REI membership worth it?

I've been a member of REI for 48 years. However, I rarely buy from REI as they are generally more expensive than other outdoor stores in the area. Yes, I know you get 10% back at the end of the year but other places sell very similar products for much less.

They went more mainstream many years ago and don't carry nearly the number of climbing products that they used to.

While it has become a very corporate, big-box store, REI is still a cooperatively owned business. The one-time $30 membership fee lets you vote on the board of directors who decide how the business is run. (Compare that with Dick's Sporting Goods or similar.) You also get a dividend and discounts on rentals and services. If you shop there a lot, the Master Card rewards program is another benefit.

Both of the previous replies are spot on, but to make it simple. Yes, yes it is a good idea.

backcountry.com is what you want.

What is it, a $30 Lifetime membership?

Seems like a no-brainer, and even a couple of purchases would be a break-even in what amounts to a lifetime of benefits and 10% rewards on purchases.

But yeah, it's the kind of thing I would waste an evening researching and mulling over before pulling the trigger.

REI member here, in full-disclosure.

Gonna go for it. It does seem like you're kinda "committed" to REI once you get the membership, since you have to be on-point to get max value, but overall seems like a net positive.

I've bought some REI gear over the years and without exception, the stuff outlasts cheap stuff. I'd argue that it is a better value in the long run due to longevity, not to mention it's nicer to use.

Store has very good selection if you want to try things on and handle it before making a decision - and for critical things like bike helmets, for example, virtually a must.

REI Outlet has some very good deals, too, though that is online. In store, they have a clearance rack of returned items and I've scored big there a couple of times. Like, really big.

If you know what you want, you can get everything online for significantly cheaper. No reason to shop in person anymore unless you go to try things on.

I was shocked at how good the clearance section was at our local REI. Ghost 14s for $60 in size 10, 10.5 and 12? Several HOKAs in actual usable sizes as well (i.e. not size 14EE).

Meh... the pricing is usually better across the board, but their corporate policies and trademark attacks on smaller businesses are pretty bad. They'll need a lot of goodwill to pull themselves out of the hole they dug over the last 5-6 years.

I've been an REI member since I was 12 and used to spend a lot of time at the Seattle Flagship store. Like post #2 above - I rarely buy stuff there, at least at retail, and their product mix has moved much more to hiker/car camper than enthusiast/expert products of the past. They have decent sales sometimes that match competitors, but I also live 2+ hrs away from a store, so that doesn't help. All said: a one time $35 fee for some nice benefits and a small, but real part in a cool company.