REI will prep you for any wilderness excursion imaginable, whether it involves camping, roughing it, trekking, cycling, forest, ice, snow, rocks, desert, lizards, or bears. The staff knows what it’s talking about, and it’s got the scruff, odor, and lack of social skills to prove that each worker spends a lot of time alone in the woods, testing gear. Hate organizing your own trips? Sign up for one of REI’s group outdoor adventures. See their Web site for store locations, hours, and trip calendar.

REI | 401 Park Drive, Boston | 617.236.0746 | rei.com