Visit the flagship REI store when you visit Seattle! It was neat to pass by a trail for testing the mountain bikes on your way to the store entrance. I couldn't believe how big this REI was. You can buy all of your outdoorsy stuff in one trip. We ended up buying a couple items that were on sale. If you are hungry, there is a restaurant in the back of the store. Parking garage is available. Free parking for the first hour. There is also parking along the street. read more

Oh yeah, this is the mother lode of outdoor stores...that 65 foot indoor climbing wall (one of the tallest free-standing indoor man-made climbing walls around) is a total delight, bring friends and climb the day away...the views from the top of the rock are rockin' (no pun intended). The outdoor grounds of this store are equally as impressive. Ah Seattle...complete with a latte cart right outside the front door and plenty of parking. read more

This store can be overwhelming in its size and selection. On weekends, it's also appallingly crowded. But, if you aren't quite sure what you need, but know why you need it, come here and ask. The staff is very helpful and knowledgeable. read more

Yes, any mainland trip isn't complete without a trip to the local REI. As many of you already know, this is the main location and has quite a selection of anything related to outdoor activities. I was admiring the building's design along with the interior decor, what a job that must have been to take on a project like this! Very well organized that is mindful of the many things. My wallet came out much lighter here while lugging out a bag full of stuff. Beware! read more

As good as it gets, folks. They have an outdoor course to test bikes and shoes. They have a fucking ranger station INSIDE the store! The have clocks that see time in different areas of the world!! ok, that last one isn't that cool. But besides...this is the fucking flagship for REI. If you have any inkling of interest in outdoor stuff, this place is like the chocolate factory in the wonka movies. What helped me the most was the ranger station inside. They gave me all the info I needed for my backcountry hiking trip I took in WA. I also bought the wilderness permit there. Perfect. read more

I am consistently wowed by REI. The Seattle store is no exception. There is no doubt they've lost money on a few of my transactions due to me returning or exchanging stuff I've worn. However, they will surely make it up as I will be a lifetime customer. With technical, high quality gear, sometimes you just have to wear it a while to make sure it fits well and moves right. I absolutely love their return policy. If you're buying a $150 fleece or $250 jacket, you want to love it, and REI wants you to love it too. The employees are all outdoor enthusiasts too, with lots of knowledge about the gear. One of the employees today pointed me toward a jacket I hadn't even considered, but ended up loving. Spent a little more than I'd planned on, but really happy with the purchase. You get what you pay for when it comes to quality clothes, both in fit and performance. Great to deal with. I feel a little bad not shopping with my local outdoor store, but they just can't compete with the service and value REI offers when it comes to high quality technical clothes and gear. Highly recommended. Next time you're in Seattle, you gotta check out the REI- it's impressive. read more

Horrible experience! Charge $15 for 15 mins, not even 15 mins of climbing that includes your time getting shoes and harness on. You climb all day at a real gym for that price. My 7yr old was extremely excited, Lady went to front desk 3 times and wasted all time Doesn't let my son climb route he wanted to put him on a 15 ft route he does in 60 seconds and then says OK time up your all done. He looks in disbelieve since we waited at store for 2 hours for his turn! Never pay to climb here! read more

This is definitely REI's flagship location and is the largest REI store in the world. It has a mountain bike test trail, 65-foot climbing wall, and a few floors filled with gear and accessories. It's certainly worth a visit if you are in the Seattle area and are an outdoors enthusiast. +REI's flagship store and largest REI. +Staff was helpful +Contained a small restaurant that served sit-down meals. -Very busy when I visited. -Unexpectedly limited selection of items While there is a multitude of items in the store, some of my friends did seem to notice that they didn't have quite as varied a selection as one might expect in such a cavernous REI. This location also seemed very busy but the one time I did ask something of the staff, they were friendly and helpful. read more

The REI Mothership! The Nordstrom of outdoor wear. Excellent service and everything you'd want for the great outdoors all under one roof. They even have an indoor climbing area. It's great that it's membership based so you can feel you own a part of this goodness. read more

Holy mother of REI-ness. This is the store you want to go to and duh! It's because it's the flagship store. Therefore, it's better and bigger than any other REIs I've ever been to. And wow, is it ever?! The staff is friendly and knowledgeable and you can find yourself spending a good amount of time and money here. The only downside is parking. Ugh. But that seems to be almost expected for anything worth shopping at or seeing in Seattle. read more

Take me to your leader! I love this REI Flagship store, and have a serious problem - I can't leave without buying something. The selection is great, and we go often enough that I finally have a set path that I take every time we go. My favorite sections include: climbing (with a mini-wall to test shoes and a GIANT wall to just go have fun on), cycling (great selection of gear and equipment - though I've never looked at the actual bike selections), outerwear (who doesn't love a north face), and clearance (there are racks of fun clearance items on the second floor). Like I said, I have a problem :) read more

When I first moved to Seattle, I came to this store to see what all the fuss was about. I was actually pretty turned off after that visit because of how rude the employees were. There's a pretty strong "club" atmosphere here and if you're not in their club then they totally judge you. I came back a few months later and have had a much different experience since getting an REI membership. Now I'm in their club I guess?! My boyfriend and I did a huge shop one weekend getting hiking boots/cloths/backpacks and other stuff and dropped a ton of money. The employees helping us were patient and very friendly, so I guess it just depends who's working that day. I'll be back, mostly because of the huge selection. read more

Is it weird to rate this REI 5 stars? Nah whatever. This is the first REI store and I think it's great! It's huge but has an organized layout, plus a fun miniature hiking path near the entrance. The employees are nice and if not knowledgeable enough, can help research gear for you. Free one-hour parking to browse. read more

Challis in the backpack department is great! He is attentive, passionate, and knowledgeable. Thanks Challis!

Plethora of goods here. Helpful staff as always, up to REI standards. Dividends with the REI membership keep me coming back. Not cheap but the products are durable and they have an awesome satisfaction guarantee. read more

I can't quite feel like a true born and raised Northwest girl without writing up about REI! The flagship store is absolutely beautiful - an oasis of all things outdoors. From the giant climbing wall and indoor fireplace to the beautifully landscaped trails leading up to the store - the downtown REI just makes you want to buy something new and go and find your new adventure. I've had the joy of working for REI in college down in Orange County, and I have to say that it is one of the most enjoyable stores to not only work at but to shop at as well (even if I no longer have the amazing employee discounts). Their return policy and customer service is exceptional. The experience of purchasing there makes you not afraid to try new products or brands, as you know they will never slap your wrist or yell at you for returning the product if it just doesn't work. Although other stores may have a better deal here or there, I will always go and purchase my outdoor supplies and clothing from REI...what can I say, they've fostered true brand loyalty in me. read more

Coming here just makes me want to go camping somewhere. Getting a lifetime membership is so worth it buy the way. $20 bucks for a lifetime! That's pretty long! Parking around the building or in the garage is easy...UNLESS there's a big sale going on. It then becomes hell on earth. The staff is friendly AND helpful. When looking for a bike I learned so much just trying to pick something out; I also appreciate them allowing me to test ride it. read more

I love this place! We come here almost every week. I am so spoiled with this flagship store that when I go to other locations, I am hugely disappointed. I only go to this location now. The staff here is great. Everyone is very helpful and knowledgeable so I am not only learning about the product I am buying but other useful information about the sport, activity, etc and they don't try to oversell you on stuff. read more

Have I ever spent less than $300 at REI? No. I have everything from a snowboard, hiking boots, snowshoes, and head lamp from REI. If you live in Seattle and you at all leave your house this is pretty much the go to for outsiders. They have great quality products and a lenient return policy. I have sometimes been dismayed by the quantity of snowboarding equipment. Pretty shocked when I couldn't find an adequate (size and style) shell or comfortable snowboarding boots. read more

The real question is, 'What's not good about REI?' Love love love the flagship store! They have everything outdoorsy you could possibly want, plus great service, cute, different brands of clothing you may not expect and a 100% guarantee! They have an excellent supply of good quality fitness clothing. While their prices can be high, they do have sales and good deals on clearance. Plus, if you are a member, you can scrounge through their 'bargain basement' of returned/used items and find a real gem. While the thought of actually camping outside is positively repulsive to me, I love this store and come here often! read more

WOW. Biggest REI ever. If you need anything that has to do with the ourdoors, it'll be here. It's still the same expensive REI prices but this store is worth checking out. You could probably spend hours here. They have a parking garage that is free for the first hour. read more

This REI mother-ship store is huge and maybe the biggest REI in Washington and maybe in US. They have outdoor trail and bike path. I was disappointed that the kids section is very small and has little selection but you can always get more online. We were there in summer to look for bug spray for our hiking trip and they have great selection. They seem have "clearance" for each categories and great time to look for bargain if you don't mind paying for WA state sales tax. read more

REI - Outdoor Gear Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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This is an amazing, huge REI with everything to be found under the Seattle sun and rain. The staff was very nice, and I would shop here again. They have a gigantic selection in-store, which is nice if you need to pick up a few extras for a trip or for life. I would readily shop here again. read more

REI seems to be one of the very few stores that has not closed because of Amazon. Don't get me wrong, I love Amazon, but it has utterly demolished and completely destroyed my formerly "sleepy" home town with overpopulation/traffic. REI has everything you need for outdoor activities, it's relatively easy to park in their lot, and conveniently located in "oh-so-chic" SLU - thankfully not in the extremely overpopulated part (absolutely nothing used to be there at all 20 years ago....). They have an awesome membership policy - cash discounts at end of year based on the amount you spend in the year. Also great return policy - up to one year, even if you use the item. If REI ever shuts down, it will mean to world has official end of the world - seriously. The is an awesome, Seattle institution and does not deserve to be destroyed by all this high tech crap that pervades Seattle ATM. read more

REI used to be a co-op. You could go in and if they didn't have something they would tell you where to get it. This was a long time ago, but I still remember how nice it felt to be helped, instead of just being steered towards whatever they carried. I'll be shopping there because they have tons of stuff in one place and somethings you can't find anywhere else. They also have a crazy Nordstroms style return policy on things, which means if something breaks or whatever you can return it. Nostalgia won't help but sometimes its nice to wallow in it. read more

Thank goodness I had a gift card and a little bit of self-control! I had a $75 gift card to spend at REI and I wanted to buy some cycling supplies (hey - it is bike to work month). The Seattle REI store is the largest of their outdoor sporting goods stores in the area, so I figured I'd find at least a couple things I could use. The problem is I found much more! REI has supplies, equipment, and books, and lotions and clips and bags, etc. for every sport or outdoor activity you could imagine (I don't think they sell "sports" equipment though... like soccer balls or basketball hoops. Think more like the kind of sports people say they do when they're working up an online dating profile... hiking, kayaking, etc.) The Seattle REI has seminars and classes on techniques and gear and they have areas where you can test drive the equipment too. I have a couple of comments: 1) I struck out a few times because they were out of a size or style I was seeking, 2) the store associates were always busy and seemingly understaffed (it was a busy holiday weekend today), and 3) the gear seems to be a little pricy (I do believe you get what you pay for though... you can find a cheaper tent at Joe's or somewhere else, but how many seasons do you think it will last?) A closing comment: parking is free for the first hour in their garage, after that, you pay. The store is big enough where you could expect to spend more than an hour there taking it in, especially if you like to explore architecturally interesting buildings (this is no cookie cutter big box - a lot of thought was put into the design). The garage has a low ceiling: DO NOT DRIVE INTO GARAGE WITH BIKES ON ROOF RACK! While leaving, I saw a Subaru wagon driver likely totally mess up his TWO mountain bikes when he'd plowed into the garage ceiling as he drove into the garage. read more

This store is huge. But I mainly go there for the Pinnicle which was my first indoor climbing experience. Loved it. read more

Wow, flagship REI... pretty awesome. The architecture was as great as I had been led to believe, and this is a BIG STORE. It has EVERYTHING. Seriously. It put the puny little Boston branch I used to visit to shame. I went on a Saturday afternoon during their fall sale so probably about as busy as it gets... I did find that there were so many people that it was hard to find someone to get advice from. But I had a good chat with my cashier who had some first-hand commuting-biking in the rain tips. Overall, its a cool place... its expensive... but you get great quality and an excellent selection. read more

First off, I love this store. I've bought many a piece of camping gear here and have yet to regret a single purchase. I even bought my luggage here because it's got the lifetime warranty and looks darn good. Yeah, it was expensive. But I will never, ever have to buy another piece of luggage to replace it. :) I pay for quality, yo. I also want to give their climbing wall a try here sometime soon. I usually bring guests here because most of the people who visit me are fairly ridiculously outdoorsy, so visiting the REI flagship is definitely something they would be up for. In fact, the Flagship Tour of Seattle is one I love taking people on. That said, WHY ON EARTH did I have to enter "Flagship" as the search term to find it's review site??? Seriously, folks! I entered the address of the store, REI, Recreation Equipment INC, used all the pre-suggested search terms and not a one brought this review page up. Yelp! Get on this! read more

Going to REI just makes me happy. I am always amazed at the number of people in this store learning about new equipment and also the amount of help the staff provides for anyone who walks through the door. You can always get your questions answered and I appreciate that they have not only a great selection of gear for the hardcore outdoor type that might appreciate climbing, but also for the less adventurous with things like kettlebells and yoga mats. In addition to a great selection of items in their store, they have a great class offering if you want to expand your outdoor knowledge. Definitely makes the shopping experience fun as REI is not necessarily just a store, but a destination. read more

The flag ship REI store in Seattle is heaven for the outdoor enthusiasts. Probably the finest outfitter in the country. The store is remarkably open, spacious and well organized for the amount of selection it carries and traffic served. The sales reps know their stuff - I picked up a go pro and staff was knowledgable inside out. Great service. Parking is free only for the first hour - given this is the primary seattle store hour, it really ought to be free with a purchase, consequently 4 stars. read more

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Yes, this is a beautiful store, but the main draw is the care and service they provide to their customers. I can't tell you the number of times I've gone in with a vague idea of what I am looking for and get overwhelmed by all of the technical choices. Thankfully, every time I've asked there have been EXPERTS available on whatever it happens to be who can guide me. Every time. read more

The store is amazing but Scott who helped me went above and beyond to help me find the right sleeping bag and pad. When my size wasn't available he quickly found a great second choice. His recommendations were on point, I tested the gear near a summit the next day below freezing and was perfectly satisfied! Thank you! I'll be back and will ask for that guy! read more

I love this place too, but the illusion of a feel-good eco-friendly nonprofit apparently doesn't extend to its staffing levels. Even though the associates give excellent service and are dedicated to the cause, there are not enough to go around. For example, on July 3, the check out was completely overwhelmed and there were just two associates working the shoe area. I commented on the imbalance and the response was this problem was well-known by corporate. And this is the flagship store in Seattle. read more

What can I say, I've been a member for almost 9 years now. Have spent thousands of dollars into this store. It's money well spent. REI is co-op, hence profits are shared to its members, the owners. Again, things you look for in a store - quality product, knowledgable staff which is always synonymous to "good customer service", return policy and price, no we're not talking about price, since you get what you pay for. Buy cheap, get cheap. Gear from head to foot, undies and outties, I have it, all from REI, for all 4 seasons. My 7 yr old $150 Montrail hiking boots, fits well, cozy and comfy to my feet, still functioning, and would probably outlive me. I looove my MTSs, the wind breakers, the quick dry SPF 30 shirts that I use for my travels, the travel goose down, the sturdy luggages that survived shocks and stresses on Bolivian buses! Here's another thing to look at - REI gives back $4M of its operating profits to support conservation efforts nationwide. It's a socially responsible org, gets involved heavily on the community and lends support for outdoor-focused clubs and non-profit organizations. How comforting that is to know on what they do and where your money goes. I'd rather get my Dansko here for the reasons mentioned above, instead of getting it somewhere else for the same price. Staff are technically knowledgable, helpful and polite. Heck, they're not paid on commissions to smile at you or help you out, they're passionate about what they do, the outdoors, a manifestation of how much they care, and get you taken care of. Disclosure: I don't work for REI, I wannabe! :) read more

Ditto all the other great comments people have to say about this REI store...REI always has very helpful, extremely knowledgeable, and attentive staff. Aside from selling a wide selection of high quality outdoors equipment, they have excellent information about hiking, camping, permitting, and National Forest Official to answer any question. Tip: Don't spend more than an hour shopping or you'll pay for parking. read more

Can I give 6 stars? Cannondale race bikes, 1.5lb 15 degree 900 fill sleeping bags, ice axes, Asics running shoes, MREs are some of the things you can get at REI! Even those stupid 5 finger shoes. Yes! They have those too, for all your hippy/hipster needs! It's REI what really needs to be said here? I practically live at this store. As far as I am concerned REI is the best company for outdoor gear. The one-time 20 dollar membership fee is worth every penny. I've had mine since 1996. You will receive a 10% dividend on all your full price purchases over the year which most people use in the store but what most don't realize is if you wait until July you can receive it as cash back. I've never taken the cash as I always find another bit of gear I need. I love the idea of shopping mom and pop but let's face it a lot of times it's crap. Mostly because if you buy the wrong size or are unsatisfied with your purchase you're stuck with it or have to pay some idiotic restocking fee just because they operate on a shoe string budget. Not so with REI. To the point where I see their return policy get abused. I've seen an old-timer returning backpacking boots from the 80s because he was unhappy that the soles wore out. They took them back without any questions asked. That was really ??impressive??, ??stupid??. I didn't really know what to make of it. The prices are very competitive and if you don't need the gear "right now" you can really work your magic by buying it in the off season. For example buy your winter stuff in the spring because it's on sale and vice versa. I love the fact that they carry smaller brands Nemo Equipment gear etc. Between REI and Costco I really don't need any other stores. read more

First off, REI is an incredibly thoughtful large corporation. Here is just one reason why I will continue to shop here. My girlfriend bought a pair of $120 hiking shoes, two years ago at the store in College Park, MD. After the first hike, she hated them. Two years later in Seattle, she brought them in, told the folks in the shoe department about her experience and they spent a lot of time fitting her with the right shoe and ended up taking the shitty ones back. She only had to pay $5 dollars difference and now she loves hiking. The service here is amazing. The products they sell are well crafted. It's worth paying a little more up front and getting good product. read more

I love it here!! I love the outdoor stuff here!! Shopping for cycle socks, binocular and rain jacket! I also bought a kayak a few month ago from here and it is still awesome!! read more

This store is incredible- a great shopping experience should take you to another place and inspire you and the REI flagship does just that. As you walk in you're greeted by a beautiful green landscape, and just inside you find yourself by a fireside. The sales team is awesome; they even fitted me and taught be how to properly wear a backpack suited for trekking around for hours (the strap at the bottom should sit on your hip bones and just above for max support). Avoid the snack section it's how they get you. :-) or don't and spend too much on granola bars, energy supplement snacks and chocolate like I did. read more