R.E.I. Tents.......GO or NO GO?

[solidfrontaxle]

I will never buy anything from REI no matter what the quality is. I encourage anyone to refrain from shopping there as well. They do not support our hobby, and in fact use money you spend there to close trails and limit access to public land.



Plus their prices suck, they only hire ugly tree hugging fattys and metrosexuals, and their clientel is all limp wristed granola hipsters.

 

[lingo]

I have been camping in a REI Clipper for years. There are better designs than this but it has taken a beating and I still don't get wet. I understand the complaints about how they spend their money and I do try other avenues to buy my out door gear. I never pay full price for anything in REI though. I only shop there when they are having their "Super Clearence" or I have a good discount coupon for something. I have been happy with the REI branded stuff that I have bought and they have the worlds best return policy.

 

[Mace]

As for REI being "the enemy" - you guys should mellow out. There's room on the planet both for the people who want to save it and the ones who want to abuse it. I drive a thirsty 80 off -oad AND support environmental protection and don't consider myself a hypocrite.

The problem with this line of thinking is that you are basicaly helping them pay the Sierra Club to close down your trails.

I would love it if everyone thought there was enough room on this planet for everyone. Sustainability is a great thing.

The Sierra Club (and others that they support) does not feel this way. You are ruining all of their land, and it is their job to stop you. It does not matter if you think they are just fine. They feel you are the enemy. And will do anything to stop you.

Now, go sign the Moab support letter..

 

[nuclearlemon]

As for REI being "the enemy" - you guys should mellow out. There's room on the planet both for the people who want to save it and the ones who want to abuse it. I drive a thirsty 80 off -oad AND support environmental protection and don't consider myself a hypocrite.

They give lots of money to the enviromental groups...because they have so much money, we have a hard time fighting them to keep our land open to the public. so i WILL NOT give them any more money.

 

[FJ40_owner]

The list of motorized land use closurists REI contributes to in CA is quite extensive. I will see if I am able to locate the list.

Sufice to say when you spend money there you are contributing to those who would like to see our hobbies stopped.

 

[Atoyot1031]

I will never buy anything from REI no matter what the quality is. I encourage anyone to refrain from shopping there as well. They do not support our hobby, and in fact use money you spend there to close trails and limit access to public land.



Plus their prices suck, they only hire ugly tree hugging fattys and metrosexuals, and their clientel is all limp wristed granola hipsters.

I couldn't sum it up more succinctly myself. Thanks Wyatt!

As for REI being "the enemy" - you guys should mellow out. There's room on the planet both for the people who want to save it and the ones who want to abuse it. I drive a thirsty 80 off -oad AND support environmental protection and don't consider myself a hypocrite.

Tell the folks that used to enjoy wheeling at Tellico that.

There's a difference between being a conservationist and trying to control other people's ways of enjoying the outdoors because they don't jive with your credo. You can't drive an 80 (even just on-road) and support wack-jobs these these monkey-wrenchers.

 

[BG_TX]

No useful information regarding [STRIKE]REI[/STRIKE] tents (I use NF) but I was not aware of the claims made against [STRIKE]REI[/STRIKE]. I don't shop there much but it sounds like I need to completely remove them from 'the list'.

 

[JLH911]

I went yesterday to check them out. Just what I expected. Expensive.

What bugged me was that they have a room for meetings or seminars and I could see inside of it. Inside the room was a bunch of boy scouts.

I "looked" around and after a while the scouts came out to look around after their meeting and I thought to myself "What better way to indoctrinate the next generation than by allowing them use of their facilities".

 

[CO_Hunter]

I went yesterday to check them out. Just what I expected. Expensive.

What bugged me was that they have a room for meetings or seminars and I could see inside of it. Inside the room was a bunch of boy scouts.

I "looked" around and after a while the scouts came out to look around after their meeting and I thought to myself "What better way to indoctrinate the next generation than by allowing them use of their facilities".

If you shop their super clearance you can save big $$. I rarely buy anything retail there or anywhere for that matter. Just curious, what was the topic of the "indoctrination"?

As for Sierra Club donors, here are a few more to add to the boycott list:

Adobe- No more pdf for you
MicroSoft- switch to a Mac
ExxonMobile- drain the engine oil, diff and trans case of Mobile1, buy gas somewhere else, who else sells ExxonMobile gas?
Google- no more searches, google earth or maps and boycott whoever else uses their technologies
Black and Decker- toss the drills and saws
General Electric - lots of trickle down products there
United Technologies - lots of trickle down there too
Coca Cola- switch to Pepsi, uh oh Pepsi is on the list too
Verizon-cancel those cell phone and cable contracts
State of Montana- move out or don't visit
PG&E - uh oh, turn off the lights and gas
Bank of America- cancel those accounts

This is just a small sample for the complete list see:

http://www.sierraclub.org/foundation/downloads/2008-annual-report.pdf
pages 30 and 31.

I'm sure there are companies you and I support that give to companies that in turn give to the Sierra Club. Or, there are individual owners of outdoor companies that may donate as individuals. For example who knows if Cascade Designs (makers of Platypus and Thermarest) donate to the Sierra Club?
cdi_access_conservation

For the record the op posted a link showing REI is not on the NRA "list"

It only took a few minutes to find these lists.

No dogma.

 

[sirenmoses]

What bugged me was that they have a room for meetings or seminars and I could see inside of it. Inside the room was a bunch of boy scouts.

I "looked" around and after a while the scouts came out to look around after their meeting and I thought to myself "What better way to indoctrinate the next generation than by allowing them use of their facilities".

that room is for community use: you could ask to have club meetings there, or offer to teach a class...

If they are so anti-wheeling, why do they sell so much car camping gear? It's not like you can just drive down to the local park and camp....

 

[JLH911]

that room is for community use: you could ask to have club meetings there, or offer to teach a class...

If they are so anti-wheeling, why do they sell so much car camping gear? It's not like you can just drive down to the local park and camp....

Gun club meeting....now that's an idea

 

[solidfrontaxle]

If they are so anti-wheeling, why do they sell so much car camping gear? It's not like you can just drive down to the local park and camp....

Thats what makes them so hypocritical.


That place is filled with so much white guilt its unbearable.

 

[re_guderian]

I went yesterday to check them out. Just what I expected. Expensive.

What bugged me was that they have a room for meetings or seminars and I could see inside of it. Inside the room was a bunch of boy scouts.

I "looked" around and after a while the scouts came out to look around after their meeting and I thought to myself "What better way to indoctrinate the next generation than by allowing them use of their facilities".

I work with Scouts and take them wheeling. I also take them hiking. I've shopped at REI for 30 years. If it offends you, don't shop there.

Anyway, on topic, I'm tall, 6'4", and have yet to find a decent 2-man tent to use. I just picked up the new version of the REI Half-Dome 2 Plus tent. It is 10" longer than the regular HD2, and 4" wider. So far, so good. Set up was easy enough. I'll have a field test report next week. Got it 20% off of the list $200 price, so not bad. I'm thinking it'll make an excellent 1-man tent for tall folks like me.

 

[elprup87]

I work with Scouts and take them wheeling. I also take them hiking. I've shopped at REI for 30 years. If it offends you, don't shop there.

Anyway, on topic, I'm tall, 6'4", and have yet to find a decent 2-man tent to use. I just picked up the new version of the REI Half-Dome 2 Plus tent. It is 10" longer than the regular HD2, and 4" wider. So far, so good. Set up was easy enough. I'll have a field test report next week. Got it 20% off of the list $200 price, so not bad. I'm thinking it'll make an excellent 1-man tent for tall folks like me.

Ditto on both. I have not owned any REI tents personally (used other brands) but have rented some of their tents. Their quality is quite nice for most seasons. I can not speak for something in Canada or freezing/snowing weather because I have not camped there personally.

I have been wheeling with a few of the REI employees in the past. Yes REI donate money to some causes, but that doesnt mean you cant shop there. Several companies donate to a wide variety of causes that even sometimes conflict with the other causes. Like the list points above.

 

[RedEuro]

backcountry.com

40 year no questions asked return policy>REI

 

[CowboyUp]

Howdy

Why you not looking on Eureka! tents? The quality is the best, the price is the best and our U.S. military personnel are using this tents all the world .
Check Amazon or better go their outlet website ( you need to wait here for the tent you want to be put in sale) and you can buy a tent more the half the price that is in stores (if you find in the stores).
I bought a tent last year that is about 2 pounds for almost 35$ + 6...$ shipping and the quality is better then one with 200$ from REI. Now, I am looking to get my hands in a profesional expedition tent used on Everest....that is sell for 600 $ +, but online, one their outlet website is about 300$ .

Eureka Camping Tents | Camping Gear for Life Outdoors
Eureka Camping Center

Good luck

 

[re_guderian]

Howdy

Why you not looking on Eureka! tents? The quality is the best, the price is the best and our U.S. military personnel are using this tents all the world .
Check Amazon or better go their outlet website ( you need to wait here for the tent you want to be put in sale) and you can buy a tent more the half the price that is in stores (if you find in the stores).
I bought a tent last year that is about 2 pounds for almost 35$ + 6...$ shipping and the quality is better then one with 200$ from REI. Now, I am looking to get my hands in a profesional expedition tent used on Everest....that is sell for 600 $ +, but online, one their outlet website is about 300$ .

Eureka Camping Tents | Camping Gear for Life Outdoors
Eureka Camping Center

Good luck

I had an Eddie Bauer branded Eureka Timberline A-frame that I got in 1979 and used for 25 years. No problems during it's useful life. However, the interior room left a little to be desired, especially as I grew up (and out). Nothing wrong with Eureka for the price, but their designs seems to be getting a little long in the tooth for some of the backpacking/camping type tents.

 

[solidfrontaxle]

backcountry.com

40 year no questions asked return policy>REI

Not to be a jerk about this kind of thing, but the fight to keep public lands open is important to me and from that point of view, backcountry.com is much worse than REI. They're a Platinum Supporter of SUWA, and vocally supportive of their backing of ARRWA, designating almost 20% of Utah as Wilderness.

 

[CO_Hunter]

Not to be a jerk about this kind of thing, but the fight to keep public lands open is important to me and from that point of view, backcountry.com is much worse than REI. They're a Platinum Supporter of SUWA, and vocally supportive of their backing of ARRWA, designating almost 20% of Utah as Wilderness.

I hope you are equally vigilant when you or your buddies are drinking coke or pepsi products or using any of the other company products listed above. If so I noticed Woody uses Google custom search, I guess you need to jump his case too Apologies for the hi-jack.

 

[fj40charles]

they also contribute to anti access groups. i won't support them for those reasons.

Same here. Too many alternative shops that I can get my stuff from.