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Saturday, June 25th
Bob Ward's is named after their founder - you guessed it! -Bob Ward. The store started out as a jewelry shop in 1917, initially selling just watches. Ward's love for the outdoors led to the retailer gradually adding products like fishing gear and custom guns to their inventory, and eventually turned into a retail sporting goods store in the 1960s. Suffice it to say, this company has a lot of history and deep family roots.
Jumbled Navigation
The shopping experience at Bob Ward's isn't quite as smooth as it is with their competitors. We were shown that there are over 1,800 results for camping gear, but then the categories within that include things like baseball, dog training, gifts, ski poles, and more. It might take a minute to find what you're looking for, but there is a decent selection of camping gear once you get to the right place.
Affordable Pricing
While you can find name-brand camping items at Bob Ward's, you'll also find lesser-known brands as well, which is nice for novice campers who don't want to spend a lot of money. You can get a decent tent for less than $150, a warm sleeping bag for under $120, and a cookware set for $90. While their inventory is less organized than some other websites, it's not overly difficult to find the essentials. Customers get free shipping when they order $49 or more from Bob Ward's.
Low-key, Stress-free Return Policy
The return policy at Bob Ward's is simple and generous. Any returned merchandise in new and sellable condition can be returned at any time. As long as the gear passes an inspection ensuring there is no wear and tear, scuffs, or strange odors, you will receive a full refund within one business day, without having to pay restocking fees. The only thing a customer needs to do is pay for the return shipping.
Trying To Keep Up
While Bob Ward's isn't dazzling and doesn't seem to have kept up with the prestige of some higher-rated camping gear sites, the company has heart. Their inventory is thorough enough for someone wanting to find all the basics for camping and outdoor adventuring. Bob Ward's has an A- rating from the Better Business Bureau, but hardly any individual customer reviews about online purchases. Overall, Bob Ward's is a decent place to buy camping gear, but unfortunately it isn't one of our top recommendations.
Leaving your home to enjoy the great outdoors for a few days might mean leaving behind some of the conveniences of electricity, heating and A/C, plumbing, and other basic comforts. So, you'll need to find high-quality gear to keep you warm, make food, and stay sheltered on your camping trip. Whether it's a large tent or a camping stove, you'll want to get a few things before heading out.
Shopping online for all your camping gear needs is the best way to get your favorite brands, a good selection of products, and the top deals on everything. Rather than running from store to store trying to check off your list of camping essentials, kick back in the comfort of your home and browse retailers on the internet. As a perk, everything will get delivered straight to your door, so the only place you'll be heading is on your camping trip!
By being able to compare the price of different items between retailers, you can easily stay within a budget when shopping for sleeping bags, shoes, cookware, backpacks, food, and all the other necessities for outdoor survival. You can keep an eye out for sitewide sales and discount codes to get the best prices on name-brand items. It's easy to do a lot of research about what you're buying online, which is important since the camping gear you purchase will likely be used many times over.
Before choosing a store to buy camping gear from, we recommend you keep the following criteria in mind:
To help you identify the best camping gear retailers, TopConsumerReviews.com has reviewed and ranked a variety of options. We hope this information helps you find all the outdoor gear you need for your next adventure.
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