Camping Supply store?

Question

Could someone please list a bunch of stores that sell camping equipment and supplied, OTHER than junky wal-mart. Thanks.

Answer 1

I'm a stickler for never buying gear without actually seeing the stuff. I'll take my chances ordering online for things like cook kits, tent stakes, food..etc. When it comes down to sleeping bags, tents, packs, etc. I always hit a real store:

REI has the highest distribution of stores. No, one isn't in every mall, but there is one almost within a few hours drive for just about everyone.

EMS is Northeast USA only. It sucks they closed their western stores.

Local chains are also good sources. Hudson Trail Outfitters (DC/MD area); Ramsey Outdoors (NJ); The Great Outdoors (New England)

Independent Stores are also a great way to go: The Moutaineer in Keene NY, Mudd N' Flood in Taos; Cadillac Mountain Sports in Bar Harbor and Ellsworth ME, Teton Mountaineering in Jackson Hole; Outdoor Gear Exchange in Burlington VT....best consult your local phone book, but a lot of these places are online too.

I use places like Campmor, Sierra Trading Post, and the online stores to buy consumables and things I want extra of. For example, I know I like EMS Techwick shirts, so I buy them online instead of driving an hour to an EMS.

Cabelas, Dick's, Bass Pro Shops, and Gander Mountain are good for hunting and fishing supplies. Bass and Cabela's actually train their staff, so if you are looking for camping gear, boots, etc they will give you good info. I was in a Cabela's in April and they had some sweet Petzl headlamps, JetBoil stoves (I sold three of them while I was there...to other customers) and a nice selection of Thermarest products. Gander Mountain staff seem to know three things: Guns, Cotton sweatshirts with silkscreened pictures of deer, and when to take a cigarette break. Dick's is a bunch of...well, the name says it all. Most clerks at ***** know about as much about camping as the clerks at Wal-Mart.

Now...don't rule the Wal-Mart, Target, and K-mart out completely. They all sell bottles of propane fuel and white gas by the gallon cheaper than any other specialty store. Target actually has a nice selection of Leatherman and Gerber tools, and (unless you are backpacking) all three stores are good places to stock up on food and beer (unless you have blue laws.)

Answer 2

A lot of the places in the answers are very high dollar. Check out this website. This place has low price camping gear, and other products besides. If you have the money to spend go with the higher end products. They may last longer, but if you are just doing this as an occasional thing save a buck.

Answer 3

Recreational Equipment Inc. otherwise known as REI is the top, top company in the US for quality camping, backpacking, and outdoors sporting equipment. They have stores across the country and are opening more all the time. Find your store here: http://www.rei.com/map/store

Answer 4

Cabela's and Bass Pro Shops are good, REI is Verrrry pricey in the DFW area, Dick's, Gander Mountain, and many online sites such as the sportsmans guide are pretty good.

Answer 5

My favorite place to get camping equipment is REI, but if you can't find anything there Big 5 also has a good selection.

Answer 6

For quality,affordable camping equipment and supplies I would recommend you check out REI Outdoors. The have a great selection are affordable and don't sell junk like other stores (Walmart/Sunny's Surplus etc)

Answer 7

Go to Cabelas. But definately not Gander Mt-if you try to get them to order something to their store so you can pick it up latter, they never do it. They don't have a computer data base to keep track of stuff like that, so the person you talked to has to remember by himself what you wanted, and it never happens

Answer 8

www.rei.com
www.cabelas.com
www.ems.com

All these sites have outdoor gear and plenty of different things for every sport. The great thing is, most of these have brick and mortar stores as well as online stores to shop in!

Good luck finding what you need!

Answer 9

www.rei.com (there is rei outlet as well both on same website, and a couple stores locations on the website)
www.ems.com (with stores all over new england)
www.serriatradingpost.com (really good discount sales all the time)
www.kitterytradingpost.com (Kittery, ME...awesome store)
www.cabelas.com (western US)

Answer 10

For $$$ EMSwill tell you what really works-sierra designs if you have the time to wait for delivery-campmor for good deals and always try craig's lisst for used stuff.