Always a fantastic experience with Mike. Whether it's purchasing equipment, fitting, or…read moremaintenance. Always professionally done.

I have been skiing for 70 years, was a CSIA Level 2 instructor in days gone by and have a gone…read morethrough a lot of equipment in my time. Mike is an extremely good boot fitter and knows more about ski equipment than just about anyone I've met. The quality of advice you will receive at a big chain stores doesn't even come close. Perhaps some of his staff should have had more training in the art of customer service before Grant M. and Lorra D. walked in. But Lorra D. could not have been speaking to the owner because Mike is not a "she". There are a couple of ski shops near Jay Peak that I can recommend. But if you want to stay close to home, Sepp's is the place.

It was a warmish early summer day, the rain spitting. I was cruising down the convergence of Lake…read moreOntario and the St. Lawrence River on the Island Belle, off the shore of Kingston, Ontario. At that moment, I was thinking I was in the perfect place for lightweight, water-repellent outdoor clothes. Luckily for Kingstonians, just a sturdy 30-minute walk to their Columbia Sportswear store at the King's Crossing Fashion Outlets. It's all here ... the raincoats, the winter coats, the hiking shoes, the polo shirts, the shorts, the other multitudes of outerwear and sportswear, the camping stuff, and the rest. When you go to an outlet store like this, the BIGGEST deals are on the off-season stuff ... so here in June, you're getting the requisite 30-60% off, and the clearance on top of that. Yes, there are always deals here, but they are off the highest retail price you'd never pay. Still, the quality is high and the options are in abundance. IMHO, the best clothing options at the King's Crossing Outlets are doing here at Columbia. Get to Columbia, Kingstonians ... then get out on the water!

From the owner: Our Columbia factory store is located in Kingston, Ontario at King's Crossing Outlets. We carry…read moreinnovative outerwear, sportswear, footwear, and accessories for outdoor enthusiasts of all levels. Stop by our outlet store before you take on your next adventure this fall and winter. We have men's and women's winter boots, ski jackets, insulated winter coats, and beanies to keep you warm this season. Whether skiing at Batawa Ski Hill, snowshoeing at Calabogie Peaks, snowboarding at Camp Fortune, or hiking along the Rideau Canal, we have the equipment to fuel your outdoor thrills. Shop our large inventory of performance products that will keep you warm, dry, cool, and protected year-round.

I like Zumiez simply because it's the only place in Watertown that sells snowboarding gear. If it…read moreweren't for that I wouldn't frequent here as often. The workers in the store seem to avoid conversation with customers like we have a sickness they can catch. There isn't a huge inventory of snowboards that Zumiez has available in the store but you can have stuff shipped to the store which is pretty fast and convenient. The clothes they sell are trendy with the younger adult age group.

Trailhead is one of the BEST Kingston businesses on Princess street. I'm not a frequent customer…read morehere, probably because I like to think I'm outdoorsy, but really I'm a outdoorsy-wannabe, but every time I do visit Trailhead I have such a great experience. First off, the staff are extremely helpful. They don't get all up in your business when you browse, but when you need help or want to ask questions, they've got the knowledge and they love to share it. Everyone who works here is a clear sporting enthusiast, and it shows through in product knowledge and passion for where they work. Second, they really want their customers to love and enjoy the outdoors as much as they do. Case in point, I was with a friend who wanted to rent skates recently, but we arrived at the store at the exact time they were closing up shop for the day. Defeated, we stood outside, wondering if there were any other solutions nearby (nope). One of the staff members noticed and came out saying, "I know exactly what you need - Skates! - and we're going to make sure you can go skating today!" We had rental skares within 5 minutes and were happily off to the rink. Taking the time to serve us even though they were close is a small gesture, but one that I won't soon forget. I will however try to make it there during operating hours. :)

I'll never step foot into trail head again. While discussing with the manager why the store refuses…read moreto take a visa debit card (he insisted that the bank charges too much although I haven't been refused in any other stores) I over heard the a sales clerk try to sell bear spray to a lady who was afraid of dogs. I found the staff & management unhelpful and unfriendly and the prices high. I go to Bushtaka now for more reasonable prices and friendly customer service.