REI review
Updated September 30, 2026 · ThriveCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 30, 2026
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Our verdict
REI suits hikers and campers who want one store for camping, hiking, cycling, water sports, winter sports and outdoor clothing, and it is a store rather than a single-purpose label. Entry prices in the camping and hiking group run €52.61 at the median, and return windows sit at 30 at the median.
Key facts
- Best for
- A US outdoor store for complete kits, from tents and packs to winter layers.
- Brand or store
- Store (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Legal entity
- Recreational Equipment, Inc. (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Headquarters
- United States (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Founded
- 1938 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Products
- Camping, Hiking, Cycling, Water sports, Winter sports, Outdoor clothing
- Official website
- rei.com
Pros and cons
Pros
- One store covers camping, hiking, cycling, water sports, winter sports and outdoor clothing, a wider list than KastKing, whose own product types are water sports and outdoor clothing.
- Return windows at 30 at the median give you room to try gear at home before deciding.
- Repair service is offered by 94.4% of the camping and hiking group, above the 80% seen across sports and outdoor stores.
- Entry prices sit near the group mark of €52.61, so a tent or a shell does not cost the €2,385.95 extreme found at the top of the list.
- Founded in 1938 and run as Recreational Equipment, Inc., it is a long-established US operation rather than a recent label.
Cons
- A lifetime warranty is the exception here: it appears on 34.8% of the camping and hiking group and on 0% of sports and outdoor stores, so most kit runs on a standard warranty.
- Worn returns apply to 20% of the camping and hiking group, so boots or a jacket used on a trip can fall outside the return window.
- Prices climb at the upper end, with entry prices at €122.75 at the upper quartile and €2,385.95 at the top, so a full camping and winter kit adds up quickly.
- The camping and hiking comparison covers 37 brands, so specialist and niche makers appear more thinly than the general stores.
Ready to try REI?
Who it suits
- Hikers and campers who want gear and clothing in one place, with repair service common across 94.4% of the camping and hiking group.
- Cyclists and winter sports buyers who need equipment next to apparel, since REI lists cycling, winter sports and outdoor clothing together.
- US shoppers who would rather deal with a store than a single-label brand, as REI is listed as a store.
Who should look elsewhere
- Water sports and outdoor clothing buyers who do not need a full kit, since KastKing covers water sports and outdoor clothing.
- Activewear and hiking shoppers looking for a tighter list, since Runmefit covers activewear and hiking.
- Anyone who wants activewear alongside camping and cycling gear, as Decathlon covers camping, hiking and outdoor clothing.
Who runs it
REI trades as a store, and the legal entity behind it is Recreational Equipment, Inc., headquartered in the US. It was founded in 1938, which places it among the established names in outdoor retail. A store model like this means the range spans many makers rather than one product line, so equipment and clothing from different labels sit under one roof.
How REI compares
Frequently asked questions
What kind of retailer is REI?+
REI is listed as a store rather than a single-label brand, and the legal entity behind it is Recreational Equipment, Inc.. Its product types cover camping, hiking, cycling, water sports, winter sports and outdoor clothing, so a full trip of gear and clothing can be bought in one place.
How much does gear typically cost at REI?+
Across the camping and hiking comparison, entry prices run €52.61 at the median, with €27.95 at the lower quartile and €122.75 at the upper. The full spread runs €3 to €2,385.95, so budget items and big-ticket kit share the same list.
How long are the return windows?+
Return windows in the camping and hiking group sit at 30 at the median, with the same figure at the lower and upper quartiles. The shortest window in the group is 14 and the longest reaches 100, so the exact period still depends on the item.
Is there a lifetime warranty?+
A lifetime warranty appears on 34.8% of the camping and hiking group and on 0% of sports and outdoor stores. Most listings rely on a standard warranty instead, and the median warranty across the site is 2 years.
Can damaged gear be repaired?+
Repair service is offered by 94.4% of the camping and hiking group, ahead of 80% across sports and outdoor stores. That makes a repair-first route more plausible here than on listings that only sell gear.
Which market does REI serve?+
REI is headquartered in the US and trades as a store there, so treat the prices and return windows here as US figures. The camping and hiking comparison draws its 37 brands from the same market rather than a global list.
Who runs REI and how old is it?+
The company is Recreational Equipment, Inc., founded in 1938 and headquartered in the US. Operating as a store rather than a single brand, it sells across camping, hiking, cycling, water sports, winter sports and outdoor clothing under one name.
Can worn items be returned?+
Worn returns apply to 20% of the camping and hiking group, while free returns cover 85.7%. Most items can therefore come back at no charge, but gear already used on a trip often cannot, so try footwear and outerwear before setting out.
Sources
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/REI checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Founded, Headquarters, Legal entity, Products, Brand or store
“Lloyd (1902-2000) and Mary (Gaiser) Anderson (1909-2017) founded REI in Seattle, Washington, in 1938.”
Compiled from 1 source page, checked September 30, 2026. We did not open an account.
Not confirmed yet: Price from.
REI
A US outdoor store for complete kits, from tents and packs to winter layers.