hammer: Essential for any outdoor setup—if I could only choose one tool, this would be it! (https://www.rei.com/product/102781/msr-stake-hammer?srsltid=AfmBOordieWHPcBOx5pr0QhdF04BNesuurZZmJp6wvGBQ5BEhBdfqVHT) HydroFlask Trail Series: Stay hydrated on the go, and maybe even make some music with it! (https://www.rei.com/product/168734/hydro-flask-lightweight-wide-mouth-vacuum-water-bottle-32-fl-oz?srsltid=AfmBOoou5EtQzVOCohdbkzXxCzUoNjRF5SFtRa4fsLvUBYVnVu6nKJ2W) Prism Synapse Kite: Perfect for adding some fun to your outdoor experience. (https://www.rei.com/product/883043/prism-designs-synapse-140-speed-foil-kite) SealLine E-Case: Protect your important documents from water damage. (https://www.rei.com/product/205730/sealline-e-case-xl) Patagonia Ultralight Black Hole Tote: A reliable bag to carry your gear, lightening your load. (https://www.rei.com/product/155777/patagonia-ultralight-black-hole-tote-pack?srsltid=AfmBOopakSB6x2lI3vVvKeGDpRH1Or8ORA5gJDyyvPtNa9S4rthWhnDB) PackTowl Personal Towel: Quick-drying and compact for any adventure. (https://www.rei.com/product/221819/packtowl-personal-towel) Black Diamond Storm R Headlamp: A must-have for night hikes and camp chores. (https://www.rei.com/product/202771/black-diamond-storm-500-r-rechargeable-headlamp) Abus Bordo 6000k Bike Lock: Ideal for quick bike stops. (https://www.rei.com/product/205434/abus-bordo-6000k90-bk-sh-xplus-folding-lock?srsltid=AfmBOopzm40qJ_tqlBs4cMEkQKHABtg56Gg7Fs5-vbCuYarFqWgcpa9z) Deuter Speed Lite 21 Pack: Versatile and perfect for day trips. (https://www.rei.com/product/205764/deuter-speed-lite-21-pack) National Parks Pass: Support our parks while gaining access to their beauty. (https://www.rei.com/product/234584/america-the-beautiful-pass-20242025?srsltid=AfmBOopauRMMphTmoOquHSMiPfM-e6yzKxMW9aJ2jS70ASleAISEQc_c) Before you buy, consider these three tips: Will I be happy owning this forever? Can I maintain it for resale? Is it eco-friendly if left behind? I love REI for making the outdoors accessible. Huge thanks to the staff for their hard work and dedication Peace. (Disclaimer: While the original content of this review is my own, I have sought the service of OpenAI to revise my original writing to the current length. The photos and original writing are my own, the re-edit and final draft are collaborative).

A veritable paradise for outdoor enthusiasts, offering an impressive array of outdoor gear and apparel that caters to adventurers of all kinds. From high-performance hiking boots and top-notch camping equipment to advanced climbing gear and stylish, functional apparel, you can find it all here. The store's layout is spacious and well-organized, making it easy to navigate through the extensive inventory. The in-store features, such as the climbing wall and bike shop, add an interactive and engaging element to the shopping experience. REI Co-Op in Seattle is more than just a store; it's a hub for outdoor enthusiasts, a place where passion for nature and adventure is celebrated and supported. Whether you're a seasoned adventurer or just starting out, a visit to REI Co-Op is sure to inspire and equip you for your next great outdoor journey.

Love this store anything and everything outdoors you can find and they have a great dividend program highly recommended

It was really fun coming here to look for anything related to outdoor activities! The mountain bike trail and manmade waterfall was really quite impressive haha and the store was huuuuuge. I enjoyed shopping here.

Had 5 hours to kill in downtown Seattle before my flight back home to Florida. Literally walked from Starbucks reserve to here just to chill by the fire and talk to my intelligent wife for an hour on the phone. Other random travelers came and went while I chatted at the fire. Security was chill and didn’t care probably only because I didn’t look homeless. Regardless awesome spot

Who needs therapy when this REI is pure heaven on earth (for those outdoorsy lesbians...aka muah).. The staff are incredibly friendly, always in great spirits, and genuinely helpful. The selection here? Absolutely unmatched--ridiculously extensive. Seattle, you don't even realize how lucky you are to have this. Ugh, perfection! I mean, REI's reputation is already solid, but I just hope every other REI outside Seattle is taking notes. This is how it's done!

This is the flagship store in Seattle. It can be low key on the corner of Yale Avenue and John street. They make you walk or run up the stairs to get to the store. On the way up, you'll see the mini surrounding forest and if you're lucky a mini waterfall. Inside there is a cozy fireplace and comfy seating. Also a huge climbing structure for those adventurers who want to try out their climbing skills. It is a huge s store and much to see. There is also a sale section upstairs with all sorts of gear to try on. Overall, this is one of the most beautiful REI's I've seen. Well worth a visit to see this unique store.

Interesting how they make up the place for people who like camping and adventure in nature. Lot of brands they carry and watch out for their promo items, there's some great stuff. Love the inside decor and there's a rangers information center in it, how cool.

This has got to be one of the coolest stores to shop in! It has two floors full of anything you can think of for outdoors and hiking. The fact they have an outside trail is super unique and incredible! I actually recommend anyone that visits Seattle to check it out!

Bought something online, to be picked up at Yale location. This store is impossible to navigate. They charge for parking! It is a maze and is so difficult to even enter. I won't ever shop here again. Also, almost every cashier was on the phone taking orders, while there was an enormous line of people waiting to purchase items. Crazy.

This REI gets 5 stars for just being a dope equipment / sporting goods Mecca. It's the grown up version of Toys R Us. Normally, I wouldn't write a review for an REI but feel like I needed to shout out one of their employees for being super patient and helpful last week. After several years, our hiking boots had seen better days. It was a couple of days before 2024 and wanted to start of with a hike and needed fresh footwear to do so. Queue up the field trip to REI's boot department. Marcko was awesome! We explained how my last pair would cause my toes to bruise. He was determined took the time to walk through the options and ended up brining about 5 different shoes for me and over 10 for my fiance. Throughout the process he asked very specific questions and do specific motions to ensure we had the right fit. He even helped demo a knot to ensure our boots stay laced up more effectively on the trails. This all felt like him going above and beyond and he seemed very happy to help. Beyond this there's always a great selection at this store (skis, paddle boards, camping, and outdoors clothing) keeping us happy year round.

Built into like 2-3 city blocks and prob 8 stories tall is the Flagship REI in down town Seattle. It's huge. it's amazing and it's gorgeous. there's a multilevel parking garage. there's a coffee bar. you'll get your hiking steps in here. just about everything and anything you want for the outdoors and travel is here.

Came for a ladies only climbing class. Excellent class with only girl vibes. I only climbed a few feet as I'm afraid of heights and falling. But my friends went all out climbing really high. The instructors were so friendly and impressive with their knowledge of climbing. Some of the other ladies climbed so high!!! I became the official group photographer. lol. The selection of items at this REI is impressive. I did a small amount of shopping and it is REI prices. Fairly expensive. There is a huge discount section upstairs in the back. Parking in the building. Definitely worth the visit if you're in downtown Seattle.

We were going out of town and I needed to pick up some socks last minute for our trip. I thought ordering ahead would be faster... cue the bah bah. It wasn't. In fact it objectively took more time to navigate to the random downstairs basement and wait to be helped, only to find the two pairs of socks I'd ordered several hours ago hadn't even been processed. I was asked to come back in a "few hours". So I asked them to cancel the order, walked back up the enormous set of stairs to the the main level to go seek out said socks on my own. It took less time to find them and get in line to pay than it had to try and figure out where to pick up my ordered ahead order. Would I ever again order ahead from REI? Never. This location is just not set up for order ahead and my experience was so bad I now make sure to buy the same socks from Amazon and get them shipped to me.

Plenty of parking beneath the building, which is in a gorgeous area, surrounded by natural beauty. The store is humongous with everything imaginable from tents to camping equipment to shoes.

Super cool to visit, even if you're not looking to buy anything! There's so much to see and lots of stuff on clearance. The outdoor area is cool to relax in as well.

Outstanding store, so large many options Little tricky getting up to the main entrance I am a REI shopper but largest store have ever been to

Very interesting exterior; didn't expect to see a miniature trail and a waterfall there. The outdoor patio has lots of seating. The store is big and has a climbing wall, a fireplace, bathrooms, and a nice lounge area with books and guides.

I'm a huge REI supporter! It's a must visit since Seattle is the flagship store of the company. I purchased a new down Cotopaxi jacket for hiking and a pair of yellow Patagonia shorts for my daughter. The employees here are so awesome! It's nice they have a security guard on the grounds as well. What an experience going to the Seattle REI. Yay! Go here!

We dont have an REI where we live so since we were in town where they have the flagship, we definitely wanted to check it out and get some gear for our trip up to Tahoma/Mt Rainier. First there is a cute forestry hike into the store. Just loved that - great start! The store is just beautiful and as busy as hey were with a Memorial Day Sale, there was sufficient space to where I felt safe. They had the most organized shoe service process where you sign up and have a time, using an app. Fantastic! they have everything you could ever need and the kindest staff. I went for socks and come out with bagsful of stuff including the softest sweatpants ever! If we are ever back in Seattle, we will always stop at REI.

We traveled all the way from El Paso , Texas and could not miss an opportunity to visit this REI!! I exceeded what we thought it would be!! Everyone was so nice and we made our purchase. They even had forest services there!! Such a neat place!! Praying we will get one soon in El Paso!!

The coolest and largest REI CO OP! They even have their own parking garage. 1st hour is free. There's 2 stories and so much cool gear. Large selection of stuff and lots of brands to choose from. Staff was also very attentive and helpful!

The REI Flagship store is large and has a large selection of items. It was a fairly comprehensive rock climbing section at the front entrance with a variety of shoes and climbing gear. The bike section is very large as well as the camping and shoes. The store was honestly awesome. I would have given it 5/5 stars, but the only reason I did not is b/c I visited the LL Bean flagship store in Maine, and that store was larger and even more comprehensive (excluding the rock climbing stuff). To me, that store was 5 stars, and therefore this REI had to be a little lower. This REI is still a great store though and worth the visit!!

Ok, so I might've taken a maddening number of pictures here. This is my favorite REI store anywhere, and the last time I visited a couple summers ago, I did the same thing. Only this time was even better because there were less people, it was snowing, and the little bonfire outside was bravely chasing away the cold. So other than being a wholly cool venue experience, it's clean and easy to navigate - and they always have what you don't know you wanted. Did I ever think my dog would need a teal fleece jacket? No, he has fur and tons of it. Do I want it though? Weirdly, yes (though I didn't get it, because self-control & holiday budgeting ftw). That said, they have a huge selection of sports and outdoor goods. Plenty of athletic wear, shoes, gear, and multi-tools you could ever conceive of needing. And now is definitely a good time to buy a snowboard. If those are your favorite kind of products, this place will feel like an amusement park you go to splurge. Doesn't hurt that the brands the carry keep quality goods. Happy Holidays & Cheers to a New Year!

The store is legendary and everything that an outdoor store should be. There's a huge rock wall inside and more people standing around to help you buy outdoor gear than I can count. The floor has two main levels with the lower level having most of the hard goods (tents, bicycles, snowboards, etc) and the upper level has most of the clothes. While most people come to REI for the outdoor camping/hiking/etc gear, I love coming to this location for the clothes. In November I found Vuori, Patagonia, Cotopaxi, and Arcyterx consistently on on sale and you can almost never find these brands discounted. Honestly, I just come to this store sometimes to walk around, it has a beautiful aesthetic and I always feel inspired to do more active things.

I was looking for the America the Beautiful pass and found that the REI flagship store sold it. I had only been to the location in Bellevue but made the trip to Seattle and was surprised (and at the same time not surprised) that this location was a lot bigger and nicer. There is free parking for 1 hour from Monday through Friday and 3 hours on Saturday and Sunday. When you go into the parking lot, you press the button to get a ticket. After your visit you can go to the pay station to pay, unless your visit was less than an hour M-F or 3 hours Saturday and Sunday. There are multiple levels of parking which is very nice given the location and there are spots for electric vehicles to charge as well. From the parking lot depending on whether you take the dirt road it feels like you're walking through a forest to get to the entrance. There's a climbing structure on the right side when you walk in, and there are multiple levels within the store as well. It's just a massive store with tons of inventory and it's the flagship store for a reason.

Very nice store they were helpful in all departments except for climbing a employee named mark was rude and made it the customers issue that we didn't know exactly what shoes we were looking for. But the rest of the employees were very friendly will come back but avoid mark.

A little bit of everything in this vast and spacious store. If you are or aspire to be an outdoor type, this store can help you with everything! From shoes to camping gear, clothing to all sorts of supplies. Staff are friendly and helpful - for the most part - but also leave you alone to find and decide what you want/need. We love their co-op nature, which gives you a small portion of your annual spending back as credit to use at the store.

REI WAS A CO-op with, value added insight and latest gear for outdoor enthusiasts l. It has become a retailer that will do everything to take your money. Parking, high prices, no service and rentals that are less than value added. The pandemic saw them reduce staff and now the store is nothing more than a dicks sporting goods outlet houses in a 10% coop dividend ... Shop online save the traffic, parking and lack of gear experience with REI

Pros: -fairly large as REIs go -home of the original permanent used goods bargain basement! This is an especially good perk since COVID caused REI to stop holding quarterly garage sales -has a another entire used goods sale area for bicycle stuff -has not seemed to be *as* understocked as some other REIs even with supply chain issues -because of the large footprint, they have space to stock more local-specific stuff (books, art, clothes from hyper local companies, etc) even compared to other REIs in the Seattle metro area Cons: -not enough cashiers, even before covid-related staffing problems. They never seem to have enough staff at peak hours (weekends, after work, etc) -employees that are present tend to follow you around the store if you don't "look the part" of a Seattle outdoorsperson. Seems to be based on appearance (race, gender, clothes...) since I've gone with other people and only ~some~ of us get followed. It's creepy and off-putting, especially for a brand that allegedly advocates for liberal causes. I get it, theft is an issue in cities and theft mitigation is part of that...but the shadow employees is just over the top. -prices at REIs in general are not very competitive anymore, and not just in comparison to online retailers -the garage kinda sucks. Free parking is nice, but the gate arms are janky and don't always work. No parking attendant so you're on you're own if something goes wrong. This may be the responsibility of the landlord to fix, but at minimum REI could stick a phone number on the pay box to call into the store for help if it breaks on you

After eyeballing and handling a multitude of shoes/boots at the REI Flagship Store (the shoes/boots seem to be displayed with the lightest to the right and the heaviest to the left, conveniently corresponding to expense and intent) I tried on seven other shoes/boots. After the initial three shoes/boots, I kept my favorite at my side then kept trying other shoes/boots that looked promising. My plan was to replace my favorite as I went along. My main criterion for shoes/boots is: comfort. I go outside in my fully fenced lot/property with my dogs four times every day, so I like my shoes/boots to be waterproof, but I don't like my shoes/boots to be hog-slopping clodhoppers either. I took a picture of the box's label for each shoe/boot that I rejected so that I wouldn't waste time on a shoe/boot that I had already rejected. I am relatively proud to report that I caught myself once. I went to this same REI store Wednesday night, but there were too many customers so I left then went back today (Thursday) afternoon. I love this store for the selection of good shoes/boots and the knowledgeable and friendly staff.

I really love flagship stores so I felt enthusiastic about visiting REI in Seattle. It was huge and the entrance way I took was beautiful. It gave me a lot of nature and outdoorsy vibes and I loved the handles at the door as well (in my pictures). When you come in, there's an ASL interpreter on a screen and I thought that showed that they put in the effort to provide accessibility towards their customers. There was also a tall climbing wall which was cool. The store was equipped with all outdoor activity related items. They had dry freeze food, tents and sleeping bags, and of course hiking gear, boots and clothing, etc. The workers were nice and everything looked great and presentable. I would suggest coming here to check out the store for yourself and potentially purchase something for your next hiking, climbing, or outdoor sport trip.

If I could give 0 stars I would. This flagship location has gone completely downhill both in customer service and ethical standards. I won't be buying from this location or any other for that matter moving forward. REI, you forget you're no longer the only ones selling outdoor equipment. You're slowly being eclipsed by companies who sell affordable gear while also upholding fair business practices. You've lost traction on both. The story in The Seattle Times said enough. I refuse to support a sell-out corporate business who places profits before people. Shame.

One of my favorite places for outdoor gear! I had the good fortune to visit their flagship store in Seattle. Awesome!

The go-to spot for all your outdoor needs! They have everything you might want for pretty much any outdoor sport and are taking COVID precautions seriously. I stopped by for some hiking boots and was able to try on a couple different styles and take them for a small test run in-store. The staff was patient and brought out several sizes before we landed on one that worked. Overall, it's a beautiful flagship store with everything you might need!

REI Seattle bike tech's are the best in the business. Honest, Quick and friendly never goes out of style.Thank you

Omg! I've heard legends about the REI locations on the west coast but I never believed 'em. After seeing one for myself, all I can say is Holy Granola Bars Batman! The shopping area at this location is two stories tall and has a HUGE amount of floor space compared to the pitiful REI in my hometown. Add to that, a three story, 100 foot tall, indoor climbing pinnacle for training classes. But wait. It doesn't end there! They even have an outdoor mountain bike test track to test their mountain bikes BEFORE you buy them. That's one of the things I love about REI - you can test anything out before you buy it. You can even walk around their store for an hour in a pair of hiking boots before you decide to buy them. And everything in the store includes a one year money back guarantee. If you bring your hiking boots, back pack, or mountain bike back within a year, because you decided you didn't like it, or it wore out quicker than you thought it would, they will give you your money back - NO. QUESTIONS. ASKED. PERIOD. The staff are also superb. If you go in as a novice and have questions about hiking boots, camping gear, backpacking, etc. they can answer it all. If you are new to something, I recommend finding an REI near you for expert advice. Don't go to an Academy Sports Store, or something that - those folks don't know jack! P.S. - pay a one time, lifetime membership fee of $20 and you get a dividend coupon for 10% of everything you purchased that year. You get other perks too, and you'll make your money back in no time. Look online for membership details.

An REI store with a nature-y outdoor hike and bike trail is unheard of, one of the unique sport store I've been too~ Store is huge, with two floor of outdoor gear and clothing. Bike collection is vast, they offer repair services as well. Can easily spend an hour here window shopping and walking outside. There is a parking garage outside the store to park your cars. Great place to have a picnic since there's outdoor tables and benches. Highly recommend checking this place out, especially if you go camping often or anyone who needs spare time away from the busy city life.

Subpar Customer Service Experience I want to share my frustration about the customer service I got, which was really disappointing. The person I dealt with in the Bike department, named "Bailey B," was not professional at all. She repeatedly gave me wrong information about a new bike I was interested in, like whether it would fit my height and if its parts were available. It was odd that she seemed worried I might want to upgrade the bike I had bought just a month ago. What bothered me even more was when Bailey B suggested that I might take advantage of the return policy if I wanted to exchange my bike for a different one. She also said that people like me had caused REI to change their return policy. This seemed like an unfair generalization. After dealing with her unprofessional behavior for about half an hour, I asked her to be more professional and follow the company's policies. Her response surprised me. She said she was a "business person" in the company's co-op structure and represented the whole company. The disappointment continued during the checkout. I bought a display model of the bike, which had clear dents and scratches on it. Bailey B assured me that the bike would be checked before selling, but she didn't tell me about the scratches. I noticed them the next day. Given all these frustrating experiences, I strongly suggest considering other options for your outdoor gear needs. The customer service at REI is not great, partly because of people like Bailey B who think they can do whatever they want because of the co-op setup.

"Siri, Canadian to USD" a voice next to me asked as I perused the Altra section. I looked over and standing next to me with shoulder length hair, a horizontal stripes flannel, twill pants, and some very very old yellow ultras that were turning puce, was a dude shopping for shoes also. "There cheaper in Canada, classic REI. How do you get help around here?" My go to approach is to breaking down crying until someone stops to help. This man however opted to raise his hand in the air until a green vest appeared. "Low drop. Trail. Preferably mid rise. Size 9" And Green Vest was off to get to to get to pairs of size 9. Dude informed me that his ride will be there in four minutes. As he was trying on the shoes Dude had a few more questions about colors and Green Vest suggested ordering the one he liked online, to which he said "I gotta dance tonight man". As I pondered whether this was a literal or figurative dance I turned to see what his final choice was, but he was gone. Godspeed Amigo.

Nice stop to get out of the heat. Parking is extremely tight (under the store). Really nice REI, larger than any in northern CA. Larger selection of outdoor gear. Great stop if you're visiting Seattle

Always great merchandise as usual, but John Taylor, at the customer service checkout is the absolute best! Helpful, took the time I needed to have my account adjusted. Just a great guy.

Pretty shockingly poor customer service, especially in the rental department. Looking at the numerous reviews around customer service and looks like their experience is similar to mine. Beware of their rental department! I had rented 3 ice axes which were supposed to cost me $25 for the day.I wasn't able to return them on time as I was arrived 30 minutes later than their 9pm closing time.So I went back next morning to be the first in line and perhaps plead my case about waiving off the $25 fine ( no such luck, after flashing some fake smiles and asking for first names, the rep said the "policy" didn't allow for it.) Anyways my expectations were pretty low from REI over the years so wasn't too disappointed. The kicker is, the rep said the fine would be added to the credit card and waved me off saying I didn't have to do anything further. After 2 days I get an email that my rental gear wasn't returned! I called in during my work hours to sort out the issue, and after long wait hours finally got someone on the phone and we have a rude exchange as to who was at fault. Apparently the rep did not click on the right button and that's why I got the email that gear wasn't returned. Also my expectation that they could have waived off the $25 was wrong as it was part of the paper work I had signed.( I agreed that was right, but I later realized I could have called in and said I would be late and avoided the late fees, all the rep had to do at the time I was renting was to remind me of that option was open to me, which he didn't. Maybe not his responsibility but for being a co-op that is what I would expect a friendly rep to do, not hope for me to fail and then nickel and dime me. Anyways, after having this heated exchange the rep said that's what it is and slammed the phone. ** I edited my review around charges which I thought were a mistake on REIs part, but turns out it was a mistake on my part where I made a wrong assumption for the what the charge was for (it was for a separate purchase I had made) However, after thinking more about it, my remainder of the review still stays the same with respect to how I was treated by REI seattle rental customer service. It looks like they are a separate department by themselves and a stain to REIs reputation.

I have been a member since the 1980s. When they offered electronic communications instead of mailings, I signed up. Several years ago for some reason I stopped receiving emails, which meant I received no notifications of sales or member coupons. A staff member at customer service tried to help. Everything on my account was set up correctly. Tried online customer service, who did not know what to do, who said they would get in touch with tech support. Never heard back. Have gone online several times to send emails. No response despite verbiage about how oriented they are in service to members. Finally reached out to a Board member: can't remember which one. No response. That is lame when a member-owned co-op doesn't respond to a member.

REI has really kept me sane during the quarantine....well REI and the great outdoors but still. I've never been a big outdoorsy person before moving to Seattle (I'm from the east coast and I just didn't feel like we had enough things to get me out there or at least it wasn't easy....). But here, we have amazing hikes nearby and there's like a million different trails during any season to explore. I know when I go to REI, I can depend on their quality, return policy, and warranties. I don't mind spending a little extra for the piece of mind. I became a Co-op member during one of their sales where they give you a $20 shopping card for your $20 membership which makes the membership free so how can you say no? So worth it! Things that make this REI great: + huge selection + shoe measuring, backpack measuring and fitting. I found out I bought the wrong size bag and it was so helpful to get the low down on how to adjust my backpack straps and fit. Makes hiking with it so much better. + Classes! + Garage sale - check out upstairs in the back for the used/returned items. Sometimes options are scarce but sometimes you can get really lucky and find the item you need for a huge discount. + all the associates have been so nice - you can ask them any question and they're happy to help. For an outdoorsy newbie like me, they've really educated me on a lot of things.

Wasted time driving to two separate stores after a preorder only to be told they were out of stock, and can't use my rewards after they messed up. Have to wait to 10 days for a check after using if THEY mess up

So large and beautiful scenery outside! Stopped by for the garage sale and so many people come that they have to ticket it. Still managed to get an awesome garage sale deal without going inside. Must try the little coffee place carabiner coffee.

1/31- Update- well, they promised me my bike bag would arrive on Saturday in time for my flight, but it didn't. I got it on Monday. A complete disappointment, so changing the review back to one star. I still think they should hunt down the guy that originally lied about the bag being in stock last Monday in Seattle and fire him for lying... John didn't call me on Saturday to break the bad news, they had another employee call me, perhaps John was off. But he did follow up this morning and I appreciate that he cared enough to check in. But the bag shipped out at noon on Friday for an overnight delivery so it should have made it on Saturday- someone else dropped the ball in shipping. This should also be reviewed. 1/28- Update- John Clark has gone above and beyond today to search the entire US to find me another bag, they are overnighting me a more expensive bag at no additional charge. I still feel the person in Seattle that dropped the ball should be held accountable, but if I get my bag by tomorrow then all will be ok, so I am changing my original review from below. I appreciate how hard they are trying to make up for this mistake. The most horrible retail experience ever! These incompetent lying people should be ashamed of themselves. I just hung up with John Clark in senior customer service, he is looking into this, but I initially was not super impressed with his overall approach relative to how he spoke to me. I was upset and emotional, but I feel justified in why I feel this way. I get that he did not cause this mess, but he is still a representative of the company. I called in to order a $600 bike travel case on their website on Monday. I needed this bag for my boss who is traveling with his bike on a flight on Monday (one week later). I wanted to make sure the bag would arrive in time. I got a nice lady on the phone who said they had only one left in the country- in Seattle. She put me on hold and called the store to ensure they had it, I was on hold forever. She came back and said they had found it and were holding it to ship to me. Who in Seattle took this call? And why did they say they had the bag? This person should be fired. The lady on the phone processed my order over the phone and I even paid for expedited shipping. Two days later they email saying the product is no longer available and my order has been cancelled and refunded. That's it. I was traveling and didn't see the email right away. Thanks a bunch REI! I am now going to lose my job over this. My boss will not be able to take his race bike on his flight, as I now have no time to try to source another bag. You lied to me. You have let me down. And now your customer service manager shows no empathy and is doing nothing to really help me. Not what I expected. You have lost a customer for life. My spouse and I have been REI members for a long time.

CLOWN SHOW I brought back a fabric rainproofing spray for which I paid a lot of money, because it clearly didn't work after 2 tries following directions on the can. The clerk told me it had really worked and I just didn't sufficiently notice it. Ha ha, that's a knee slapper. Of course, his manager was not available. Do yourself a favor and shop elsewhere where it isn't a CLOWN SHOW.

Problems with garage: crowded, poor signage, dark, PLUS YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR IT so, essentially you're paying to shop at REI. Problems with customer service: woefully understaffed so that even on a weekday, early in the day, you wait to be helped then you wait in long lines to get to a cashier. REI is not good on customer relations, that's for sure. They do things to aggravate.

I went in for a quick pick up, and ended up digging all the details at the store. It is really well put together - not only the selection of items, but also the vibe of the space inside as well as the nature-oriented surrounding outside. A must visit if you love, enjoy, or appreciate outdoors.

I don't myself coming here a lot more than I thought I would. I'm lucky to live around where REI flagship is. It's absolutely huge but still very well organized. I can't stay here too long cause there's always something to get or something to look at cause there's so much stuff! Staff here are generally very nice and attentive but I ran across a pretty rude dressing room person and aloof returns person. Odd encounters but don't want to fault the whole store for this two employees. Others have been good at ensuring we got the size or color we wanted.

This place was huge! Couldn't bring anything back because there were absolutely no space in our luggage but great place to visit if you love the outdoors.

I got hiking shoes and the service was the best I have ever received for buying shoes. Tsetop was incredibly insightful with his advice and helped me test out several pairs. I found one I'm very happy with. Shoutout Tsetop.