REI

Kindof surprised I have not reviewed this spot yet seeing as I frequent it more than other stores. It’s my go to for shoes especially. They have a wonderful selection of Merrels, Asolo, Chaco and more. For clothes I love their Prana selection. I like their other brands too like Kuhl and Lucy but they are a wee too pricey for me at this point in my journey. They often have some wonderful deals on clearance and the quality of everything is top notch and everything in the store lasts so long. My husband has purchased a lot of outdoorsy gear from biking to skiing stuff and loves it all. I go there more for shoes and clothes myself and I am never disapointed. For jackets they carry Marmot and Patagonia; the best. Love this store. If you pay $ 20 for a yearly membership you get even more deals and discounts! Love this store!

This REI is on the small side, and lacks some of the impressive (okay, ridiculous) frills that other stores have (climbing wall, community room, etc.) But the location is a convenient 10 minute drive from my house which means it’s a dangerous, dangerous quicksand-​y retail hole for my wallet. The things I really love about this REI (and I’ve been to every single one in a 300 mile radius!):
— The staff here are so incredibly kind and cool. They don’t hover but can usually sense when you’re confused about a product (WHY ARE THERE SO MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF CAMPING STOVE FUEL?) and will make honest, non-​upselly recommendations that I’m so, so thankful for. This means they’ll be very honest if they prefer the store brand to a more expensive, schmancy one OR vice versa. I’m not sure if their training includes anything about the REI bottom line, brand favoritism, etc, but these folks seem genuinely invested in letting the products speak for themselves. REI has retired their generous lifetime guarantee, but a year is a pretty generous window to test, shred, abuse anything and bring it back if you change your mind, no questions asked. And this point brings me to the…
–REI garage sales! These happen once every 2 – 3 months, and are basically better than Christmas. Since Cranston/​RI are less trafficked by GoreTex-​wearing, carbon-​pole-​toting outdoor crazies (no offense, but you know who you are), you can afford to sleep in a little and get to the parking lot as late as 8:30 and still get a great place in line. If you’ve never been to an REI garage sale, they’re a real treat. Returned and (slightly) damaged merch for a fraction of the ridiculous retail prices. I’ve gotten MSR snow shoes for $ 40, down sleeping bags for $ 50, and La Sportiva mountaineering boots for $ 60. I average something like $ 300 in savings per garage sale, and I don’t buy THAT much. Some people make out like Ponzi schemers.
–The community events are limited, but the ones they offer seem really worthwhile and affordable especially with the membership discount. I’ve seen winter photography, kayaking, and rock climbing courses, and it seems like a great way to meet outdoorsy people in this small but mighty state of many natural gems!
As a young teacher/​graduate student with a limited budget but insatiable desire to be outside/​doing sweaty stuff 24/​7, I’m grateful this REI is here!

it’s rei

The entire staff is very friendly, and their selection of outdoor gear is truly top notch. Spend the money and become a member — its cheap, lasts a lifetime and gives you amazing returns. Also, their cycling and running department is pretty awesome as well!
One of the best REIs I’ve been too!

The guys in the technical shop (ski and bike) are top notch. They are more than willing to help and are very knowledgeable. They also remember you and are very nice.
Turn around time is also very decent.

This REI like all the others I’ve visited is great. There is a good selection of high quality products and a decent amount of sale stuff. So far at this location I’ve only bought socks and a water bottle but plan to regularly return. The staff is very pleasant and eager to help. The only down side is that this store seems a little small (at least by comparison to the ones in Framingham and New York where I’ve shopped a lot).
I’ve been a member of REI for over 15 years and am a fan of the coop overall. This branch meets my high expectations for REI stores even though it is not huge.

Having just fallen on ice and broken my wrist, I thought I would consider purchasing Yak-​Tracks to give me some protection from falling so off to REI I went. Those employees could not be more helpful in explaining, advising, searching their stock, and guiding one through the store. Even though the store was out of what I thought I wanted, the salesperson offered to order what we should get and provided all of the details. While I was in my search, my husband was seeking out waterproof walking shoes, and once again, another salesperson recommended and advised. My husband did purchase the product and could not be happier with the pair of waterproof walking shoes. I decided to refrain from walking on ice this year and will consider the Yak Tracks next season!!! Maybe… REI deserves an award for dealing with their customers and knowing their products.

Every time I visit this store (granted that’s only 3 times) there is no end to the number of people milling around trying to assist me. They all seem happy, friendly, and genuinely interested in helping me locate or learn about something. Even the cashiers are happy, nice and friendly.
I only wish I had more money to spend. I would love to buy half of what’s in this store. There are so many cool camping, hiking, and traveling gadgets available.

I am pleased we have one of these so close. Anytime I need something for a camping trip, I can find it here. There membership club is a good deal too. I also come here for gifts when I want something a little different for someone. The staff are normally helpful and friendly.

My review is about this specific store, so not including any general comments about REI (outdoors gear is expensive, blah blah blah). I took my bike into the bike shop recently for a standard tuneup. I was met with super friendly faces, all of which were happy to explain all of the options to me and to go far out of their way to help me out.
After the servicing my bike worked better than ever, and the employees threw in a few extra fixes I didn’t pay for. Would highly recommend the bike shop here. Sometimes mechanics in bike shops can be snobs and rude to those who know less about bikes than them, but you will find the opposite here!

So,
I am seriously glad I waited to review this location of REI because the service was much better the last two times I visited. The first time I went I was met with a poor selection of winter boots and an unfriendly salesperson. Luckily, the last two times I shopped I was met with with a better selection (but still not great) of the items I was looking for and a much friendlier and helpful personnel. i was recently looking for some winter gear and was helped out by a knowledgeable and fun older man who knew a thing or two about hiking in the Whites. I was excited because it appeared to be difficult to find someone at the RI location that had the experience with the gear they were selling. He helped me to pick the perfect snow shoes, sleeping bag, and poles for the upcoming adventures I was embarking on.
The second most recent trip was to actually return the sleeping bag I had just bought a few days earlier due to realizing that the temps of the sleeping conditions for my upcoming trip were much colder than what I was previously expecting. The service desk agent I met with was helpful and sent someone immediately to the sleeping bag section to assist me with making my exchange. I chatted the new service person up about not only sleeping bags (I found the one I needed) but also about the hiking adventures we had in common and he gave me some tips about hiking above tree line in the winter. He was great and my exchange was made quick and easy.
I also want to inform the uniformed about their membership. Twenty dollars (one time payment) gets you a lifetime membership to REI’s Co-​op and access to their 10% annual refund, perks, deals, and more. One of the best perks is their garage sale which is a fantastic sale of their used items at extremely discounted prices. It’s a pretty good deal if you ask me.
So, for an REI, it’s definitely not the best selection in the area, but it’s the only one in RI. REI itself is pretty good, but i hope some day that improve their selection of winter gear (including ten degree and below sleeping bags and women’s winter boots). I was very dissapointed with my first experience at this location, so i am very happy that the last two experiences were much improved.

Love this REI! Friendly staff, always take returns no questions asked, knowledgable employees to answer any questions, great product selection.
A little tip: wait for their garage sales! I once bought skis for a very cheap amount ($ 50, worth hundreds). I also bought a $ 150 pair of Merrill hiking boots for $ 12. Great finds!

Much pricier than the average sporting goods store. The staff is always very helpful, especially the folks in the bike department. I have bought 2 bikes here in the last 5 years and I will always bring the bikes in for the annual tune-​ups. They know what they are doing, very knowledgeable.

The only problem with REI is that there is always something I want to buy. I wear a lot of there products as casual street wear because it is so functional. Had a pair of quick dry pants on the other day and my dog shook muddy pond water all over me. About 10 minutes later they were dry and most of the mud had fallen off.
The service is excellent. Once in a while I might run into an attitude but that is not the norm.
The membership is well worth especially if you have their credit card. My annual rewards has been around $ 400. Issued once a year in the spring. I use it to fund the coming summer adventures.

Very cool store for outdoorsy types. Lots of biking, hiking, running type stuff. They offer a membership for around $ 20 I think and they get special perks like discounts and special members only sales where you can by used gear for cheap. You also get a percentage back at the end of the year for whatever you spent in the store so it’s like getting a bonus gift card. Kind of cool. Check it out.

REI is a great place to go for most things outdoors. If you are unfamiliar with the premise behind how this store operates you need to read this. Yes, REI is a big box retailer, but they lay down community roots where ever they are.
There are free educational classes from bike care, triathlons, hiking, backpacking and more. I have attended several classes and in full disclosure volunteered to lead a class as well. Don’t stop reading because that is not the best part. The return policy is by far the most fantastic policy you will ever encounter. For one low price (I think it is $ 29) you can become a member. This entitles you to 10% store credit return on purchases mailed to you every year as well as a no receipt return policy. Everything you buy is in the computer and shared company wide. Buy a pair of shoes in CA and need to return them in RI no problem. Say the shoes are muddy and worn, no problem. They have a no hassle return. If you are dissatisfied with a product no matter how long you have owned it simply bring it in for full credit. This may seem like a waste for everyone, but then members also have access to the garage sale were you can purchase the returned gear.
The staff is friendly and knowledgeable and I find will help you find whatever you are searching for. As far as the prices go they are in line with or below the costs you would expect for the quality and service you receive.
Great job REI!

REI has some pricey stuff. I usually use
, because to me, it doesn’t really matter if a product is near-​new or new. I am going to rip it out of the packaging and abuse it.
However, I do occasionally find some items on the REI outlet website that I want. If I haven’t spent the $ 50 min. to qualify for free ship, I’ll pick it up at this store.
Picking up items is hassle free. I get in and I get out within a few minutes. It’s quick, and it is less chance of me walking out with additional purchases.

After skulking through Somerville and Cambridge bike shops, getting hipster ‘tude like you don’t know what, it was nice to switch up to some granola customer service.
I was looking for a helmet, a very specific one with stars on it. I had looked for it online and knew REI had it at two prices: $ 50 for the new model, $ 30 for the older model (exactly the same but in a different box).
I walked in and found what I wanted in seconds. As we wandered the store, which is impeccably clean, we met Mike, a great guy who reminded me of my dad. He told us something I didn’t know — that REI is a co-​op. For $ 20 you can become a LIFETIME member (that’s not an annual fee, that’s a one-​time fee), plus you save 20% on your first purchase as a member, so it pays for itself. Then you get all sorts of discounts, on regular priced items and rentals, and get emails about member-​only events like the Yard Sales.
Mike also did something very unexpected, he recommended that I DIDN’T buy something, because it wasn’t right for what I needed. That gave me a lot of confidence in his judgement and I liked that I wasn’t being pushed to spend more money.
It’s expensive to begin with (thus one star off) but for clearance items or the annual sales, it’s great. And it’s fun to wander through and look at all the neat gadgets.

Did you know that there is no time limit on returning items to REI?
I just found that out and in my book that gives them another ½ star for awesome customer service and satisfaction.
Dropped to exchange a sweet Marmot jacket and, unfortunately they do not have the correct size or color. (I am a winter — hee hee). Anyway, Timothy, the very pleasant cashier-​fellow so informed me of this when I made inquiry as to their return and exchange policy. Nice!

As an honorary Seattleite, this place is like crack for me. However I’d like to know their logic in choosing a Cranston location as the only one in RI — it’s kind of in a strange place, away from most prominent shopping and within five miles of at least two correctional facilities. Hmm.
But it’s in a lovely new shopping center and has all the stuff I love to ogle — North Face, Columbia, Marmot, Merrill, et cetera. Come with a bunch of money if you want to buy, the clothes are expensive (not because of REI, but because of the brands).
Downstairs you’ll find the bikes, kayaks, mountain climbing stuff, rock shoes, tents, and camping equipment. Upstairs are clothes and shoes.
If this is someplace you think you’ll shop frequently, become a member — 10% off all purchases and you’ll get a refund each year (REI is actually a co-​op).
Right coast people — go and check out this piece of Seattle that’s hiding in Cranston!