REI membership: is it worth it?

[Bimwad]

hal wrote:
Even in a good sized city like sacramento, REI is often the only store in town that carries particular things needed for outdoor excursions. Almost everything they sell is at retail list price - yes, it's expensive, but it's there.

Right.

The question is, if not REI, then where can one go for sporting goods in a B&M store, particularly the camping/hiking/outdoors-focused products they focus on, instead of the broader spectrum that includes ball/stick/athletic fashion branded stuff?

REI isn't in every state, but in most of them.

Cabela's/Bass Pro has similar coverage, with the addition of hunting/fishing gear, but they leave large areas uncovered as well.

In the West, there's Big 5, but they're a regional chain with smaller stores.

There are even smaller regional chains and indies, but those are disappearing along with the hobby shops, etc.

I suppose there's Dick's, which is a nicer version of the departed Sports Authority.

REI isn't cheap, but neither is regular pricing at the other national chains, and the stuff they carry will be more functional than fashionable.