My Shopping Spree at REI (and you can win one too)
A few years ago, a blogger I will not name was supposed to move to my table as part of the BlogHer conference’s “speed dating” session. I smiled at her and she turned to her friend and made this dismissive hand motion, and then WALKED BY MY TABLE. She decided that it was not worth her time to sit and chit chat with eager, little old me.
Down the road, we met under other circumstances. I was introduced as Melissa from Stirrup Queens and suddenly, she was as sweet as pie. She just loved my blog and she had all sorts of ideas of how we could work together.
I am fairly sensitive to how I’m treated, and I believe we all deserve respect and attention regardless of what the other person gets out of the interaction. I know the world isn’t perfect and usually doesn’t act this way, but I try my hardest to always keep this in mind with my interactions and I care about how I’m treated in various arenas.
Which is why when I was chosen for BlogHer’s REI program, I went to the store a week early to see how I’d be treated when no one there knew me or knew that I was writing about the store. I was just a shopper, looking for a gift, and I walked around the store for an hour, jotting down notes about my experience. I’ve shopped at REI dozens of other times, and I’ve never had a bad experience, but I wanted to make sure that I had tested this aspect of shopping before I put my name behind the brand.
I spent about an hour in the store, which was fairly crowded for a Friday morning. (Seriously, how were all of these people off of work? They can’t all be writers who work out of their living room.) Five different employees asked me if I needed any help. When I held up my hand and said “no thanks,” they left me alone. When I paused to ask some questions, they answered them politely. One told me that REI is actually a co-op, much like my favourite bookstore, and people can become members, which makes them partial owners. I liked hearing that, though I couldn’t put my finger on why. It just made my little Commie heart happy.
I also walked around listening to how they spoke to other people. How they treated women with children in tow. How they treated men. Probably my favourite interaction that I noted took place between two twenty-something men — one the employee and the other a German customer. The customer was attempting to purchase a bicycle and wanted to give it a test ride, but he only wanted to test ride it inside the store. I personally would have snapped at the customer and said, “you can’t freakin’ ride it in the store.” But that’s why I don’t work in a store. The employee patiently said over and over again, “I hear you, man, and I want you to test ride it, but you can’t do it in the store, man. We can’t have you plowing down customers, man. Let’s take this puppy outside.” To which the German man would insist that he couldn’t understand why he couldn’t ride it inside the store and the whole exchange would patiently begin anew.
Undercover customer service investigation complete, I felt ready to actually participate in the program.
So far, so good.
*******
BlogHer and REI gave me $250 to spend at the store as well as a two-hour guided tour of the store so I could ask all my questions (see, this is why I wanted to go undercover first). Which was a good thing because even though I’ve been camping numerous times, go geocaching with some regularity, go hiking fairly frequently, I felt like I knew next to nothing when it came to gear.
Though I did some self-assigned homework before I left for the store, using their online tutorials and guides to understand what I wanted and why. Even so, I was quite relieved to be paired up with John who gave me some background about the store (and did his own homework reading my blog) and then led me from item to item that I was interested in knowing more about, telling me how one goes about making a decision.
For instance, I knew I wanted sleeping bags for the twins. It’s something they covet. I know we’re going on a camping trip next summer to a music festival so we’d have them for that. Slumber parties, camp, power outage in the house. (You laugh, but we have about 8 major power outages per year in the DC area and when they’re in winter, the house gets cold!) But I had no idea how one went about choosing a single sleeping bag that would fit these very diverse needs. John walked me through the pros and cons of each one, finally leading me to two adult men’s bags. (See, you thought I was going to say a kids’ bag, but no, we actually realized that these two bags would fit our needs better.)
When I got home, I rolled them out in the living room so they could slip their little bodies inside and snuggle down.
I wanted to be part of this program because I wanted us to geocache better. We have been doing it in the most ass-backwards way — sans GPS — and while we find a few caches, more often than not, our hike is for naught. There are only so many times your husband will believe you and drive to the opening of the trail before he’s onto the fact that you can’t really go geocaching without a GPS.
I also wanted the GPS to be easy for a child to use; I wanted them to own the activity. And John helped me find that too.
The non-gear thing that interested me most were the classes that REI holds ranging from how to use your new kayak to hiking in the woods. Some of them were also free; most were relatively inexpensive. I’m considering taking the GPS class with the kids to ensure that we’re using it correctly before we get frustrated in the woods.
To be honest, a large reason why I can put my name behind this review is because they are selling things that help you live longer, provided you use them correctly (have to put that caveat in because John scared me a bit while we were over at camping stoves with some propane stories). If you go to some businesses that shall not be named and you use or consume what they’re selling, you probably will have a shorter life. But REI is about getting you outside, getting you active, getting you to commune with nature, getting you to slow down and notice the world.
And beyond that, I liked that they didn’t feel their responsibility to me ended when the cashier rung up my purchase. They have classes to teach me how to use the gear properly, how to do all the activities they propose safely. John explained that it was obviously in REI’s best interests that you emerge from the woods in one piece so you’ll come back shopping again. (And they have an amazing return policy to keep customers happy and loyal. I can call it amazing because I’ve also already tested it once.) All businesses want to keep you alive so you’ll keep coming back, but REI is actually taking steps to ensure that you remain breathing. It’s hard to find fault with a business that brings that level of responsibility to the game.
I have one more post coming about how we used the gear that I bought with the gift card. But now here’s your chance to win a gift card from REI…
*******
From BlogHer:
What outdoor activity do you pledge to do with your family this summer and how would a $100 REI gift card help you get there? Take the REI Outdoor Pledge and submit your comment to be entered.
No duplicate comments.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
b) Tweet about this promotion and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
c) Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older and runs from 8/17 – 9/20/11.
Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail.
You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available here.
Head to the BlogHer round-up page for more chances to win.
159 comments
This is so cool. I love REI and all the gear. And I’m a co-op member, commie pinko me.
Michael is starting to soccer and I really need to get him cleats.
tweeted! http://twitter.com/#!/jodifur/status/103647500229025792
I love REI. Our closest one burnt down last year and I was so sad.
I’m currently coveting a taller tent, as my husband and I are both pretty tall. I also use it at renaissance faires (I’m in a singing/dancing group that performs at a few faires in the area), and it is SO hard to get into elizabethan garb in a tent that you can barely sit up in.
I wish I lived in the land o’ bikeability, but being in the foothills of mountains (and in a very bike-unfriendly area…), I cannot fathom just jumping on a bike with my boys and heading to the great outdoors– I’d die in the first five minutes, if not from angry cars, then from exhaustion from attempting to hoist me-plus-babies up some crazy steep hills! However, those same foothills make for a ton of righteous hiking, all within 30 minutes of my door. And pre-baby, we went hiking all the time, but with not-yet-walking twins, it’s hard. I would LOVE to use an REI credit to get some sort of hiking pack contraption for carrying a baby while hiking.
Oh, and count me as a Commie, too. While I’m not a member of REI, I was the membership coordinator for the student co-op where I lived prior to moving here, and also a member of the grocery co-op in that area. I worked on starting a local grocery co-op, but that sadly fizzled out when the group coordinating things kinda lost it’s center. Anyhow, yes, I knew that REI was a co-op. Count me as a co-operative business fan!
I’m going on vacation so I hope I’m a winner and I hope I have internet access to discover this in time
BUT! We are going on vacation where we will be outdoors for most of two weeks enjoying lots of swimming, a smattering of sailing and with any luck some kayaking too. NEXT summer, though..we will be camping for three weeks all the way across the USofA to Yosemite and back with two small children and my teenage nephew…so yeah..REI would come in super handy. (We did it last year with my niece and my 1.5 year old..in a tent…but not all the way to California.)
As the weather cools down, I’ve been getting outside more for walks and playground time. I would likely use the gift card for a gorgeous new pair of shoes- LOVE REI’s shoes!
I love REI. They’re just so darn … crunchy.
I’ve been walking a lot this summer, and we have a canal towpath near us that I love to take the kids on … and we geocache a lot! Not so much these past few weeks, but with fall and cooler weather almost upon us, we’ll be back on the trail. We’d probably use the gift card for some new hiking gear for my son, who has grown like a weed this summer!
And … not sure if it’s just me, but the Official Rules link gave me a 404 not found …
Tweet:
https://twitter.com/#!/(myrealname)/status/103672444019146752
If you don’t know my real name to verify this, you can email me: bigpandme@yahoo.com
We have a tent, but that is about it. We need sleeping bags and I would really like a camping lantern. I want to go camping!
We pink puffy heart REI and have been members for years (love the annual rebate we get as part of our membership). We’ve been doing a lot of car camping as a family this year and really need to invest in some better pads to go under our sleeping bags.
Tweeted: https://twitter.com/#!/hedra/status/103675662988091392
I hope it’s okay that I am not pledging to do something in the summer because I live in Phoenix and it is way, way too hot and dangerous to do anything outside in the summer. Except swim, but I already do that and don’t really need any gear. BUT, I would like to try geocaching once it cools down. My husband thinks it is lame(he’s never tried) and so he would never let me buy a GPS that I would need to do it. But if I had a gift card I could get one and then force him to at least try it for free!
I took the pledge and before I even got to the pledge box I was thinking, “I sure would like to get some good hiking gear with that gift card.”
I tweeted about the giveaway. http://twitter.com/dragondream/statuses/103732412223205376
My family and I do outdoor things pretty often (wearing down a 5 year old is tricky business). We camp every summer, we hike, and I kayak. With the gift card I would probably get some new hiking boots (to help with keeping up with said 5 year old, haha), or pick up a GPS so we can try out some geocaching!
Tweeted!
http://twitter.com/#!/BigMamaT311/status/103804362966568961
I am not a camper as an adult, which amuses my husband to no end because as a kid I loved to camp. He would get more use from a gift card from REI as he loves to shop there before going on his boys weekend camping trips during the year. The Young’un also loves REI and we do go hiking at a nearby state park during the summer and fall.
I love REI for outdoor gear – it’s a great store!!
REI is my FAVORITE store. I just love to walk around there over and over. I love the clothes, the gear, everything! I can’t wait to gear up my baby there! REI has supported us through adventures in 6+ national parks so far.
Tweeted!
http://twitter.com/#!/jesstutt
We just did our hiking in the woods! I do want to get a bike though…
My husband is the only person in our family who doesn’t have a bicycle and I’d put this gift card toward that purchase.
I would love to try camping with the family.
I love that you researched REI so thoroughly. You are a blogger of integrity.
And, guess what! I’ve had the same blogger experience — maybe even with the same blogger!
I would love to start jogging, but I need a jogging stroller before I could do that.
I love REI! I also completely agree with the review you gave, they are always helpful and knowledgeable. I’m willing to pay a little more to shop there over the internet because I know I’ll always get good intel. Also me and the hubs pledge to hike this summer and enjoy the Alaskan mountains!
REI is great. Love the classes. I’d use the gift card toward a new tent!
I pledge to camp with my family. REI can help me get there with this double sleeping bag:
http://www.rei.com/product/809428/kelty-callisto-35-sleeping-bag-double
http://twitter.com/#!/mjplower/status/103962110605791234
I have been so curious which business it would turn out to be! I didn’t have a solid guess (thinking furniture maybe?) but I definitely didn’t expect a store like REI.
I am a coop member but don’t live near a store right now. We joined not for commie reasons but for capitalist reasons: the savings on a particular order was greater than the cost of the membership.
Heavier-duty bug protection like permethrin would encourage us to go explore all of the woods near us. I am so paranoid about Lyme.
We just returned frome Lake Tahoe where we hiked the gorgeous, gorgeous Tahoe Rim Trail. The lake from the trail’s view? Something I don’t think I could ever take for granted. Sigh. Lovely.
I also just checked out a book called Wild Play from the library today, which is all about parenting adventures in the great outdoors. I love this Thoreau quote listed in the book’s first pages:
“The more slowly trees grow at first, the sounder they are at the core, and I think the same is true of human beings.”
OMG, I heart REI, my family joined when I lived at home, and my husband and I joined back when we shared an apartment together. We still do. We are, as I type, hemming and hawing over bike trailers for the tot and bike carriers for the car. We want desperately to hit the trails not only close to us here in the city, but the wonderful ones a bit further out in the country. I pledge to get out and bike more with my family! I plan to do this *anyway* but $100 certainly wouldn’t hurt!
Thanks, Mel! Loved hearing your story.
I have been a REI faithful since I purchased my first pair of hiking boots back in 1995. My enthusiasm for the outdoors increased throughout my IF journey. My spirituality was found in nature. I now have 2 small children and we go outside as often as possible, but I am seriously lacking some gear. I am currently saving for a creative way to get them into our kayaks, carry them through backcountry, and pull them behind our snowmobiles. I realize some things would be better if I give them time to grow, but it is important to me to raise them where I prayed for them!
My girls have started Girl Scouts and I see lots of camping opportunities in our future.
We are taking the kids to the Indiana Dunes for Labor Day weekend. We’d love some gear!
We plan many more hikes with our daughter. At age six, she is finally able to keep up for longer distances.
More camping; we haven’t gone in at least a year and the kids are always asking when we’ll go again. My son could use a new sleeping bag from REI…those “kiddie” ones just aren’t build for sleeping outside. I think it’s time to delegate the X-men sleeping bag for sleepovers and get him a “real” sleeping bag for camping.
Tweeted;
http://twitter.com/#!/auntiethesis/status/104415391312388096
REI is my toy store. I’ve fitted up myself and a couple of boy scouts over the years and every year I seem to be replacing equipment with something lighter-stronger-faster-cooler.
I pleadge to camp this weekend and every weekend I can. I will bring anyone who wants too go. I will make sure those with me are safe and have the best time possible. Rei can help me with this, I really need a Garmin GPS. (tierd of buying maps and running out of room for them all)
Hiking with the family has been great, our daughter loves being in her Deuter Carrier.
https://twitter.com/#!/tbasham/status/104604748950421505
I love REI…..I think I spend more time on their website at work then I do working somedays…. maybe REI will pay me a salary for surfing their site?
I’m getting back into cycling and I’d love to take one of the bike maintenance classes at my local REI. I have all the tools in my bike bag, but I’m not sure how to use all of them properly! I know the experts at REI would be just the ones to teach me. That $100 GC would pay for the class, as well as leaving some to purchase other bike items I might not have considered necessary.
This commie pinko outdoorsy person loves REI too. I pledge to do a ton of hiking with my kids this summer. So, we need trail maps, safety whistles, and sun hats! REI here we come.
My husband and I are hikers. Now it’s not just my husband and I, it’s my husband, myself and our toddler. We can’t wait to take him hiking with us but we’d like to have a child carrier when his little legs run out of steam. A $100 gift card to REI would be a wonderful thing!
I’ve been a mystery shopper before too. REI does have great staff!
Glad you talked about the employee knowledge factor, they strive to find employees with a love of outdoor activities and knowledge of equipment, I wish people realized it and asked more, I overhear people in the stores picking up equipment that isnt right for what they want to do all the time.
I pledge to fit in a camping trip, even if the weather isn’t “perfect.” Sometimes it’s a lot of work to pack up the car and submit to the weather, but it can still be fun if you have the right attitude.
I love R.E.I, but I also love borrowing gear to make camping trips more enjoyable without breaking the bank. I would LOVE to win a gift card to R.E.I so I can stock up on much-needed gear for my family, like a new, bigger tent!
Nothing is worse than a bad sleeping bag. I pledge to hike with my family and friends at least once a month, including winter (although many may not join me then).
I pledge to get outside and bike with my family. REI can help me get their with this bike:
http://www.rei.com/product/808694/marin-pioneer-trail-bike-2011
If I won the gift card I would get my husband and I some bike gear so we could do a lot more biking than we have this year! We moved to Colorado 1 1/2 years ago and they have so many trails and groups to go biking with here!
blogged!
http://mattandjolenelenahan.blogspot.com/2011/08/rei-giveaway_19.html
IS this summer clearance time at REI! Swimsuits here I come!
This is awesome! It’s so nice that you got the chance to learn about gear so well! I love going in to stores like REI where I am a member and therefore own part of the company, not only because it makes it feel like I’ve got and investment i the store (and of course the great deals) but also because it means that the employees all respect you and it’s super awesome!
Personally, I pledge to go try salmon fishing for the first time, and to take at least one more weekend backpacking trip with friends up here. I’d like to try making it out white-water canoeing before everything freezes up as well if I can find a canoe partner!
We’ll be planning a great car-camping adventure for a group, as we our working on starting our family, but want to enjoy the outdoors with our sisters and brothers at the end of this summer – all thanks to a LOT of REI gear we keep stocked on!
One of the things I love most about REI, besides their quality of products and their awesome steadfastness to their products and customers, is their dedication to conservation – and getting their communities involved with different initiatives to take care of the environment and experience everything our planet has to offer! <3 Yay for the REI coop!
I love REI, especially as a member, I am huge into finding the best deal I can and that usually takes me to amazon or some other random website, expect when it coms to stuff at REI. with the 10% it almost always matches the lowest online price, plus I am GUARANTEED that I am going to enjoy what I have bought or I can just take it back. It doesn’t get much better then that.
REI is THE place for outdoor gear! My family loves to go and find the newest things for our outdoor adventures. We are in Scouting so, at least one of us camps once a month and we need gear that lasts.
I love REI. They are building one down the street from my house, and my husband and I are waiting for it to open next month! I really want to get back to camping again now that my daughter is getting older. I grew up camping with my parents and it is some of my favorite memories. That is also cool about the classes they offer, I didn’t know that, I ‘ll definitely check it out.
I’d like to hike with my dogs in some state parks, and I could really use some new hiking shoes/boots!
I shall be in the Linville Gorge with some friends Labor Day Weekend to celebrate the unofficial end of summer and the knowledge that we will soon get some temps that are bearable for hiking here in the South East.. Oh and I need a Nano puff Jacket for the winter trips planned!!
ohhh please oh please. I need a GPS for when I take my outdoor group on hikes in the backcountry. I am running out of room for all my USGS maps.
Some new gear would be nice…
@AshleySue tweeted – http://twitter.com/#!/AshleySue/status/104638840458838016
Oooh, geocaching! If I got some REI dollars, I’d probably go for some of that gear so I can get started geocahing. It’s an activity I’ve been really interested in but never tried. Have you blogged about any of your experiences with it? I’d love to hear.
a-m
I love camping and I used to camp a lot before I have kids. Now, my kids are older (2 and 4) and should be able to enjoy a camping trip. I really want to take them camping so they can have fun and experience what I enjoyed so much. $100 REI gift card would be wonderful to help me get some camping equipment that I needed!
amy [at] utry [dot] it
REI rocks. Thanks for the opportunity. This summer I have been hiking in my area and decided to try to hike all the State Parks. My boots are wearing out but I continue. The gift card could help me finish my goal. Thanks!
Pledged to take the kids on a hike!
I pledge to spend the remainder of the summer enjoying the state parks. We will be hiking, geocaching, fishing and swimming. First REI could help with some hydration packs to keep us hydrated.
Tweeted http://twitter.com/#!/chipdip2010/status/104750678727069697
I love REI! Could spend hours there! I would love to get some equipment for a camping trip!
It will be great to take the kids on a hike, we could use some hiking shoe.
tcarolinep at gmail dot com
tweet.http://twitter.com/#!/tcarolinep/status/104800538406813696
I pledge to get to Bryce Canyon before winter hits. And I would buy a camelbak so my husband won’t have to carry all the water
I pledge to take hikes with the kids and we’d love some hiking shoes.
tweet-http://twitter.com/#!/mami2jcn/status/104904428494127105
I love REI! I pledge to have our family go on bike trips together around where we live. We just got back from beautiful Yosemite where we rented bikes and it was one of my fav things we did. Now I am looking to get a bike at REI and the gift card would really help out
We love to hike, bike and camp. I pledge to explore our nature spots where we live with my family.
I pledge to take the family on a camping trip
We are planning a family camping trip once the weather cools off a bit!
tweet http://twitter.com/#!/annedoggett/status/104962175549964289
Loved the Blog, LOVE REI!
I pledge to take my family camping and I’d use the REI GC to buy some camping equipment
http://twitter.com/#!/susan1215/status/105031998141239296
I will take my family on a camping trip
wow what a well written review. i pledge to go camping with my husband and dog!
http://twitter.com/#!/DesMoinesDealin/status/105089786754236418
Outdoor activities are a big way that my family spends time together. This summer, we have pledged to spend more time together doing activities such as hiking, biking, and camping. A $100 REI giftcard could help us get there by allowing us to provide various supplies for the activities that we might not otherwise be able to afford.
Tweeted about it here: https://twitter.com/#!/GradyHallenbeck/status/105168333418135552
I’ve been hiking for 30 yrs, but last yr I finally got my husband into hiking. Not he is as excited about planning the next hike as I am. This is a good thing cause as we age, which we are all doing, we need to move more, not less. As with every activity, I find there is so much gear I want to make it the most enjoyable experience. Now I want some good trekking poles, and better sh0es for me. I just got some nice REI short that are spf 50 that I can’t wait to try out. We live in the desert & sun protection is especially important here as well as hydration. So these are just a few of the things that REI carries that a $100 gift certificate would help me purchase.
LOVE rei and my rei hobitat tent is so easy to setup . kids love tent camping
twseeted http://twitter.com/#!/cjsorel/status/105464868529913856
WE are going for a hike.
we took the pledge, more biking, i would replace the tires on one of bikes and get a bike for our youngest gal.
This is awesome. Whats’ the chances!?
I want to hike Mt Whitney with my daughter next year..looking forward to all the practice before hand. New gear would come in handy!
We just got back from a fabulous Montana vacation and it has inspired me to do more hiking with the kids!
I’d like to do more hiking!!! and swimming!
I might be able to buy a
Osprey Manta 25 Hydration Pack from REI!
thanks also for a chance to win!
kmassmanATgmailDOTcom
We like to get out and fish and hike with the kids . its a great way to teach them about nature ! thanks for the chance
miketx60atmail dotcom
I would so love to take my girl on a bike ride. I would put the funds toward a bike trailer – the kind where she can “ride” her own bike, but be attached to mine.
We’ll continue to hike as long as weather permits, but I’d like to get a tent that would fit all of us!
http://twitter.com/#!/channynn/status/106793000985821186
This is awesome! WE could use a new tent
i pledge to keep taking the kids out for bike rides …and to make it more fun we always have a picnic
and the REI GC would be great for getting a new helmet for my daughter.
I pledge to do more bike rides with the kids! We’d buy new helmets with that gift card!!
I would do a camping/kayaking trip! I would love a new sleeping pad and a footprint for my tent. The plastic tarp’s just not cutting it… I love REI and the gift card would definitely be greatly appreciated!
We will go camping and would use the money toward a larger tent!
Tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/hypnotania/status/107634719159615488
We love to camp and could use some new gear.
we’re going to take a camping trip soon so I could use a REI gc for some new gear!
i tweeted here:
http://twitter.com/#!/bellows22/status/108029817366134784
REI people ARE really nice and patient aren’t they? And I love that they are of so many ages and sizes and cultures. They really make a person feel comfortable asking “stupid” questions.
I’d put the REI Gift Card towards a new sleeping bag….my boyfriend and I love to backpack and I no longer have my AwEsOmE down bag I purchased years ago….at REI:-)
We will be swimming this summer. The $100 REI gift card would help with swim suits. helenkeeler@comcast.net
tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/helen1949/status/108229081119727616
helenkeeler@comcast.net
my husband and i would love to go camping, but we don’t have a tent!
We should hike more, but I need some boots with ankle support
bike riding
I would love to get some new fall camping gear; we hike quite a bit but would love to start camping again with our toddler!
I love REI and all it stands for. I’d love to have $100 to spend on good outdoor hats to keep me and my family safe from the sun while we’re outside getting our hearts pumping.
I could get a new tube for riding behind the boat.
We would go hiking and I would get my son some new hiking boots!
Thanks!
Camping!!! I need a new tent
http://twitter.com/#!/HappyTina0115/status/108699875440476162
Either hiking/camping gear (it is not difficult for me to pledge to go hiking or camping; I do it a lot!), or Vibram Five Fingers so I can do my fighting classes without breaking my toes (no shoes) / pulling my Achilles (bad shoes).
We are taking our first camping trip this weekend!
My little one can use some shoes from REI that are suitable for a camping trip. Somehow I don’t think crocs will cut it. We also need one more sleeping bag.
We love REI!
Love hiking, camping and backpacking and did a little bit of each all summer long. A REI gift card will help with some gear for a section hike of the AT.
In my family of eleven kids, each child gets a “big” birthday celebration for their 5th, 10th and 15th birthday. One of my Ethiopian children turns ten later this fall, and I am going to take her and a group of her friends (plus my daughter’s siblings) camping to celebrate. I love REI: I just recently retired my 32-year-old external frame pack and replaced it with a much more comfortable internal frame pack (Osprey Argon 85 for those who want to know-with eleven kids, there is no such thing as “fast and light”).
I need that $100 to buy a bike!
REI is the best! I won’t go anywhere else for my “outdoor” needs!
REI is my happy place!
I pledged to take a family bike ride! A good reminder to get out and enjoy summer while it lasts. With that gift card, I’d probably buy some nice biking gloves for long rides.
I’m planning a beach hike with my boys!
the gift card would be put toward a sweet new climbing rope, for my rope gun, daddy d, and my kids e & s!
I took the pledge. I’m want to go hiking in the local botanic garden with my daughter and take lots of digital pictures while there. REI has hiking boots, sunscreen, hats and classes on digital cameras to help us!
Pledging was easy sneezy for us… we are campers, geocachers and well… we like the outdoors in general! Beaches are high on our list! We just got a NEW REI in town… yippie! lovin it!
We are drooling over new camping mats for under our sleeping bags… they have amazing gear there… love REI! 
My husband is trying to make campers out of me and our three girls. This would help him persuade us! =) REI opens near our house in a few weeks!! Can’t wait!
My husband and I would love to backpack. He loves hiking and backpacking but I don’t have the right gear and I feel unprepared. We would love to do this together and would use the REI gift card for this. Being out doors is way better than sitting in front of the TV!
My husband and I would LOVE to take our 4 yr old quadruplets camping!! Only thing we’re missing now is a tent for 6. I think that $100 would come in quite handy!
this would enable us to get some walking shoes and some clothing to protect from the sun (as I have fair skin).
We moved from NC to NM a year ago and I’m very excited to do more exploring around the state. I would use the gift card for a sleeping bag that can survive some colder weather in Colorado!
I would love to take more family bike trips, but my husband needs a new bike. The money would go towards that!
I would love to win the REI gift card, we need a new water filtration/purifier pump and it isn’t in our budget but we really want to go backcountry camping one more time before the snows come.
My family loves camping and I think we would either get a new tent or get sleeping bags.
gmissycat at yahoo dot com
Tweeted here too
http://twitter.com/#!/gmissycat/status/115180910458052608
gmissycat at yahoo dot com
I pledge to hike, but we all need some new hiking socks and some water bottles.
WE’VE ALREADY DONE THE CAMPING THING BUT SURE COULD USE A NEW TENT WITH THE HELP OF REI NEXT TIME =D
2ND ENTRY TWEET @ http://twitter.com/#!/kytah00/status/115955367128731648
Tweet: http://twitter.com/#!/computerfan/status/116010087885193216
We were always going to Cedar Point when the kids were little but it would be great to go now with the Grand kids. We could use the gift card to get coolers and such for the trip.
marybug2@yahoo.com
I tweeted too
http://twitter.com/#!/marybug2/status/116207527632449536
marybug2 @ yahoo . com
I pledge to get my family back into camping. It’s something we did years ago, but have gotten away from. I know we need new gear, and the GC would help tremendously!!
Our family would use the REI gift card for more camping gear.
http://psthisisthelife.blogspot.com/2011/09/perfect-use-for-blog.html
I would love to go camping a bunch more and do some biking. This would go towards a new bike!
Tweet! http://twitter.com/#!/mssluna02/status/116982722840371201
Being an active member of a volunteer search and rescue group is not a low cost endeavor. With an REI gift card, the group could get some new gear so we could better help those in need.
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