I haven't been to REI in a while so I was unaware that they opened up a new building dedicated to action sports only: biking, skiing, snowboarding, etc. It was a nice surprise to have more options and to have the extra space to roam around. Since REI is located in an industrial street, there are many parking spots available for this building and the main building. My husband and I took our snowboards to get waxed. This time around, we opted to pay for the hot wax as opposed to their free machine wax. The hot wax is usually $36 each but they were having a promo that it's half off until March. We went on a Saturday mid-afternoon and it took only about 20 minutes. I also wanted to buy some new boots and I put my name down on the sign up sheet on the clipboard. I was the next one in line and thought the wait wouldn't be too long but I still ended up waiting about 30 minutes to be seen. It seemed there was only one guy dedicated to the boot fitting area. After a while, I ended up approaching another worker and thankfully he said he was able to help me out. *Tip if you're going for boot fitting: put your name down on the list but also just ask anyone with a green vest to see if they can help you out so you don't end up unnecessarily waiting a while. I'd like to give Mike a huge shoutout for helping me find the right boots! He was so personable and he took the time to explain what I should feel. He suggested I put insoles in my boots because I have flatter feet and it made a whole difference, so I really appreciate that. Overall, we had a great experience and received wonderful customer experience between getting our boards waxed, fitting for my new boots, and checking out. read more

Shopping in San Diego, California... My cousins didn't have many shopping requests, but REI was one of them. We don't have REI in Hawaii, so I was game. REI stands for Recreation Equipment, Inc. Most of the merchandise seems to be geared towards camping, hiking, and other outdoor activities. I saw tents, sleeping bags, campfire cooking equipment, sunglasses, clothing, shoes, bags, first aid kits, and more! My cousin was so happy to find a pair of name brand flip flops for half off (around $50). My other cousin bought some dry-fit clothing. As long as they're happy, right? They are literally Happy Campers! =D read more

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I feel like REI used to be like ACE hardware. You went there with a loose idea and could ask questions to the associates to figure everything out. Now it feels like going to Lowes where the associates just push whatever is most expensive. I'm bummed out because I felt like I learned something new on old trips to REI. read more

Service here is great. From the moment we went to other REI and employees pointed us here for roof racks. Dave helped us figure out which roof cargo box was best for us. Not trying to push anything, wanted what will fit us best. Nick loaded it for us and went over set up. Jasmine helped us at check out and was super great and informative. Rare that you have good experience with every employee at one store. This was my first time here and we had to get a membership since experience was so nice, we know we will be back. read more

I love this place! I'm an REI member, which is fantastic because it allows you to buy things from the used section. The used section can have things that have literally only been used once, at amazing discounts. It also allows me to get my snowboard waxed, an unlimited number of times! I bring it in before every ski trip and get a fresh machine wax. The store is massive and has every kind of piece of equipment you can think of. The prices are also great. I personally love the REI branded gear because it's great quality and price. The people who work here are awesome. They're all super knowledgeable and always in great spirits. The parking lot is massive, so you'll always be able to get a spot. Awesome store, just wish there were more of them! read more

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Recreation Equipment Inc... REI everything you can do outdoors - equipment and supplies can be found here under one roof. Make sure you become a member as it offers a lot of benefits that can be a life saver (free shipping, used gear buy and trade-in, and let's not forget the 10% annual Co-op Member Reward earned annually). I have purchased so many items here that I don't think I can name it all but I can start with the running shoes, your feet is very important so you will need to invest in some good quality shoes. I have a specific brand that I always get and if I have any issues I can take it back to get my issues taken care. The return policy if very customer oriented, this leads to some good re-supplied items in the store. The staff is very welcoming and very friendly. Ash a question and you will be directed to someone who know what they are talking about. i can't wait for my next purchase using my REI credit card. read more

The perfect selection for all things athletics related. I came here to buy running shoes and the worker there was very helpful. The return policy is geared toward the customers (90 day return). There is a HUGE selection and it has all the shoes you need for a casual runner. It's pretty much a one-stop shop with hiking gear, tents, clothes, and anything else you can imagine. Highly recommend if you're looking to up your hiking or running game. read more

REI - Sports Wear Near Me - San Diego, California

I was waiting around in the climbing section for 20 minutes trying to find someone that could unlock an ice axe so I could buy it. Gave up and took all 5 ice axes to the front counter and said I wanted one. They laughed at me, I told them no one was staffing the climbing section. I went to buy it and the clerk looked confused, he got his manager, she looked confused, she got her manager, she told me I'm no longer allowed to return any items to REI despite being a member since 2008 and being personally featured on their website and ads. This sucked, but another REI had already told me this, so it was annoying for another REI to salt the wounds a little bit more. It's disappointing that REI no longer in stands by its 100% satisfaction guaranteed return policy. When I originally found out, I went to return boots. They didn't have my size in the store so an REI employee told me to order a size 11 and a size 10.5 online, which I did. Two weeks later I went to return the size 11 boots that don't fit., that have never been worn outside, and was told that I've been banned from returns. I didn't receive any emails about this, I searched my email and my spam and deleted folders, nor did I receive any snail mail. I've spent over $40,000 at REI over the years (mountaineering is expensive, and I track it), I guess that doesn't count for anything. I guess it's cool to have a size 10.5 and a size 11 of the exact same boot though, in case I get a foot growth-spurt. read more

They're located in an industrial/commercial area. Parking wasn't a problem when I was there, but the lot could definitely get full on a busy day. The store was clean and bright, and the staff was helpful. The reason they're not getting five stars is because of their fees. I purchased new skis and bindings, boots, poles, etc, then they charged me $90 to install the bindings. If bindings and skis are purchased together (new and at the same time!), shouldn't installation be included? What are my options - take them home and do it in my garage? read more

Great REI, I think it was my first time there. Nicely organize, pretty good deals if you get items from previous seasons. Surprised to see Vuori selling here (still same high pricing). I also saw cool sporty dresses from Free People but found them cheaper at FP (i bought one of those half price at FP). Also, the to go food for camping trips is too expensive, everything looks very fancy but not so affordable. read more

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This location seems to be the most popular store in San Diego. Every time I go, the parking lot is full and the store full of shoppers. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable about the various outdoor activities you can do in San Diego. The selection is great and priced at retail, however, there are many items marked down for clearance. When I went in January 2026, many items were on Clearance. Some basic stock were out of stock, which was disappointing. Not good when the shelves or pegs are empty. I'm sure it will be stocked soon. Join their Rewards program to earn nice dividends at the end of the year and to get notifications of special events. read more

I love REI. I've bought some solid gear here over the years, and usually, it's a fun experience wandering the aisles dreaming of adventures I may or may not ever take. But let's talk about the wild ride that is their customer service--it's truly a game of chance. Sometimes you get the helpful, friendly outdoor enthusiast who wants to tell you about their latest backpacking trip in Yosemite. Other times... you get the customer service version of stepping on a LEGO. So there I am, checking out a grill display, trying to see how it folds up (because, shocker--I might want to know how it works before I buy it), when an employee storms over like I just knocked over a rack of kayaks. She legit scolds me like I'm a toddler messing with a family heirloom. I calmly tell her, "I'm not messing it up. I know what I'm doing--I just want to see how it folds." She didn't love that response. It's giving "I hate my job" energy. To top it off, I later overhear two other employees chatting about how "crazy" customers have been today. Look--I get retail can be tough, but if you work in a popular store like REI, maybe don't be shocked when... customers ask questions or touch display models. That's kind of the gig, right? REI, I love your products, but please sprinkle a little more "service" into the customer service. Management, maybe add a crash course in patience, empathy, and not roasting customers within earshot? Still giving you 3 stars because the gear is great--but the vibes need a reset. read more

My first time here and it was a fantastic experience! Last time I went to an REI was when it was in otay ranch and that was many years ago. I'm going on my first backpacking trip and was assisted by Tessa. She was absolutely fantastic! She helped me find the perfect backpack and I tried on 3! I thought I was sold on the first one but it was really the 2nd bag that had me! I also practiced running if a bear was coming and I felt no judgement from her at all! I spent hours in there, looking forward to using my new osprey! Thanks Tessa & REI! read more

Came here last week to grab a few last minute things for a 4th of July camping trip. They had everything I needed and it was difficult exercising restraint. Spencer was INCREDIBLY helpful, friendly, and patient with me and my questions. He found me wandering a few times and sorted me out while reassuring me that I wasn't being a burden. Spencer, if you ever want to cash in that beer I owe you, hit me up! read more

Dylan mushtaq was a very helpful employee, he showed us around the store and recommended equipment for our next backpacking trip. He was very informative and knowledgeable about the gear we needed for our upcoming expedition.11/10 employee!! read more

We are officially done with REI and will be removing our membership. It is official that REI hates dogs. For years we have been coming into REI locations with our dogs and never an issue. Even had employees come up and say hello. While we will acknowledge there is a sign for no pets, they have never enforced it. Many retailers have a sign and do not enforce it and never had an issue. As an outdoor lifestyle brand, makes zero sense. They can say stuff like they sell food (it is all sealed by the way with no fresh produce or meat) and it is not their choice, but so do other retailers like Target and Dicks and they do not make a big deal about it. All other retailers look the other way and there are many pets in the environment and life goes on. Working for a retailer for decades, there are not pet police enforcing pet in retail environment rules. REI is making a STAND on no pets and are now turning customers away. Heading to Dicks now and will never be back. read more

The rating is because of the customer service, rental gear, and all of the overcharged items helps me find comparable quality on Amazon. I specifically came here for their weekend swap meet. Used items, returned items, or gently used items are available for a significantly lower price(s). TBH, sometimes not that much lower. I needed a backpacking pack for 6 months and renting was far more cost savings than purchasing. I purchased the Trailbreak 65L for only $60 dollars. I sprayed it down with lavender Lysol to refresh it. Remember when you're on the trail, Leave no trace. #REI #backpackinganzaborrego # nationalparkservice read more

REI - I bought this at the weekend. Swap meet at REI for 60 bucks what a bargain - Sports Wear Near Me - San Diego, California

I really wanted to spend money here on some new hiking gear, shoes, and long-sleeve shirts, but the tiny parking lot was full and nearly gridlocked at 10:30am on a Saturday. On a street with so much open, unused space, I remain mystified that the parking lot was akin to Trader Joe's. read more

I LOVE REI! I came here because I needed to buy a sun hat and a water bottle. The staff at this location are always so friendly and nice. They were really helpful and provided me with advice on what would look good. I would recommend REI and also love what the company stands for. read more

REI - Sports Wear Near Me - San Diego, California

Well Came to REI And I was looking around and they carry all sorts of Shoes for Hiking , Running, and lots of Hiking stuff plus clothing for the outdoors . I was looking at there Clearance Racks around the store and the prices here are kind of pricey . But if you sign up for there One Year membership which you pay 30 dollars and it's a one time fee so you pay once and you don't pay again it's rewards are not bad and you get lots of special emails plus some savings on your purchases when rewards adds up . Arturo was helping us and explained how the rewards works !! I just couldn't get pass on how much things cost here but it's your everyday outdoor needs or just looking for Camping stuff they got it here . Overall it's a pretty cool Store and If I happen to be looking for anything outdoors I shall return and comeback here . read more

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Associate Dylan had fantastic customer service and help us with our transaction with a smile.

Been here three times, $300+ and they've worked on everything except fix the issue. Their fix is the rear derailer "shifts properly when you're off the bike" I'm 180lbs Always the run around, i bring it in, they always tell me it's something new, i say okay let's fix it, then 2 rides later it's back to not working properly. Basically every part related to the issue has been serviced or parts replaced except it doesn't work properly. read more

I was shopping for a running vest so I came here because I saw they had stock online. When I arrive I found the vests and saw they only had one left in the size I was looking for. Unfortunately there was a hole by the lining of the vest. I found an associate but they told me that was the only one they had in store. He took me to customer service and I was able to place an online order for pick up which was nice. I was a bit disappointed because I was looking forward to using the vest but I was not willing to spend $150 on a vest that had a sizable hole. The worst part was the bathroom!! I stopped at the women's bathroom on my way out and was extremely shocked at the state of it. Two of the three toilets were clogged and full of pee. I went to the only stall that wasn't clogged and to my luck it was out of toilet paper. I checked the other stalls and they were also out of toilet paper. There were no paper towels either. I ended up just leaving and telling the greeter about the bathroom. I was so disappointed when I left. I would probably go to another location or sporting goods store if you can. read more

I will wholeheartedly agree with a recent poster regarding REI's hatred of dogs. Me, my wife, and our 8 lb. dog started to enter the store today when an employee sitting a short distance from the door said, and I quote, "Didn't you see the sign on the door? No dogs but service dogs" The employee's name is WIER. VERY disrespectful and uncalled for attitude! With that kind of attitude we turned and walked back out. I will NOT shop at a store with an employee as bad and rude as WIER was today. No more of my money will be going here. I will spend it at an establishment that treats customers like us politely and respectfully. By the way, this was the San Diego store. If I could give 0 stars I would! read more

We needed some different hiking boots ASAP for our next adventure. Dropped into our local REI store and Elyce helped us right away getting us into the right shoes with the correct sizes. It was the last hour until closing and we were well taken care of. We are long time REI customers. Thank you Elyce. read more

Arturo is the best! He's the most positive, helpful, energetic person I've ever met at REI. He let us know about an upcoming sale, & escorted us to Customer Service, where we were helped by Kevin (also amazing). It was a great experience, & we'll be back soon! read more

A great store that is fully stocked with excellent products and a great staff that is eager to help and knowledgeable. Arturo helped me out and was a delight. He listened and got me what I needed without pushing products and without hype. Prices are reasonable and their return and trade in policy can't be beat. Lifetime membership is $30 and is a superb value. They have a new store area right next to the original area filled with bikes and other goodies. A great place to learn about all your outdoor needs and wants. Have fun! read more

I've been an REI member since the mid 70's. This store is well managed and efficient. I recently ordered a travel pack for a trip I am taking in 3 days. After requesting delivery, projected to happen the day before I leave, I called the store to find out if store pick up was an option. The person I spoke to told me the pack was currently not in stock at the store. I explained my concern about on time delivery. Later in the day I received notification that the pack would be delivered a day early. I don't know if my order was deliberately expediated or not but either way, I am very happy with REI Kearny Mesa. Very highly recommended. read more

We came in to get a price adjustment on a blanket that went on sale. I forgotten to get the gentleman's name but the price adjustment was fast and easy -- thank you! This review is mostly for Sam who greeted us as we entered the store. It was a really hectic night as it was Day 1 of the 30% everything sale but she was friendly and welcoming. We brought our toddler along and she saw the little kid bicycles and immediately lit up. I could not say no! Later, Sam came by and asked if we had any questions. We asked about the minimum age in regards to safe use of the bicycles and Sam was really knowledgeable about safety, explained the purpose of the wobble of the training wheels and also mentioned that balance bikes are available. In addition, she also helped us select the correct sized helmet and offered to look at inventory in the back storage for helmets in different colors. Later, as we were in the long, slow check-out line, Sam found us and told us that we would could go to a separate check out line in the bike section since we needed to get a safety check on our bicycle (which was performed super quick!). As she helped us check out, Sam explained the future trade-in opportunity once our child outgrows her bike to get credit towards a larger bike (and she reminded us to keep the training wheels for getting the most value from the trade-in). Thanks so much, Sam! I'm quite new to REI and was feeling overwhelmed but you not only helped me feel at ease while shopping, I also really enjoyed the experience. read more

This place is my go to REI spot. Being a member, I am always looking for new things here. I love the staff on hand, I always get full attention when I'm browsing. Also, I just came in the other day and tried on some shoes. They were so busy, yet again, I got all the help I needed. Great spot. read more

Great experience! Everyone is so kind in this store and makes you feel so welcomed. Every employee I passed by had a smile, said hello, asked if they could help me. Myles in particular was such a great help! Not only was she eager to help, very personable but she was so knowledgeable about the products! I really appreciated her professionalism and kindness. Her and everyone else working the night of 2/10/25. Great staff! Cant say enough great things! Thank you! read more

Great REI location here in San Diego. They recently expanded into the building adjacent to their parking area! So now they have an even wider selection. I always enjoy shopping here and feel comfortable asking their employees any questions that I may have. Get the membership, it's worth it! read more

Wonderful service, they are knowledgeable and respectfully. We just described what kind of jacket we wanted for our mom, then lady took time to explain to us all about the jackets we selected. That helped us to narrow down our pick last week. They carry a wide varieties of outside activity clothes with top quality. The designs are cool and trendy for life. Compared to all of these, REI clothes are all worth the cost. Years ago, we paid a few dollars for life membership and have been the member for decades. Now even with $30 for life membership, it's all worth it. Strongly recommended a reliable place to shop for life ! read more

all of the stuff there would be good experience incredible, just wanted praise pat and denise/debbie (high energy individual absolutely radiated xmas spirit) both helped me along with a couple of their coworkers and even though the supply was low and I think you guys are low fast from what I can tell your staff does a great job making up for it. Daddy said to be honest review the store, wax variety in winter sports because obviously San Diego, and I think they are in the middle of tweaking new building that they it becomes challenging to be looking house, however the peiple make this place a five star read more

Holly is the best, hands down. I'm not the outdoors type at all and she knew exactly what I was trying to ask for in the most unarticulated way. She gave me helpful information for my foot type and activity needs. She encouraged me to try one multiple pairs to get the right fit. The best part was how happy she got to find something that worked me. Thank you Holy for being so nice, patient, and knowledgeable. read more

This place sucks I was trying to get my equipment back but no one helped me out . There were five, six people lounging around and chatting. Why there is no one at the counter? read more

Was at the store and tried on a shirt i liked. I found out i was a size medium, but they didnt have the color i wanted at the store. a sales clerk told me to order it online since they have more colors available. i ordered 2 medium shirts, same shirt, but different colors online. when the shirts arrived at my house, one of the shirts was way bigger than the other, it was like a large. i returned it in the mail as defective. REI still charged me $8 return shipping. i was really pissed about that since their prices are already really high. i will never shop at REI again. read more

Wow! The staff here is ridiculously bad. I haven't been inside this REI location in years. At a recent visit, I asked a passing staff member where an item of clothing was located. It turns out it was very close by. The staffer found this hilarious and actually started laughing in my face. I'm starting to understand why REI as a company has fallen on hard times recently... read more

Went to buy some snowboard gear, picked a lot of stuff from dakine and northface. I went to pay they said i could only buy these brands if im a member. Pay 30 dollars more on top a full price northface and dakine?? Told them what if im not a member where's the non member stuff? They said all the store is members only. WTF. read more

REI Staff & Employees! Thank you soooo much for following me around the entire store as I shopped. Thank you for pushing in front of me as I viewed gloves. Thank you so much!!! Also thank you for telling me I can't purchase an item because I'm not a member and folding up the things I got before you even asked me if I want to become a member???? You think I'm not going to buy hundreds of dollars of clothes because of a $30 membership??? Y'all are despicable truly and your customers are rude! I guess that's your guys' culture ! Anyways if anyone's in the businesses for snow gear/ outdoor gear. The North Face outlet is 60% off and they treat customers with respect read more