The Summit Hut

Other stores have come and gone (Bob's Bargain Barn, Popular Outdoor), but the Summit Hut has endured.

Recently REI came to town and is clearly positioned to seriously compete with the Summit Hut. The summit hut kept my loyalty for a long time, but lately I am starting to question my long time loyalty to the hut.

In the old days I used to claim that the Summit Hut carried more cutting edge gear, but frankly that is no longer the case. The product lines at REI and the Summit Hut are virtually identical these days, and prices are the same. For cutting edge gear it is often necessary to shop online.

I have always found service at the Summit Hut to be excellent, but it is no longer the case that all employees are avid outdoor people. Some are, and some aren't. Some are just working at "another retail store" and have a general idea of what the difference is between a cash register and a sleeping bag.

I keep going there because I have always received superb service. But more and more these days I go to whatever store requires me to drive the shortest distance.