It's been dumping snow today and the rest of the week promises more snow and record cold. But I'm not worried. My cat and I love our Feathered Friends down comforter! Oh, and they also make and sell kickass down sleeping bags and cold weather gear! I do a lot of work in areas of extreme cold and this is my secret weapon. Bombproof gear that delivers is what it's about. They also sell a great bit of climbing, camping and outdoor gear. Knowledgeable service staff that actually use FF gear. I'm the 50th review for Feathered Friends and while it sits in the shadow of a much larger outdoors company (ahem!), this has got to be one of Seattle's secret, overlooked gems. read more

Roamed around this store for over 30 min- not one staff asked if I needed assistance. Some nice products and I would have liked to learn more but alas. I left without anything. read more

I purchased two EOS down jackets and an UL quilt this year from Feathered Friends. The products themselves are good. I was pretty disappointed though to see that they do not have a complimentary return policy. I asked customer service about this and they directed me to the FAQs. Just kind of seemed to me like not the right way to manage customers who have spent $1,000 on their merchandise in a couple of months. Fortunately, there are plenty of options for down goods that are still made in the United States (not fictitiously made in Canada). Look elsewhere. read more

This company used to rule the roost in custom handmade sleeping bags and down-filled garments. Everything used to be made in house, by hand, with attention to detail and focused customer service. But that was 20 years ago. They now 'assemble' and 'hand fill' shells made in China. Their focus is trading their reputation for high prices on mediocre products made overseas, and their customer service is now peddling overpriced bedding. Look elsewhere for real quality. read more

When toes and fingers get cold and get even colder at altitude, Feathered Friends is there for you. Plus, there is a giant nest at the location (right by REI in Seattle) so it's all around serious soul warmth. Thank you Neil, Mike, and the team of you over on Thomas street. read more

Feathered Friends - Outdoor Gear Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

These folks are awesome. Extremely helpful before and after the sale. Top rated sleeping bags, apparel and gear. Highly recommend. Well buy from again. Much better than WM competitor. read more

Feathered Friends - Eider EX -10 Sleeping Bag - Outdoor Gear Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Great products and customer service. It's worth their high prices if you can afford them.

I read a NY Times review of the down comforter sold by this company. Despite the $900 cost, I decided to splurge and treat myself, thinking it would be the most incredible down comforter. Upon arrival, I was tremendously disappointed. The 2nd day after it arrived, I called the company and made arrangements to send it back, which I did. The comforter that I returned was in perfect condition - rewrapped in the plastic bag that it originally arrived in and returned in the same box. Don't be fooled - this comforter is not worth more than $900. I was further disappointed when this company charged me a $45 wash fee when I returned the comforter. I purchased a different comforter from Brooklinen, also recommended by the NY Times. The Brookline comforter was only $500 - and nearly identical. Brooklinen's comforter was basically 1/2 the price of the Feathered Friends comforter. Here's the bottom line: Friends (whether feathered or not) do NOT let friends buy from Feathered Friends. Charles B. Columbus, Ohio read more

So glad we ended up at Feathered Friends on our quest for climbing shoes! Their selections seemed to mostly be lace-up (REI across the street was mostly velcro). The staff person who helped us was knowledgeable, thoughtful, and patient (staying within earshot, but also giving us time and space to consider each shoe, coming over when asked, and taking the time to listen, and provide their expert insights -- no hard sell... at all). Although their selection is modest, their line-up seems well curated, and gave us plenty of options to consider. read more

Store person rolled his eyes when I said I was there to browse. "Ok, browse a little." Cool guy. It's always the same guy, maybe the manager, who seems bothered by having to service customers in retail. He's also given me the same, "We close in 5 minutes" greeting that another reviewer mentioned. Yeah I'll hit up Jim Nelson's shop instead, or REI. Thanks. read more

Their gear is absolutely bulletproof. I just set up a tent I bought there 40 years ago. It spent lots of time in Alaska, primarily for winter climbing. Also traveled to New Zealand, Australia etc. I bought a sleeping bag there too. Needed some patching but still good. So both tent and sleeping bag were bought in 1978, used a lot, including 3 seasons in the Alaskan bush and they're in great shape. The tent is goretex, worked great in snow. read more

Hmmm. Complicated, this review. I WANT to leave a 5-star review, but Feathered Friends has let me down too many times for them to deserve that rating. I have been buying "stuff and things" from FF for 2 decades. Literally since I moved here in the year 2000: Climbing gear, ropes, climbing shoes, hiking boots, backpacks, shell jackets, ski pants, underwear, socks, hats, FF down jackets, and most recently, FF pillows and a duvet and duvet cover. I've tried to give as much of my money to FF (instead of REI), as possible (and I was even an REI employee for 2 years), because in the early days, FF employees were always friendly, down-to-earth, educational, etc - and I liked supporting not only the local company (which is also REI), but also "the LITTLE guy". My 3-star review here is a combination of my frustration with the customer service I have received both in a general sense (over MANY visits) and also in response to an unfortunate recent complaint about a FF duvet that we purchased two years ago and had a problem with that. I hate it when people leave 1-2 star reviews after ONE negative experience. That's not helpful to anyone, because that kind of review reflects a very narrow scope of experience with the establishment. MY review is NOT that. This is a review of over 20 YEARS of gradually declining customer service. I don't know where the latest crop of retail employees at Feathered Friends received their customer service training, but it wasn't from the same school that I came from (which is not necessarily that the customer is always right, but that the customer deserves RESPECT - because the customer is the reason the retail employee EVEN HAS A JOB). Without me and other customers who appreciate FF, they'd be working somewhere far less cool. I don't know if you can call me "old-fashioned", considering I'm not even 40 years old, but I expect to be treated like it's nice that I am here spending my money (NOT as a nuisance). If it was one or two experiences out of 50+, I wouldn't say anything. But what I've seen is a tradition of barely acceptable to downright crappy and unfriendly customer service, combined with even worse treatment when a problem actually arose - which all leads me to believe it stems from a culture of, I don't know, they think we are in France or something. We AREN'T in France. Maybe the owners just don't care, and the attitude just flows downhill. Don't know. The staff is definitely more "millennial indifferent" than 10+ years ago. Long story short, without naming names or badmouthing anybody in a public forum, the treatment we received, after complaining about the quality of our $600 Bavarian duvet (700 fill power), was not what we or any customer should expect. My wife and I decided to "invest" in a quality FF duvet (after previously having purchased their pillows). Maybe we're "poor", but a $600 duvet is a splurge for us, and we expected a quality product, especially with previous positive experiences with their down jackets (top notch!). Even though it felt good while sleeping (soft and light and "cuddly"), every time we would remove the duvet cover to wash it, the duvet (aka the FF "duvet insert") would give us an avalanche cloud of very fine down particles that hung in the air (yes, that small), where we had to wear MASKS to not inhale the superfine down bits...and then we had to vacuum the whole bedroom. We're not being "picky" - it was REALLY annoying, and when you wash your duvet cover 1x / month, it gets old, real fast. It's like they used the very bottom of the bag of down to fill the particular duvet that we purchased, and all of the smallest bits of down were used - and these particles were able to escape the seams. The seams seemed "tight enough", but the quality of the fill is what we thought was suspect. After "evaluating" it, the factory / warranty person pretty much said we're crazy, which just infuriated us even further (after taking 3 weeks to get back to us...and we got attitude when we brought it in, in the first place!). So, we pushed back, finally received a full refund (even though they said this was PERFECTLY NORMAL and would not admit "fault"!!!), and we went straight to Macy's and spent HALF the price of the FF duvet on a "Hotel Collection" duvet from Macy's (during Macy's Black Friday sale - we got a 40-ounce fill of 700 fill power European white goose down in a 500 TC cover - which actually had MORE fill than FF duvet - almost DOUBLE the fill) and guess what...NO PROBLEMS. Not a single feather or down cluster has escaped in the last 3 months. They did it right, when FF couldn't. I won't openly discourage people from going to FF - your mileage may vary. Our opinion was and still is that we got a cruddy one-off duvet because they used small down fill particles that lead to our problem. That's what we believe. FF chose to not really "stand behind" their product, and the lack of responsibility (and treatment) is what made us made mad. read more

Ok guys you know when you go to Germany during the winter and you check into a hotel and the bed has that down comforter that you just can't pull yourself away from? Then you come home to your sad American bed and dream about going back to Germany for some more of that feeling that THAT comforter gave you? YOU CAN HAVE THAT NOW!!! I was just visiting Seattle and the hotel had a close cousin on the bed, so I YELP Awesome Down Comforter and this place comes up, so I walk over the next day and purchased a queen size Bavarian Best Friend!!! I'm laying in it now thinking of calling in sick to work tomorrow, Thanks Feathered Friends!! They even found me one on sale because it had a smudge!!! Which one of you horrible people returned this amazing soul because it was smudged?! Oh well it's mine now and thank you. read more

Feathered Friends - A very happy man goes Taco Style in his new down comforter from Feathered Friends - Outdoor Gear Near Me - Seattle, Washington

First of all, although I absolutely love the name of this store and think it's a super cute name, this store's name also confuses me. Hearing just the name of this store, I would think that "Feathered Friends" was a pet shop that sold only certain types of birds. I am also befuddled by the purpose of the enormous walk-in nest located at the back of this store - although I also think it's fun to walk inside of it! This store sells a variety of hiking, climbing, mountaineering, and other outdoor gear. A good portion of the gear has down feathers inside of it, which is possibly where they got the first portion of their store name. (I'm still confused about where the second part of their store name, the "Friends" part, came from. Do they call a down jacket a friend? Is the bird whose feathers got used for the down jacket the friend?...in the latter case, I strongly suspect that might not be a mutual "friendship"....) Most of the items in this store are way out of my price range, although the store sometimes has good sales. My feelings about my 2 recent experiences here are also somewhat mixed, but generally favorable. Customer service was outstanding the first time I visited, and slightly above average the second time I visited. During my first visit there, I picked up two Patagonia rain jackets (one for me and one for my husband) at slightly over $100 each, a fantastic deal. I was excited for days afterwards. We've worn our jackets several times by now and we absolutely love them. They are the first (and possibly last, due to this brand's typical regular prices) Patagonia items we've ever owned. During my second visit here last week, I picked out one jacket that cost a little more that I don't like quite as much, but couldn't quite pass up because I love to hike and I think it would work really well to wear while hiking in rainy weather. I think this store is worth checking out. read more

Love my new duvet. Luxury is the perfect word that comes to mind - bathing yourself in the luxury of cozy warmth.

I have spent thousands of $$$ over the decades at FF. Today my greeting was 'we close in 5 minutes'. Great, just lock the dam door if you're so anxious to go home, don't make me feel rushed. FF is not the same company it once was; might as well go to REI next door. read more

I walked in so sure I wanted the Penguin/groundsheet combo. The friendly sales guy (sorry I forgot his name!) was happy to let me try it out and showed me how it zips i to the ground sheet. When I mentioned backpacking with it, he offered to show me a lighter set up: 2 flickers zipped together. What a great idea!! The best of both worlds, plus it's lighter. Very knowledgeable and helpful staff. I really appreciated that he was able to hear what I wanted to do and offer me a better solution. read more

Had a little difficulty "connecting" with a down comforter, but once it showed up at my house, it was great. Worked with ~3 different employees; customer service quality was pretty over the map. There are a bunch of reviews that complain about customer service and then suggest going to REI. I think, for the kind of person who would appreciate Feathered Friends -- that's not really a viable alternative. Sort of like comparing a stand at a farmers market to Trader Joe's. I don't shop at REI at Trader Joe's. The realistic alternative would be more along the lines of another cottage industry down company, Zpacks, Enlightened Equipment, etc. I do wish the customer experience were more consistent. But at the same time, when you consider the value of having a small business with high end camping gear and down bedding in your community, it is tough to really be /too/ hard on this place. I would prefer that the business continued to exist. read more

Great little sports shop with super friendly staff and a cool mural out back. Spend your money here if you can rather than the giant corporations all around. read more

Great local business with a big variety of mountaineering items and outdoor supplies. Their own brand of jackets and bags are super soft and appears very warm. Staff was helpful in answering questions. Right across the street from REI so it's nice to hit up both places to get what you need. read more

I've been looking into getting a really good sleeping bag to use while backpacking. Everything I've read and heard about feathered friends was positive. And that they were the place to go for a custom bag(I need one that is slightly larger than a typical bag, but nothing outrageous) they are on the high side for price, but they're quality is supposed to be second to none so I was willing to pay the higher price. The salesman was nice enough, but after a phone call and a couple emails I was told that they wouldn't be accommodating me. Not because they couldn't, but because they didn't want to read more

If you are a small, locally owned outdoor gear and apparel company, how do you survive next to REI, the Costco of outdoor gear and apparel? You handmake killer down bags, jackets, vests, and other apparel. You employ people who know and have used each piece of gear you sell. And you price everything competitively. I was looking for a new sleeping bag, my first down bag ever. And after looking at REI, stores online, and at both Western Mountaineering and Montbell bags online, I decided to stop by Feathered Friends. After climbing into a few bags, I walked out with a 20deg bag, sewn from waterproof ripstop that weighs right at 2 pounds, and costs less than anything else with comparable specs. There isn't anyone making gear this light, this well, and pricing it at this point in any segment of the market. Definitely worth a stop for any down or waterproof apparel you might be seeking. read more

Ha ha... Wow. Earlier today we stopped in here for the first time. We're going camping later this summer and were looking to spend a bit on a tent and some sleeping bags. Well, the three (three!) employees behind the counter couldn't have cared less about helping us. The entire time we were in the store, no one even acknowledged us. So, we left. We went across the street and bought everything we needed from REI. Don't bother with Feathered Friends. They don't care. read more

It was so easy to order from. The guy I talked to was travelling and took the time to stop and help me. Great PR. I will certainly buy again from you. You were very kind, helpful and the best. Thank you so much for helping me. I love my sleeping bag. I used it a month ago in Montana for 3 nights in an unheated trailer with no insulation. It was 18 inside. The bag is cozy, warm and I did put a light worn down Down Comforter on top of me. So cozy. Of course when I got out of my bag it was cold. Thank you, Shelley read more

Remember that scene in Breakfast at Tiffany's where Audrey is staring through the glass? Sometimes I find myself staring through the window at Feathered Friends. Will I ever really try to summit Everest? All signs point to no..that said! If I did, I'd probably go with one of Feathered Friend's expedition sacks that are rated to ridiculous ratings like -40. They also carry a lot of really nice technical clothing that most of the customers that buy it never really use outside of the city. The brand itself specializes in sleeping bags and I've had it on my list for quite some time to get me one. Unfortunately, as a Seattle resident, camping trips usually involves rain. So I tend to stick with Synthetic bags. I do love some of the down bags that I've tried though and when money becomes no object will of course indulge in a ultralight packable Feathered Friends sleeping bag. They are also official retailers of a bunch of other technical brands. Unfortunately since they specialize in sleeping bags, even though they are a MontBell retailer, they don't carry their bags. I ended up getting a Sierra Designs Flex bag instead of a montbell. I kind of regret my decision, but I'd rather try a product before buying it. Just another incredibly awesome Seattle specialty outdoor equipment retailer. I only deduct 1 star because I hate them for having products that I lust for...and prices that make me cringe. read more

Outstanding products - I use the 2/3 bag and a down sweater in the summer and couldn't be happier. Innovative products, quality materials and construction, good service. My buddy Rodger uses a Rock Wren that he loves. If you need a quality sleeping bag that you'll be using for 20 years, this is the place to get it. read more

This place blew me out of the water; unbelievably awesome staff. I needed to rent a jacket and boots for my recent trek up Rainier. Walked in and one of their guys, Rob, helped me pick out the right stuff and even let me borrow his boots that were my size instead of renting them from the shop. Yes, you read that right, he said "Oh, you're a size 12? Here, I've got an extra pair you can just borrow." I still rented a jacket from them and then we just chatted for 15 minutes about Rainier and he offered some fun tips and whatnot about the trek. The climb went great; I went back to return the gear, ran into Rob again so we chatted about the trip and he invited me to come on his next trip in a few weeks. Love this place, recommend it highly to anyone. The people who work here very clearly love what they do! read more

Came in with the intention of buying a nice rain jacket , the customer service was so bad I am not spending any money there. I get that the jackets are expensive but I was followed around the entire store like I was going to steal something. So pathetic read more

YIPPEE! I never knew where this store was located until I was walking on my way to REI and saw the sign. I thought I'd give them a try and if things went horribly, I'd saunter over the REI for my needs. I was looking for a jacket for camping along with a pair of pants that would work for hiking. I browsed around for a bit on my own. An associate who had just finished helping another customer came over to help me. After listening to what I was looking for, she took me from the full price rack directly to the sales rack and started looking for some options for me. I didn't tell her my price range, but she attempted to keep the cost low (no overselling)! I'm impressed that they also rent out equipment so you get the option to try out new hobbies before committing to a sport. The only downside is the selection of things isn't as great. So if you want a lot of options for a specific item, you probably won't find it here. More than likely you'll have to compromise a bit. Still, I'd travel here first before I head to REI to flesh out any of my supply needs. read more

I got one of their vests from my very discerning boyfriend, and it is AMAZING. I have deliberately not checked the price, but given that I have essentially lived in my vest all winter long, it was worth it. You could probably justify the price by considering how much your heating bill will diminish! read more

I was looking for some hiking boots not made in China...REI didn't have what I wanted so I wondered down to feathered friends. They had several choices for me. I was so pleased. I ended up with a pair of Boreal's that are amazingly comfortable and made in Spain. I wanted to buy made in the USA but that was not happening, so I was okay with the America's or Europe. The staff was super helpful and there is a huge selection of items for such a small store. I like to buy local and the quality of the stuff her is very good, and the reason they got my money is because they actually carried some stuff NOT made in China. I will be back. read more

A bit pricey but the gear here is of the highest quality and the staff are super knowledgable about the local area. Have bought my last three climbing boots from them. In addition to my favorite coffee mug. It is great to have such a high quality place right next to rei. read more

Their down products are really the best. I own a 25 degree Egret from 11 years ago, and while its loft isn't quite the same, this bag is still in heavy rotation for my backcountry trips. Seriously, the down in FF products is so lusciously delicious, the feeling is like being surrounded by warm, wispy angels' wings or cotton candy (whichever you prefer). Also, FF have the only women's sleeping bags that fit smaller women properly. I am 5'1", and FF kindly offers a bag size for up to 5'3". I love my sleeping bag so much, I picked up a down comforter as well. Paired with flannel sheets, I never want to get out of bed. And, yes, in the past, I've found a few of the staff to be a bit aloof, but if you ask for help, they know their stuff. But really, just come in here for their outstanding down gear. In addition, they have a better selection of mountaineering gear than REI. read more

I recently purchased a very high quality down comforter and duvet from FF. I am very pleased with the products: The duvet is elegant, and the comforter is very soft, warm, dense, well made, and *locally manufactured*. This is the type of bedding one is accustomed to seeing at premium hotels. -I'm impressed enough that I expect to buy a down pillow from them. Thank you to the staff at Feathered Friends for being so customer oriented. They remembered me from previous purchases, and treated me exceptionally well. read more

Feathered Friends is my favorite place for high quality gear; clearly a step above REI. I've seen some awful reviews from people who seemed to expect an REI experience from a store and staff that aren't really geared towards that. If you KNOW what you need in durable, HIGH quality gear, and want a competent salesperson who assumes a baseline of familiarity and competency on your part to show you what will fit your needs, then Feathered Friends is your place. If you're new to camping, hiking or climbing, and don't need or can't really afford top quality gear, then another shop might be a better fit. FF mostly appeals to people who need to take their gear selections seriously; guides, search & rescue folks, people who are hiking for weeks in all weather, mountain climbers, expeditions, or people who just want the best gear they can get. REI caters to everyone else. read more

I didn't have a good experience here. I don't need a lecture from the young man who wanted to "teach me." i was simply looking for a piece of equipment. I kept being told how unsafe I was, doing the type of climbing I do. This was my first and last time coming here. Leave your opinions at the door and sell me a device I need. I did not get treated this way by the sales representative at the bigger outdoor store across the street. I didn't come to a store to get harassed. I came to buy climbing gear. I wont be shopping here again. read more

Super helpful peeps. Great events and gear and everything in between!

I bought and rent equipment in Feathered Friends multiple times. They have great service. People working there spend a lot of time in the outdoors. They can offer great advice. read more

This is the place to get sleeping bags. They hand make them as other reviewers have pointed out and are higher quality than you'll find next door, or anywhere I have been. Definitely worth the price, after all, what price can you put on freezing to death at Mt Rainier. They are climbing/backcountry gurus and very helpful in your decision making in terms of your gear, be it skis, rock shoes, hiking gear, climbing gear, tents, etc. I've seen some older reviews here about lousy, inattentive customer service, but I have never experienced that. On the contrary, my experience was second to none in terms of knowledge and overall service. They are, if anything, more eager to spend time with you if you are new to climbing, hiking, or mountaineering. For example, while I am certainly no novice at hiking, I had never done any technical climbing, and had zero experience with backcountry ski gear. I went there for a quick stop on my way home to look for some randonee backcountry ski gear. It's April, so I wanted to see if there were any items left on clearence. My biggest problem is my boots, which need to accommodate an E-EE width. I tried on the Black Diamond Prime, and they fit unusually well, but I still needed to shop around more. The guy spent quite a bit of time with me, educating me on fit, what bindings can be used with the boots, etc. He even pointed out and suggested that I try other boots that they didn't even carry. I still didn't buy them as I was probably shocked that I found something that fit my foot so easily, so quickly. I checked around, then came back to try them on again. This time, a female employee was equally as helpful and knowledgeable. She even went into more detail about bindings and whether or not I could retrofit my old skis. I was pretty sure I was going to buy the boots, but knew they were a little cheaper at another store that was selling them on-line. Even though they were on sale, Feathered Friends still gave me an additional discount to match that other price. Now, that may not happen all the time because they don't guarantee the lowest price, but the fact that in this case, they still gave me the discount speaks volumes about their customer service. I highly recommend this store before you just blindly go to REI and buy gear. I have nothing against REI, but there are reasons why Feathered Friends stays in business right across the street. I suggest you investigate those reasons before you purchase your backcountry gear. read more

Don't bother supporting these guys. They don't care. Like, personally, they don't care. If you have a problem with anything, you're screwed. Never mind the condescension, that's free and there will be plenty of it. I used an osprey backpack called the 'Mutant' one time, one single day, and a sharp piece of plastic cut it's way from the inside through the weak material and they said it looked like "animal damage". They basically just said tape it up. I said I'll use it one more time to see if it gets worse, it did and it's very obvious that the sharp back-support is slicing through the very lousy material. They couldn't have cared less but I insisted they send it out for warranty because they wouldn't accept it as a return. I used it two times, very lightly. Most times I've shopped here I've had some regret. I won't bother again. read more