Wilderness Exchange Unlimited

This place is great. I spend a lot of time in this store when I visit the big city from the mountains. I always bought my Five Ten approach shoes here because they also had the best pricing on them — Last time I went there they were lacking slightly with their summer gear (shoe section). Otherwise, super friendly staff and great prices.

This is my favorite place for gear. Great prices and the staff is ridiculously helpful

There’s a great selection of quality outdoor gear at really great prices. The consignment section has lots of good clothing and gear. The staff is super helpful. Definitely check this place out before heading across the street to the REI store! Your wallet will thank you!

Great store. Upon walking in and looking at many eye-​pleasing items (clothing and split-​boards, initially) I thought that it wasn’t quite the discount place I was looking for. The prices seemed much better than retail, but higher than I was looking to spend. It was then that I discovered the downstairs. I came up the stairs with a great new Patagonia rain coat, a pair of Scarpa boots, and some sweet trail runners by Montrail. I love them all and they were a STEAL! They also have used items for those interested. That was about a month ago, and I am planning a second trip today!

Initially, I was planning to go to REI to get an all new ski set-​up, but decided to step in here first. Having lived in Colorado my whole life, I’ve seen the worst of snobby, small gear stores. Wilderness Exchange is a diamond in the rough, where you feel like the sales people listen and want to help you, even if you don’t know all the ins and outs of what you’re looking. The store has great gear and awesome, knowledgable staff. (Chris was so helpful!). Walked out with new boots, skis, and bindings. Can’t recommend enough; customer for life.

I was looking for a chalk bag on Amazon (after being unable to find one I liked at various other retailers) and decided on one that was sold by Wilderness Exchange. I was a little nervous not being able to actually see it in person/​touch it, but decided to go for it. I couldn’t be happier. The bag is gorgeous, I am completely in love with it. I was also stoked when it arrived a full week ahead of schedule. (And on a day that I was climbing! It was perfect!) Excellent experience; I look forward to doing business with them in the future.

I find it odd that this is right across the street from the REI flagship store, but it made it very easy to walk across the street and confirm pricing. And, yes, Wilderness Exchange was less expensive, happily.
For whatever reason, this store feels more like what an outdoors/​camping/​climbing/​hiking store should feel like. It’s much more casual, much less corporate feeling and way more inviting.
Michelle helped me pick out climbing shoes, which, when you wear a size 6, but have a wide foot and a high instep can be nothing short of agonizing. She was patient and brought me shoe after shoe until we found the magic shoe in the right size.
The one downside is that their return policy is a little more stringent than REI. Once you wear the shoes to climb, they’re yours, while REI does have a return policy on worn shoes.

This is in between a 3 – 4 star. I love the concept of it. It (seemed) like part of the store was used items and part was new without tags. The prices ARE cheaper than buying from the actual store, but of course still expensive because of the brands. There’s a climbing wear section, vests, hats, t shirts, you name it. One of the employees was a little strange and seemed rude but that was probably just his personality.

I stumbled upon this place after browsing for some camping gear at REI. My boyfriend was looking for a better quality sleeping bag and the guy downstairs was super helpful in giving us a full explanation of what to look for in sleeping bags (synthetic vs real down). He also gave us general camping tips like stuffing the sleeping bag cover with clothes to use as a pillow instead of buying a travel pillow. He could have just encouraged us to buy some pillows and make more money off of it, but didn’t.
What I really like about this place is that they sell used items that are still in good quality! My boyfriend ended getting a used Marmot sleeping bag with real down for 100 bucks and I got a pair of REI hiking pants for 22. For used items, it’s not the cheapest I think, but since outdoor clothing and gear are usually pretty pricey to start, I thought they were good deals. I would definitely want to come back here to browse for outdoor goods when I need them!
One thing to note about this place is that they check-​in your bags and don’t provide bags after purchase, so don’t forget to bring your own shopping bag!

They tend to have some really good gear here. However, I can rarely afford it! Even as a consignment shop, its pricy. But occasionally you can find a really good deal. Staff is all friendly and helpful. I like to go there and look… just in case there is something in my $ range!

I’ve been in there a couple of times, and always had terrible customer service. The guys in there give off the I’m too cool for school vibe. They give you the sense they’re sizing up your outdoor cred, and then determining how helpful they’ll be. My last experience, the guy dropped me have way through (with the intention of not coming back) to help another customer. I like the idea of the store and have bought a number of things from them, but after yesterday I’m done with them.

If you need outdoor clothing and don’t mind that it is used then this is the place. They just enlarged the area and put in a dressing room so you don’t have to go upstairs. I have found many things for hiking, biking, traveling & skiing. Pricing is fair. It is like going to a outdoor consignments store (not a thrift store) then this is the best in town.

Where to start? The staff was HORRIBLE. No one greeted us when we walked in. At least 4 staff members walked by us and there was no «can I help you find anything?» They were all jaw jacking to each other. And as far as «consignment» goes forget about it. The cheapest used/​stained jacket you could get would run you about $ 35 – 40 and it probably won’t be a brand worth purchasing. You’re better off heading over to REI and not to even bother with this bogus shop.

So my interaction with the Wilderness Exchange was online. I actually found their amazon marketplace listing through an outdoorgearlab referral. I looked everywhere for the rope I was looking for, but no one had it in stock except for this amazon listing. I was a bit nervous buying a rope off of amazon so I messaged the seller. I am glad I did, he was the most helpful person I have ever dealt with when buying something online. I found the Wilderness Exchange Unlimited website and bought the rope directly from the site online. They offer free shipping on orders over $ 99, and had a $ 25 discount on the rope. Plus I got tons of beta on rope management.
I got the whole experience of going into a local gear shop, getting hooked up, and getting loaded with pro advice all while online. Incredible and unexpected level of customer service for an online interaction. I will definitely stop by this shop if I ever come visit Colorado again.

My favorite gear shop in the Denver-​Boulder area (by way of comparison to Bent Gate, Neptune Mountaineering, and the REI stores). A good selection of equipment, some killer deals, and friendly, knowledgeable staff make this a great place to find what you need for your next trip or expedition. I’m most impressed by their prices: you can definitely find a bargain here. They sell cheap cosmetic seconds of high-​quality products; their sales are true sales with deep discounts such as 50% off; and they sell lots of gear on consignment, allowing you to shop for lightly used stuff that you need, or get rid of old gear that you don’t want anymore.
My usual method is to park at REI, cross the street to shop for deals at Wilderness Exchange, and then go back to REI if I want something I can’t find at Wilderness Exchange. Keep in mind that REI offers free 2-​hr parking but charges if you’re there for longer. This is a good way to limit your shopping time if you’re a gear head like me.

This place is phenomenal. Located near REI, it still gets tons of business because of it’s awesome selection, great prices, and knowledgable staff. We went there to look at some ski stuff– we teach at a resort and recently have gotten into the backcountry. Instead of just letting me get whatever old AT boot that would fit, this employee Charles fit me with a boot that would match my weird feet/​arches. He knows everything! I would highly recommend not only shopping at this retail outlet, but also getting a boot fitting with heat molding. Five star treatment with a relaxed, friendly atmosphere and prices that meet the
challenge

My wife and I are new to Colorado and planning to take full part in all the great outdoor activities offered. We need a good deal on gear since we are brand new to backpacking and don’t want to overspend on our first set of gear. Seems like all signs pointed to Wilderness Exchange Unlimited.
Before my visit, I’ve been checking REI and REI outlet a bunch to familiarize myself with what’s out there and how much a big retailer sells it for.
My wife and I moseyed around the store for a bit to get acquainted with all the gear. At first view, it seems like it has everything you need. No one was pressuring us.
Then we delved into a conversation with an attendent that was incredible. He worked through every question we had about hiking, camping, backpacking, etc. We talked for quite a while, being shown all over the store so we understood the layout as well as specific beginner gear that would suit our needs. The prices all looked great as it is a consignment, overstock, closeout, trade in, used store.
We started discussing camping with our dog and the employee wasn’t very knowledgable. He grab another employee who gave us every detail we needed about camping with our dog. I don’t remember the last time I’ve had service that thorough. The two employees we talked to were really excited that we were getting into the outdoor activities that Colorado offers. That was a nice bonus and really got us excited about our upcoming adventures.
We never felt rushed, which made the experience top notch. We didn’t make a purchase while we were there because we want break down all the new knowledge and see what is best for us. However, this will be our store to shop at.
I do like that they don’t offer tons and tons of brands. Their inventory is diverse enough to not be overwhelming. That’s the problem I have with the big retailers — I get stuck in all the brand alluring that I can’t make up my mind.
Tons of great athletic gear at good prices as well! Looking to pick up a multipurpose rain/​wind jacket for running, biking, and hiking. I would have spent an arm and a leg somewhere else if I didn’t see that they have a wide assortment of outdoor apparel — New and Used.

Wilderness Exchange, I wouldn’t trade you in for anything.
Needed a couple of new sleeping bags for my honey’s and my backpacking adventures. And at our age we’ve decided to go ultra-​light. Tried to buy new bags at REI, usually my favorite sporting goods supplier, but they didn’t sell my top choice – the Alpinlite from Western Mountaineering out of San Jose. A primo bag with 850 fill goose down that weighs in at well under 2 lbs.
Wilderness Exchange, however, came through big time and got the 2 bags at a great discount. A combination of perfect timing (my order came through during their once a year sale), and sweet-​as-​can-​be staffers (hiya Andrea and Bryan!:), couldn’t have been better to deal with. All-​in-​all, a perfect wilderness experience.
Go buy stuff from them. They’re radical and a half.

Maybe it’s because I’m a newb when it comes to buying ski gear and winter clothes (I’m a Texan) but I was so impressed with this store.
A mix of new and used products, they have it all. Ski and climbing equipment? Check. Shoes, clothes, helmets, etc. They even have a huge selection of used clothing/​shoes/​equipment downstairs. Which was the main reason I came here.
I ended up getting some boarding pants for only 20 bucks! They even have a dressing room. The used clothing were well organized and they had a varied selection of sizes and brands (Northface!).
You can seriously spend hours in this place (it’s not huge but it’s packed full of goodies) trying to find deal after deal.

Upon a recent visit to Wilderness Exchange, I was incredibly impressed with the staff and their knowledge, friendliness, and willingness to take the time to help me find the right gear for an upcoming backpacking journey. Both times I went in looking for a backpack someone took the time to measure me, talk to me about my needs, try different sizes, and go over all the options I had. It was incredibly helpful and I’m very appreciative of this.
Otherwise, the staff is overall very knowledgeable about backpacking, camping, and climbing in particular. No, Wilderness Exchange is not a megastore like REI, and if you are looking for a plethora of options for fancy camping, this is not the store for you. Wilderness Exchange generally carries the best gear, even if that means fewer options. It does not carry fancy (useless) gear like wine glasses and iPhone protectors for camping. But they do carry a great selection of shoes, sleeping bags, camp gear, climbing gear, and also have some terrific specials on clothing. I love this shop and am so excited to get to support a local business.