Thank you for the stoke! We'll keep working hard to raise money for non-profits that help keep our environment clean. It's comments like this that keep us hustling to provide awesome service for you and other members. Peace, Wendell ... View more

I think @Hikes_in_Rain is on the right track: excessive packing is indeed extra waste, but it has to be compared to the waste generated by having stuff break (or even if not broken, I could easily see customers reject an item just because of something like a tiny barely noticeable snag in clothing, a scuff in the paint, or a crease in a paperback book, because they expect it in "new" condition regardless of functionality, so much of what I see at REI Garage Sales is stuff like this) and either that being trashed/recycled or the extra vehicle emissions to ship it back. Or the cost of having to maintain an even greater variety of box sizes to perfectly fit every possible combination of goods. And on and on and on... Basically seems like it's a balancing act, and the lesser of many more than two evils. I guess I've just resigned myself to hoping that smarter minds than I in logistics know their stuff and that maximizing economic efficiency also aligns with ecologic efficiency, at least roughly. ... View more

@Rob6  You should definitely put Wompatuck on your list then! I was riding my bike there and rode up what I thought was just a hill and then it abruptly ended in a sheer drop. I was shocked when I looked over the edge and there was a door standing open. It was one of the bunkers that was hidden in the woods with only a now-overgrown railroad track leading to it. I didn't have a light so I didn't go inside but it was super spooky! ... View more

@TomV  Yes! Such a great book! My son really enjoys reading it as well. Thanks for bringing this recommendation to the community!   ... View more

Chacos are the best!  I used to be a Teva guy, but I converted a few years ago.  Enjoy! ... View more

For mountain, I'm definitely all for tray style because of just what @REI-JohnJ said about the sloped top tubes. I've been a big fan of my Saris Superclamp EX4, but it looks like that's not in stock right now, though the two bike version is https://www.rei.com/product/126641/saris-superclamp-ex-2-bike-hitch-rack. For kids bikes, I've heard it can be hard to fit on any rack if it has 16" wheels. Most racks should fit 20" and up just fine. 12" and 14" bikes for really small kids/toddlers probably just need to go in the trunk. A final consideration is that if you need to carry more than 2 bikes, you probably also need a 2" hitch receiver, as most racks for 3 and up don't come in a 1.25" version due to the higher tongue weights. ... View more

Well, for @Dad_Aint_Hip and @Rob6 and anyone else who is wondering . . . so far it's looking good. Obviously I just bought it yesterday so I haven't used it a ton. I live directly across the street from one of the riverside trails in the DC area, so I try to get out there for at least a little bit of outdoor activity most days. It's also how I test near gear. I'll go out there in the middle of an ice storm to test winter weather gear in an environment where I can go back home quickly if it doesn't work as well as I hoped.  Today I wore the watch, of course. It tracked my heart rate well. It showed where I was and kept track of my location very well. The map is fairly easy to read. Setting a waypoint is fairly easy to do on my phone, which then syncs it with my watch in just a few minutes. The main things I don't like are (1) I don't want to be dependent on my phone, so it would be nice if setting waypoints were easier on the watch itself and (2) It's a bit difficult to keep track of which button does what, so I find myself having to push a bunch of buttons to try and find the right widget.  That said, my overall early impression is very positive. I'm hoping to take a roadtrip to 3-4 national parks where I'll do a combo of backpacking, kayak camping, and cabin camping. I am a believer in old fashioned maps and compasses and I don't think this will change that. But it's great to have a way of calling up an instant map if I get myself lost or if I just want to double check my own interaction. I did briefly own an Apple Watch that I returned soon after buying it. I'm liking the Fenix 6s much better so far.  ... View more

@Nickb - If you are still undecided...I also prefer a hitch mount.  I had a cheap one for a while and well, you get what you pay for.  It rocked side to side somewhat and no way to mitigate it and having to clamp down the frame always concerned me.  I upgraded to a brand called 1 up...1up-usa.com.  They are much lighter and easier to manage than a Thule or Yakima but cost about the same.  Takes seconds to attach to hitch or remove, is very stable.  You can buy it as a single or add up to 3 additional units. The lock(s) are extra, but good insurance.    ... View more

John's reply is spot on, but another thing you could also try is just letting some of the air out and running a lower tire pressure, depending what you're at right now. This lets the rubber conform more to the surface for a slightly more supple ride, although if you go too low it's at the expense of greater risk of punctures.  Many riders pump all the way up to 120 or 130 psi just because their tire sidewall says that's max inflation, but it's usually pretty safe and more comfortable to stop at 90. Worth playing with anyways because it's totally free! ... View more

YES!!!  Fantastic resource!! No one should buy a children’s bike without at least a quick swipe through their website.  I’m thinking I’m going to make a list of all options within a reasonable distance of our home (Beaverton, OR) and just... DO THEM ALL!!  Of course, I’ll have to report back. 😂 🥰 ... View more

While it's probably technically possible, it's likely not worth the money to, as even a budget fork can easily cost $100-200 on its own, and cheaper ones often have poor rebound that just kind of kicks you back like a pogo stick instead of just absorbing bumps may not be advisable anyway as I doubt the frame was designed around it The head tube angle is a fairly steep 71°, and when suspension compresses the nose dives down a bit to make it even steeper, so it could have a tendency to feel like it's trying to throw you over the bars under sudden stopping or unexpected obstacle. A suspension fork also is necessarily longer to allow for wheel clearance throughout the travel, so it's going to push the front end higher as well. I'm not a professional mechanic though, so might be best to consult a shop, or if any REI techs want to jump in this thread to weigh in. You'd only get a small amount of travel at best though. Another option you could try looking at is there are some suspension seatposts out there that could take the edge off of bigger jolts. ... View more