REI Review

Sunday, January 17th

2021 Camping Gear Store Reviews

REI

• Return Policy: 100% money back guarantee if the item is returned, for any reason at all, within a year from the date it was purchased.

REI is the online presence of outdoor equipment giant Recreation Equipment Incorporated, one of the largest camping and outdoor gear retailers in the world. REI as a company is set up as a consumer cooperative, which means it's owned by its members.

As one might expect from a large established company like REI, the website is professional and polished. The main page features links to various resources, such as travel opportunities, membership plans, outdoor education classes, and more. The REI website is a huge, immersive experience for those that love to camp and be outdoors.

The camping gear selection is simply enormous. We found at first glance 543 backpacks, 402 camping tents, 85 different camping stoves, sections for knives, tools, binoculars, watches radios, and even separate sections for bear safety and camping gear designed for your dog. You can refine your search easily by brand, type, cost and other criteria to help narrow your search.

When it comes to outdoor gear, if you need it, you'll find it at REI. All of the popular brands are available; Osprey, North Face, Camelbak, Arc'Teryx, as well as REI's own brand that they manufacture themselves. We compared the prices on some specific items against the prices of the same items on other camping gear websites and found the REI prices to be very competitive, as well as REI having a superior selection.

The shipping and return policies are excellent with REI. You'll enjoy free shipping with any purchase of $50 or more. The return policy is simple and impressive. You get a 100% money-back guarantee if the item is returned, for any reason at all, within one year from the day it was purchased. This meets or exceeds the return policies of any other camping equipment site we have reviewed. Also, since REI has retail stores as well as an online presence, you can make returns at a retail location rather than through the mail.

For camping gear, REI has it all. Their enormous selection, fair pricing, and excellent shipping/return policies set the standard in the industry. The fact that they're backed by a very popular and successful retail giant is an additional plus. For all these reasons, REI earns our highest rating and they should be your first stop for camping and outdoor equipment.