Hi naturebetty! Here are some staff picks from the Yonkers REI team: Westchester Rockefeller State Park preserve Anthony’s Nose Breakneck Ridge Harriman/ Bear Mountain State Park Pine Meadow Lake Bowling Rocks Bear Mountain Shawangunks Gertrude’s Nose Lake Awosting Happy hiking!  If you want more recommendations just call or come by the store! ... View more

Yes!  You can give (or get) the perfect gifts!  Check it out: https://www.myregistry.com/rei/   ... View more

Hi @22amanda22, In addition to what John and Taggart have said, I want to add a few practices that helped me improve when my climbing progress plateaued.  First I'd recommend "time on the wall" to build endurance and find more efficient ways to move between holds.  Setting a timer for 5 minutes, find and easy route to do laps on, climbing to the top, then downclimbing, then upclimbing, etc.  You can go as fast or as slow as you want.  The goal is to stay on the wall the entire time and use more efficient body positions as you move through the route.  When that gets easy you can bump it to 10 minutes as you swap laps with your partner.   Another technique builder is climbing with "quiet feet".  Using static and controlled movements and placing your feet silently with each movement.  Doing this on easier routes is a good foundation builder for more difficult climbs.   Finally, some sort of training outside of climbing will always have a positive impact.  I stumbled into yoga at my local climbing gym and the balance I developed bumped my bouldering up by 2 grades after 9 months.   Hope some of these tips help!  At the end of the day I hope you're having fun climbing regardless of grades and other climbers.  It's all about enjoying your time climbing!! Best, Frank ... View more

Andrew, I've got a few quick recommendations for you: Echo Lake Shelter Balsam Lake Mtn Shelter Slide-Cornell-Wittenberg Mountain Loop These are all staff picks from an REI close to the Catskills.  Also, if you want to get your "challenging trail time" in while the kids are away, you may want to do a chunk of the Devil's Path.  Another staff favorite. ... View more

@Former community member,  You're right, REI doesn't carry much in the size and category you're looking for.  After consulting with my Master Tech he said he could order just about anything through QBP or JBI.  I'd recommend connecting with your local REI and asking to talk with the Master Tech or Certified Tech to order exactly what you need for your bikepacking adventures.  Hope that helps and have fun on the trails! ... View more

Thanks for the tips, I'll check it out! ... View more

Hi Swampy, Off the top of my head, I can't think of any that would be interchangeable.  You could do the, "throw a tarp on it" solution, but honestly that's not much of a solution.  You could also designate it as a summertime/fair weather tent.  Something to keep the bugs away and ensure a great view of the stars.   Sorry there isn't a compatible replacement and hope these ideas help you enjoy your time outside! ... View more

Cindy, it sounds to me like you've tried a number of contenders.  What La Sportivas and Solomons were you in?  Were you in the Ultra Raptors or the Bushidos from La Sportiva?  If you were in one, I would try the other.  In the Salomons, I'd check out the Speedcross.  Though your best bet for narrow would be the La Sportiva. Finally, dialing fit online is tricky.  Do you have a local store?  Calling to connect with their most experience Footwear Specialist could help.  Better yet, set up an outfitting appointment!  In my store we do these an hour before the store opens for 1 on 1 attention.   Hope this helps, Frank ... View more

Safety first!  And congrats on getting the new bike!  If you can't take one of the learn (or re-learn) to ride a bike classes I can point you toward one of the REI learn to ride videos.  While this particular video is aimed at kids learning, all the concepts from this video would apply, including safety and best practices. Hope this helps refresh your riding skills and have fun out there! ... View more

@cndoree , Great question about a great stove!  I remember my first solo backpacking trip in Zion with that stove and learning to prime it correctly.  I blew off most of an eyebrow and didn't know it till finishing the trip! Yay hands-on learning! So you're right that the stove itself hasn't changed much and that the pump has had a redesign.  There are two ways to go about finding your answer.  1.) Connect with MSR directly and match the stove year to what they offer in the maintenance kit.  2.) Calling or going to your local REI to match each O-ring with what you're working with on hand.  ... View more

Hi rcl2884, I remember the Sub Kilo 20!  My wife used it on the John Muir trail years ago.  It's a great bag and packs down small. Let's dive into your question.  For starts, there are many many different models of YKK zipper and some will and some will not work together.  From my experience zipping two mummy bags typically results in connecting most of the bag (the 60 inches of zipper in your case) leaving the area around your ankles and feet independent and not zipped together.   I think the biggest challenge will be finding zippers that play well together.  Because designs change from year to year, I couldn't tell you a modern bag that would work with your Sub Kilo.  I'd recommend coming into your local REI on a week day and spending time in the sleeping bag dept to see what will actually zip with your bag and be similar to your existing bag.   Hope that helps and happy camping! ... View more