Zannee’s Blog at BargainsLA.com

I needed new hiking boots for our trip last week to Yosemite and waited till the very last minute to buy them. Waiting to the last minute to buy anything is usually stupid.

However, when I am headed out to the wilds, buying quality product outweighs price every time. I don’t mess around with cheap quality tents, shoes or gear. You won’t find me in Target or Walmart for these kinds of goods. When you’re buying hiking boots you gotta try them on with correct socks and use a slant board or climbing rock to check them out. They’ve got to fit really well. This isn’t like buying a pair of Manola Blahniks.

Sports Chalet was a first stop. After asking for help on hiking boots, I got brushed off by the help. What the?? The place was swamped. Plus the women’s hiking boot selection was incredibly small. Only 4 different pairs. What happened to this place? It used to be great. Too bad this used to be the stop for outdoor gear.

On to Big 5… Okay I didn’t expect much here, but I became near gleeful when one of my favorite brands, Hi-Tec was on sale for $29.99. The fit wasn’t quite right and there was no slant board or experienced help in sight. Dozens of shoes were strewn on the floor and the store was a chaotic mess. Low price without service is a huge mistake and this retailer will pay the price in loss revenue. Boo!

Then there’s Adventure-16. This really is a great store for outdoor enthusiasts with lots of high quality product and an incredibly knowledgeable staff. They have lots of outdoor programs and a great selection.  But ya need to be an investment banker to shop here. They do have annual sales … but of course I missed that.

So I decided to head over to REI in Arcadia. Membership is a one time $15 and at the end of every year you get 8%-10% back. They have a sharp experienced staff, a great selection with high quality gear.

I tried on several pairs of shoes, worked with a very experienced hiker/ salesman who took into consideration both my level of experience and my battered dancers feet and knees. I walked out with new Merrell light hikers at $99 plus some new wool socks at $8.50 each. Not exactly a bargain. But they had a climbing rock for me to try the shoes out on and having an expert help you out makes all the difference. I got a great pair of shoes.

I then sent my hubby the next day in to get our daughter shoes and the experience help really knew how to fit hiking shoes for kids and helped us find a pair on sale as well. At the end of the year I’ll get some money credited back. It wasn’t a bargain per se. But shopping at REI does have real value. We got exactly what we needed…. Good hiking shoes that fit.

My new Merrell’s were near lifesavers with plenty of grip and cushion on the Mist Trail and in the high country of Yosemite. Though my legs ached and I was sweating bullets, my feet were super comfy.