Very unkind. Was looking forward to checking this place out after walking by many times looking at the bags in the window. First time stopping in with my child & my sister and we were not treated kindly at all. Will not return. Highly discourage others from supporting this business. read more

A ma and pa shop that is densely-packed with top name outdoor brands, and other smaller, lesser-known brands too. Pricing was more than fair for everything. The shop owners are so sweet and helpful. read more

Tucked a little bit into the plaza and easy to miss but once in, is a very cute store run by a sweet couple. Has lots of options and is a great place to stop before an outdoor trip. Although they have very little to none hiking shoes, they have almost everything else and even things you might not even think of yet. I came here and found a beanie I was looking for that had been sold out in store (was able to get it here!) and during found out, despite being a thrift shop - many items are actually new and many even come directly from the manufacturer. With this, the store has a lot of new and current stock. Everything was clean and laid out neatly. Prices are reminiscent of stores like REI on a holiday sale! Highly recommend : ) read more

Terrible service Asked for recommandation for a bag, says they CANNOT recommend a bag. I looked for my own, picked one, and told him that I am looking for a bag in person because none of the ones I ordered online fits me and that I returned many bags online. He then DENIED service to me, even after I declared my intention for shopping in person is to end my endless bag searching. How does this shop even do business. They have 100 bags and refuse to recommend? I wish them backrupt soon. read more

Mr Young have the best customer service. Great discount and wide selections. I purchased a set of Colombia rain coat from Mr Young and they are great. read more

Young's is such a gem! The unassuming storefront caught my eye as a pedestrian, and the inside was packed wall to wall with quality goods new and "old" (secondhand). Prices all looked reasonable. The owners were super sweet, greeting me and checking in as I browsed everything from retro, old school outdoor gear to travel bottles in the tiniest size possible. I hope to continuing this mom and pop shop - there's not a lot of places like this anymore! read more

There used to be a place on Market St in SF, way up by Zuni and Safeway, that sold all kinds of backcountry gear at ridiculously low prices: Young's on Telegraph is the East Bay's current manifestation of that SF windfall...albeit way smaller. Deep selection of Patagonia, Osprey, North Face, Marmot items at ridiculously low prices. I got an $80 pair of rain pants for under $50. Their Osprey packs are priced around $160 for a 50L bag...easily $40 less expensive than REI or SportsBasement. They have lots of gadgetry too...pocket knives, camping stoves, sunglasses, backcountry first aid supplies, rope, etc. No real shoe dept...which was why I went there...and yet I made other purchases that delighted me. Five stars for sleeping bags, backpacks and myriad little items at prices that deserve stars of their own. read more

Young's Backpacking & Mountaineering - Great prices on tons of bags - Outdoor Gear Near Me - Berkeley, California

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This little corner is my favorite go to spot in Berkeley. I hit up at least 5 stores within a blocks proximity. This store is one of them. I'm glad I can find all the things I need at such an affordable price, with good quality. I started hiking a couple years back and this place provides everything you need, and things you would have never thought of. Great for camping, back packing etc. They have backpacks, sleeping bags, shoes, tents, high performance soap for your expensive gear etc. I'm travelling outside the country for a couple months and grabbed about $100 worth of bug spray, filtered water bottles and more. It's convenient and I dont mind the drive from san francisco once in awhile. Especially to support a small business! Definitely family owned, and the couple who runs it are so sweet! Must check out! read more

Rude, uncomfortable experience shopping here. Do not recommend overpriced. Minimal selection.

My younger brother, coworker, and I went to young's to shop for backpacks for a trip we are taking in August. I had never been to the shop before, and was very pleased with their selection and amazing customer service! We each bought a backpack a piece and I got an arterex wind breaker as well. Prices were amazing and customer service was 10/10. I will never go to REI again for backpacking gear! Support a small local business and check this place out! I will be back thank you very much! read more

Young's Backpacking & Mountaineering - Mystery Ranch 32 pack. - Outdoor Gear Near Me - Berkeley, California

Drop by here to get an idea of everything you'll need for your first camping trip Mom and pop camping shop right by the campus, some good deals (fjallraven bags cheaper than at their own store) and some even better deals on used stuff like sleeping bags. It's all higher end stuff and the staff can help you with any questions you have. read more

I was walking through the streets of Berkeley in need of a new backpack. Stumbled upon this little store and was greeted by two friendly elderly owners with the sweetest attitude! I ended up getting a Patagonia bag, a very nice Swiss knife and a bright LED light for my future adventures for a great price. They have probably the best selection of backpacks and duffle bags I've seen. The walls are full of backpacks of different sizes, colors, brands, straps etc. An amazing backpack store with a great selection of hiking/survival gear. Anytime I'm in the area and need gear I stop by here because of the friendliness of the owners and most importantly their very great prices. Thank you once again young's backpacking! read more

My original intention to visit this store was to find a replacement for my 4 year old North Face backpack. The back pad had worn out and damaged the back side of my clothes. I entered the store and the owner, a humble old Japanese Korean man, greeted me at the entrance. I explained my situation and instead of suggesting of buying a new pack, he suggested that I simply put duck tape to the worn pad. Later on, I noticed there were discounts on my favorite brand, Patagonia. I bought a Patagonia Synchilla sweater which was priced at $99, but the owner brought the price down to $75. What a deal! On top of that, the owner gave me a mountain ring ( not sure if it's called that) and a piece of duck tape to apply to the worn pad of my bag. This was hella cool. This was the kind of business that's dying out ,due to online shopping,that created a good relationship between a seller and buyer. Unfortunately the owner said he might close down due to the online shopping after 40 years of operating. Shop at this place!! read more

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Heard that this place had Chrome messenger bags and sure enough, they have quite a collection of them, and in a large variety of colors. It's been a while since I bought my Chrome messenger bag but I remember it being cheaper than buying it online. The owner of the store was super nice and helpful :) He loves the outdoors and he's a lot of fun to talk with. No returns on the merchandise, but if you're buying Chrome, there's no reason you'll ever find the need to return your bag; it's too perfect. I usually don't recommend buying in stores cause of tax and whatnot, but I would highly, HIGHLY recommend Young's Backpacking & Mountaineering. read more

Very nice experience. Low price with warm customer service. A bit sad that they won't offer refund, but I can't complain since the price is 20% cheaper than the online store. Definitely check out again in the future. read more

I wish I had a store like this near home. I'm here visiting from LA and was wondering around when I stumbled upon Young's. I ended up finding a GoRuck GR1, used but still in amazing condition. Picked that bad boy up. I'll be back for sure. Young's does a trade program too. Just bring in a bag and you can trade with him. read more

The owner was extremely helpful in helping me select my gear. Very intentional and friendly.

Always love Young's! Bought lots of backpacks/outdoor gears and Patagonia stuff from them. Good price, kind owners that are super helpful and knowledgeable. They make very good recommendations according to your needs and are very detail-oriented. Always enjoy shopping here instead of shopping online. Highly recommended. read more

After buying your Tilley next door at Berkeley Hat, come on over to Young's for your other needs for the Great Outdoors. And now that Wilderness Exchange is closed, this is the place to go as a supplement to REI. They have a lot of brands and selection tucked into this cozy space and prices are very reasonable. Nice folks too and very much worth the trip down this seedy section Telegraph Avenue. read more

I'm a huge fan of Young's Backpacking! And, if you're into the outdoors at all, they are a hidden goldmine right in your backyard - I definitely suggest checking them out. I always find exactly what I'm looking for & the owners/staff are super helpful, knowledgeable and really friendly which is not always the case in the bigger stores. I used to get supplies from either REI (for the selection) or the Northface Outlet (for their sales) but Young's has both of them beat & with better service - they always have the highest quality gear and really good deals. Best of all, they'll help you find exactly what you need. Highly recommended! read more

Like most people, I shop around for everything. Like good people, I want to support my local economy. Like very few people, when it comes to what I want the deciding factor is the color. And now time for a poem: So save your time shopping around. Young's has the best prices in town. With a wide selection from North Face to Crome, Your eyes will be pleased with what you take home. You will use your new knife, backpack or hat, Walking to the Berkeley Bowl and back. So make haste, Young's is a great store. You'll kick yourself for not shopping here before. read more

I must confess. I went to REI first. They didn't have the Gregory daypack I was looking for so I stopped by here. It is true. The prices are better than at REI. And so is the selection. If you ask for help, the owner will be right there for you. He is sweet and it feels good to support his store. read more

Young and Misa are super sweet! Oh my god, I cant wait till I need something else from their Backpacking shop. I went in for a knife and left with the best knife I could buy. Young was very knowledgeable and told me some history behind the company itself. I also came across a bucket hat I wanted but they didn't have my size out and Misa had no problem going to the back to check if they had my size. I also picked up two Hydroflask which I did not plan on getting but since my interaction with him and his wife was so sweet I couldn't help but buy more from them. I was glad to hear he did military discount but even more awesome was learning that he is a vet! He shared with me some super old school photos of him in the Army. Specifically how much hair he had back than, we shared a lot of laughs. I just love sharing meaningful conversations with honest good people, who work hard and spread love. read more

Young's Backpacking & Mountaineering - Outdoor Gear Near Me - Berkeley, California

Went yesterday and a nice young woman was working there who was extremely helpful. Went today and they were doing inventory in the back by the big backpacks that we wanted to look at. They didn't make any attempt to stop inventory or move the sea of boxes to help us access the packs. Basically ignored us. Also, said that a large climbing rope was for sale and a harness... When I went to try it on the owner kept insisting that it wouldn't fit me because it was a small "and for someone very skinny" (I wear a size 4-6 and fit in a lot of size small/medium things), and then he said, "Actually it's not for sale. It's on hold for someone else," and threw the rope and harness back up on the rack. We put some fuel on the counter to buy and he said: "You're going to Yosemite - you don't need this, you can buy it there, don't buy it here," and took it literally off the counter. Seemed like he was trying to shoo us out to finish his inventory. Two people walked in and looked around and then walked out and left - I assume because no one was there to assist them. When my boyfriend checked out with a climbing bag the owner said: "You spent an hour and a half in here just to get that?" We probably would have spent $150 on a big backpack... If we could have gotten to one. The gear is really good, lots of vintage day packs and backpacking packs, decent prices. Hopefully when you go the nice young lady with the nose ring helps you out - or you may have to put up with an obvious lack of customer service and rudeness like we did. read more

Young's Backpacking & Mountaineering - Backpack - Outdoor Gear Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Pretty good variety of items and a very easy to get to shop. Didn't have what I was looking for, but it was okay. The staff here was really nice. read more

I was about to drive past this place, because I confused it for Sports Basement on my map. I thought why not, give it a try...SO glad I did!! I just wanted a simple, sturdy backpack under $100 I could take hiking & on bike rides that could withstand a little rain/water...it seemed like a pretty standard thing to look for, but it wasn't. I didn't have time to wait for something to ship online because I'm going out of town next week. I had already gone to REI, Macy's, Nordstrom, Urban Outfitters, & several other stores in Berkeley, & could not find anything that didn't have a huge noticeable brand name & wasn't too trendy or extreme. Not only did I find exactly what I was looking for at Young's, but it was on sale!! It even has a soft zip compartment for sunglasses!! I was about to go get a sunglasses holder afterward because I had just lost my old one so I killed two birds with one stone. Thanks Young's!! read more

Young's Backpacking & Mountaineering - Exactly what I was looking for! - Outdoor Gear Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I have shopped here a couple of times. The first time I replaced a backpack that was very much a part of the family. I received excellent service and advice. If you know me it is very hard for me to part with 'Stuff". So flash forward to today. I had a couple items on the counter and the owner was ringing me up and he was going over the bags I wanted and said that he was sorry but there were couple of flaws in the bags and he couldn't sell them to me. WHAT?! He said I would not be happy with the purchase and didn't want me to be unhappy. I will never buy another backpack/bag anywhere else. read more

A small outdoorsy shop close to campus if you don't have a car. They carry a bunch of stuff considering the size of their store at reasonable prices, nice selection of pocket knives and camping knives as well, including Benchmades and Spydercos. Oh yeah the people at the counter are nice too. read more

Mr. Young is the man and him and his wife are a beautiful couple who knows quality and how to cut a deal, if you want superior gear at an excellent price, then get it at Young's!! read more

Honestly would not buy a backpack, or any other camping gear from anywhere else. Small businesses such as this one have a special place in my heart, and their selection of used and new backpacks for school or backpacking are top quality, and pretty diverse! The staff is very helpful, and the owner, Young, definitely knows what he's talking about when it comes to backpacking. Also, I compared their backpack prices with other retailers and the brand websites, and I found that Young's Backpacking usually has a cheaper price by $5-$10, usually a lot more for pricier items. Can't recommend this place enough! read more

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I've been here several times to buy things. Their prices are certainly great. Today I had to leave the store because the male owner was giving us crap about my kids. I brought my two girls and I asked them to stay by my side like I do in all stores. Nothing suggested they were a risk to the store. The owner said I had to hold my kid's hands so they wouldn't get hurt. Again nothing suggested they were a threat to the store. We left. I cannot stand people being jerks about children in public. I didn't even say anything during one of the last times we were there when the owner and his wife were clearly drunk. What do I care? But you give me crap about my kids and I leave a review like this and vow never to return. Screw them. read more

Great customer service.. I love that it's locally owned and one of the few mom and pop shops around. Great selection of gear!!

If you need a bag/back pack/ messenger bag/ camping stuff etc... Young's is the place to go. Forget north face, REI, blah blah blah, because Young's carries all of those brands and more. Come here to browse around, try on, and compare different bags and brands. Not only do they normally sell items a few dollars cheaper than surrounding places, but the owners are stand up guys. I was in the market for a new backpack/messenger since some A$$HOLE broke into my car and stole my favorite one. Not only was this same bag cheaper than other places, but he even gave me a few more dollars off and threw in a free photon light... YESSSS time to get one more and bring them to a rave. Wait, do people still go to raves? read more

I love this little store. When I don't feel like dealing with REI (which is often), Young's is a great alternative. The store is really small, but they pack so much stuff in here you wouldn't believe it. In fact, it makes you trust that they know something about backpacking. The people that own it are really nice and helpful - if you don't see what you're looking for, they probably have it somewhere, so just ask. Great selection of backpacks and jackets, and they often have good sales and deals on last season items. read more

I bought two pairs of the same merino wool socks because my feet get pretty cold during the night.. The socks were too big and they were not warm enough. I was hoping to get them exchanged. Understandably, I couldn't switch the socks I opened and instead exchanged the socks I didn't open. I don't know about the owner in the picture of the website but when I came back to exchange the socks, the owner was female (his wife I presume) and she was not friendly at all. She thought it was ridiculous that I was cold and called me a weirdo for feeling cold in California. I got a new pair of socks but boy did she make the experience unnecessarily uncomfortable. read more

Small little shop that has had more in stock for my needs than REI, Any Mountain, and Marmot. He stocks little things and repair stuff that is often sold out of other stores. Also I noticed that he has a number of patagonia down sweaters in a bunch of gorgeous colors that the big guys do not have. The price for my repair tape and the down jacket was the EXACT same price as REI. Not sure if he watched them, but I would pay a little more just to keep him in business downtown. I like smaller shops where I don't have to walk all over the place for things. read more

I stumbled into this place one day on my journey to find a backpack for my sister as her birthday gift. The service was very helpful, and they were very knowledgeable about all kinds of gear. The selection was big, and the prices were amazing. Definitely recommend this to all of those folks in the market for new sturdy bags that will be entrusted to safekeep your academic livelihoods. read more

Five stars for the kind owner who helped me select a pair of Chaco sandals I couldn't find at the nearby Any Mountain outdoor gear shop. Although I only purchased the shoes, I browsed around and found the water bottle, sleeping bag, and backpack selection to be copious and well-priced! Like another Yelper wrote, it really does feel nice to support a local shop such as this. read more

Wonderful classic outdoor gear shop. Small in square footage, impressive in selection. They carry everything you need for backpacking trips and travel, including jackets, bags, rain gear, stoves, sleeping bags and pads, and wool socks and gloves. They even have clean, gently used and vintage gear for sale super cheap. read more

The selection is small but well chosen. I grabbed a Patagonia fleece for 20% less than the price from patagonia.com. Glad to have a decent neighborhood outdoor shop! read more