The surrounding areas of Seattle offer wonderful hiking and camping from forested trails, hiking along serene rivers, and to rugged mountain tops. With a strong local hiking community comes demand for outdoor gear and camping gear. There are many great outdoor and camping stores in Seattle to help you find the gear you need for your next outdoor trip.
Here is a list to help you get started of five of our favorite Seattle outdoor stores. These stores will provide you with a large selection of outdoor brands and be able to help you find the items you need to fit within your budget. You’ll also find tips on how you can save a ton of money and some of our favorite online alternatives for hiking and camping gear.
- Ascent Outdoors – Outdoor retailer with new and used gear for hiking, camping, skiing, climbing, mountaineering, and backpacking.
- Outdoor Emporium – A warehouse style shop for outdoor and sporting goods.
- REI – A popular national outdoor retailer that carries gear, clothing, and more for hikers, campers, bikers, and other outdoor activities.
- Patagonia – Premium outdoor brand with apparel and bags for hiking, mountaineering, and winter sports.
- Outdoor Research – Premiere outdoor apparel and gear company.
Ascent Outdoors
Address: 5209 Ballard Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107
Phone: (206) 545-8810
Hours: MON-SAT 11AM-7PM | SUN 11AM-6PM
Store Site: https://ascentoutdoors.com/
Google Maps Link: https://g.page/Ascentoutdoors?share
Description: Ascent Outdoors is an outdoor retailer with gear for hikers, backpackers, campers, mountaineers, and skiers.
Outdoor Emporium
Address: 1701 4th Ave S #1514, Seattle, WA 98134
Phone: (206) 624-6550
Hours: MON-FRI 10AM-7PM | SAT 9AM-6PM | SUN 10AM-5PM
Store Site: https://sportco.com/
Google Maps Link: https://goo.gl/maps/eknYedWJWKiAMUdQ9
Description: Outdoor Emporium has gear and apparel for hiking, camping, fishing, and hunting.
REI
Address: 222 Yale Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109
Phone: (206) 223-1944
Hours: MON-SAT 9AM-9PM | SUN 10AM-7PM
Store Site: https://www.rei.com/stores/seattle
Google Maps Link: https://goo.gl/maps/6NXoW87GTYUgpsRS9
Description: REI carries clothing, shoes, and gear items for hiking, camping, biking, and water sports.
Patagonia
Address: 2100 1st Ave, Seattle, WA 98121
Phone: +(206) 622- 9700
Hours: MON-SUN 10AM-6PM
Store Site: https://www.patagonia.com/patagonia-seattle-2100-first-avenue-seattle-washington-98121/store_924602888.html
Google Maps Link: https://goo.gl/maps/pdopABsMNBZkaH9VA
Description: Patagonia in Seattle carries apparel and bags for hikers, campers, mountaineers, and snow sport enthusiasts.
Outdoor Research – Seattle Store
Address: 2203 1st Ave S, Seattle, WA 98134
Phone: (206) 268-7325
Hours: MON-WED 10AM-5PM | TH-SAT 10AM-6PM | SUN 11AM-5PM
Store Site: https://www.outdoorresearch.com/us/
Google Maps Link: https://goo.gl/maps/kQqw7uFmFUNwCwYm8
Description: Outdoor Research is a premium outdoor brand with high quality outdoor jackets, pants, and gear.
3 Considerations Before Shopping at Seattle Outdoor and Camping Stores
Brand Selection
Before shopping at any of the Seattle outdoor stores, one thing you want to keep in mind is what brands the stores carry. Each store will likely carry unique outdoor brands, with this comes a wide range of pricing to fit your budget. Some stores will carry major outdoor brands like Patagonia, North Face, Columbia, while others may have their own in-house brand. Choosing the right brands is important because of the quality and reputation of the products.
Return Policy
The next thing you should consider is the return policy of the store. This is important because you want to be able to have a reasonable time frame to return your items and also be able to test out the hiking gear you buy. Hiking and camping gear can get expensive and if you buy something that doesn’t work for you then you could be stuck with it. Find a store that has a generous return policy of at least 30 days and allows you to try and test the items as some stores will only let you return unworn and unused items.
Price Match Policy
The third thing you should look into is the price match policy for the store. Competition is getting stronger between outdoor retailers and this can help you save a lot of money. You can ask the store representative if they offer price matching and if they do find out which stores they will price match. Stores are always competing with one another and will have sales throughout the year. You can use this to your advantage by matching the sales price of one store to the one you are at.
3 Ways to Save Money at Seattle Outdoor and Camping Stores
Regular Promotions
Outdoor gear can be pricey and sticker shock is real when you step foot in a local Seattle camping goods store, so here are three ways you can get the best gear and save money. The first way is to find out if there is a current promotion or coupon for the store or to find out when the next sale will occur. Stores will typically have 10-25% off coupons for a single item. Using these coupons for gear that rarely go on sale can help you save a ton.
Season-end Clearance
The next best way to save money is to wait for the store to have seasonal clearance. Stores always need to make shelf space for the latest and greatest hiking and camping items. The brands they carry typically will not take the items back, so its up to the store to have clearance sales to make space. This is another fantastic time to buy winter or summer gear items during the off-season so you can be ready for next year. Stores will typically have 25-50%+ sales to move items quickly.
Used Gear Sales
Another alternative to save money is to wait for used gear sales. This might sound weird or gross at first, but most returns are people trying out items once and finding out it doesn’t fit right and then immediately returning it. Items like camping tents, trekking poles, or jackets are great items to buy used as you will save a ton of money and the item will be practically new. Some stores even have a policy to mark returned items as used by default even if they were never used.
3 Online Alternatives to Seattle Outdoor and Camping Stores
Backcountry.com
Shopping at local Seattle outdoor goods stores is great, but maybe they won’t have the exact items you are looking for. Here are three online alternatives you can shop at to find the gear you need. The first store you can check out is Backcountry.com. This shop has been around for years and has the best customer service team. This team is filled with experience hikers and campers waiting to answer any questions you have and even give personal recommendations for the gear you might be eyeing.
REI Outlet
REI is one of the most well known outdoor goods stores, but they also have an online outlet store with a ton of great deals. All of the items they are trying to clear out of their inventory are listed here at incredibly low prices. This is a fantastic site to go to find premium outdoor items at a low cost!
Amazon.com
Outdoor gear items and two day delivery are a great combination. Amazon has all outdoor items you can think of from hiking shoes, clothes, camping gear, and more. You will be able to find a ton of low-cost gear items from smaller brands to help get you started or to replace that hiking item you’ve been thinking about for months.
Summary
Exploring the local Seattle outdoor shops is always fun and trying out the various items is a great way to find the right items for you. All of these stores are local’s favorites and will help you find the gear you need.
Enjoy all of your new gear on your upcoming outdoor adventures. Be sure to use the tips above to help you buy the hiking or camping items you need with less stress and less cost!
