8 Awesome Benefits of an REI Membership

Whether you’re an experienced outdoor adventurer or just getting ready to buy your first pair of hiking boots, I’m sure you’re familiar with REI. The outdoor retailer is the place to go when you need some new gear, whether for hiking, camping, climbing, rafting, or any other outdoor sport. But have you ever wondered whether it’s worth it to get an REI membership?

I’ve been an REI member since I first started my journey into backpacking (you can read more about my first backpacking trip here), so I’ve been taking advantage of the benefits of REI membership for quite a while.

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REI membership benefits are better than ever, and there are so many reasons to become an REI member!

WHY YOU SHOULD GET AN REI MEMBERSHIP

I would recommend an REI membership to just about anyone who likes to play outside! Here’s why:

1. ANNUAL MEMBER DIVIDEND

The first REI membership benefit that most people think of is the annual dividend – and that’s because it’s awesome! REI is technically set up as a co-op, so each year, members share in the company’s profit in the form of a dividend.

As an REI member, you will earn 10% back on every full-price purchase you make at REI (both in-store and online). Each March, you will receive the dividend for purchases made the prior year. It shows up in your REI account, where you can use it to purchase more gear or go into the store and actually receive it in cash (starting in July of each year). The dividend is valid for the next two years.

Since an REI lifetime membership costs $30, it will be worth it if you purchase $300 of full-price gear over the course of your life – which is easy to do by buying outdoor essentials like a tent, sleeping bag, or down jacket. Though you don’t earn a dividend on sale items, the dividend kind of acts like a delayed discount on full-price items. 

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2. FREE SHIPPING

The biggest recent benefit of REI membership is free standard shipping on all orders. While anyone can get free shipping on orders of $50 or more, members no longer have to meet that minimum to get their order to ship free. This benefit is useful for anyone who shops REI online, but is especially awesome for people who don’t have a physical REI store nearby.

3. MEMBER-ONLY DISCOUNTS & GEAR

Another super useful benefit of REI membership is the member-only discounts that you’ll receive at certain times throughout the year. REI has several big sales throughout the year (usually aligned with holidays such as Labor Day and Thanksgiving), and members almost always will receive coupons for extra discounts of around 20% during those times.

These discounts come in really handy, especially when you’re ready to invest in a big piece of gear. If you need a backpack, tent, sleeping bag, or any expensive but necessary gear, it’s often worth waiting for one of REI’s member discounts to get a great deal.

REI also offers member-only collections, including limited editions of certain products and early access to purchase certain gear.

4. ACCESS TO USED GEAR SALES

Although REI is not currently holding its used gear garage sales, REI members now have access to deeply discounted used gear all the time both in-store and online through the REI Re/Supply program.

You can find amazing deals on everything from tents to camp stoves to sleeping pads to hiking boots and a full wardrobe of technical clothing. (Our content manager Kate recently scored an excellent deal on used winter hiking boots for a trip to Alaska!)

REI members can also trade in gently-used gear in exchange for credit on an REI gift card.

5. EASY RETURNS

REI is known for its generous return policy – you can return almost anything you purchase at REI within one year for a full refund. If you try out hiking boots or other gear on the trail, and it turns out that they don’t work for you, you can bring them back and get a full refund. Outdoor electronics have a 90-day return window.

While the return policy is the same for members and non-members, it’s easier to make returns as an REI member, since you don’t even need a receipt. They can just look up the purchase on your account and refund you right away.

6. CLASSES & EVENTS

REI offers a huge variety of classes to help you learn outdoor skills from navigation to climbing to snowshoeing to photography. REI also hosts lots of hikes and social events with local breweries and restaurants. And one of the REI membership benefits is discounts to all of these classes and events!

If you become an REI member , you can take advantage of any class that sounds interesting, so you can find your new favorite outdoor activity.

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DOWNLOAD OUR HIKING PACKING CHECKLIST:

So that you can hit the trails with peace of mind knowing that you didn’t leave anything essential behind!

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7. ADVENTURE TRIPS

If you dream of exploring a National Park or trekking around an international destination like Patagonia, REI organizes adventure trips across the country and the globe. REI members get large discounts on these trips, which could save you several hundred dollars on an amazing experience.

From the Appalachian Trail to Yosemite National Park, Everest Basecamp to the Galapagos Islands, REI leads guided adventures around the world, and an REI membership will get you a great deal on all of these bucket list opportunities.

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DOWNLOAD OUR BACKPACKING PACKING CHECKLIST:

Never leave any crucial items behind before you head out on a backpacking trip! I’ve written down all the essentials here for you so that you’ll never forget anything vital. PLUS, I love to spoil my readers with a little bit extra as well, so I’ve included a list of 20+ of my favorite backpacking food snacks and meals inside of this list for inspiration.

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8. OUTDOOR COMMUNITY SUPPORT

REI gives a percentage of its profits to nonprofits and organizations which give back to the outdoor community. The company focuses its support on environmental stewardship and making the outdoors accessible to everyone. By supporting REI with a membership, you are helping to give back to these causes. With each new REI membership purchased, REI now donates $5 to the REI Cooperative Action Fund which makes grants to these groups.

Also, when REI members receive their dividend each year, they get a ballot to vote on the board of directors for the co-op. This means that as an REI member, you get to help choose a board of directors who will lead the company in a direction that you believe in.

With all these REI membership benefits, there’s pretty much no reason not to become an REI member if you’re an outdoor lover!

LOOKING FOR MORE GEAR TO GET WITH YOUR REI MEMBERSHIP?

Check out these packing lists and gift guides for the gear that I recommend for hiking, backpacking, camping, & more!

• Hiking 101: The Essential Hiking Gear List

• The Ultimate 3-5 Day Backpacking Packing List

• 33 Best Gifts for Outdoor Women

• 25 Best Gifts for Outdoorsy Men

Cheers,

Allison - She Dreams of Alpine

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