Maggie’s Any climbers/mountaineers? Retailer question.

[Apnea]

Getting a friend a big gift card and on fence as to which retailer you like better?

Backcountry.com
Moosejaw.com
Whittakermountaineering.com
Other?

With the above I have bought maybe a few items but never tried returns etc so could use input as to CS.

REI is ok for mainstream gear and this guy is a little beyond a lot of that stuff (and I'm not a fan of their political stance), so looking for another option.

 

[Laseredge]

https://www.mountaingear.com

I haven’t bought anything from them for a few years, but have bought a lot of nice stuff over the years.
Good sales, and good CS for returns. Located in Spokane Wa.

 

[powdahound76]

Mountaingear was always good to me. They had a strong online presence. Other sports and parenting has pulled me from climbing and mountaineering, lots of great memories though.
Local to me in Denver and I have done a lot of business with Bentgate Mountaineering in Golden and Neptune Mountaineering in Boulder. Both top end gear used around the world on wild trips.
Once ran into Erik Weihenmeyer (blind stud who climbed Everest) in Bentgate. He was shopping for a new sleeping bag.

 

[Apnea]

Thanks guys, I will check these out.

 

[TripleBull]

I'll second the vote for Neptune Mountaineering. Say hi to Malcolm if he's working when you are in.

I'm not a fan of Moosejaw and you are right about REI - once great but now a foo-foo clothing store with a faint reminder of their mountaineering past.

 

[pmclaine]

REI sent a demand letter to a sporting goods conglomerate asking what they are going to do about one of the subsidiaries, Savage Firearms, selling ARs.

They stopped selling other products under that companies umbrella - bike helmets (Giro) and Camelbacks - until they were going to get a letter basically apologizing and divesting from AR production.

REI can suck a dick.

I've divested my coop membership in response. Well I will in July when they send me my $300 plus membership dividend which I will use to buy gun stuff with.

 

[hermosabeach]

Rei was my go to store for climbing gear...
Amazon has a lot too

Since REI decided to remove a line of kids bike helmets as the parent company makes guns, I cancelled my REI membership and emailed the board

 

[45.308]

https://www.mtntools.com/

I used them for years while living in AZ in the 80s, fast easy ordering. Larry always answered questions on my order promptly. Had my order in 5-7 days. Their packs are some of the best in the industry. Can't remember ever returning anything though. and understand since I know a little about climbing retail shops, its the liability with returns on most climbing gear. I as a climber, I would never trust my live to a returned piece or ever buy used. Never would I return anything that climbers life would depend on. So do not be mad at the shop on lack of returns. Lawyers as with everything will go deep into the pockets of all involved,

Exactly what is your friends style of climbing?

Trad
Sport
Gym
Boudering
Ice
Alpine
High altitude
Mountain slogging

 

[Laseredge]

Yeah Mountain Tools are GTG too. Like you said, all their packs and bags are really good stuff.

 

[packratt]

I usually deal with https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...bandbob.com/&usg=AOvVaw2aBvtWAegKIshzuqyuNhIy but I'm headed down not up.

 

[armorpl8chikn]

Hell yeah! I'm a genuine mountain man from Appalachia!.
What you need to know?
Gear supply? Walmart
Socks? Socks dude at the gunshow.

 

[demolitionman]

I did a bit through Moosejaw and was always happy with the experience. Ordering cams, draws, and slings. I probably couldn't make it 1/4" pitch of 5.9 plugg'n yellow #2's now though. . . . . . pump out and hang on each cam. . .