This is a hidden gem, for all your outdoor gear, rods, lures, clothes, boots, and a Great place to gear up for a wide variety of outdoor recreational adventures. Staff is widely knowledgeable about the various items they carry and helpful with making selections or even offering advice on alternatives. Also has a varying and eclectic selections of sales throughout the year. Also a pet friendly location to dogs on leash! Great location, great parking great hours, offering beginner classes in fly fishing and other outdoor sports,
Earlier this year we had the best experience purchasing our kayaks here. When we made the decision to purchase ladder racks, I did a lot of research and then called here for in person advice. I spoke with Justin who spent as much time as needed on the phone to answer all my questions. I went there a few days later to purchase the Yakima HD. I called ahead of time to ensure they had everything. When I arrived 30 minutes later, Justin had it laid out on the floor and proceeded to spend 30 minutes working with me, to get it installed on my truck. Totally unexpected. We got a chance to head to Toledo and it was awesome! I hardly knew they were up there. Thank you Justin for all your help. This shop is loaded with goodies and an experienced staff that will answer your questions and assist you in making the purchase that meets your needs.
Took a fly fishing basics class. Very interesting and educational. Worth looking into.
Great place to gear up for a wide variety of outdoor recreational adventures. Staff is widely knowledgeable about the various items they carry and helpful with making selections or even offering advice on alternatives. Also has a varying and eclectic selections of sales throughout the year. Also a pet friendly location to dogs on leash!
Always a great experience, great knowledge, and they really let you take the time you need to make the right choice for you.
THE shop for watersports equipment and clothing along with hiking and camping gear. Justin & Jake were very helpful in the selection of my Perception 12ft. kayak, pfd, and paddle as well as the installation. When I changed cars, Jake got me the appropriate towers and clips to fit on the new vehicle and reinstalled it even while it was raining. Great service in addition to wonderful selection of apparel.
Had a great fly tying class with Anthony! Cant believe we made our own flies to fish with. We had a blast, thank you
No price tags on clothing. In the spring I went to buy a sweater marked on sale by a sign, the girl checking out actually pulled out a BOOK of barcodes like it was 1981 - found the sweater and informed me it was an old sign and I’d have to pay full price. I put the sweater back. Also found a Kavu rope bag selling for $60 and passed it by. Later found the same rope bag for $45 and on sale for $35 at Duluth Trading Co. Maybe okay for when a trip to REI isn’t reasonable but I like Appalachian Outfitters in Peninsula better.
Awesome service, very helpful staff, great inventory as well. Definitely will be back for more outdoor gear.
A backpacker is off 611 and Sheffield Lake great place to go to get your backpacking needs fishing equipment and they also have a nice line of shoes boots for outside I find that there I can find things I need as far as cooking needs to cook for camping also for hiking .
One of my top 3 favorite outdoor stores, from their fly fishing selection to everything backpacking and camping. Staff is amazing extremely knowledgeable. Love the fact it has been in the same family for generations. Will keep going back for many of my outdoor needs.
Every time Ive been here the staff have been very helpful. I recently stopped in to try to buy a kayak and they were willing to take down my name and number to give me a call if stock came in. No other store has been willing to do that. Highly recommend stopping in at this location if youre looking to buy outdoor equipment.
Backpackers was recommended to us by another shop with low inventory on kayaks, so we made the trek out to Sheffield and were very happy that we did! Anthony discussed our options based on our kayaking plans and we drove away with two 12-foot Tarpon 120s!Backpackers is an amazing outdoorsy shopping experience & the space is much larger than it initially appears! Also, there is a beautiful view from the rear of the shop that offers some excitement for bird-watchers! We saw many varieties including a pair of Eastern Blue Birds!
Great local shop carrying high-quality backpacking gear. While many items are expensive, Ive learned that you often get what you pay for when it comes to lightweight backpacking gear. The staff members are extremely helpful whenever I have a question. Thanks to Anthony for going over many sleeping bag options, allowing me to test them out in store, and sharing some of his own experience to help me make a decision.
I wish I know your name the guy with the red hat with all that curl coming out of it very young man was so helpful with my kayak information and how to install it on my Jeep rooftop rack.Ill be back
Very very helpful customer service I could not have been more grateful for this young gentleman and helping show us how to tie down the kayak and help us purchase the kayak great experience would highly recommend I wish I would have got his name so I can mention him but this is him in the picture
So helpful! Answered all of my kayak rack questions and even helped install it on my car!
I just discovered this little gem of a shop today. The staff was extremely helpful and they carry a great selection of backpacking gear. They even allowed me to shop with my best trail head Trinity. My Golden Retriever. I purchased a pair of OBOZ trail shoes today and plan on returning for all my backpacking essentials. With such great service and selection, I wont be ordering online anymore. Thank you for giving me a great experience!!
Really amazing nice knowledgeable team, its an adorable outdoor store with a TON of stuff. From smartwool to Patagonia to kayaks this was exactly the store I was looking for. They had the kayak in stock that I wanted and Ive never felt so good about a semi-sponteneous purchase.
Anna was so wonderful and helpful. I appreciate her customer service. It was like having a friend help you shop. This place has the best quality clothes. I love the Kuhl brand.Everyone was so friendly and helpful.If we could replicate Anna to help people shop, we all will be happier and more relaxed with our retail experiences.Thanks again, Anna!!
The store was a lot bigger than I first anticipated. They had great selections. The staff was very generous and friendly
Good. experience, friendly and helpful. A place to buy anything you need for your outdoor activities.
Better come with your check book and a fresh pen.
Just got our Levity 60 bagpacks. My husband and I are attempting to thru hike the AT in 2021 and we are so stoked to try our Osprey Levity 60 that they carry. They have a big selection of bagpacks and alot more. The employees are friendly but DO LOVE THE OUTDOORS and have experience using the gears they sell especially the one who helped us pick out our packs, not only is he knowledgeable about packs but an AT thru hiker as well (2016) which is a BIG deal for us. He also gave us advice on how we can increase our odds of finishing our thru-hike. He also shared what he wouldve done differently if he were to do it again. Im Grateful for that. Some team they got helping people like me who never bagpack before but willing to go out there and take a knack at it.The other guy I talked to knows and owns a smaller version of a tent they dont even sell that my husband and I are planning on getting. He took the time and gave me advice and some sort of tips about that tent which could be a waste of time on his part since its not helping the store any for selling their products at the time but a valuable information to me. I appreciate that. Some good info he shared.A really good place to ask about bagpacking and gear all together and more.They have a good selection of outdoor products there. A must go to place.Will come back again.Thanks for the help and were excited to use our bagpacks.
Very helpful staff and great experience! We bought two kayaks and they even helped us tie them on top of our vehicle. Great experience and we will be back!
As a Retail Buyer I was immensely impressed by this Retail Outdoor/Backpacking store. Ill be shopping in May for my Motorcycle Tent camping trips this summer.
Great store for outdoor enthusiasts. Stopped by to pick up a pair of snowshoes for my wife and some steelhead flies for me. Couldnt find snowshoes online, everyone sold out. Its a long drive from Chardon, but these guys always come through.
Good selection of gear, well prices, helpful staff. Cant ask for much more!
Excellent selection of fly fishing gear and extremely helpful staff. 11/10
This place is amazing. Everything - and I do mean everything - for outdoorsing in OH. Kayaks and all accessories, backpacking supplies, the clothing to go with it, and supreme staff. 6 stars.
Bought a pair of nice Simms waders. They fit a little funny but the sales rep assured me that would change with a little wear. When that didnt change they wouldnt work with me on getting a longer pair. Little disappointed I listened to the rep
Came here for the first time to attend their Expo, and to replace a couple busted-up 5y.o. backpacks.The store has to have 99.99% of everything you need in relation to backpacking, road/trail navigation, tent camping, fishing, kayaking, books, and dog friendly. Nicely organized. The staff there are helpful, and charismatic. Prices ranges are awesome.
I love this place...if I ever owned an outfitting place it would be a lot like this one. The staff are awesome and knowledgeable, the products are great. The only thing is Im an hour away from them.
Amazing shop with a great collection. Friendly staff - one of them spent time explaining what shoes would be good for me and my requirements, as I am new to advanced hiking. I usually do not write reviews, but had to write one for this shop and for that guy (I wish I knew his name!).
The Backpackers Shop is always one of my favorite stores! My go-to place for high quality outdoor gear. Well worth the trip from wherever you live!
I went about a week ago. I just needed a few things. The emoyees were super helpful in finding what I need and giving advice on where the money really matters and where you can save a few dollars without a big difference in quality.Also, I really need to shout out the employee that took extra time in the rain to help a toad get across the parking lot. Just lightly nudging him in the right direction so he would get to the side and not get run over. My kind of people!
Went there for the first time to browse the store and look at packs. They have a very nice selection of hiking and camping/survival gear, and prices were not high, but right inline with major online retailers.One of the associates sized me for a pack even though I was not sure if Id be getting one since I was not sure if I could make my trip.I ended up calling back a few days later, and they put the pack I wanted aside for me, and I picked it up. It was a last minute decision, and exactly why its important to support local shops - can get stuff right now.I also went back on another day to inquire about sleeping quilts, and the associate was helpful, showing me what they had. No hesitation in pulling stuff out of bags so I could see it.
Limited brand selection so not much to compare against. Also have more people working in the store than customers, but all the times I’ve been here I’ve never had a good customer service experience.
Nice but limited selection of Lowa mens boots. Still walked out in new hikers. Will return for other outdoor wear items. Very impressed with overall store selection that exceeds my expectations!
We had great help finding a pair of boots! And the bathroom! Friendly and comfortable atmosphere!
Great selection of high quality outdoor products, and staff thats willing to take the time to help.
Great place for backers.
Very interesting place if into backpacking or canoeing maybe kayaking they will have what u need. all top of the line.
Great place to find outdoor equipment
Justin was super helpful today! He was patient and gave me all the information I needed to make my decision. Thanks for doing the extra heavy lifting to move the kayaks outside so I could view them! I was nervous at first, but I’m very happy with my Vibe kayak. I will be returning!
A true Ohio gem! If you like the outdoors, you need to check this place out. Family style service, not some stupid retail chain. Run by folks out there getting at it, with tons of experience. A little pricy... but youll find seriously high end gear there!
I went to Backpackers for the first time today, to prep for a fast approaching backcountry camping trip. I needed a new pack and was thrilled when Anthony was able to fit me with the perfect pack! He walked me through sizing, features, and even how to best distribute weight in the pack. Anthony taught my partner and me so much during my fitting. It was a fantastic experience, and I would absolutely suggest this store to anyone!
This place is a wonderful gear shop. All the employees are involved in some sort of outdoor sports and know what they are talking about. The place looks small on the outside but is large inside and has a great selection of gear. Always friendly and always helpful. This is my go to shop.
I their selection is great but their staff is what really makes this place. The product advice I get is always helpful.
We purchased two kayaks from Backpackers Shop, they were extremely knowledgeable and accommodating. I say this while the customers are locked out due to COVID-19. My wife and I will be returning to the store once the government allows them to open. Great customer service!
One of my favorite stores. If it involves the outdoors they probably have it. Ive never had a bad experience at this store.
Great selection! Reece helped us to find a great backpack at a great price. Wish they had the kayak selection they used to.
Always a class act place, great products, great people
Everything you need for your outdoor adventure
Cute privately owned business. Workers were nice. But they were high priced
Great, high end outdoor products. Staff very helpful and friendly.
Great as always with their high end merchandise at great prices.
Purchased my first Kayak for Lake Erie. I was very concerned about the open water and had a ton of questions. They went out of their way to help! Not only did I leave armed with all the knowledge I needed, but their prices were right in line with other sellers youll see online.I highly recommend them! The customer service alone makes me extremely happy for my purchase!
Super helpful and friendly staff. Only downside is youll want to buy everything
Ive been coming here since I was a kid. Their prices are sometimes outrageous but the service and knowledge makes up for it. Getting fitted for a pack or boots is always a great experience and we could usually find trail maps for planned backpacking trips. Staff is always very helpful, and they usually have some cool new gear to try out.
I feel like a kid in a candy shop here. Everyone is super helpful. I love this place. “One of everything for me, please!”
Some of the staff provides knowledgeable and excellent customer service. If you are in the market for outdoor adventure items and want to shop local this is your best choice. A bit pricey,but decent clearance. If you get an eager employee youll have a great experience.
Great selection of premium quality outdoor gear and apparel. If you need to be outside, stop here and make sure you have the right stuff for any situation.Staff is a wealth of knowledge about various things. Climbing, fly fishing, hiking, kayaking, and a lot more.Its great to see an independent shop that has not been crushed by the big box stores. Support your local business owners, and they will return the favor with service, selection and the old school customer care that is getting lost out there.
Wonderful store, very helpful staff, friendly happy staff. Tom Fabro helped me.... Cant say enough good things about him...
Great place to shop for a variety of your outdoor needs. Friendly people and very knowledgeable. J crews working in the fly fishing section was a great help and very knowledgeable especially as relates 2 my getting into switch or spay fishing. Thanks Jake
First time there went with the wife what a great experience will definitely go back
Love this store! They have everything youd find a bug store like Cabelas but its local owned and I just love that! The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. Id come here over the big stores every time!
My boyfriend and i stopped in to grab a few things for an upcoming camping trip and we were not disappointed. They had everything we were looking for and more. The staff is also very friendly and knowledgeable. We cant wait to go back when we have more time to look around and hopefully catch one of their seminars too.
Best shopping experience ever!My husband and I recently purchased 2 kayaks and all of the accessories from the Backpackers Shop and we couldnt be happier. Erika was approachable, helpful and extremely knowedgeable... She guided us to the best fit for us - from the kayaks to the paddles, rack, and life jackets. We picked everything up last Friday and have been in our kayaks every day since. It truly felt like everything was custom built just for us..Wed recommend anyone head to the Backpackers Shop for any and all of their outdoor needs... They are absolutely the best. Dont waste your time anywhere else!
How do you give the only store like it in the area any less than 5 stars? A little pricey but the money probably paid some house payments and college tuitions over the years. Its a cool store with a cool story.
I have always enjoyed my time in this shop. I am always greeted by the employees who are truly passionate about the outdoors and enjoy introducing people to the products to get them out there. This trip was no different! Kelsey assisted me at the knife counter and was amazing! She was knowledgable, patient, and delightful. Describing the differences between models and giving her opinion from her personal experiences helped me to choose the perfect one for me!
If you love being outdoors, kayaking, hiking, climbing, camping, and you havent been here yet its a must visit. relatively small compared to big box Sporting Goods and outdoor stores of course but the people here are great and extremely experienced and knowledgeable. No ones going to miss a Dicks or Gander Mountain store when theyre gone. But it would definitely be a loss to the community to lose an Outfitters shop like this, so the next time youre in the market for some outdoor gear please head out and give them a try.
The service here cant be beat. Great selection and price range. I went in looking for a sleeping bag and bed roll for hiking, the staff person who helped me was a hiker themselves and was able to explain materials and help narrow down the most appropriate gear. You cant get that at the big box stores down the street or online. I was able to try out the fit and weight of the gear. Theres a lot of hiking choices, this place really helps to be sure youre picking the right gear for your personal fit. Couldnt recommend them more, make them first on your list for any outdoor outfitting!!
I purchased my new Vibe Kayak from them. Very knowledgeable staff and plenty of kayaking products in stock, even during the pandemic
Great staff! Dog friendly and has a great selection.
This is a great store. They have top of the line clothing and equipment. The staff are all very helpful and knowledgeable about the items. They have a good selection. The store seems small from the outside but its rather large once you get in. Their prices are usually a little higher than you find online but, you can catch their sales if you follow them on Facebook.
This is such a fun store - everything you could ever need for outdoor activities! The staff is fantastic, very knowledge and very helpful. Jason helped us outfit for an expedition to Seattle. A huge selection of merch and different manufacturers from which to choose. Highly highly recommend this store!!
Fantastic staff first of all. I bought my kayak here and got really great advice all throughout my selection process. In addition it was a bit difficult to find the right roof rack hardware for my Mini Cooper but they worked diligently until they located what I needed. They then installed it and made sure I knew how to do it myself as well. Overall this place has a really nice atmosphere and selection. Im a customer for life.
The best place in NE Ohio to get all of your backpacking and camping needs. The service and customer support is why my husband and I keep coming back, along with the high quality and durability of the items sold here. From hiking shoes to tents to packs each store attendant can go into crazy detail listing out pros and cons of each item and making sure you get exactly what you need. Plus, the store is just fun to browse through. Support a local business that takes care of their customers in ways the big box stores never will.
Im so grateful to have such a wonderful store here in NE Ohio. They are very well stocked on all the different items and clothing one would need for most adventures, with a good selection in all departments. But where they really shine is their staff. Everyone is very friendly and very KNOWLEDGEABLE and happy to share their experience. Josh was great, really knows his stuff. Thank you all!BUY LOCAL
Friendly and helpful staff!! The shop is filled with all your essentials and a whole lot more! We happened to show up on their grill day. Delicious burger, chips and keg for those 21 and up. I was very impressed with the staff! Every section of the store had someone to help if needed. You could tell these people have a passion for what they do as well. We will be back for sure!
My husband bought his first canoe from “ Ohio Canoe “ now called the Backpackers Shop, and although it has changed over the years, he says he can still feel the owners spirit within it. His son does him proudly nowadays keeping it true to his fathers way of treating customers and although pricey you can be assured it is world class gear. We have grown old watching the business mature and we are so thankful it has become a world class outfitters destination.
They have an amazing team of educated, experienced, and opinionated people. They will be brutality honest if they feel the solution you have will or will not work. If they have to recommend something they are going to give you a valid reason why. If you are new to backpacking or outdoor adventuring in general I would go here.
Love this place! This is an awesome store, very friendly staff they helped me pick out and set up a new bike rack for my car, can’t wait to go shopping again soon! 10/10. Very nice local business!
What a great place! If you are heading for an outdoor adventure, this is the place to come. Superb customer service, very knowledgeable on their products and your needs. They carry a wide selection...something for everyone...even your pet. Its a true gem in Lorain County! You must also meet Aspen, the cutest canine store mascot ever!
I bought a new pair of hiking boots. The gentleman that help me was very knowledgeable. In what I was looking for. He did not steer me in something more expensive, just because it was more expensive. He showed me something because I needed it, it was greatly appreciated. I guess the only thing I would change in my visit. I was looking around the clothing department. A gentleman was having a conversation. I thought he was another customer and he ended up somebody that worked there. And then, kind of rudely, he says, I have to close this section. After I had to hear a rendition of his life. I dont know if he was talking to another employee or to a customer. It was very weird. What I left. But the rest of my stay at the backpack or shop was great I would go back
Without a doubt the best paddling store anywhere.. patient and educated sslesfolks spent a great deal of time helping me make decisions and Im sold. Its a long drive from where I live, but absolutely the place I will be doing my business. The heck with the big box stores. This is true value
Went there to have my fly rod spooled and ask questions and the young guy provided great service and conversation. The prices and selection seemed great! An excellent source for outdoor supplies and services!
The staff was all very very helpful and polite and friendly its over an hour away from me and ill be going back plenty!
This is an absolutely amazing store. Everything you could need for backpacking, camping, fly fishing and more. Large selection of kayaks for sale, both basic and specialty types for fishing or open water etc. Extremely friendly and knowledgeable staff. This is their 50th anniversary, so you know they have been doing things right to make it that long. Check them out, you wont be disappointed! They have Thule and Yakima supplies as well as yeti coolers and tons more!