TL;DR Managment/ownership treats customers and employees terribly, would not spend money here. Repeat bad experiences, I'd rather buy online than go back in this store. As an avid adventurer of the western US, I tend to visit outdoor stores wherever I travel to see what their idea of adventure is there and take the chance to upgrade gear that's frustrating to use or worn out over time. I've visited Bill Jackson's on two separate occasions now, heading in each time with about $500 worth of gear in mind to shop for. The first time I came, I got great help from multiple associates and planned to purchase gear off of their advise, but witnessed a confrontation between management and an associate that I recall as mild but disruptive enough it made me leave the store without buying anything. I didn't come back for about 8 months. Now I'm back in town for a few weeks of work before heading on a 2,700 mile bikepacking journey and really needed to grab a few items I hoped they'd have in stock. Being interesting in all outdoor activities, I started talking with an associate about the ski shop they were building the last time I was here. He keyed in that I had ski knowledge from my time tuning skis and custom fitting ski boots out west and started talking to me about part time work as they expected to need some extra hands with ski knowledge and took me to show me their ski selection. To get there, we had to walk through an area that he explained was sectioned off for an upcoming sale, so not yet available, but the necessary route to the still-open ski shop. He made a pretty good case for their ski shop and my wheels were turning about coming to help them out in the fall. On our way back through the sale area, I asked a question about the items we were walking past and the associate was very clear that those items were not available for sale until the official sale start date, but took the opportunity to educate me about them(I knew very little about diving equipment but am curious to learn). I was quickly convinced that a decent snorkeling kit was necessary equipment to enjoy the area and decided I'd get a setup. Before he got a chance to redirect me to where the currently available snorkeling gear was(I could tell it was coming, this area was also tiny compared to the sale area), an angry manager/owner appeared ready to tear apart the kind and helpful associate that had just taught me what I needed to know to spend an extra couple hundred dollars on top of the items I was already planning. I hurriedly left the area while she continued to holler at me and once I passed the threshold of that room I heard her resume berating the associate in anger. I walked myself over to the full price scuba stuff and found another helpful associate, but I could not bring myself to buy anything from this store after that experience. It was not unreasonable for her to ask us to move along since we had stopped in a place we were meant to pass through, but she was incredibly rude to the associate for going above and beyond to take care of an enthusiastic customer. I won't spend money here, that manager is the most unkind person I've encountered since I've been in Tampa. In a town of incredibly kind people, there is no place for that. Very sad, I really wanted to like this store. The associates seem to be knowledgeable and passionate about the outdoors, but they don't deserve to be treated that way. read more

Melissa was super helpful in helping us pick out a roof rack, as well as other accessories, for our paddle boarding and kayaking adventures. Store also has a huge selection of everything a person could need for their next adventure! read more

This place is my "Go To" whenever I need to buy a gun or fire live ammo on their indoor range. I was there buying my third 1873 Colt clone chambered in 45 LC because I needed one with a specific barrel length which they had in stock. I found the gun department staffed with EXPERIENCED and attentive employees who participate in shooting activities like I enjoy and were able to offer a discount that made a good deal even better. I feel that if you exhibit the safety habits that make everyone on both sides of the counter feel comfortable and show employees that you would not be a danger to yourself or others you will find employees who are happy to serve and even train you depending on your experience level. Don't expect the same happy response from that employee if you show disrespect for gun safety or have nefarious ownership reasons because those employees protect my rights to legal ownership and the stores best interests which I rely on and keeps me coming back when ever the need dictates. read more

I'm was looking for some rain gear and other things and Roger Lacy made the shopping experience a pleasure. Super knowledgeable, friendly, and was happy to leave you alone and shop. Bill Jackson's is a special place! read more

Mark did a great job sighting in my rifle. He gave me some good advice and didn't even charge me, even tho he spent a good amount of time on it. read more

Been going to Bill Jacksons for 35+ years. Recently started diving and went in to check out what they had. Dive shop management and staff is friendly, knowledgable, and accommodating! read more

Bill Jackson's Shop for Adventure - Outdoor Gear Near Me - Pinellas Park, Florida

I just walked in 15 minutes before close looking for a pair of waders for duck hunting. Saxon and Tiffany immediately helped me out and got me exactly what I was looking for. They were both beyond helpful and got me on my way 5 minutes before close. The price was very fair especially compared to big box stores read more

This is the choice place in the St. Pete area for the Outdoor Venturous people and your needs. They have classes, an indoor range, a lake for trying out watercraft, and more. I wish we lived closer. read more

Bill Jackson's Shop for Adventure - Outdoor Gear Near Me - Pinellas Park, Florida

I've been going to Bill Jackson's for over 40 years since I was in high school. Purchased kayaks, sporting goods and shoes. Recently I was in the store getting a roof rack put on and met John shoe department and I randomly picked up the black hiking boot that was so lightweight And waterproof and he was very knowledgeable about the brand told me all about the fit. Ask me where my favorite places where to go hiking and was overall they knowledgeable no pressure sales person that I enjoy talking to. I did purchase the boots which I will wear for work, I am a state park Ranger and value good footwear. Thank you John for your in-depth knowledge of different brands. read more

Bill Jackson's Shop for Adventure - New boots - Outdoor Gear Near Me - Pinellas Park, Florida

Ill start with saying I love the store. What an outdoor store should be with that "mom and pop feel" I fear that if people do not remember to shop at these stores they will fade away as they have. This is one of the reasons I chose to go to bills. After a morning phone-call that was probably 20 minutes longer than is appropriate (I asked a lot of questions) I decided to go visit and take a look at what was in store. Having been before but never purchasing a firearm I had decent expectations. All of the firearms staff I have experience were sufficient but some are exemplary. The gentleman's name escapes me but those who see him will recognized him by his armed forces Pin which is subtle but noticeable. The gentleman was nice enough to show me both what I asked for and some very well thought out suggestions. I was open to suggestions which the gentleman was also able to break up with some anecdotes stories and a few photos which gives that real personal store vibe. Im sure pencil pushers would complain but this is how this should be done. Not to mention the store wasn't overly packed. I managed to get information and advice to fit my needs that months of online research could not have provided. This is why we go to stores and not shop online. I wasn't even able to complete the transaction due to not having my ID with me and still I was treated with respect and as a valued customer and in no way rushed (except by my wife who was observant of the fact that I had been yapping away with the gentleman for longer than I has intended to be in the store. AND we had other commitments) But to move on. Im in a unique circumstance and hadn't purchased a firearm before. Returning a few days later now able to complete my purchase I chose the mode the original staff member had informed me about and recommended. I'd like to add that this firearm was priced not only much cheaper than the next lowest price location but also significantly less than the big brand retailers. I was a little slow on my paperwork trying to make sure I did It right. All the staff were helpful. Very friendly and happy to chat during the process (outside of filling our the paperwork of-course) As of this review Im still waiting for my hold period but I expect the rest of the process shall be no different. If you want sporting goods in tampa. You want bill Jacksons Im not sure if they still have them but a number of years ago they had a leaflet about the story of Bill Jackson grab one if you can. read more

Josh did a great job helping me find what I was looking for! The clothes I was looking for will keep me warm for going north! Great selection! read more

Very great customer service! People were better nice and a HUGE selection! Definitely will be going back for any outdoor needs and wants!!

Brant and Josh took great care of me today! Found my correct size! Josh went in the back and found my correct size!

I've been going to Bill Jackson's for over 30 years. Always great service and they always have what I'm looking for and last trip I got to finally meet the Jackson brothers...super guys and I love their hands on business practice read more

Super helpful staff and incredible selection of outdoor gear! Go and support this local and family owned shop. We came here for a SCUBA refresher course with Tiffany, and she was a very accommodating , knowledgeable, and personable instructor. We also enjoyed looking around the rest of the store and grabbing a few items for camping. Great selection, fair prices, and friendly staff. Highly recommend! We'll be back. read more

Getting to parking is an adventure...but in a good way! Great selection and wonderful service (I'm looking at you Sam!). I will be back.

Bill Jackson's is my all time favorite shop. If you like enjoying the Florida outdoors like I do, Bill Jackson's is a must go. All of the employees Nate outdoor enthusiast and extremely helpful. They have a gun shop with a range, a ski shop (yes, downhill skiing) in Florida which is ultra rare and complete with a downhill skiing training course. I love that I can buy gear before heading to the mountains for a ski trip. They round out the offerings with a large camping section, a fishing section, and a scuba section where they even have a pool you can take scuba lessons. Outside they have an enormous section of paddle boards and kayaks. When you pull into the parking lot you'll feel like you're entering Jurassic park with the unmistakable Bill Jackson's combination of pine trees and Palm trees. It's a unique aesthetic that welcomes you into the greatest store on Earth! read more

Ever since I first discovered Bill Jackson's after moving to the Tampa Bay area a few years ago, I've always enjoyed finding reasons to visit and shop there. I agree with all of the other positive reviews about the neat/quirky ambiance, warm hospitality, wide selection, and the staff's knowledge of their respective departments. It is certainly possible to save a few dollars by shopping around and especially online... but I've always felt that I've gotten my money's worth (and then some) from the positive experiences and customer support associated with shopping in person here. For those interested in safes and don't mind some storytime, I'm happy to share my recent, very positive experience with purchasing one there: My family and I had been contemplating such an investment for months. After much research online, we decided to just go check out the selection of safes that we'd typically see on display towards the front of the store and to learn more about them in person. One of the employees noticed our interest and directed us to the entire separate room of safes on the other side of the pool, which I honestly didn't realize had become additional retail space sometime in the last few years. There, we met Doug (one of the owners and one of Bill Jackson's sons) and Wiley (one of the shop's cats). Doug even introduced Wiley to my daughter who was thrilled by the experience too, as shown in the attached photo. Anyway, Doug took the time to find out what we were looking for in a safe, thoroughly explained things to consider when purchasing one, then showed us several different options. We really liked a specific model and color but didn't commit to it at the time, mainly because we were anticipating remodeling the room the future safe would eventually go in and wanted to ensure that everything went as planned with it first. We happily accepted Doug's business card and his offer to contact him with any questions in case we were still interested. As we gradually progressed with the remodel, I did end up periodically calling the shop and asking to speak to Doug for some questions on how to optimize the space for the prospective safe, all of which he helpfully answered. Months later, after the remodel and some other projects were completed, we returned to check out the safe one more time and to hopefully purchase it. (Thankfully, the one we were most interested in was still available... and at the same price as before, despite the dramatic increases in safe pricing nationwide!) Doug readily remembered us and our situation, then assisted us with completing the purchase. He was even able to schedule us for delivery/installation a mere two days later, which he personally performed himself at our home. I feel that he went above-and-beyond to ensure that the safe was perfectly transported, unloaded, positioned, balanced, bolted to our floor, and ultimately set up to our satisfaction. His attention to detail did not go unnoticed by us, and it is very obvious that he takes great pride in his work. Still, he was also fun to chat with and it was neat to get to know a little more about him, his family, and the business while he completed the job. All in all, I would even go so far as to say that I felt like Doug treated us as if we were family and not just customers throughout the whole shopping, delivery, and installation process. Perhaps I'm just a cynical millennial who has become all too accustomed to contemporary, impersonal, and often mediocre shopping and service... but regardless, I can attest that Doug and the other folks at Bill Jackson's are doing so much right with their "old-fashioned" way of doing business and excellent customer service! read more

Bill Jackson's Shop for Adventure - Doug Jackson (one of the owners) introducing my daughter to Wiley (one of the shop's cats) while we were visiting to look at safes - Outdoor Gear Near Me - Pinellas Park, Florida

I have been going there for 13 years! I met Bill when I first moved to Florida. He was such an incredibly kindhearted, down to earth, intelligent human being. Taking time out of his busy life to express his passion about his profession and amazing shop! I had to go asap because I needed gear. Incredible service,(they literally listen), some items I bought were a little higher priced but they take care of their customers!!! So worth it and all around must to just go explore. read more

If you are anywhere near and need to go outside to do anything, you need Bill Jackson's first they got everything you need to do anything worth doing in FLA! I love this place!! read more

Bill Jackson's Shop for Adventure - Front entrance on one of the best places on earth for the outdoors! #FamilyOwned - Outdoor Gear Near Me - Pinellas Park, Florida

This place is freaking AWESOME. Run, don't walk to check it out. I mean, just pulling in - you feel like you're in Jurassic Park or something. They've got these massive trees all around, and instead of tearing down trees they built the driveway in a windy wild way. There's parking in little open sections. they have a variety of outdoor activity items, as well as guns/gun range, and snorkeling/scuba diving gear, and SUP Boards/kayaks. You can even pay a small amount of money to test out a few SUP/Kayaks in the pond on premises! The people working here are always helpful. I love this place!! And as usual, support small biz/local shops when you can!! I only went with 4-stars based on selection. While they have a variety of things, they don't necessarily have a large selection of each type of thing - if that makes sense. But it depends on what it is. All in all, this is an amazing store and i think 4-stars is an excellent rating! read more

Great service and great selection. I've been going to Bill Jackson since 2001. Never had a problem with them and they go out of their way. Make sure that you got what you need. read more

I needed to replace hiking shoes and having stopped into Bill Jackson's in the past for fishing gear I decided to try their shoe dept. I am 100% glad I did. The sales person (an experienced hiker and guide) helped me navigate through the many options and brands in a methodical way to ensure I got the best shoe for my needs. I tried on a number of brands and styles and I walked out with super comfortable shoes from a brand I previously would not have given much consideration to. Online shopping has it's place but nothing beats the experience of getting exactly the right pair of shoes, on the first try, while learning from someone else's experiences (and you can extend this to lots of other areas too IMO). I would give them 6 stars if I could! read more

A true florida sporting good store nestled among the palmetto. It has rooms of snow ski, diving, guns and many other sporting events. The have a pool on the property to teach diving and kayaking. I found the prices to be a bit on the high side. It was a fun stop to stroll around. read more

Bill Jackson's Shop for Adventure - Outdoor Gear Near Me - Pinellas Park, Florida

The fact that I can drive anywhere in Tampa Bay and have snow ski bindings mounted is reason enough to give them five stars. It saves me such a huge amount of time compared to having to deal with it the night before skiing during a trip to the Rockies. If I were to do it that way, I have to find a shop that does overnight work, hope there's a spot, get an earlier flight, hope it isn't delayed, and just worry about whether I'll have usable skis the next day, or have to rent demos where a day costs more than the mount/tune would have. Their ski department does consistently quality work on hardware mounting/repair, and normal tunes. They sell a great range of ski / winter clothing, including hiking and waterproof boots that are good for apres ski. I'd still recommend doing boot fitting at a VERY well reviewed fitter in and around large ski towns, as there's simply no comparison. You can get minimal heat-forming done here, but if you have awkward feet like me (width issue) and need a foot bed, or drilling, punches, etc. in the boot or liner, man, there are some places in Colorado that will have your ski boots feeling like heaven. Outside of that, for everything else, including first lessons, Bill Jackson's has been consistently good for me dating back to when I was a kid. As I've got back into skiing as an adult, I've saved countless hours on equipment maintenance by getting it done here before and after travel. I have to say I was taken aback by two of the negative reviews over covid mask policies. Two different people felt it necessary to compare the store enforcing lawful orders to the perpetrators of the Holocaust (you know the word I'm referring to). Are you kidding me? Bill Jackson's doing what the state instructs is comparable to war time mass extermination of a race? Do you have any clue how hurtful such a statement is to those whose families endured that time, or were eliminated by it? I really hate people sometimes; those reviewers should feel disgusted with themselves. read more

If you want or need expert advice on all things outdoor related Bill Jackson's is the place to go. I went there to buy a new holster and John selected 5 or 6 for me to try out until we found the perfect one. Then I went to the fishing area to check out the new gear since my last visit. There are other outfitters but not many have their experience, people make the difference. read more

I'd been to Bill Jackson's once before, to get myself some Vibram shoes, but that was YEARS ago. I went recently, and for a store that was supposed to be limiting the amount of people inside, their parking lot was PACKED. Finding parking was an actual challenge. But we did, and we went inside, We wore our masks, and saw a lot of Dick-nose folks while there. I perused the clothing, shoes and what have you, while my mate talked to the pros about guns, since this is what we came for. They were limiting the amount of folks into those sections, and that's understandable. The wait though, was long and my mate was not in the mood to be -that- patient. So we left. I did see there were lots of things that I would be interested in, but their sizes were limited. read more

Very cool camping & outdoor store. Lots of hand painted signs and helpful staff. It's not cheap, but everything is quality and there lots of variety read more

This place has a little bit of everything for the adventurer... and will cover most adventures! There's a dive portion of the shop, & a gun shop, as well as the general backpacks, coolers, chairs, maps, and everything in between. The employees are wandering around the entire time it seemed, so there should always be someone around to help you, if needed. They offer dive adventures and certification for carrying. The parking is probably the coolest thing, because it's a bunch of spots placed around the trees - props! It's definitely bigger than I thought and I'll go back for my next adventure needs, whatever they may be. read more

First thing first, they price match. The employees were ALL so nice and helpful. Right away, we were greeted at the door and then again when we started looking at products. Tim was very pleasant, honest, and professional. Of course, we spent a lot on the kayak, the car roof rack, the ores, life vests, and straps, but anywhere you go you're going to spend some moneyyy. And probably more, just saying. They put the rack on at no additional cost and did it with great teamwork and carefully. I'm OCD and get nervous about scratches and dents on my car...but they actually cared. It wasn't a sloppy, rushed thing. Brandon helped Tim assemble the rack and had great recommendations and also provided us with general knowledge. There is a monthly beginners/ introduction course they have included in the purchase of the kayak. Highly recommend Bill Jackson's! Thanks guys! read more

I Googled places that sold rock climbing shoes in the area and Bill Jackson's was at the top of the list so I decided to come check it out. The store itself is actually kind of hard to find, Its entrance is on the side of a major street. I missed it the first time and had to go around which added another 5 minutes. Once I got to the entrance, there was a small path full of trees that led to the store. The store can't be physically seen just from the entrance. Once I got here, I found out that they sold rock climbing harnesses, chalk bags, but NOT shoes, which I was very disappointed. However, I still decided to walk around the store. The store had actually a variety of outdoorsy stuff, and it was a big space too. However, one thing I couldn't get my head around was that they had an entire big section of winter activity stuff, and we're in Florida... rows of skis, snowboards, snowboard boarding helmets, boots, jackets, etc... nothing wrong with that but I was very confused. Even though I was disappointed they didn't have any rock climbing shoes, but I would definitely return here to get any other ourdoor stuff in the future. read more

Bill Jackson's Shop for Adventure - Outdoor Gear Near Me - Pinellas Park, Florida

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There are a lot of places to shoot around here, but this is my go-to range. If you have an issue the guys in the shop will help you out; even come into the range with you. It's a great family-owned local business. read more

Bill Jackson's Shop for Adventure - Outdoor Gear Near Me - Pinellas Park, Florida

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Amazing sele tion of diving gear, fishing gear, women's apparel, etc. Their pool has a 4 ft shallow part and a 10 foot deep area which made learning to scuba dive much easier than being in a regular pool read more

Wear your mask. Don't pay here, pay at that register. Hey, don't do that. Do that either. This place is lost. Look, I get the whole mask thing but you have to be on top of other things or it easily becomes enough to drive people away. Your staff surely know it's rude to sit and talk and talk and talk ....and TALK.... while there are people in line. Then have them wait, just to tell them they have to pay at another register. Let people pay for stuff at the register they're standing. Making people run all over your place is ridiculous. The money is going to the same place and if it's not, at least let range stuff be paid ....... at the range. read more

My favorite sporting goods store in the United States! If this store is far away from you, it will definitely worth the trek. They cover gear and clothes for every sport you can imagine. From snow skiing, fishing, hiking to kayaking. I have come here to even get travel clothing for non-sport travel such as clothing for my trip to Egypt, the Far East to India. Great place to get clothing for Africa too! I picked up gear to hike the smokey mountains to biking through Croatia. They got your gear! Love the adventure layout this place from he parking lot to the store. They offer a back room to hold private parties as well as area to test out a kayak. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable, they have a guru for almost everything in the store that can advise you on what you need. They also have great sales! Love the back room in the ski area where I found a Bogner ski jacket for $200! Bring on the adventure and don't forget to get your mosquito spray here too! read more

Must see for any sportsperson is this old school sporting goods store in splendid St. Petersburg. Truly an iconic institution for the area, popular, well loved and reviewed. Seems to have every sporting activity covered as far a accessories, they eve teach diving classes in their own built in pool, and I imagine other techniques as well. Very helpful staff. Neat jungle like parking lot, glad we made the stop. read more

Bill Jackson's Shop for Adventure - Outdoor Gear Near Me - Pinellas Park, Florida

Friendly and engaging staff, large selection of everything to choose from. And the best parking lot around!

Absolutely terrific sporting goods store, from guns (& a range) to scuba (with a pool for training) to fishing, kayaks, paddleboards, camping & more, you can not go wrong here. Try them out. read more

Place is so great, but the parking lot is my favorite part. I wish every place loved trees!

Bill Jackson is an institution. Always well stocked with merchandise and always good customer service. read more