ULtralight (or just plain light) Gear Shops - San Francisco

[ricardosanx]

Hi,

Can anyone recommend a light weight hiking shop in San Francisco?

I am looking for somewhere that stocks lighter weight gear (very hard to try this gear in Australia!) eg. Montbell

Hopeful

Richard

[hotrod4x5]

http://www.rei.com/stores/83

[AlmostThere]

look up the Down Works in Santa Cruz.

Montbell and Western Mountaineering bags AND clothing. (I narrowly escaped without down pants, down jackets, down balaclava, and several down bags - fortunately they would not take my car in exchange.) Full lines of Osprey, Granite Gear and (gasp) ULA packs to try on - ULA is an online cottage gear maker, not gonna see those at any REI. Caldera Cones, Evernew pots, Montrail and Inov 8 shoes. The store is run by backpackers.

Well worth the drive.

[oakroscoe]

I get some stuff from REI (great return policy), but the majority of stuff I buy online. I can't speak highly enough of the company GoLite. My latest pack is from them, and it is amazing.

[dan]

REI is good. If you have time, Marmot Mountain Works has a large store in Berkeley. Take the BART to get there.
http://www.marmotmountain.com/store-berkeley.htm

[AlmostThere]

REI has nothing I would qualify as "light weight" especially in terms of packs and sleeping bags.

Although, light is such a sliding scale, that perhaps the original poster could clarify what he's looking for. Whenever I see "lightweight" I immediately think of Gossamer Gear's 21 oz pack, Zpack, Six Moon Designs and Tarptent shelters of 48 oz or less.... Not the 3 lb "ultralight" Osprey or Gregory packs at REI or the 5-8 lb tents. But that's me - I've been skating the fringes of ultralight for a while now. Not everyone is looking for the lightest... Some folks I know are quite happy with 40 lb pack weights.

[ricardosanx]

Thanks everyone.

I knew about REI and Patagonia but was looking for alternative stores.

I'm not ultra-light (yet). But REIs brands are same as we get here in Sydney. What we don't get are Montbell, Integral Designs etc

I'll check out the other suggestions.

PS: Of course we have specialist brands for Aust/NZ market - but there focus tends to be on very "tough" gear for bush-bashing - Macpac, Mont, Western Equipment