REI

As a thriller and fiction author who has also written several non-fiction outdoor guidebooks, I spend a lot of time in REI stores. This San Diego location is one I come back to often. The camping selection is the store’s great strength, There’s a large organized spread of tents, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, stoves, packs, and general camp gear. They have plenty of options at different price points. It’s easy to compare brands side by side without feeling rushed. The layout makes sense. The store is clean and easy to move through. Staff presence is solid. The shoe and pack areas usually have multiple employees actively helping customers with fit and use rather than just pointing things out. I’ve consistently found the staff knowledgeable and genuinely helpful. Checkout is efficient and lines tend to move quickly. There’s also a used gear section that’s worth checking. Sometimes it’s hit or miss, but it’s a nice bonus and fits the REI ethos well. For San Diego, they also carry a modest selection of cold-weather items, not extensive, but enough to support occasional snow or mountain trips. As the author of The Most Crucial Knots to Know, How to Keep Your Feet Warm in the Cold, and The Motivated Amateur’s Guide to Winter Camping, I appreciate stores that focus on practical, real-world gear. This REI does that without overhyping anything.

Cristian at REI was amazing! He helped me pick the perfect hiking shoes, was super professional, and very patient. He made the experience easy and enjoyable. Highly recommend asking for him!

Huge thanks to Jack at REI Copley San Diego! He helped my wife find the last Arc'teryx jacket in her size and style—and even secured a 50% discount. Jack went above and beyond, and his help made our day. We also picked up a Smartwool Merino vest for our upcoming Mexico City trip, thanks to his thoughtful suggestions. Jack truly represents REI’s values of care and community. —Quan

Always love going there. Plenty of inventory and new things to try out. 4 or 5 different staff members will usually check in with you throughout your shopping to make sure you are taken care of. Also, they have the best points program of any company I've ever shopped with...in fact, several years ago I somehow accumulated enough points to buy a $400 trail bike.

Normally I love and have great experiences with REI. I've been a member for many years, have an REI credit card, and buy nearly all our family's shoes here. I'm in town from out of state and had a shoe mishap. I was thrilled that there was an REI nearby and we headed there to get me some new shoes. I told the man in the shoe department very clearly what I wanted. I only wear ON brand in men's size 8 because that's exactly what works for me. I told him I am disabled due to cancer treatment and ONs shock absorbing soles provide the right support and stability I need to get around. He dragged out 5 different shoes that weren't ONs from the back after being gone for an insanely long time. I repeated to him that I was looking for ON size 8 men's. He went in the back again. After like 5 minutes he came back out and said, "men's right?" My husband told him again what I needed and he finally did come back with ONs but they were trail shoes. Not enough support. He wandered off to help someone else instead and my husband and I scoured the clearance and used items and I finally found a pair of Brooks that I can wear at least until I can get home from this trip and go to me regular REI store. I'm frustrated, felt like he wouldn't listen, and felt like he didn't care to help me get what I needed. Maybe he's new and needs more training.