REI

This is a cooperative store. This means that when you become a member, $15 per person, you get a refund at the end of the year in the form of voucher. The membership is for life. You will receive up to 10%, at the end of the year on regular priced items. Non members will be charged more for some services such as rentals. So calculate this as a (future) discount for any purchase. Be sure you get their e-mail advertisements as they show current and upcomming sales. When looking around the store, pay attention to discounted items to save money.

Tip: If you ever take a trip to Seattle Washington, you have just got to visit their main store, it is huge, modern, impressive! Seatlle is where REI started.

1411 South Village Way (McFadden off ramp from the 55 freeway, west side).
Santa Ana
714-543-4142

Plus points: .

• This is a candy store for the outdoor person. You will simply enjoy looking around at all the varied outdoor gear.
• Fantastic return policy.
• The store offers gear rentals.
• The sales people are pretty good at giving advice.
• You will find a good choice of alternative offerings for any item you are shopping for and with that a way to save money by buying some items that you think are not top of the line. Some of the backpacks and sleeping bags are designed and priced for Boy Scouts. They are resonable cost but very good quality. Backpacker Magazine will some times even recommend a particular REI equipment item.

Negative points:

• Although REI is not as far as Adventure 16 it still is quite a distance from Placentia, about 15 miles.
• Prices on non sale items just might not as cheap as Adventure 16 or Sports Chalet.
• You are going to spend way too much time looking around and not doing more important things like mow the lawn and laundry.

Web site address: www.rei.com