What gives, I spend money this time of y ear

“I don't believe this. I went to a Outpost Sports, near where I go to school. This is the frist time i've been there. There web site says they cary lots of hiking stuff, but when i get there all they have is snowboarding and sking stuff. I might expect this if i was in the mountains, but no I'm in northen Indaina theres not a moutain for miles. They told me they would have more packs in March. Well i want to try on packs so i can get a new one before March. This is the time of year i start to buy stuff cause I'm inside more. It was bad, they had nothing, only 3 of the oddest packs i've ever seen. The rest of the store was sking stuff. Maybe i just don't go to stores that carry a lot of ski stuff ever, but i thought this was over kill. Has this ever happened to any of you. I guess I'll just have to wait but it makes me mad.”

“What part of IN ?
If it's anywhere around South Bend, Dick's has a limited amount of backpacking stuff, but other than that your best bet is either Grand Rapids of Chicago.
While I agree, there most definitely are no mountains around here, there are a LOT of ppl that ski!”

“Yea it is in South Bend this was the only place i could find with out taking a whole day. I stoped at Dicks and they don't have the quilty i want”

“Internet shopping? STP and REI both have awesome customer service. So does ULA.”

“Road trip to Chicago Photoguy! Stop by my house and I will go with you.”

“Yea i think i may head to the city, i know all the internet stuff. I normally buy from them, i just want to make sure the pack feels good on my back. The reason i need a new pack, bought the old one with out trying it on. Mistake, i guess i'll head to the rei in chicago”

“We (wife and I) prefer the Niles REI over the one in Oakbrook. Oakbrook is more "yuppy-ish."”

“Are you kidding me Mark? They are both yuppee-ish.”

“I think Oakbrook is worse.”

“Cool. A debate on which REI is more "yuppy-ish."

Anyone go to both in the Twin Cities? The one in Bloomington is pretty cool. Of course, it's new. I've never been to the other one, wherever it is.”

“The first time I went to the Niles store was actually for my first real gear purchace. I was picking out my first pair of Hiking boots (Asolo 535's) It was late summer right before school started back. In the store was a woman and her son shopping. She was buying his some new threads for his return back and wanted only the best that money could buy.

I checked out at the same time. I spent $200 on my boots. Wanna take a guess at what his back to school wardrobe cost mommy?


I have seen the same thing at the Oakbrook location.”

“hmmm. do they really push Asolos?

I just noticed when hiking with members of the Sierra Club from the Chicago area that in around 20 people, five or six were wearing Asolos.

Otherwise I don't see such a concentration on TT hikes.”

“I bought them cause they fit well (my feet narrow, I have the woman's model) and they look cool!

I don't know if REI pushes Asolo's specifically”

“Hold it there is a REI in niles, please tell me were. This is importan”

“Niles Ill, not Michigan.

Sorry dude”

“oh, man i was like how would i not know.”

“I think the Oak Brook will have a larger selection for you as well as it being closer to you.”

“Ok, guess one of these sundays i'll be heading down, find somestuff to do. I just need to see some packs. I love REI's i feel like a kid in a toy store. Well i guess i am a kid in a different kind of toy store.”

“I hear ya!”

“Hey photoguy...you might also wanna think about a trip to Grand Rapids...There's a Galyans, and a EMS store up there plus a great local store called Bill and Pauls.

As for REI's in Chicago the one in Oakbrook is closer I think, but I still like the one in Niles better....course maybe thats cause there's a Galyans just down from it :)”

“Yea i saw that, i'm going home, back to PA, for thanksgiving and i'm heading to the local places, its going to be good.”

“Where is stp or ula, what are there web sites, i know REI well, i'm getting like 40 bucks back from them this year.”

“You don't need mountains to ski!

US Skiing

Click a state and wonder who the hell is actually skiing in Ohio.”

“You're probably right about the distance. Oakbrook is right off the expressway. Niles is a ways off the expressway, and further north.”

“http://www.theextremeoutfitters.com/store/main.shtml

http://www.posterityscloud.com/backpack/links.html

http://www.backpackingdeals.com/

http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StoreCatalogDisplay?storeId=226&catalogId=40000000226&langId=-1

www.lattaoutdoors.com

www.moosejaw.com

www.northernmountain.com

www.outdoorplay.com

www.plateauoudoors.com

www.railriders.com

www.rei.com

www.sierratradingpost.com

www.mountaineer.com

www.ula-equipment.com”