Saved our trip -- above and beyond doesn't cover it. I was passing through San Luis Obispo towing a trailer with two heavy bikes on my Kuat rack when the mounting brackets failed on the highway. Luckily nothing came off the rack, but I couldn't safely drive another mile. Jason and the staff at Mountain Air didn't just point me at a parts catalog and a two-week wait. They pulled the parts I needed straight off a display model to get me back on the road that same day. That's a shop that puts customers first, full stop. If you're local, make this your go-to. If you're traveling through and something goes wrong, this is the place that will actually solve your problem. Can't recommend them enough. read more

I stopped in to get a fuel canister for my MSR camping stove and they had a good selection, including different sizes. The staff was friendly and helpful. Price seemed standard for what I purchased. read more

The ONLY ski shop in SLO. Great staff and great selection. If you're going skiing and need rentals, go here to save..

Incredible service, everyone is extremely helpful. Took care of me, I sent the rest of my family in!

Terrific store. Great customer service, good products. Highly recommended. I don't shop for this type of gear often, but when I do, this will be my first stop. read more

Awesome service. They really know their gear and once you describe what looking for , guide you to the right options. Very friendly group helping as well. I like also their clothe options. Love the stores own branded T-shirt color and style (homemade logo ) . read more

One of the things I love about TMA is how comfortable they make me. I am not an extreme mountaineer, but I am a lover of the outdoors, a car/tent camper, and a novice skier. TMA embraces and supports all levels of outdoorsmen/women, and for that I am grateful. read more

Couldn't find a Jetboil Genesis Basecamp kit anywhere online. Even the manufacturer's website had them out of stock. Happened to come across The Mountain Air through my online search and their site said they had the stove kit in stock. Did a little vetting (checked Yelp and they appeared) that this was a legitimate site/store. So I tried my luck and ordered the stove. Ordered the stove at around 10 or 11pm. Item shipped the next day, and arrived on day two. Say what? That's practically overnight shipping! I couldn't wait to get my new purchased investment, and apparently The "Fresh Breath" of The Mountain Air store didn't want me to wait either and got me my goods way faster than expected. Will I be using this bad boy right away? In about two weeks. For now I get to sleep with it next to me and take it for short and long drives around my neighborhood. Definitely using The Mountain Air again and saving it to my favorites. Who needs the largest online retailer when you have these guys! Thank you The Mountain Air. read more

My family and I came in to get outfitted for backpacking trips. The staff were amazing, kind, knowledgeable, and patient with us and our three girls running around the store. They helped us get everything we needed and explained why each item was the right fit for us. Everything about this store is great. We are so glad they are apart of our community. read more

The Mountain Air - Outdoor Gear Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

A great locals favorite for outdoor pursuits! They will match prices if you find something cheaper somewhere else.

I have been in the market for a new rain Shell after soaking through my waterproof snowboarding jacket while snowmobiling in Idaho over Christmas. Big box store came to mind but than I noticed an add for Mountain air on Facebook. So glad I did . I have purchased other gear from them in the past and it was a good experience. Frankly I just had forgotten about them while living in my COVID cave all year. I'm so that happy I walked in yesterday . A very nice and knowledgeable salesperson helped me named Sandy. She ask me what my needs where in an outer shell and then proceed to offer up all the different options. The selections were plentiful and I walked out with a smile on my face and a new Patagonia shell. Thank you Montain Air and Sandy for an excellent experience. read more

What a great experience at Mountain Air in SLO! Jonah was literally the best he helped me get the perfect fit for my first pair of ski boots, patient, knowledgeable, & super nice!! Would definitely recommend everyone in the area. Thanks for a positive experience :) read more

I have been in several times and bought some items here in the past, It's really great we have a store like this in SLO. They have a good variety of gear, clothing, and knick-knacks. Sleeping bags, tents, hiking shoes, backpacks, water bottles, all the camping stuff or hiking gear you'd need without a ton of bloated selection. Just good gear. The clothes are spendy, but all niche gear is, clothing included. They have some good climbing and bouldering gear too. A really nice selection of shoes and boots, with some rocky slopes and things for you to try walking around on, like REI. The staff are all nice and eager to help, though they'll also leave you alone if you so ask. I don't come in often but if I am looking form something niche or specific and don't want to wait to sip it from online, this place is a great option. read more

Victoria, the sales clerk was great! Very helpful and informative. I was looking for some rain boots, and she patiently assisted me with great advice. Thank you so much, Victoria! Love this store! Great merchandise and great staff! You feel very welcome and they give you that personal touch without hovering over you. Everyone there is extremely helpful and kind. Thank you all at Mountain Air! read more

I came here to get a Thule rack system and the people who work here are so knowledgeable and they were very helpful with all of our questions! This is actually my second Thule rack since I upgraded vehicles and of course I came back again to have the racks installed. They were also very helpful when I was looking for a pair of hiking shoes. It seems like everyone there really loves their job :) read more

I went into Mountain Air tonight to replace my 15-year-old Camelback backpack. I was immediately greeted and directed to the backpack section. The employee (Craig?) was extremely knowledgeable about each bag and showed me all the pros and cons of each backpack. I was quite impressed with his knowledge (and passion for packs ) and the time they spent with me looking at backpacks. Thank you! read more

Their brick and mortar business may be 5 stars but their e-commerce needs work. In my case, got bit by poor inventory management... online order was canceled because they did not have enough stock to fulfill the order. Update: Changed review from 1 to 4 stars. Josh (owner) and Andy both reached out. They acknowledged the mistake and then offered options to remedy the situation. We all know mistakes happen. But, as they say, how one responds to a mistake is what really defines us. This is a small mom and pop shop and they demonstrated that they care about their customers and getting it right. In the end, I had already taken my business to another online retailer. Had I been proactively contacted by Mountain Air when the mistake occurred and not after I left my review, I likely would have accepted one of the offered options and left a 5 star review. read more

This store has really great service and was able to help me find a Thule that would fit my car size, An associate named luke was able to help me find the right measurements and help find the right size in minutes, th associate was even able to help teach me how to set it up and put it on for me, I appreciate the service a lot and plan on going back, also if you join their membership (it's free so just do it, ask for luke) you get $5 back on ever 100 points you get, which is $1 a point spent! read more

Like REI but locally owned. Fun deals for clothing. Helped me mount ski bindings to skis. Knowledgeable staff, and they didn't try to up-sale items but gave sincere input. Excellent advice. Medium sized parking lot for SLO. $5 rewards for every $50-$100 spent. read more

I had an appointment close by and needed to kill some time before my next appointment, so I decided to check out this store for the first time. This store seemed to have everything. It is like a mini REI with everything from hiking equipment to camping essentials to outdoor clothing and shoes, etc. I took my time and walked around to soak it all in. There are definitely a few Patagonia things and Yeti things that I wouldn't mind owning from this store. I will say that no one ever greeted me or asked if I needed any help. There were about three employees in the store helping people and restocking some goods. I didn't need any help but it is always nice to feel recognized by staff for being in their store. read more

Good stuff. High price. Expert service. Did not say anything to shaver lake fire or China peak. Could do better. Local is nice but local reaches farther. The world is local. read more

It's a small store, but probably fits the size of the town. Yes, it's also a bit expensive, but it's important to support your local shop so you don't have to mail order everything. And it gives you a chance to try clothes on. On to the review though... Mountain Air rotates their stock based on the season, which I think is definitely the right move. They have a good selection of racks for your car, footwear, camping gear. If you are looking for high quality gear, this is one of your few stops in town. Personally, if I'm looking for outdoor gear, I stop here first. The staff is always nice and helpful. It's good to do your research before going so that you know the product landscape and can make an informed decision about what they have in stock. They don't always know *all* the choices available on the market. read more

This is a small company, with excellent customer service and a big heart. The merchandise that they carry is top-notch and the selection is excellent. But above all that, The MountIn Air is a company that listens to their customers and makes things right. They take the time and effort to listen, understand and deliver. I will go out of my way to give them my business. read more

Every time we need great footwear and gear for the outdoors and fantastic guidance, we turn to The Mountain Air in SLO. The owner Josh, and his well-prepared staff is always welcoming, knowledgeable, and sincerely interested in making sure our experience is top-notch. Today's visit, even though it was busy, was no exception. Simply great boots, that fit well, and sincere appreciation for our purchase. Locals know this is the place to go for expert know-how. The place has a bustling fun spirit, and they are super careful about COVID-compliance too. read more

My husband and I went to Mountain Air to buy a rack for or van. I was so impressed with the service we received there. We were a little hesitant about the rack we were choosing, but the staff had no problem opening up the boxes, laying everything out on the floor and measuring and checking to make sure it would fit. Then when it looked as if it would, they proceeded to put the whole thing together, and installed it on our van! I was flabbergasted! What a great place. Normally I would be floundering through the manual with expletives flying! Thank you Josh and Brandon! Definitely support and choose this place for your outdoor gear! read more

I had a yakima bike rack installed on my Subaru a number of years ago, and not being the best DIYer, noticed my bike wavering (via my sun roof) when driving on the freeway (not good). Didn't know what was exactly wrong, so I called Mountain Air and Josh - one of the owners - scheduled a time for me to come in so that he could look at it. Was not only available at the agreed upon time, but personable and didn't charge me for the fix (found where it was loose). Oh, and there is nothing like the fragrance of the Mountain Air store - how do they get it to smell so, uh, "outdoorsy"? So, Thanks Josh! You have an appreciative customer :) read more

Truly the Best at service and customer support!!! I can't say enough good things about The Mountain Air. This past time in, Nick helped us and spent a ton of time and care explaining everything about a new Thule rack and storage system for the car. He was truly the best to work with and made us feel super cared about which is rare these days for businesses to do. The Mountain Air deserves local support because they support locals. read more

Top notch staff offering excellent service with quality products. I work on survival tv shows and purchased my replacement tent w/ footprint from them. Knowledgeable and helpful with fast shipping and easy transactions. Thank you, folks! I'll be back for more gear. read more

All around great store! Far more than a retail store. Solid advice. No matter how many noob questions I ask, only pro service. Better selection than the other three local outdoor stores combined. Everything they have is solidly manufactured and they go out of their way to warranty my purchases when I've had minor issues. No generic store label crap. Staff attentive, very knowledgable, and doesn't hover. Great place for finding gifts. Great place for ski/board racks and install advice. If you are feeling frugal, the clearance rack has some gems and the customer loyalty program (Mountain Money, HA! ) is pretty sweet. If I really wanted to find something to bitch about, it would be opening my next credit card statement. Will go back every time because of the before and after sale value. A great resource for anyone. read more

Went in to check out ski boots. Right away- Jonah asked if I needed help...He was very knowledgeable about the different brands and performance types! He brought out four different kinds and explained the differences. I chose the best ones for me. I'm so excited to ski with my new comfy boots! read more

Mountain air sports has a fantastic selection of all types of outdoor gear. And perhaps more importantly they stock equipment that is of high quality. On top of that, the staff has always been very helpful and friendly. I recently took my 10-year-old daughter to the store to find a camp stool and a headlamp for a school camping trip. Victoria was extremely helpful and picked out several suggestions that we ended up taking home. My daughter had a good experience on her camping trip and it was in no small part because of the excellent gear Victoria helped us pick out. read more

The Mountain Air - Outdoor Gear Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

Absolutely wonderful service! We rented skis here for my entire family for a recent trip. The staff is always so friendly and so attentive and accommodating. You can tell everyone who works there really loves their job. Hands-down one of the best retail experiences I've ever had is every time I go into this shop. Kudos! read more

I want give a huge shout out to The Mountain Air for helping our family get outfitted to hit the slopes in style and comfort. This amazing local business has gone above and beyond in many ways to make sure we had the right ski gear for each of us. (Eric and Jonah are the BEST!) Please give them your business for any outdoor/hiking/snow needs you may have. They have lifelong customers in us! Thanks The Mountain Air - we are honored to shop local with you! read more

Shop Local! Love the friendly people here! I had no idea that they have been in SLO for over 40 years. This tiny store packs in the merchandise. From water bottles to tents, skis and shoes and a whole wall of maps and guides - this place has it all! They also hold a lot of talks about how to pick the right shoes or hiking tips. read more

All of the employees were very knowledgeable and helpful. They answered all my questions about snowboard boots and I ended up renting with them. It was a quick process and an overall great experience. read more

You know that show "Cheers" Where everybody knows your name & they are always glad you came!! Well that's Mountain Air. Love the store, owners and all the employees. Thank you Mountain Air for always being there!! read more

I don't make a practice of reviewing business on yelp but couldn't pass up this opportunity. In preparation for a hike of the JMT, my daughter and I became regulars at the store. From community events like the evening talks given by staff about their experience of the trail, to shopping at the store for clothing and gear, I couldn't speak highly enough of our experience. People like Seamus, Nick and Victoria, lent their expertise at all times. They are professional, supportive, encouraging and passionate about getting people comfortable in the outdoors! This is a trusted, honest business that truly has the customer's interest as a top priority. Thank you Mountain Air!!! read more

Bought skis here last year and a piece on my bindings broke off on the last day of the season last year. Brought them in recently to get tuned and potentially have to buy new bindings but they were able to get the piece they needed and fixed the binding at no charge to me. Amazing place with great customer service and sold me an amazing pair of skis read more

The Mountain Air is one of those iconic local shops. When I go look for that piece of gear I need, in this case ski gear, I love that I get to work with a knowledgeable staff. The staff at The Mountain Air are also super friendly. They greet you right away but they also give you time to browse if you want; they're not pushy. I just got some ski equipment at The Mountain Air and they set me up with a really cool new product called MadJacks. This cool new product let's you ski in snow board boots. Supper comfy. I've used them up in China Peak and performance was great. That's the kind of local shop I like, friendly, knowledgeable, and always able to find the right equipment for their customers even if it's not the most expensive. Customer satisfaction is their game. Really, The Mountain Air is a great part of the SLO community. read more

Unbelievable service from Nick and Wayne. I needed to upgrade my Yakima rack and they used old parts to lower the cost. They also included professional installation, which doesn't happen at the big box stores. I drive from Santa Maria and it is worth it. Support our local businesses! read more