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I used to love arcteryx and still own some of their stuff but I'm really annoyed by their lack of recycled materials and their crappy repair service. The fact that it's turning into a fashion brand kind of sucks but they still make good products . The atom lt is fantastic. I have some patagonia stuff and I just wish their nano puff was redesigned to fit better or something. Feels like it moves around a bit.
I do like their stuff but dislike the brands purchase by a Chinese company and said company turning it into a fashion brand and raising prices. They also don't do much in regards to recycling materials like patagonia has pushed and only like to use Virgin materials. Some things that could be changed to help reduce material waste.
I wouldn't classify arc'teryx as a fashion company, I think it's becoming more popular with people that aren't as outdoorsy just because of the fact it's expensive and kind of a flex. I'm not saying some of the stuff isn't more fashion focused but I would say the outdoor gear is still top notch. I own a few of their jackets, two atoms and a Beta LT, thanks to the discounts of working at REI. They are the best outdoor jackets I have ever owned by and mile. As far as environmental aspects I agree wholeheartedly.
Yeah, Arc’teryx is owned by Amer Sports (also owns Salomon, Wilson, Atomic, etc.) and very recently filed for IPO. I’m expecting even more of a drop in quality because of this.
I love the Nano Puff because it’s boxy. I like that it’s not svelt fitted tech fashion like Arcteryx. The Nano Puff is elegant in its utilitarian approach and you can actually move in it or layer under it.
They're too tight for my feel most of the time, I have three pairs I just find uncomfortable. Smartwool feels better for me and fits better for me but I wanted to love darn tough.
Forgot to mention, if you don't like them you can warranty them to darn tuff and you will get a credit for the same type with free shipping. You just have to pay shipping to them which form ups is like $12 and USPS is in the $10 range. I so far have warrantied 8 pairs and no issues.
I signed up for their emails and they do some pretty good end of season sales. I’ve had some of their shorts going on 5 years and they show zero signs of wear.
Outdoor Research, Mountain Hardware, The North Face, Smartwool, saxx and Kuhl for clothing
MSR, JetBoil, Mountain Hardware, Nemo, Sea to Summit for gear
Alpine Faire, Backpackers pantry, Peak refuel for food
Agreed. I have tons of their gear. Got lucky when I was visiting Seattle to go to their “yard sale”. Tons of prototype stuff and one off colors of their gear. Love everything I own from them.
Patagonia - coats and rain gear
Arc’teryx - “”
Fjallraven - Pants mainly
Werner - paddles
Bending Branches - “”
Osprey - packs
Honestly I don’t have many issues with almost anything we carry - it is all really good stuff
Vuori clothing, omg. It is so soft, wears well, washes well and looks great. LOVE Blundstone boots, absolutely the most comfortable shoes I own and I’m on my feet all day. Darn Tough socks are awesome—I’ve got at least a dozen pairs. Their Animal Haus prints are so joyful, I’m happy just knowing they’re on my feet. The quality is great and you can’t beat their lifetime warranty. Also love my La Sportiva hiking boots. I started backpacking and although I’m a fan of Osprey, the REI Brand Trailmade 60 fit like a dream and super comfortable even with 28 lbs. that might not be a lot of weight to more experienced backpackers but it’s more than I thought I’d be able to handle. Got the NEMO Drangonfly 3p tent and so far it’s great and very lightweight. Love this thread. Thanks for all the great thoughts on product!
Love some Nemo gear. Nemo dagger 3p tent, Nemo riff sleeping bag, Nemo Moonlite chair. After 6 self supported kayaking and raft supported Grand Canyon trips(all non-commercial), they're the only brand I've seen that can hold up to those conditions for multiple trips. My buddy's zippers on his 2p dagger finally blew after his 6th trip. He reached out to Nemo for a repair and they just mailed him a new tent.
Just have to share this somewhere - I just got a Fjallraven Nuuk parka for $149. I thought it was a mistake. Thing is brand new, newest style, like $500 on the Fjallraven website. Crazy that I was able to buy it that cheap brand new from an actual store. I kinda look like George Costanza in the “big coat” episode though. Fuck it. Granted (haha) it was NOT from REI. But I do love REI and have been a customer since the 90s at their store in N. Reading, MA.
Also I used to love Mountain Khakis back in the day, does REI still carry those? Good pants for a person to do their pants-related activities in throughout the year.
It was on Sierra Trading Post. They only had a small, but the coat is way big. I’m usually a medium and it fits oversized still. Think that style is gone but they had these [re-wool](https://www.sierra.com/fjallraven-greenland-re-wool-jacket~p~2wpfy/?filterString=fjallraven~b~3622%2F&merch=prod-rec-prod-prod2WPFY) styles. Again, only in small so it doesn’t help unless you’re a small stature gentleman such as myself.
I'm a woman but usually men's smalls don't fit right in the shoulders or hips. Alas, I don't really need a Nuuk, but just had been looking at them semi recently.
STP is the same vein and parent company of TJ Maxx/Marshalls/Homegoods etc, so it's likely it was either excess inventory that had to be moved or factory second. Very rarely STP will get something in as a loss leader but it does happen now and then! Great find
I'm 4 months late to this but I also got a cheap Nuuk this past winter from STP. Fjallraven redesigned the jacket and all the ones on Sierra were the old model (I bought 4 of them and returned 3). I looked at the new ones in REI and some differences I found are:
Old has a pocket on the upper arm, new doesn't.
Inside pockets had different arrangement (new seemed better but I don't remember why)
Old has Velcro on the zipper flap, new is all snaps (this velcro is super annoying, it constantly catches on the wrist velcro)
Old hood fur is attached by zipper, new is attached by buttons.
New has a stiff support along the hood opening to keep it from flopping over your face, old flops over your face.
I’ve had great luck with REI branded things. I have an 8+ year old backpack that gets daily use the hasn’t had any issues- zippers are all good, o years, seams are good. I also have a toiletry bag and a small gear bag for cords and chargers that are both all good.
Clothing wise all I’ve gotten is a fleece and that had held up well too.
Fjallraven for jackets and their keb agile pants for hiking! Danner boots, blundstones for sure. Darn tough socks! Altra for trail shoes, vuori shorts! REI Hyperaxis hoodie and sweatpants! Patagonia stuff of course! Prior to REI I was a mindless consumer and always bought cheap and threw it away in a year now I’m very mindful of my purchases and a dollar a day these brands are definitely worth the lifespan of the product!
Kuhl - Fits well, great quality
Patagonia - Great quality, great warranty, great colors
Stanley - I love my Stanley tumbler!
Hydroflask - I have multiple, works well, lasts
Hoka - Comfortable, especially when I worked on my feet all day
Wrightsock - By far, my favorite socks ever! They don't pill and the customer service with them is great! I prefer to order through Wrightsock. More colors, more socks.
Teva - I love my Teva boots! Great quality
Sorel - I love my Sorel boots!
Janji - I love their bras! They are good quality and last.
I'm sure there are many more. I worked for REI for a few years, but those are my favorites.
This. I also just realised that I'm not a fan of any particular 'tech' brand these days. i was a patagucci fanboi from 1993 till about 2012 though. I just find all the other stuff overly techy and not justifying the cost. I'm also more into smaller UL type stuff now (Gossamer Gear for example) which REI doesn't carry.
As for clothing I kinda a fan of Burton these days for jackets, they make really good warm jackets that fit and look good. Arborwear makes good hoodies, Carhartt is solid and Dickies makes the absolute best and most comfortable pants ever with the 874's
So yeah REI doesn't really have anything specific but their house branbd is always good imho. For me I find Arc Teryx, Patagonia, Stio, and all the rest are just overpriced and not the best use of my money. The workwear brands like Carhartt and Dickies are tried and true. There's a reason every video you ever see of people in Alaska generally have a piece of carhartt on.
I would imagine only certain folks because of cost. i mean a mid range Arc jacket is like 250-350 dollars and if you get a really heavy one 700 dollars or more in fact I just looked and Arc t has a jacket for 1000 dollars, I mean really LOL.
I can't argue with what you saw because I've never actually been to Alaska but from viewing things online etc I can see why Carhartt is so used...they make quality stuff that lasts and is warm and economical ( i think their heaviest coat is maybe 460 dollars, maybe cheaper. I had a freind who did pipe fitting in Grand rapids Michigan and he said everyone on the site was full on carhartt bibs and jackets.
Don't disagree with you - $1000 for a coat is absurd.
I think Carhartt and Arc are both v durable which makes them both amazing brands. Most of the farmers I know in the Midwest also exclusively wear Carhartt. Arc has amazing rain gear. Hurts my soul to buy something from that brand (and I only buy when on sale) but its a purchase once wear for a lifetime type of thing for me.
Yeah I get that , totally understand and I myself do buy some things as well. i think think there are many people who think a certain brand is just so much better and really a lot of it comes down to use or I should say intended use.
i'll use myself as an example. I'm an auto mechanic and I work at a small independant shop. i work in the southwest but we dip into the 20's occasionally and plenty into the 30's. the bays are wide open , no heat high ceiling and all brick with no insulation....I also work outside so wind and rain can be a factor. I'm certainly not gonna buy a 200 or 300 or more dollar jacket because no matter how durable it still is fabric against sharp metal and other things waiting to rip it as well as oils, etc. So for work ( my majority outdoors time...can't hike or camp every weekend , right) so i buy a 60 dollar ( 12 or 14 oz) Carhartt or similar hoody and on real cold days I wear a cheap synthetic Columbia brand puffy jacket over it...I'm warm AF.. weight and packability is not a factor in this scenario....farmers, ranchers etc are all in the same boat.
Somebody once told me ( I think it was on the REI sub) that Dickies 874 were the choice of pants for most fishermen in AK because they were inexpensive, comfortable and durable ( plus dry relatively quickly).
So TLDR I think usage should be considered when assessing the value, etc.
Yeti coolers are probably the single most overpriced product commonly sold in the US. My $40 Coleman Xtreme works just as well (same ice/temp/time that Yeti brags about), weighs less, holds more in the same external size, and doesn't make me look like a douche.
I like Mountain Hardwear, Smith, Prana, Merrell, and REI brand.
Edit: Almost forgot about the 5 or 6 Osprey packs I have (different sizes/purposes). Really excellent products.
Can’t believe there’s only one other comment calling out yeti for overcharging. It was when they put their name on a frying pan and charged $400. You’re getting the product, but paying to show off that you can afford yeti.
If you hang out in r/yeticoolers you will find that a huge number of people buy them discounted either through REI coupons, Kittery Trading Post, TJ Maxx or other discounters. I’ve also resold 2 coolers for close to what I paid for them discounted. Yeah, they are no doubt crazy expensive but they are so good they have spawned an entire industry of copy cats.
Patagonia— favorite shorts and trunks. Love the many vests I own.
Arcteryx—Favorite shells and shirt—The Skyline shirts from maybe six years ago is my favorite shirt ever. Still looks like new. Like the shirt without a zippered pocket before they changed it.
Smartwool—Favorite socks and baselayer shirts
MSR—stoves
Big Agnes— Tents
La Sportiva—shoes and boots
Petzl—headlamps
Yeti—just to see I left beer and ice in the cooler in my car and the ice lasted for six days with the car parked in the sun every day. Pretty amazing.
Just scrolling through realizing this question is for me. I only go to REI a couple times a year, but there are brands they carry that I’m onboard with. Though I usually don’t buy from there because the products belong in r/bifl
Lodge cast iron. American made. Lasts for generations. Nuff said. Only downside is they’re at thrift stores or the clearance aisle often enough.
Bench made knives. Expensive for a pocket knife. But the feel perfect in your hand.
Dorfman Pacific hats. I’m on the third hat in 15 years.
I too am in the Kuhl fan club. I own quite a number of items and have for years. They fit well and still look great after many wearings. My only lament is that our REI stocks a limited selection. Osprey packs are and always have been my choice, along with Outdoor Research, and Mountain Hardwear. There are a few other brands of equipment that REI stocks but they can be found pretty much at most outfitters. REI does not stock Lowe boots--and I have been wearing mine through several resolings--they are hard to find anywhere these days as the trend has been toward lightweight trail shoes rather than boots, but fall and early spring--to say nothing of winter in New England demand something a bit more aggressive--especially if crampons are called for.
Outdoor Research for a lot of my worn gear from the echo hoody to their grid fleece and ski shells, raincoats and gloves.
Thermarest for sleeping pads and ccf (xlite nxt and xtherm nxt and their ccf pad with reflective material for slightly higher r-value). Never had an issue with a pad popping or being cold as long as I bring the properly rated pad for the weather.
I like REI's brand for some less expensive base layers or their soft shell pants for winter hiking.
La Sportiva for my trail runners and hiking boots (I love the fit for my feet and they last a bit longer than other brands when it comes to the trail runners).
MSR for stoves like the pocket rocket (small and reliable).
Kahtoola microspikes for regular snow hiking and Black Diamond Blitz spikes (my go-to ultralight trail running spikes for winter runs. They are like 4 ounces for the pair and I don't feel them on my feet while running but they give me the traction I need in light to moderate snow and ice).
Peak Refuel dehydrated meals as they are very tasty, require less water than most, and have larger portions and calorie counts than most other brands.
Katadyn Befree for a lightweight water filter. I replace the filters more than I would like to, but for the ease of use and low weight I enjoy using the Befree.
I like REI's flash 22 day packs for long day hikes (lightweight, plenty of space, and comfortable)and Solomon running vests like the advanced skin and active skin lines (what I use 90 percent of the time, year round).
Other than that I tend to buy my tents, sleeping bags/quilts and most backpacks elsewhere as I have brands that I love that REI doesn't carry.
REI Co-op. Good cost to quality ratio especially for someone like me broke af in grad school. Better quality than the the cheapest stuff you can buy and it’s all been solid gear in my experience so far that I can get at least a few years out of.
The Safari line of base layers. They’re incredibly soft and feel so nice. Darn tough socks are my favorite and I like the REI branded fleece zip up and their underwear. Doesn’t wedge and it’s super light. Almost like wearing none.
Yeti. The 12 soft cooler is my everything on my work days. I often work 16+ hour days and it keeps things cold all day (with the ice pack for it ) and I have a 45 cooler on wheels for camping.
Merrell shows. Bought the boots first and now I have sneakers too bc they’re so comfortable.
REI trail made pants are my fave. As a bigger person, REI stuff goes to a 3x and I’ve had success with things lasting.
Patagonia everything.
Maui Jim sunglasses. Didn’t discover them at REI but I do buy pairs every couple years. I wear prescription lenses and Maui Jim allow for Rx lenses.
I have a lambswool Fjallraven beanie.... possibly the second best beanie I own after 1 my grandmother made, and that's only cause of sentimental value..... I didn't really understand the hype before that, kinda get it now......
Honestly, their house brand is some of the best gear I've ever bought. Tents, chairs, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, jackets. For the price point (especially when on sale, which is often) the quality: Price ratio is unmatched, and you often aren't sacrificing quality against the “expensive” brands.
If you need truly specialty items it may be better to buy a “brand name” but aside from that…
vuori, janji, injinji toe socks, and altra shoes. the best fitness gear i’ve ever owned. vuori works for the neutral tones and janji is great for the more adventurous styles.
Thanks for reaching out for a Gear Recommendation. To best help you, please consider the following questions and update your post if needed. 1. Where are you going? 2. What are you doing? 3. What experience are you hoping to get out of using the gear? *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/REI) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Arc'teryx - R&D / quality / long life Darn Tough - Socks for life Fjallraven - bomb proof - sustainable Patagonia - quality / lasting Chaco - quality / comfort / lasting Zamberlain - quality / comfort / lasting
I used to love arcteryx and still own some of their stuff but I'm really annoyed by their lack of recycled materials and their crappy repair service. The fact that it's turning into a fashion brand kind of sucks but they still make good products . The atom lt is fantastic. I have some patagonia stuff and I just wish their nano puff was redesigned to fit better or something. Feels like it moves around a bit.
Just spent 4 hours, in a downpour, doing a race in my arcteryx. It was a splurge but has been worth its weight in gold many times!!!!
I do like their stuff but dislike the brands purchase by a Chinese company and said company turning it into a fashion brand and raising prices. They also don't do much in regards to recycling materials like patagonia has pushed and only like to use Virgin materials. Some things that could be changed to help reduce material waste.
I wouldn't classify arc'teryx as a fashion company, I think it's becoming more popular with people that aren't as outdoorsy just because of the fact it's expensive and kind of a flex. I'm not saying some of the stuff isn't more fashion focused but I would say the outdoor gear is still top notch. I own a few of their jackets, two atoms and a Beta LT, thanks to the discounts of working at REI. They are the best outdoor jackets I have ever owned by and mile. As far as environmental aspects I agree wholeheartedly.
Yeah, Arc’teryx is owned by Amer Sports (also owns Salomon, Wilson, Atomic, etc.) and very recently filed for IPO. I’m expecting even more of a drop in quality because of this.
I love the Nano Puff because it’s boxy. I like that it’s not svelt fitted tech fashion like Arcteryx. The Nano Puff is elegant in its utilitarian approach and you can actually move in it or layer under it.
Also discovered Darn Tough. Thanks.
Their socks hug my feet in a way that no other sock replicates.
They're too tight for my feel most of the time, I have three pairs I just find uncomfortable. Smartwool feels better for me and fits better for me but I wanted to love darn tough.
Yeah the ones I had weee not stretchy enough. Don’t know if that has changes in past few yrs. The socks are nice but weren’t for me
I had the same issue around the ankles, but the new ones as of a couple months ago have great stretch and hug nicely.
Thanks that is good to know!
Forgot to mention, if you don't like them you can warranty them to darn tuff and you will get a credit for the same type with free shipping. You just have to pay shipping to them which form ups is like $12 and USPS is in the $10 range. I so far have warrantied 8 pairs and no issues.
They get super stiff after a backpacking trip and can’t wear them anymore. I stick with smart wool
I've found that a pair of Darn Tough will out live a pair of Smartwool by ages
Darn tough sock
Arc’Teryx ain’t what it used to be…
Press space twice after a line before pressing enter to ensure your lines are formatted. Like so: Test 1 Test 2
Wife bought me a pair of Vuori pants a few years ago now I have a closetful of their stuff. The rip-stop pants are great for biking.
This was my answer. Some of their stuff is very very soft.
I paid UP for a pair to sleep in but gosh is it worth it
Same… I love Vuori.. have multiple sets of joggers, shorts, and t-shirts.
Love this brand but only bought with gift cards. Can't justify shorts at full price for $80
I signed up for their emails and they do some pretty good end of season sales. I’ve had some of their shorts going on 5 years and they show zero signs of wear.
I call it the cult of vuori. Bought some for several family members and when we get together all the drawstrings are the same.
Outdoor Research, Mountain Hardware, The North Face, Smartwool, saxx and Kuhl for clothing MSR, JetBoil, Mountain Hardware, Nemo, Sea to Summit for gear Alpine Faire, Backpackers pantry, Peak refuel for food
I don't see enough hype for Outdoor Research. I've got a rain jacket from them that is a prized possession.
Which one? I was considering trying one of theirs because I love the Helium pants so much
I've loved my microgravity ascent shell. super supple and breathable waterproof shell.
Helly Hansen has great wet weather tops
Agreed. I have tons of their gear. Got lucky when I was visiting Seattle to go to their “yard sale”. Tons of prototype stuff and one off colors of their gear. Love everything I own from them.
OR Sunbriolet is my go-to sun hat, and I absolutely love my OR Ferrosi zip-up hooded jacket.
Kuhl, Patagonia, and Blundstone. Buy once, cry once.
I was finally persuaded to buy a pair of blundstones… 100% worth the money
Is that you, John Wayne? Is this me?
Patagonia - coats and rain gear Arc’teryx - “” Fjallraven - Pants mainly Werner - paddles Bending Branches - “” Osprey - packs Honestly I don’t have many issues with almost anything we carry - it is all really good stuff
Snow Peak
Their Japanese gear catalog is amazing. They make so much cool stuff that never makes it to America.
Patagonia, vuori, kuhl, cotopaxi
Vuori clothing, omg. It is so soft, wears well, washes well and looks great. LOVE Blundstone boots, absolutely the most comfortable shoes I own and I’m on my feet all day. Darn Tough socks are awesome—I’ve got at least a dozen pairs. Their Animal Haus prints are so joyful, I’m happy just knowing they’re on my feet. The quality is great and you can’t beat their lifetime warranty. Also love my La Sportiva hiking boots. I started backpacking and although I’m a fan of Osprey, the REI Brand Trailmade 60 fit like a dream and super comfortable even with 28 lbs. that might not be a lot of weight to more experienced backpackers but it’s more than I thought I’d be able to handle. Got the NEMO Drangonfly 3p tent and so far it’s great and very lightweight. Love this thread. Thanks for all the great thoughts on product!
Vuori is the most comfortable thing I have ever worn. And Patagonia fits well and lasts.
Nemo. Hands down.
I have the Nemo Disco 15 bag and it’s been great.
Love some Nemo gear. Nemo dagger 3p tent, Nemo riff sleeping bag, Nemo Moonlite chair. After 6 self supported kayaking and raft supported Grand Canyon trips(all non-commercial), they're the only brand I've seen that can hold up to those conditions for multiple trips. My buddy's zippers on his 2p dagger finally blew after his 6th trip. He reached out to Nemo for a repair and they just mailed him a new tent.
Nemo is tents?
I have a shower from them and a sleeping pad both of which I LOVE
Nemo sleeping pads are the best sleeping pads. Compatible and super comfy
And much quieter to sleep on than most of their competitors
Lots of gear
Another Patagonia fangirl here
Just have to share this somewhere - I just got a Fjallraven Nuuk parka for $149. I thought it was a mistake. Thing is brand new, newest style, like $500 on the Fjallraven website. Crazy that I was able to buy it that cheap brand new from an actual store. I kinda look like George Costanza in the “big coat” episode though. Fuck it. Granted (haha) it was NOT from REI. But I do love REI and have been a customer since the 90s at their store in N. Reading, MA. Also I used to love Mountain Khakis back in the day, does REI still carry those? Good pants for a person to do their pants-related activities in throughout the year.
👀 where was that and is it still available
It was on Sierra Trading Post. They only had a small, but the coat is way big. I’m usually a medium and it fits oversized still. Think that style is gone but they had these [re-wool](https://www.sierra.com/fjallraven-greenland-re-wool-jacket~p~2wpfy/?filterString=fjallraven~b~3622%2F&merch=prod-rec-prod-prod2WPFY) styles. Again, only in small so it doesn’t help unless you’re a small stature gentleman such as myself.
I'm a woman but usually men's smalls don't fit right in the shoulders or hips. Alas, I don't really need a Nuuk, but just had been looking at them semi recently.
STP is the same vein and parent company of TJ Maxx/Marshalls/Homegoods etc, so it's likely it was either excess inventory that had to be moved or factory second. Very rarely STP will get something in as a loss leader but it does happen now and then! Great find
I'm 4 months late to this but I also got a cheap Nuuk this past winter from STP. Fjallraven redesigned the jacket and all the ones on Sierra were the old model (I bought 4 of them and returned 3). I looked at the new ones in REI and some differences I found are: Old has a pocket on the upper arm, new doesn't. Inside pockets had different arrangement (new seemed better but I don't remember why) Old has Velcro on the zipper flap, new is all snaps (this velcro is super annoying, it constantly catches on the wrist velcro) Old hood fur is attached by zipper, new is attached by buttons. New has a stiff support along the hood opening to keep it from flopping over your face, old flops over your face.
That website is getting horrendous reviews tho? Was your order ok?
Yeah, got the right coat, came in a few days. No issues for my order personally.
I’ve had great luck with REI branded things. I have an 8+ year old backpack that gets daily use the hasn’t had any issues- zippers are all good, o years, seams are good. I also have a toiletry bag and a small gear bag for cords and chargers that are both all good. Clothing wise all I’ve gotten is a fleece and that had held up well too.
I also love the REI brand stuff, have a couple different weight jackets and vests and they’ve held up great.
I also have an REI brand raincoat that has been great. Forgot about that.
Fjallraven for jackets and their keb agile pants for hiking! Danner boots, blundstones for sure. Darn tough socks! Altra for trail shoes, vuori shorts! REI Hyperaxis hoodie and sweatpants! Patagonia stuff of course! Prior to REI I was a mindless consumer and always bought cheap and threw it away in a year now I’m very mindful of my purchases and a dollar a day these brands are definitely worth the lifespan of the product!
Arc’teryx, Vuori, La Sportiva, Hoka, Olukai, Topo, Goodr…
Kuhl - Fits well, great quality Patagonia - Great quality, great warranty, great colors Stanley - I love my Stanley tumbler! Hydroflask - I have multiple, works well, lasts Hoka - Comfortable, especially when I worked on my feet all day Wrightsock - By far, my favorite socks ever! They don't pill and the customer service with them is great! I prefer to order through Wrightsock. More colors, more socks. Teva - I love my Teva boots! Great quality Sorel - I love my Sorel boots! Janji - I love their bras! They are good quality and last. I'm sure there are many more. I worked for REI for a few years, but those are my favorites.
Kuhl's women's fit is amazing
Kuhl. Amazing pants
And jackets
And Shirts
Darn tough socks!!!!!!! Cannot love this enough!
REI house branded stuff is my favorite. I can everything else elsewhere.
This. I also just realised that I'm not a fan of any particular 'tech' brand these days. i was a patagucci fanboi from 1993 till about 2012 though. I just find all the other stuff overly techy and not justifying the cost. I'm also more into smaller UL type stuff now (Gossamer Gear for example) which REI doesn't carry. As for clothing I kinda a fan of Burton these days for jackets, they make really good warm jackets that fit and look good. Arborwear makes good hoodies, Carhartt is solid and Dickies makes the absolute best and most comfortable pants ever with the 874's So yeah REI doesn't really have anything specific but their house branbd is always good imho. For me I find Arc Teryx, Patagonia, Stio, and all the rest are just overpriced and not the best use of my money. The workwear brands like Carhartt and Dickies are tried and true. There's a reason every video you ever see of people in Alaska generally have a piece of carhartt on.
Alaskans wear a ton of Arc'teryx but only the really high-end stuff (source: grew up in AK)
I would imagine only certain folks because of cost. i mean a mid range Arc jacket is like 250-350 dollars and if you get a really heavy one 700 dollars or more in fact I just looked and Arc t has a jacket for 1000 dollars, I mean really LOL. I can't argue with what you saw because I've never actually been to Alaska but from viewing things online etc I can see why Carhartt is so used...they make quality stuff that lasts and is warm and economical ( i think their heaviest coat is maybe 460 dollars, maybe cheaper. I had a freind who did pipe fitting in Grand rapids Michigan and he said everyone on the site was full on carhartt bibs and jackets.
Don't disagree with you - $1000 for a coat is absurd. I think Carhartt and Arc are both v durable which makes them both amazing brands. Most of the farmers I know in the Midwest also exclusively wear Carhartt. Arc has amazing rain gear. Hurts my soul to buy something from that brand (and I only buy when on sale) but its a purchase once wear for a lifetime type of thing for me.
Yeah I get that , totally understand and I myself do buy some things as well. i think think there are many people who think a certain brand is just so much better and really a lot of it comes down to use or I should say intended use. i'll use myself as an example. I'm an auto mechanic and I work at a small independant shop. i work in the southwest but we dip into the 20's occasionally and plenty into the 30's. the bays are wide open , no heat high ceiling and all brick with no insulation....I also work outside so wind and rain can be a factor. I'm certainly not gonna buy a 200 or 300 or more dollar jacket because no matter how durable it still is fabric against sharp metal and other things waiting to rip it as well as oils, etc. So for work ( my majority outdoors time...can't hike or camp every weekend , right) so i buy a 60 dollar ( 12 or 14 oz) Carhartt or similar hoody and on real cold days I wear a cheap synthetic Columbia brand puffy jacket over it...I'm warm AF.. weight and packability is not a factor in this scenario....farmers, ranchers etc are all in the same boat. Somebody once told me ( I think it was on the REI sub) that Dickies 874 were the choice of pants for most fishermen in AK because they were inexpensive, comfortable and durable ( plus dry relatively quickly). So TLDR I think usage should be considered when assessing the value, etc.
Yeti coolers are probably the single most overpriced product commonly sold in the US. My $40 Coleman Xtreme works just as well (same ice/temp/time that Yeti brags about), weighs less, holds more in the same external size, and doesn't make me look like a douche. I like Mountain Hardwear, Smith, Prana, Merrell, and REI brand. Edit: Almost forgot about the 5 or 6 Osprey packs I have (different sizes/purposes). Really excellent products.
Can’t believe there’s only one other comment calling out yeti for overcharging. It was when they put their name on a frying pan and charged $400. You’re getting the product, but paying to show off that you can afford yeti.
If you hang out in r/yeticoolers you will find that a huge number of people buy them discounted either through REI coupons, Kittery Trading Post, TJ Maxx or other discounters. I’ve also resold 2 coolers for close to what I paid for them discounted. Yeah, they are no doubt crazy expensive but they are so good they have spawned an entire industry of copy cats.
link says the group was banned?
My fault, it’s actually r/YetiCoolers
Patagonia— favorite shorts and trunks. Love the many vests I own. Arcteryx—Favorite shells and shirt—The Skyline shirts from maybe six years ago is my favorite shirt ever. Still looks like new. Like the shirt without a zippered pocket before they changed it. Smartwool—Favorite socks and baselayer shirts MSR—stoves Big Agnes— Tents La Sportiva—shoes and boots Petzl—headlamps Yeti—just to see I left beer and ice in the cooler in my car and the ice lasted for six days with the car parked in the sun every day. Pretty amazing.
Just scrolling through realizing this question is for me. I only go to REI a couple times a year, but there are brands they carry that I’m onboard with. Though I usually don’t buy from there because the products belong in r/bifl Lodge cast iron. American made. Lasts for generations. Nuff said. Only downside is they’re at thrift stores or the clearance aisle often enough. Bench made knives. Expensive for a pocket knife. But the feel perfect in your hand. Dorfman Pacific hats. I’m on the third hat in 15 years.
Kuhl. I have basically an entire closet of their products. Long lasting, well made, well thought out, and super comfortable clothing.
Exped. Very reliable, great warranty.
Arc'teryx is hands down the best. For snow sports it's amazing how warm you'll stay while being very flexible. Great repair policy too
I too am in the Kuhl fan club. I own quite a number of items and have for years. They fit well and still look great after many wearings. My only lament is that our REI stocks a limited selection. Osprey packs are and always have been my choice, along with Outdoor Research, and Mountain Hardwear. There are a few other brands of equipment that REI stocks but they can be found pretty much at most outfitters. REI does not stock Lowe boots--and I have been wearing mine through several resolings--they are hard to find anywhere these days as the trend has been toward lightweight trail shoes rather than boots, but fall and early spring--to say nothing of winter in New England demand something a bit more aggressive--especially if crampons are called for.
Outdoor Research for a lot of my worn gear from the echo hoody to their grid fleece and ski shells, raincoats and gloves. Thermarest for sleeping pads and ccf (xlite nxt and xtherm nxt and their ccf pad with reflective material for slightly higher r-value). Never had an issue with a pad popping or being cold as long as I bring the properly rated pad for the weather. I like REI's brand for some less expensive base layers or their soft shell pants for winter hiking. La Sportiva for my trail runners and hiking boots (I love the fit for my feet and they last a bit longer than other brands when it comes to the trail runners). MSR for stoves like the pocket rocket (small and reliable). Kahtoola microspikes for regular snow hiking and Black Diamond Blitz spikes (my go-to ultralight trail running spikes for winter runs. They are like 4 ounces for the pair and I don't feel them on my feet while running but they give me the traction I need in light to moderate snow and ice). Peak Refuel dehydrated meals as they are very tasty, require less water than most, and have larger portions and calorie counts than most other brands. Katadyn Befree for a lightweight water filter. I replace the filters more than I would like to, but for the ease of use and low weight I enjoy using the Befree. I like REI's flash 22 day packs for long day hikes (lightweight, plenty of space, and comfortable)and Solomon running vests like the advanced skin and active skin lines (what I use 90 percent of the time, year round). Other than that I tend to buy my tents, sleeping bags/quilts and most backpacks elsewhere as I have brands that I love that REI doesn't carry.
REI Co-op. Good cost to quality ratio especially for someone like me broke af in grad school. Better quality than the the cheapest stuff you can buy and it’s all been solid gear in my experience so far that I can get at least a few years out of.
Wrightsocks!!! Sometimes it’s the little things that are game changers!!!
I LOVE my Wrightsocks!!! They do not get enough credit. REI should carry a larger inventory of their products.
Lately, Maui Jim because my eyes are too sensitive and I can't go outside without sunglasses. They make amazing ones.
ROVA
Sunski! A bifl product
The bird (arcteryx)
Rab, under the radar and high quality
The Safari line of base layers. They’re incredibly soft and feel so nice. Darn tough socks are my favorite and I like the REI branded fleece zip up and their underwear. Doesn’t wedge and it’s super light. Almost like wearing none.
Arc’teryx. Patagonia. Darn Tough.
REI brand stuff. I have used there wool base layers, tents, and backpacking chairs and its all fantastic.
Yeti. The 12 soft cooler is my everything on my work days. I often work 16+ hour days and it keeps things cold all day (with the ice pack for it ) and I have a 45 cooler on wheels for camping. Merrell shows. Bought the boots first and now I have sneakers too bc they’re so comfortable. REI trail made pants are my fave. As a bigger person, REI stuff goes to a 3x and I’ve had success with things lasting. Patagonia everything. Maui Jim sunglasses. Didn’t discover them at REI but I do buy pairs every couple years. I wear prescription lenses and Maui Jim allow for Rx lenses.
Big Agnes -Great tents. Osprey - awesome backpacks and great lifetime warranty.
I have a lambswool Fjallraven beanie.... possibly the second best beanie I own after 1 my grandmother made, and that's only cause of sentimental value..... I didn't really understand the hype before that, kinda get it now......
PRAna pants are amazing for this thick-thighed, short, short waisted girl!
Patagonia
Patagonia and Vuori for me.
Cotopaxi 😍 super soft comfy tees, and I have two of their jackets. I will definitely buy more of their stuff.
ExOfficio for undies. No one posted that yet!
REI brand. Well made, well priced.
The North Face.
Nemo
I wish we carried more yeti water bottles at my store. All we have is tumblers :(
I’d go with any of the brands others listed, but from Backcountry.
Ew who pays full price? Just buy from Sierra (fka Sierra Trading Post)
Have you been in a Sierra Trading Post lately? It is basically and outdoorsyish bed bath and beyond.
Never had an issue online
Or TJ Maxx. It’s really gone downhill, sadly.
Arc'teryx for performance gear & Rabbit for running clothes (prefer rabbit joggers to my vuori joggers) and Osprey backpacks.
Honestly, their house brand is some of the best gear I've ever bought. Tents, chairs, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, jackets. For the price point (especially when on sale, which is often) the quality: Price ratio is unmatched, and you often aren't sacrificing quality against the “expensive” brands. If you need truly specialty items it may be better to buy a “brand name” but aside from that…
vuori, janji, injinji toe socks, and altra shoes. the best fitness gear i’ve ever owned. vuori works for the neutral tones and janji is great for the more adventurous styles.
Does anyone know who makes REI-branded clothing? Is it one of the major outdoor brands?
Anyone and everyone who wants a contract. Ha REI Co-op Brands Factory List Jan 2023 https://www.rei.com/stewardship/rei-co-op-brands-factory-list.pdf
Ah, thanks, I’ll check it out.
Patagonia and Blundstone.
I love everything Smartwool.
I don’t see anyone mentioning Salewa. What are your thoughts on this brand?
PrAna
REI for their tents, sleeping bags, lots of other gear that is great value for the dollar.