There’s nothing like a good, old-fashioned gear shop, with a carefully curated selection of products and experienced, expert employees. These stores are home to a host of services, from used gear to rentals, and local employees with strong knowledge of the area can help customers in a way that big, online retailers often can’t.
Even as e-commerce continues to dominate, mom-and-pop outdoor shops survive, and we’ve rounded up some favorites, grouped by region. Next time you’re near one, try stopping by and having a chat with the staff. You never know what outdoor intel or great deals you might discover.
California
Alpenglow Sports, Tahoe City
Lake Tahoe’s “original mountain shop,” Alpenglow is run with a mission to “share the stoke” and provide old-school customer service. It also hosts product demos, a running club, cross-country ski races, adventure film screenings, and more.
Founded: 1979
Sportago, Napa Valley
Tucked in the heart of wine country, Sportago services a “hyper-local” customer base. As a result, the store refreshes its products on a regular basis, keeping its inventory broad, limited, and constantly updated.
If you like a dose of fashion with your outdoor apparel, Sportago is there to help; according to its website, it offers “a unique selection that will have you running trails, climbing mountains, walking the streets of Paris, and taking the dog to the park in comfort and style.”
Founded: 1983
Mountain Hardware & Sports: 3 Locations (Plus One in Nevada)
This unique store is part Ace Hardware, part outdoor outfitter. It’s an old-time throwback to the “general store.” Fifteen years ago, Mountain Hardware & Sports went from three original founders to being 100% employee-owned. It regularly posts fishing reports and has all the info on where to go for a good catch.
Founded: 1977
Proof Lab Outdoor Center: Mill Valley & San Rafael
Proof Lab is more than just an outdoor shop, with a skate park where it hosts camps and lessons. Another location leases out various areas of the building to local businesses, including a ceramics studio, kids’ art studio, music classrooms, a coffee shop, and a native plant nursery.
It’s also got a stock list of more than 500 surfboards, so you’re sure to find the right fit for you.
Founded: 2004
Elevation Sierra Adventure Essentials: Lone Pine
Established for climbers and hikers of all disciplines, Elevation Sierra Adventure Essentials hangs its hat on customer care. Co-owner Jon Turner is rumored to bring several boots home and host fittings for anyone who can’t make it to the store before close. The shop also rents items like trekking poles, bear canisters, and crampons.
Founded: 2005
Pacific Northwest
Wonderland Gear Exchange: Seattle (Coming Soon to Salt Lake City)
According to its founders, Wonderland Gear Exchange’s mission is to “reduce the financial barrier to entry by offering quality used gear and expert advice for both first-timers and long-timers alike.” Check out the shop’s Instagram to see daily updates on what sick new used gear is coming in; there might be a vintage snowsuit or almost-new cams.
Founded: 2018
Foster Outdoor: Portland
Foster Outdoor has gear for everything — paddling, camping, snowshoeing, you name it — with new inventory coming in daily. It’s also got a massive consignment section, with picks from top-tier brands like Patagonia and Arc’teryx.
Founded: 2019
Mountain Shop: Portland
Some outdoor gear for activities like winter sports and mountaineering can be prohibitively expensive and present barriers to entry for newcomers. To help make the outdoors accessible, the Mountain Shop not only offers affordable rentals, but also allows customers to lease gear for a whole season at a reasonable price.
Founded: 1937
Cascades Outdoor Store: Winthrop, WA
Cascades has the charming, vintage vibe of an old-school general store, but with seasoned pros to help you prepare for your next adventure. Staff are happy to show customers how to wax their skis, fit their backpacks, and even examine their gear setup before their next backpacking trip. If you’re from out of town and visiting to ski, be sure to visit to get the 411 on what the best runs that day will be.
Founded: 2014
Mountain West
Idaho Mountain Touring: Boise
This is the stop for cyclists, skiers, climbers, and backpackers. Idaho Mountain Touring is a haven for real gear junkies who want to shop the latest and greatest in hard goods and technology. It also operates bike and ski/snowboard repair shops if your gear needs some TLC.
Founded: 1984
Feral Mountain Co.: Denver (and Grand Rapids, MI)
Feral Mountain Co. opened its doors in March 2016 and quickly earned a following among the local outdoors folk. Founder Jimmy Funkhouser left a steady corporate job with Toys ‘R Us to help others “live an intentional life.” Feral has a large used gear business, with over 300,000 used items sold.
Founded: 2016
Neptune Mountaineering: Boulder, CO
Located in the outdoors mecca of Boulder, Neptune Mountaineering sells gear for serious mountain adventures. It’s been doing this since 1973, and serves as a hub for the vibrant community of explorers, with movie nights and story hours for kids. No list of great shops would be complete without it.
Founded: 1973
The Gear Room: Salt Lake City
If you’re on the hunt for a great bargain while in Salt Lake City, head to The Gear Room. It offers preowned skis, snowboards, and apparel at massive discounts. It’s connected to the community, with a grant program to help support locals’ outdoor adventure goals. The shop also runs a climbing shoe resole business, and has resoled over 1,500 pairs.
Founded: 2014
Southwest
Miller’s Surplus: Tucson, AZ
Army surplus stores can be gold mines when it comes to affordable gear, and Miller’s Surplus is a legendary one. This shop has racks and racks of apparel, plus boots, knives, and more hunting gear. Every purchase comes with a free visit to the in-house seamstress, who will fix or mend any item of clothing, even if you didn’t buy it at Miller’s.
Founded: 1951
Arizona Hiking Shack: Phoenix
This shop doesn’t just want to sell you gear — although it does have plenty of it — it wants to get you outside, safely. Its in-house education program, the Arizona Wilderness School, teaches classes on backpacking, climbing, and how to use a map and compass. Exploring the desert poses a unique set of challenges and hazards, so get prepared with the shop’s desert survival skills class.
Founded: 1972
Happy Hiker: Albuquerque and Ruidoso, NM
Ruidoso, N.M., is a gateway to some of the state’s best skiing and hiking, and Happy Hiker is a convenient spot to stop by for gear and intel. Its snack and treats collection, which sources goodies from independent small brands, is unparalleled, and sure to keep you fueled on the trail.
Founded: 2016
Tourist: Santa Fe, NM
Despite the name, Tourist is all about serving the local community. Since opening in 2022, it’s become a favorite for used gear and ultralight backpacking supplies, all in a very hip, cool setting. Everything here feels like owner Thayne Nord chose it for a specific reason.
Founded: 2022
Slim Pickins Outfitters: Mingus, TX
Founder Jahmicah Dawes opened the country’s first Black-owned gear shop; according to Slim Pickins’ website, “the overarching goal is to diversify the outdoors by way of the outdoor industry.” In addition to gear from big-name brands like Patagonia and Osprey, the shop also stocks items from small Texas brands like San Jac Outdoors and MD Edgeworks. There’s a carefully curated vintage section too, with some seriously stylish pieces with cowboy vibes.
Founded: 2017
Desert Rock Sports: Las Vegas
Owned and operated by climbers, and located next to a climbing gym, Desert Rock Sports has got everything you need to make the most of your time in the Southwest: climbing shoes, guidebooks, packs, and more. If you’ve flown from out of state to boulder at world-famous Red Rocks, you’re in luck: The shop also rents crash pads.
Founded: 2005
Midwest
Roam’n Around: Rapid City, SD
South Dakota’s Black Hills is one of the region’s most scenic areas, so it’s only fitting that Rapid City, its gateway, has a solid outdoor gear shop. Located downtown, Roam’n Around doesn’t just sell gear; it also runs shuttles to popular trailheads, offers trail resources, and rents camping and winter sports gear. If you’ve got questions about what to see nearby besides Mount Rushmore, the folks here have got plenty of answers.
Founded: 2007
Backcountry North: 2 Locations in Michigan
Owner Tracy Mayer has worked in the outdoors industry since she was 14 years old. Backcountry North has an in-store theater where patrons can arrange to hold slideshow viewings of recent adventures. The store sells camping gear, apparel, packs, and more.
Founded: 1978
The Benchmark: Blue Ash, OH
Branded as something of a “big kids’ toy store,” The Benchmark works hard to inspire adventure in an area lacking much wilderness. The shop is beloved for its roaming (and friendly) dogs, and hosts annual gear swaps where customers can trade in their old products for credit toward the purchase of new gear. It also runs a winter sports repair and tune-up shop.
Founded: 1974
Janky Gear: Rochester, MN
When it comes to sustainability, buying used is the easiest and best way to make an environmentally friendly choice. Janky Gear specializes in used outdoor equipment and clothing for camping, climbing, and winter sports. It operates on consignment, so it’s constantly getting in new stuff. You never know what treasures you might find.
Founded: 2021
Lake State Mountaineering: Minneapolis
Founder Steve Schreader has been a teacher for years, and his shop blends his love of education and the outdoors. Lake State specializes in paddling and climbing gear, his two passions. The shop also hosts a variety of events, including run clubs, ice climbing classes, and demos from local artists.
Founded: 2024
Alpine Shop: 3 Locations in Missouri
St. Louis has multiple REI locations, but that’s not stopping Alpine Shop. This local retailer has been around since the 1970s. Not only does it offer a wide assortment of apparel, but it’s also a community resource and education hub.
It runs classes on topics like bike maintenance and outdoor first aid. Its biannual gear swaps are the stuff of legend: Locals gather and sell their gear, and it fills an entire parking lot.
Founded: 1973
Stoked: Des Moines, IA
Sometimes you walk into a gear shop, and the carefully curated aesthetic might make you think that you’re not cool enough to be there. That will happen at Stoked, until you talk to the owner, Collin Smitherman, who’s all about making the outdoors accessible. In addition to a huge resupply section, Stoked also sells goods and apparel from local brands like The Iowa Parks Project.
Founded: 2021
Pack Rat Outdoor Center: Fayetteville, AR
The 100% solar-powered Pack Rat Outdoor Center is as environmentally friendly as a retailer can get. The company even collects stray plastic bags in the community to be recycled into decking material. It also regularly offers educational classes on outdoor skills, and hosts pint nights that help fundraise for local outdoor nonprofits.
Founded: 1973
Southeast
Innerlight Surf Shops: 3 Locations in Florida
Innerlight has been open for over 50 years, and says its mission “is to truly earn the title of The Surfer’s Surf Shop.” In addition to a wide surfing selection, it also runs surfing classes and lessons to help anyone get out and crush some waves.
Founded: 1969
J&H Outdoors: Lexington, KY
With climbing magnet Red River Gorge nearby, it’s no surprise that Lexington is home to a long-running independent gear shop. J&H specializes in climbing, camping, and travel products. It donates all proceeds from its Lanmark Series apparel line to local conservation groups.
Founded: 1972
Great Outdoor Provisions Co.: 9 Locations in NC & VA
If you’re an aspiring angler, Great Outdoor Provision Co. is the place to go; it offers multiple classes on different aspects of fly fishing. Visit one of its many locations to try on footwear and find the best fit; brands include Teva, Merrell, Oboz, KEEN, Topo Athletic, and more.
Founded: 1972
Trailful Outdoor Co.: Hiawassee, GA
Trailful is located near the Appalachian Trail and has two AT thru-hikers on staff, so you can bet its employees know their way around the area. It is all about service, weekly free cookouts, shuttles, and mail drops for thru-hikers. It’s got plenty of apparel, boots, packs, and everything else a hiker might need.
Founded: 2019
Northeast
Outdoor Gear Exchange: Burlington, VT
Along with its online companion site GearX.com, the Outdoor Gear Exchange is an everything outfitter: camping, hiking, climbing, mountaineering, telemark, alpine touring, nordic skiing, cycling, paddling, and yoga. The shop has an extensive repair shop for everything from tents to bikes to jackets, and can even help with car rack installs.
Founded: 1995
Rock and Snow: New Paltz, NY
If you’re on the hunt for a guidebook to a niche climbing area, odds are that Rock and Snow carries it. It’s got more than 300 books in stock on areas across the country, and any order over $75 qualifies for free shipping. The shop, which is located near the Catskills and other premier New York outdoor spots, also rents a whole host of gear, including items for ice climbing, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing.
Founded: 1970
Woods + Water Gear Exchange: Brunswick, ME
Maine’s most famous retailer is L.L.Bean, whose headquarters are in Freeport, but if you’re looking to support a small business while visiting the state, check out Woods + Water Gear Exchange. The shop operates on consignment, and its stock runs the gamut from wetsuits to skateboards to backpacking stoves to even roller skates.
Founded: 2018
Mountain Expedition Supply: Branford, CT
Mountain Expedition Supply prides itself on the tailored, personal touch it provides to its patrons. Customers can fill out a form online for a personalized, concierge shopping experience for ski and snowboard gear, or for help planning a trip in the Northeast. The shop also offers winter sports rentals, and a wide range of repair services.
Founded: 2023
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