I bought most of all my backpacking stuff from REI, I love them, and especially their member CO-OP program, you pay a one time fee then receive 10% back on all purchases, which really adds up at the end of the year. Especially if your friends don’t want the membership and use your phone number when they check out! My membership has paid for itself tenfold.
If you don’t like the hassle of planning all the details of your trips, but love adventure travel, they have some great opportunities to travel with fellow adventurers across the world for hiking and biking and many others!
thenomadicdollar 