Alpine Shop III

I have been an Alpine Shop customer for years. They have a good selection for a smaller store, and the staff really know their stuff. Because they are a smaller shop, you get more hands-​on customer service. They also offer classes and lectures for different outdoor activities (kayaking, hiking, etc.). It is a great place to go if you are a novice or a more experienced outdoorsman.
My most recent experience at the Columbia Alpine Shop illustrates just why I like this place so much. My husband and I went in to get new hiking boots. We are getting into overnight backpacking, and need hiking boots that can stand up to long, multi-​day hikes. A staff member (named Adam) approached us within a minute or so to see if we needed help. He then spent over and hour helping us try on and test various boots. Being an experienced backpacker, Adam had some personal recommendations on boots and was able to highlight in detail the pros and cons of each boot we tried. We had done some research going in, but Adam helped us make a much more educated choice. We were able to test the boots on a hill imitator Alpine Shop had in the boot section, and they even let us put on a pair of thicker socks (without buying them) to test fit.
This is a friendly, laid-​back shopping experience, and while inventory might not be as large as big chain stores, the service and expertise you get at Alpine Shop makes it my top choice for outdoor gear shopping in Columbia.