Alpine Shop

«Small» local business with a big selection and knowledgeable staff.
From maps and books to gear galore, this is the store at which I’d most appreciate a major shopping spree.

I love this shop! I wish that it was a little bigger, but you can’t have everything. The staff here is always nice and greets me when I walk in. They always have new inventory, and I always find great things on sale to give as gifts.

I have been a fan and patron of the Alpine Shop since they were a little store in old Webster. They have what you need for an outdoor adventure from hiking, backpacking, climbing, biking, kayaking, etc…
What I love is that they staff their stores with people that are outdoor enthusiasts and know their stuff about the products that they sell.
They are by far the best place to get hiking boots. Not just because of the variety but of the expertise of finding the right boot for your individual foot.

I am a fan of the Alpine Shop becuase they are the only real Outdoor Store in St.louis. They stock a wide variety of items I would otherwise have to buy online. They have by far the best bootfitters in the area, and a comprehensive assortment of most items needed for: Hiking, Backpacking, Rock Climbing, Biking and Boating. They have other stuff, but this is what pertains to me. When I go here, I find the arrray of items that fit my budget. If I am cheaping out, I can get something, if I want to go all out, they have it too. This is nice becuase finding this kind of assortment is hard. I was able to buy an Arcteryx Shell from them, as well as cheap organic t-​shirts. No other store in St. Louis has this range. I have purchased that vast majority of my gear here over the years. They really believe in thier product and are willing to take care of it for you when the lifetime warrenty get’s called into play.
To show how eclectic the stash is here, I recently found out about yurbuds. An Attachemnt to earphones that stops them from being painful. I looked on the website, and the Alpine Shop was the Local Place to get them. I was there tonight. I went in, and Steve helped me. He was educated and new exactly what I was talking about. He sized me up in two minutes and showed me how to put them on. How’s that for service. Dick’s doesn’t have them, and I have never experianced any of the high school kids working there to be trained in the product. That is something I love about the Alpine Shop, the people here love what they do, and it shows, they know the gear. Your not getting sent out on a 10 miles blister hike from hell becuase you wanted cool boots. They won’t allow it.!!
Bar none the best and only place to get Knowledgeable staff who care about the wide selection of gear that they carry. REI has such a limited selection, I don’t think it’s close.
The Alpine Shop Also has a sweet event twice a year where you can take your old stuff and sell it to other gear heads so you can get new stuff. It is called the Alpine Shop Swap. I never remember when it is, so I recemmend getting on their mailing list. They will send you a flyer with coupons! I love coupons. Especially for gear I have been saving up for. I highly recommend this place if you are a Kayaker/​Canoer, Rock Climber, or Backpacker. They are pretty good with Ski stuff, but that is my brothers domain. He has been getting is Ski stuff from them for 5 years strait, so they can’ t be bad at it, I just don’t have first hand experiance with that stuff.

This store rocks. If ever I am in need of awesome polar fleece glittons… or ski pants, or a totally cozy hat… this is the place I go. Mind you, I don’t mind walking around in the winter looking like I am about to hit the slopes when really, all I am doing is going to Mardi Gras in Soulard… I just want to be warm, and I want to be comfortable… score Alpine Shop for being my savior in this department.
Whenever I go here, the workers are super cool. They don’t act like stuffy ski bunnies (or whatever a male version of a ski bunny would be called). They understand that you may not be a super skier, and maybe you just want to be warm. They answer all your questions, they don’t push you toward the expensive stuff for the sake of making a quick and pricey sale (and therefore, commission) and they generally are really knowledgeable about the equipment and clothes in the store.
So if you need to go skiing, or just want to be warm at Mardi Gras… this is the place for you. Far better quality than most sporting goods stores and a much wider selection.

I went shopping here for a ski trip this winter, and I was all-​around impressed. They had a great selection of hats, coats and other must-​have ski accessories. I got the softest, fuzziest neck gator that kept me warm my whole trip.
The staff is also very friendly and laid back. They all somehow look transplanted from Colorado or Utah, and they’re really knowledgeable about their stuff. The salesperson didn’t turn their nose up when I said I basically wanted the cheapest ski goggles. She simply steered me in the direction of the best-​quality budget ones. These aren’t the type of people to be breathing down your neck, which is something that I cannot stand.
Also, I went in February, so just about everything was on sale. Score!