I went to the Whole Earth on South Lamar regularly until I crossed the river - Town Lake you newbies, not LadyBird - a few years ago. The experience was always a little dowdy, melancholy and less than. Then I went to the North Lamar location - essentially 11th & Lamar - and what a difference. First of all, clear directions and clarity around Covid procedures. People waiting at the door to guide you and help you. A chill "we have it, so don't rush" attitude prevailed. Hand sanitizer at the door along with personal help from a friendly greeter. The store itself was bright (lots of outside sunshine coming in) and clean with displays well-marked and aisles you could actually walk through. When I checked out the cashier was helpful, prompt and courteous and understood how to socially distance a friendly exchange. Look, Covid is a bitch and things will never be the same; perhaps that's not all bad. Whole Earth on North Lamar has figured out how to be safe and yet friendly with quality products, fair pricing, a clean environment and people who want to help you. Now, remember: stay home if at all possible. But, when you go out, hit Whole Earth up. You'll be glad you did. read more

This place has a lot to offer product wise, however it's unfortunate how unfriendly the staff is. You would think the vibes would be better but both times i've been here I walk in without being greeted by the staff members standing at the register area that stare at you when you walk in, don't smile, and talk amongst themselves while looking right at you. The first time I went I felt like I was borderline being followed around by staff without even being spoken to. They have a lot of potential to be great if they just had friendlier rapport with customers. read more

Lots of camping and travel equipment, men's and women's travel clothes, shoes, gadgets and fun children's games and toys, The staff is happy to help but also will leave you alone to explore on your own. Free parking lot read more

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They have cool things but lame employees who are more interested in talking to each other than in helping customers. I had to ask for help getting a changing room and purchasing items. At least a male employee in the shoe department actually asked if he could help me. I didn't end up buying anything for me because they had limited sizes. read more

I bought a pair of Astral Loyak water shoes that didn't work out. Yes, I tried the pair on, but I had the thinnest pair of socks on because I didn't know who else wore those water shoes before I could soak them. Now, I wore them to Schlitterbahn for half a day, since I started bleeding from the stitching on the front of the shoe. The way the stitching is, it's rubs against my foot. I felt it after about an hour. My thought was that because the shoe didn't work out, that I could return the shoe, but the employee said he couldn't resell the shoes because they had some wear on the bottom. It was quite baffling to me that the most important thing to him was reselling shoes. I was asking for a store credit to try another pair of water shoes, I wasn't even trying to get my money. I will not be back and I hope everyone understands that the location is more worrisome with sales, than customer satisfaction. read more

Was in need of some hiking boots. Was greeting right when I walked in the door. Got to the back where the shoes were and was helped right away. The gentlemen also helped me get the right pair of shoes and did not try to up sale me on more expensive shoes. I love this store. It has all the stuff you need from camping to little knickknack gifts. Both locations are great and everyone is so helpful. You could spend a good hour in the store! I always find great shoes here. I really like the Hoka brand too. read more

A great store for random things to include clothing, YETI, board games, greeting cards, random cat books, etc. They have clean restrooms which is a nice place to stop before or after heading to the hope outdoor gallery. Be sure to check out the hammocks out front for a quick relaxation spot. read more

Whole Earth is a fun-to-browse store with a preserve-the-planet theme and an all-natural feel. This location sits directly in the public eye, as Lamar is a mainstay for heavy traffic and this particular block rests at the heart of a busy shopping district (Bookpeople, Whole Foods, Anthropologie, REI, etc.) Their front patio hammocks are relaxing for a few minutes of people-watching and their product is most certainly unique. Expensive, but cool. Think clothing, accessories for the outdoorsman or woman, home decor, and gifts. Hard area for parking. Worth a visit. read more

Whole Earth Provision - Women's Clothing Near Me - Austin, Texas

I went to Whole Earth because I wanted to get new Earth brand shoes. The first pair of Earth shoes I bought from Toy Joy, but they've since scaled down their selection (the last time I went, there were some sandals? and that's about it?) so I don't go there anymore for my Earth shoe needs. So I didn't do much shopping in the rest of the store. I just made a beeline to the shoe section, found Earth, tried on a couple, oohed and ahhed over the wonderful comfortable shoes, bought them, and left. While I was there I talked to a few salesguys who were hanging out in the shoe section. They were chatty, helpful, and nice. I left feeling like a good thing had transpired. I appreciated their adjacent parking lot, as well. read more

Feels like a REI w a variety of outdoor apparel and some gear as well games, kids' books and toys, a variety of cards that are adorable or humorous. read more

Was meeting some friends for dinner at WINK, and deciding to walk in while waiting for them. I somehow found myself walking around this store for about 45 minutes looking through books and games. The staff was extremely friendly, so I'll have to go back! read more

Whole Earth Provision - Huge selection of back packs - Women's Clothing Near Me - Austin, Texas

"Hi, How are you doing?" (with a fake smile). It took me longer to type it than it would take you to do it. I know working on Saturday sucks but you're there, make the most of it. Whoever is in charge of employees being nice to customers should get fired. read more

I'm not a very outdoorsy kind of person but you can count on finding some interesting goodies here. They have books, shoes, hiking gear, Knick knacks, and you name it! I'll walk in every single time in in the area. Most of the time I don't purchase anything, but I just love stopping by. I'm always greeted by the lovely staff. They are all very approachable and helpful. If I'm ever in need of sporting goods or unique finds, this is the place! read more

A new friend and I were sitting and drinking beers at a bar one day when, at an attempt to establish some common ground, I asked her what kind of boys she liked. "I like outdoor boys," she declared. She of the triathlon, spelunking and biking ilk-- I should have known. "What kind of boys do you like, Jen?" "I like indoor boys." We had a good laugh over that. While we're not exactly similar (my brand is one of subversive crafts, weird foods, fancy cocktails and indie pop), our interests miraculously overlap in Whole Earth. I visited the store recently with a different outdoorsy friend (maybe I live vicariously through them) and while she oohed and aahed over different brands of athletic sandals, I was surprised to find a really great selection of quirky, girly shoes! (Think Lisa Loeb, my high-school idol.) I bought this really great pair of supercute, mod maryjanes from Spain and felt good about it, since they were natural and made of recycled materials. It's not exactly a "we are the world" moment, but Whole Earth really has something special going if I can reliably find gifts for friends that occupy both indoorsy and outdoorsy extremes. (Too bad they don't sell boys.) read more

I go to Whole Earth mostly for shoes. You might look at the prices and think they're a bit high, but it's no more expensive than Zappos. Their clearance selection is pretty good too. This location is the main store. I prefer to support Whole Earth over REI. read more

Again, like it's neighbor- I love the company, but this location is lame if you are looking for actual gear. I have been doing business with WEPCo for decades, and of all the stores, this one is my least favorite. It's all clothes and gifts and hammocks ( you'd think that every person on the planet has at least 4 hammocks and 2+ wind chimes, the buyer obviously has an obsession). Like downtown REI, the camping stuff is anemic, and again way too many "life is good" trinkets (can we bandwaggon a different phrase now that the 1990's are over?) I remember a while back, this store had tents and stuff crammed upstairs, but yesterday I visited and no more upstairs, they just shoved camping mixed with travel in the back, with 2 desperate sales folk who didn't look like they could do a Cubic foot -to- liter conversion on my pack needs. Nor did i find many packs for that matter. Unless i wanted an uber techno laptop case by Timbuktu ® (they love their brands at this store) The South Austin store is a little better for climbing gear, but still way weak on general camping stuff. I hate Dallas, but the Dallas WEPCo kicks ass compared to the Austin locations. there. I just gave a bad-ish review to a company i like. Damn. I hate when that happens. Come on, you can do better. read more

OMG! How have I missed writing this review? You might find it spendy and pretentious. I think it's brilliant, and I am willing to spend a little more for the service and the selection. This is a carefully curated collection, and it's always fun and a treat to visit and shop. read more

Stopped in today, they are still not willing to stock plus size women's clothes, in sensible lines that they already offer in average sizes! I stopped shopping here with the rare purchase, twice in 12 years... So sad, I understand though, they don't need plus size customers. For Toys and recycled accessories, I go to Terra Toys and Eco Wise! read more

A quirky store with all sorts of knick knacks. They had shoes and clothes etc but we stayed with all the gifts. The toys were cute but the prices were a bit marked up. $10 MLP figure for $14...either way it's fun to at least look around. Parking can be limited though. read more

I have always loved Whole Earth - since I started shopping there in 1984! My wife loves them and now my two young daughters love them. I find the staff to ALWAYS be super nice and helpful and I love the selection - quality throughout with plenty for any age / style - technical gear, travel gear, clothing, shoes, books, toys, sunglasses, watches - too much fun. This is truly an Austin treasure. Thanks! read more

Hammocks. That's what I've always wanted to buy from Whole Earth. But it would require me to commit to hanging out in and/or mowing my back yard much more than I am willing to do. So instead, I just look longingly at the many outdoor seating (and swaying) options that Whole Earth has on display. I would never in 1 million years claim to be outdoorsy. Don't get me wrong, I run and swim and bike ... but I like nature to be in short doses and on my terms. Translation: I don't need a tent or a sleeping bag. So while I do love shopping at Whole Earth, I have never attempted to buy actual "gear" or "supplies" here. What I have actually bought from here usually falls into the category of "presents" and involves things like really nice wooden building blocks for a one-year-old baby and water bottles for my friends who are thirsty but require stylish water containers. Or Patagonia clothes when you are too lazy to drive to the actual Patagonia store. I have also spent more than my allotted time looking at all of the interesting books and trinkets on display. So, I can't tell you if Whole Earth is a good place to buy gear, because I have no idea! But it is a good place to buy presents, browse, and at least think about nature. read more

I love Whole Earth. Its a great place to buy gifts, and shoes. I'm not a hiker/outdoorsy type person, so I don't have any need for the technical gear here. But boy, do they have everything. The staff can be sort of aloof, but they're better than the corporate drones at REI. I support local businesses as much as I can, and you should too! Also, awesome toys and games for the little ones. read more

The pros: good selection of clothing and great sales, big bonus is I can bring my dogs inside! The con: I don't know what is up with their apathetic staff, they just stand around and chat among themselves I have found the staff to be really good at the university location and also at the south lamar location. It was really cool when the guy upstais at the university location got really excited when Billy Gibbons came in during SXSW because hey I like ZZTop also. I apologize for my dog taking a #2 upstairs in the women's shoe section @ the university location. I now bring my other dog who has yet to go to the bathroom at Whole Earth. read more

This is a cozy Whole Earth nestled behind the 'drag'. It almost feels like you're walking into someone's home who sleeps in a hammock while wearing their chacos! I'm impressed by the shoe selection for the outdoorsy type - and the sales! I have been to a few Whole Earth's and this one hands down always has the best sales. Upstairs you'll find more of the standard Whole Earth knick knack stuff (where I secretly shop for Christmas items!) The outerwear selection is decent and gear for adventure is displayed in way that inspires! The staff is just as comfortably nice as the location. This is a staple for me to visit when I'm shopping around in Austin! read more

Awesome merchandise. They have all the outdoor apparel & shoes you could need. They have amazing books & toys that you will NOT find anywhere else. Plus, hammocks that are epic! I love this store & the buyer knows whats amazing & offers it to the customer. You cannot find a lot of the cool things in this store anywhere else!!! Excellent customer service!!! read more

Always a fun place to shop. Lots of good outdoor clothing, cool gifts and toys, and some neat books. There's a lot of fancy camping equipment as well (and climbing). Worth it to check out the hammocks outside, just to play Austin slacker. read more

One of my favorite stores! I like that they have a children's section with clothing options for toddlers- we were able to find cold weather gear needed for camping for my 2 year old. Their footwear section is also great! Fun toys for children and interesting knickknacks for adults makes the trip to Whole Earth an adventure. read more

I went here on a mission to get some loafers to kick around in, and walked out with a pair of Patagonia's that were on sale for $59. The shoe section for men was decent and they managed to have stock of my very common shoe size (8.5). The men's clothing they carried was nice, but not as extensive as the Houston Shepherd/Alabama location. I generally avoid buying the clothes here since it has a bit too much of the tree hugger/granola look to it. When I don't want to explore the caverns of REI I'll hit this location up. read more

This store has a very nice friendly vibe when you walk in and I like all the natural light. I can in with a friend I'm visiting in Austin and decided to buy a hat for my boyfriend which I had to return because it wasn't the proper size. Each transaction went very smoothly and the staff were all very helpful. I ended up exchanging the hat for a hammock swing to gift to my friend. The seeing set up quickly and is very good quality. read more

Cool store!! Great selection, better than REI. Lots of fun old fashioned toys too!

I truly believe in buying local and I routinely stop into this store to check out new selections. I loved shopping here and almost always find something to purchase. However my visit the other day was less than enjoyable. Several employees hanging at the checkout counter were too busy chatting amongst themselves to even greet me or to ask if I needed assistance. I browsed around, found a couple of clothing items to try on, but the guys were still chatting so instead I went to look at shoes because I really wanted some new sandals. I did see some that interested me but when I turned around to find someone to help, I discovered that an employee was standing there watching me. He made no offer to assist me or to bring out shoes to try on. I had planned on spending quite a bit of money (buy local first!) but was so turned off by being treated as a crook rather than a customer I left without making the planned purchases. read more

Archaic return policy. I bought a pair of sandals as a gift with 2 day delivery. When tried on we needed a half size larger which they did not have in stock. I attempted to return the sandals. They claim they are ineligible for return because they were on sale when I bought them. If they were not on sale, it would cost me the buyer $7.50 to return the sandals. They didn't even offer a credit. I could have turned around and tried a different brand or even style within the same brand from their inventory. It seems like a purposefully obstructive policy. Personally I try for local and small business shopping. Unhelpful business practices always make me reconsider especially now that I am buying things online everyday for the holiday season. Disappointing customer experience. read more

I've spent good money at Whole Earth over the years, largely because their prices were better than REI's and their staff were friendly and knowledgeable. I hadn't been to Whole Earth in a while, but when I went there yesterday I found their prices have gone up, their selection has scaled down and their sales staff has become aloof and useless. I stopped in at the North Lamar location to buy shoes and a light jacket for an upcoming trip. In the shoe department I found four sales clerks sitting around. I stood there for about five minutes before one of them hesitantly came over to assist me. He couldn't answer any of my questions about the shoes I tried on. Then when I asked him if I could use mink oil to waterproof them he said, "uh, I dunno...you can use this stuff" and pointed to a bottle of shoe deodorizer. I didn't think a worse shoe salesman than Al Bundy existed until I met this guy. The sad thing is I've bought shoes from Whole Earth in the past from sales clerks who told me everything I could possibly want to know about them and then some. After my abortive shoe shopping experience I went over to the apparel department to look for the jacket. No luck there either - racks upon racks of North Face and some Marmot gear, but not much else. So I ended up across the street at REI, where I found a better selection of outerwear at lower prices. How times have changed. read more

I was very impressed with the abundance of helpful staff, exceptional quality of the merchandise, selection of gifts for the diversity of ages on my holiday list and the overall feeling of fitness and friendliness! Bravo, Gwendolyn Dayton read more

Recently revisited Whole Earth Provision Co to select a pair of sunglasses. Outstanding selection, comparable price and the customer service was bar none the best retail experience I've had in recent memory. Looking forward to returning for Christmas gifts. read more

I love Whole Earth and have been shopping here since college (ok, that's 7 years). It's similar to REI- camping, hiking, nature-loving things. It's small enough that I don't feel like I'm walking into a Walmart supercenter of stuff but large enough that it has just about everything I need. I took a cross-country cycling trip, and got almost everything here! ...Sleeping bag, mosquitos net, chacos, headlamp... read more

It's always fun to browse here, but I went in recently looking for some sandals or flip-flops with lots of arch support that are also not heinously ugly like those at the comfort shoe stores. The guy working the shoe department was pretty hands-off, which I like in a salesperson, until I found what I needed. He had no problems making a couple of trips to the stockroom to get me different sizes on some Birkenstocks I was trying on. The Go Local card gives you 15% off on sale merchandise here, so I got some new Birks for about $50, which is an awesome deal. read more

This store is super rad! Totally Austin totally cool our kiddo loves coming in here to get a new toy they have so much too choose from and play with so it's a neat experience Everytime read more

this place used to be my favorite place to shop for outdoors stuff, but I am very particular about outdoor apparel and I have noticed that their arcteryx selection has virtually been eliminated and the patagonia clothing selection has also diminished to a rack. Those two brands fit me well, are quality made, and have great environmental and manufacturing policies. North Face is not on par, and it saddens me to see so much of it stocked there. So, unfortunately I have to shift to online shopping for my clothing, but they still do a great job with tents ,packs, and sleeping bags. They also have great gifts -- books, toys, etc. I always go here for my x-mas stocking stuffers. read more

I have decided to embark on the path of the "barefoot runner" and whole earth carries a good stock of the vibra's. The salesperson was very helpful and spent a lot of time with me trying on multiple styles and sizes. When I went to check out there was no one at the counter but I went back to him and he came over to ring me up. A great first experience there. read more