[at-l] outfitters

[Debbie_Smith@millipore.com (Debbie_Smith@millipore.com)]

I have 3 choices for outfitters in Eastern MA, for 3 different reasons.
The first one is REI in Reading, same one Stitches likes.  They have a
pretty good variety, all the latest stuff, and a bunch of people who do
know about the gear.  They will talk to you about just about anything. The
downside is that it is beginning to cater to the money crowd, instead of
the outdoor crowd (as most businesses are).

The second one is Wilderness House in Boston on Commonwealth Ave.  They're
a little pricey, and also cater to the 'yuppy' crowd a bit, but they spent
at least an hour with me talking about boots one day and I didn't even buy
any. Eventually I bought my Scarpa Cadore's there.  When I was on my
thruhike, I needed my dad to return the 'backup' boots I'd bought with no
receipt, and change the size.  They didn't even blink.  In fact I called
them from Damascus and they wanted to keep me on the phone chatting
excitedly about wanting to thruhike and asking me how everything was going.
Nice people.

The third one is in Boston called Hilton's Tent City.  They are located in
an old 3-story warehouse and have a very strange mix of stuff, lots of it a
little older but a huge variety.  Some of the people there know their
stuff, some don't but they're always willing to help you look for specific
things.  A good place to go to if you know what you're looking for (not
brand specific).  You have 3 different floors to pick through, and you
never know what little gem you might find tucked away in a corner there.
I've whiled away a couple rainy afternoons in that store.

Twilight
GA>ME '98