REI vs LL Bean Camping/Backpacking gear

[rubysoho]

Any thoughts? I am starting to gather my own gear for some single night and weekend backpacking trips. Everyone recommends REI but is LL Bean good too? They are much closer than the REI store. Both have lifetime guarantees on their items. I know I love my LL Bean hiking boots that definitely earned their keep and held up under some pretty serious use.

[Tri Girl]

I don't have any experience with LL Bean stuff (not a store anywhere around), but I know how much I LOVE my REI stuff (and I have a lot of it). Then again- there isn't an REI within 300 miles of me, but when I get near one I'm like a kid in a candy store. I can spend hours there at a time.

Sorry I'm not much help.

[KnottedYet]

I've had both.

Been shopping at REI since it was a little co-op in a warehouse on Capitol Hill in Seattle. Now it's a big multi-tentacled corporate monster...

REI's quality is about the same as LL Bean. I've got no complaints about either.

REI has a search function on their website that lets you select things made in USA, which is nice if you're the sort of person who wants manufacturing jobs to exist in the US.

[ny biker]

Bean controls the manufacturing for most of their stuff. They only recently started selling other brands in some product categories. They built their business on quality and customer service. I would not hesitate to buy camping equipment from them. I think they're now offereing free shipping on all mail/internet orders, too.

p.s. While you're at Tysons, get pizza from Luciano, next to Lord & Taylor. It's really good, real NY pizza. And the ladies room in L&T (ground floor by the baby clothes) is really nice.

[szsz]

Bean controls the manufacturing for most of their stuff.

This, and it is sometimes possible to find out who is doing the actual fabrication. My backpack is LLBean labelled but made by Gregory (it's very old) so I knew I was getting an excellent product with a stellar warranty.

That said, I have a ton of great REI gear as well. Nothing bad to say about either!

[colorisnt]

LL Bean all the way!

Although Cabela's also makes some great gear, too.