The Backpackers Shop just has to be experienced, whether you are a novice or seasoned backpacker, hiker or lover of all things outdoors. I was just amazed by the variety, volume, and selections of items available. There is just so much to choose from and items from every category of needs for backpacking or hiking can be found here. Right after I visited Backpackers Shop I went to another similar popular shop and was not impressed with it. I just wanted to go back to the Backpackers Shop because I knew they'd have multiple things to choose from for the needs. Not only do they have anything i think I might need for backpacking or hiking but their staff are a wealth of knowledge and experience. I talked with a guy who hiked the AT trail and another worker who had just hiked the trail I am planning to backpack through. They were a gold mine of knowledge and wise advice. I love Backpackers Shop read more

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Ordered online and got double charged then got a message saying my lede was cancelled but haven't received a refund yet. No email saying why it was canceled or what to do next. Just an email from the shop app. Tried calling them and no one answered. Going n to have to follow up with my CC company to get a chargeback. It's been over a week since my order and zero communication from company. read more

Dont order from this company if you are expecting quick delivery or customer service.. I ordered a sleeping system for a month long excursion and it has been 3 weeks since i ordered it and still no show. I have emailed and tried to chat with a rep from the company and I have been ghosted. Buyer beware if my bag does not show up in the next week I have to hit up the credit card company for a refund. read more

By far the best shop in NE Ohio. Helpful and knowledgeable staff that won't put you into something that is beyond your trip/expertise/goals. Chain stores suck, including most "advice" they provide. These people do it right. For the reviewer who said they were not refunded money for a coat they purchased, don't blame them. Their return policy is clear. However in your case, it's probably better that you stick to Amazon. For everyone else, trust the Backpackers Shop. I've been going there for 35+ years. read more

I was driving buy and decided to drop in after hearing about the place for years. They have a huge selection of outdoor items for hiking, fishing, etc. lots of clothing and gear. The staff was helpful with any questions. They are a bjt on the pricey side because of the brands they carry. So be prepared if coming in for something special. read more

Again, love this place! Enjoyed this weekends 20% off on clothes. I was able to take advantage of the sale and the $ points that o had. Tried on two hiking pants that fit great. They had two outside racks with Marmot clothing at even deeper discounts. Our favorite go to guys were there to help us make the best choices in products we were interested in. read more

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Great service from people who are experienced and plenty of selection for anything you would need for any of your adventures, highly recommend read more

Excellent collection and knowledgeable team. Could spend ages in that shop if you don't have a plan!

A hidden gem in Lorain County. Great for hard-core hikers, campers, kayakers and fishermen. Also great for everyone else who wants to just look the part. The Backpacker's Shop has a great clothing and gear selection for all weather conditions. Not only do they have the typical Columbia and Northface gear they have a lot of unique clothing items as well. They have a great selection of jackets, gloves, hats, thermals, hiking boots, UGGS and water shoes. They also have a large selection of fishing gear and accessories, a nice selection of hunting and utility knives, sleeping bags and camping accessories. Need a kayak? This is the place to go. They have the biggest selection of kayaks that I have ever seen...at least in this area. They also have roof racks for your car, truck or SUV. I am very fond of their clearance room. They have a As-Is, no return policy on these items, but you can get a great deal on clothes, jackets and shoes from the previous season. I find it impossible to walk out of the Backpacker's Shop empty-handed. Their products tend to be a bit pricey, but when buying this type of merchandise you often get what you pay for. Their employees are super knowledgeable and helpful, but are not stalkerish. If you need help you can find someone, but they won't hover around and ask you if you need help every five minutes. I would highly recommend stopping in to the backpacker's Shop if you are in the area. There is something for everyone and you will not be let down. read more

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Very knowledgeable staff! Really knew there stuff about the kayaks they sell!! Loved that they actually tied the kayak up for us and and gave great info about where to put in at. I was quite pleased with the inventory they offered when it seemed all others were out of stock. read more

Solid place. Came here to pick up a couple of things I still needed for my PCT hike. Knowledgeable staff, including some through hikers that lead me in the right direction for what I needed. Prices are on par for REI read more

Best shopping experience ever! My husband and I recently purchased 2 kayaks and all of the accessories from the Backpackers Shop and we couldn't be happier. Erika was approachable, helpful and extremely knowedgeable... She guided us to the best fit for us - from the kayaks to the paddles, rack, and life jackets. We picked everything up last Friday and have been in our kayaks every day since. It truly felt like everything was custom built just for us.. We'd recommend anyone head to the Backpackers Shop for any and all of their outdoor needs... They are absolutely the best. Don't waste your time anywhere else! read more

A joy to visit. Workers are friendly, they are dog-friendly, and the gear available is great quality. I love going here for gifts and clothes. read more

Do you like playing outdoors? Hiking, backpacking, kayaking, fly fishing than the Backpackers Shop is the place for you. The Backpackers shop is one of the few places where the sales staff actually uses and knows the product they sell and have the knowledge to recommend the right product based on your needs. My wife was looking for a par of light hiking shoes and our sales rep did a great job of helping her through the decision process. It was refreshing to see our sales rep taking the time to measure feet sizes, ask questions about usage and sock preference, check fit when lacing up shoes and running my wife through a few different feel tests (incline and decline). We've been long time customers of the Backpackers Shop and we really appreciate they service and recommendations from the staff. The product line from clothing, gear and accoutrements will help make your outdoor time more enjoyable. If you want cheap priced stuff go to,the big box stores but if you value quality (service and product) the Backpackers Shop is the outfitters for you. read more

I grew up in Lorain and upon graduation from college moved to Yellowstone National Park. I currently live in Portland, Maine. Between these two places I discovered my love for the outdoors and the fact that Ohio is small potatoes when it comes to anything in the backcountry camping arena. Cleveland, you gotta be tough... street smarts tough, not survive in the wilderness tough. With that said, the Backpackers Shop is literally the only game in town. For this area this store in an anomaly and reminds me of many of the outfitting stores in more touristy area of the west and in northern Maine. Kayaking, hiking, camping, fly fishing, rock climbing... you name it, they got it. The prices are insanely high and it caters to a clientele that wants to "look" as outdoorsy as possible. Shopping online or going to an outlet would save you hundreds. 45$ for a winter hat? No, thanks. But, I am one of the lucky ones. I can cruise over to Freeport, Maine and go to the flagship LL Bean store and then hit up North Face, Patagonia, and Horny Toad for all my outdoor apparel needs, at half the price. The store is nice. Well laid out. The exterior is also very pretty, abutting the metro parks. You can bring your dog in on a leash and shop away. They carry items that other places around here have no use for, so if you are in a bind before a long outdoorsy trip, this may be your spot. But, most likely you can wait until your destination and buy what you need from a place with many outdoors stores. Save yourself a lot of cash-o-la. read more

Wow! I've been looking for an outdoor shop of this caliber on the west side. I stopped in around Christmas. In fact, it must have been a day or two before the actual holiday. I was immediately taken aback by the amount of product and sections in this store. It is packed full of almost any piece of outdoor gear I could want. So I began by navigating around and identifying the sections I needed to concentrate on for a christmas gift or two. FYI I ended up walking out with half a dozen gifts and many ideas for items I wanted myself. The front of the store has baselayers, coats, and technical clothing, turn left and you're into more clothing based on season I believe. Around the check-out counter there are climbing gear counters and knives, camping gadgets. I saw some rope and packs of quickdraws that I really wanted as well as a new belay device. One more room back looks like the fisherman's wharf of fishing gear if that makes any sense. There was a lot and I don't know much about fishing to begin talking about it. They did have kayaks, and a few really cool ones. I spent most of my time around the camping and backpacking gear to the right of all of this. There is also a clearance area in the way back. If the middle of this area is a small bookcase with tons of great camping and backpacking resources, maps, novels, guides, etc. Honestly, there was nothing I couldn't find at this store and I wish I had more cash to go back. read more

What do you really need to have fun outdoors? For most of us, a pair of shoes, or sandals, or rags tied around our feet is about the minimum. Then, okay I'd like some pants, a shirt, a hat. Okay, water, then some food. Beer. Wait. SCOTCH! Yeah, now I'm set. (I already have a dozen fly rods, but that may not be enough...) For the rest of the non-minimalists out in the woods and on the streams and scrambling the rocks "needs" and "wants" blur, and out comes the VISA and the counter is full of gear. The Backpacker has nearly all the toys. Climbing gear. Camping stuff. White-water vessels. Warm, cool and cold weather clothing for all ages (including some mutt wear). The only reason I went here is for the fly-fishing. They're an Orvis shop, which normally turns my stomach (I'm snobbishly anti-snob) but they're not "strictly Orvis" and have a lot of other great stuff, too. I just needed long-shank hooks, rubber legs and some other very expensive stuff for my long nights at the tying vise. Thirty bucks and half-a-pocket-full of stuff later I was done. The girls, though, found the dozens of discounted clothing racks at the far right side of the store, behind camping. They are now happy, although I hadn't anticipated that second mortgage. Friendly and unobtrusive staff, artfully displayed merch, and I take comfort in the location: really out in the middle of nowhere. Can't wait to go back when I really NEED something. read more

The Backpackers Shop is just that...a shop for all of your backpacking/hiking needs, but they don't just stop there. Basically, if you are looking for the best of the best gear that you can get for your excursion then this is the place to come in. The staff is super knowledgeable about their products, and are very quick to help make sure that you get the correct fitting gear. Some may say that their prices are high, but they are right at market pricing if you know what you are really looking at. If you love the outdoors and are looking to step up your gear before that next excursion then you need to stop in The Backpackers Shop. Your trip will be much more enjoyable when you aren't fighting against poor quality gear. read more

We bought $832 in coats as Christmas gifts. One of the coats was not water repellent as claimed and the wrong size. So we tried to exchange it, but they didn't have the right size and couldn't get the right size. They refused to refund the money. So we actually went to the manufacture and bought the right coat at our expense. Guess what? It was better quality. Goodbye backpackers, hello online shopping! Our advice is if you see what you like in the store, buy it online! Especially from Amazon! Free returns to Amazon if something should go wrong! And they will credit you too! read more

Whoa. Utter whoa. Looking for the perfect breathable hiking jacket for him, I set out on a journey only to find no REI or Cabelas close to CLE. Ummmm what and WHY??? Luckily for Yelp, I found the backpackers shop! It's a little of a drive (5 more miles west and you're at the OH Turnpike), but it's definitely worth it! This store has everything for the outdoor person- from camping, hiking, hunting, running, etcera, they got it all and with great brands like Patagonia and arcteryx! They even have Ugg boots too (huh? Hah). Seriously though, I don't even camp, but this store has everything..! And on top of that, they have a clearance room where you can find brand name hiking jackets for a cheaper price.. What a steal! And lots of other items.. If you're looking for hardcore outdoor gear or simply a great outdoor jacket, make your way to Sheffield Village to this shop- it's so worth the drive! read more

I'm not super outdoorsy so I don't know whether the stuff in the store is overpriced or not. Some of it is $$$, but that might just be the cost. I honestly don't know. I will say that I LOVE this store. They have a great selection of everything you could want for hunting, fishing, camping, kayaking, hiking, climbing, traveling, and general outdoors-ing. The Backpackers Shop seriously has everything you could need. Warm weather gear. Cold weather gear. Boots. Shoes. Sandals. Socks. Sweaters. Jackets. Heavy duty hiking packs. Day packs. Everything under the sun for camping. First aid kits. Stoves and cookware. Dry bags. Freeze dried meals. Knives. Kayaks. Hammocks. Fishing and hunting stuff. I first came to The Backpackers Shop in 1998 and bought a Northface travel pack that I still use today (although 20 year me bought a purple one, and 36 year old me is less than pleased with that decision). When I need a quality product that I need to rely on, I come here. Some of the prices are high, but the quality is high as well. You get what you pay for, and it's worth it to buy something that will do its job when you need it. The employees are knowledgeable and friendly. It's worth the drive from wherever you are. It's a 20 minute drive from Lakewood/CLE. read more

Ive been going to Backpackers shop on and off for a number of years. The staff is very knowledgable and friendly. I enjoy fly fishing and they carry a large amount of my fly fishing needs. That said, i give it 3 stars because over the past few years, every time I shop the fly fishing section of the store, I feel like I am being followed and watched to make sure I don't steal anything. I have given absolutely no reason for them to think that I would. I have talked to a few others who feel the same way. Im not sure where this comes from, but it is uncomfortable to say the least. They really need to get this under control. For this reason, I wont be shopping there for my fly needs any time soon. There is a difference between an employee seeing if you need assistance, and attempting to spy on you. Shame on them. read more

I have been coming here for the better part of 15 years. I have got my last two winter jackets that are just phenomenal. I remember purchasing a pair of boots and several pairs of wool socks over a decade ago that I still use. Every time I have been there they take great care of my needs. Would highly recommend checking them out. read more

Unbelievable customer service, intelligent phone answers, smart well informed salespeople, large stock and brand selection, speciality items, PARTS for what they sell, special orders no problem and prices that line up with on line retailers? Located in Low sales tax Lorain County. What else do you want? If you are into outdoor sports at all, they can help you. But be careful, you will find a lot of things that you need here every time you visit. Been coming here for more than ten years. After every visit I wonder why I ever shop at any big box sports store at all. They are ESTABLISHING the standard that others need to follow. Ten stars! read more

This place was great. My husband happened to be in search of a new hiking pack and this place has an excellent sale going on. Considering it was a mad dash by every single person coming in to get sized and buy a hiking pack, the staff were all very knowledgable about their products and because of their sale they even had a company representative available during the sale for even more detailed information on specific products. Overall, we spent about 3 hours here looking at packs then roaming the store to check out other items and then changed our minds on the kinds of packs we wanted. I have to say I really never expected such a great store to be hiding out in Sheffield Village. Definitely worth the 40 minute drive from Medina if you want to avoid big box stores. read more

Been here multiple times and always happy with the with what I walk out with. Was actually in there this weekend and would highly recommend stopping in sometime to check it out. It's an awesome shop with a large variety of great, high quality, outdoor (and indoor) products. The staff is extremely friendly, knowledgeable, and a huge help. If you love fishing, hiking, climbing, camping, kayaking...or anything in regards to the great outdoors or quality apparel - this place has it. read more

This is a great example of why brick-and-mortar stores are still around, and still a great choice for specialty items. The staff here are all outdoors fanatics who really know their stuff. They'll listen to your needs and match you with the best options for gear. Not to mention being able to try on and try out a wide array of items. Pay a little more and get a lot more by supporting great local businesses like this one. read more

I'm so grateful to have such a wonderful store here in NE Ohio. They are very well stocked on all the different items and clothing one would need for most adventures, with a good selection in all departments. But where they really shine is their staff. Everyone is very friendly and very KNOWLEDGEABLE and happy to share their experience. Josh was great, really knows his stuff. Thank you all! BUY LOCAL read more

They always say, "you get what you pay for" and that's the truth here. You can get your cheaper brand name clothes at Dicks but, when you want some serious outdoor gear from the top names in the industries shop Backpackers Shop! Everything they sell here is of the highest quality. Huge store with multiple sport set ups, they even have a room just for kayaks! read more

There may be other outdoor adventure stores around but none will compare to the backpackers. They only carry quality equipment and their service is second to none. read more

I went here to buy my first kayak, and it was the right place to go. The employees were extremely knowledgeable, didn't try to push expensive merchandise, and the whole process simply could not have gone better. One thing, though: some sites claim that the Backpackers Shop takes Amex, but they don't. This was a cause of some temporary embarrassment, but all's well that ends well. read more

I can't recommend this place enough! The staff at Backpacker's are amazing and have gotten me through every crazy trip I've come up with- from backpacking and hiking through Norway, trekking the Narrows in Zion, climbing in Joshua Tree, to completing the W trek in Chilean Patagonia. Don't waste your time at the nearby, big chain retailers like Cabella's- the staff here are experts, will really take care of you, and their gear is top of the line and will last from trip to trip. read more

Very cool place. I made the trip from Shaker Heights just to see what this place was all about, and though I didn't end up buying anything the experience was great nonetheless. Stefan helped me out an offered me lots of advice and never pressured me into buying. If you are inclined to camp, hike, kayak, or get outdoors... This business is worth your time. read more

There is a good reason this place has remained open for for many years. The owner and staff are always knowledgeable and friendly. They ask the right questions to help you find the best gear to fit your personal needs/preferences. It is somewhat pricey, often you could find the same products online for upwards of 10% cheaper. However, they do have awesome sales quite often which offsets the extra money paid at other times and you support an amazing local business. Also, their clearance section can have some incredible deals on quality gear. read more

Huge selection of high quality outdoor gear and very competitive prices and most importantly...they set the bar for customer service! Everyone is kind, knowledgable and go above and beyond. You would never get the same quality, attention and education about what you are buying from a chain store or if you bought online. Icing on the cake? Dogs are welcome in the store! read more

BE WARE. Their return policy is 15 days, 30 days Holiday season, after that all you'll receive is store credit. Purchased add on item, at suggestion of staff, that cost twice what the original item did. Would have had to return the item within the first week of our return from travel. Store credit is only good for a few years. Really? Store staff was less than polite in their explanation...especially when questioned. Felt a little upset, and probably would not have written this review, until as we were leaving we overheard a man distraught about the fact that he had a store credit of almost $600. I'm writing this review on January 11th. I would have needed to return the item by January the 5th. Don't know about you but had better things to do in the new year than to run out and return something that I did not originally come into the store to buy. I wanted to purchase the item locally, to keep the money local. Almost feel compelled to buy on the internet now. read more