Do you want to try backpacking but worry about carrying a heavy pack? Or, are you a backpacker who wants to lighten your load? An REI backpacking expert will provide excellent tips on lightweight backpacking techniques. Included are shelters, backpacks, food choices, and fuel efficiency. Learn how to reduce the weight of your pack without compromising comfort, Learn how to adjust the 10 essentials to save weight, Learn details of equipment design and function. No experience necessary. Duration: 2 hours. Free.
I know many of us often wonder whether REI has a clue about lightweight backpacking and the growing tsunami of demand by people who are sick of carrying heavy weight backpacks and gear. It’s certainly hard to tell based on the backpacks, sleeping bags, and tents that REI sells under their own brand that are designed for more sedentary campers, not backpackers.
But, the REI Outdoor School clearly gets it, as evidenced by the new Lightweight Backpacking Courses that they are offering country-wide in March and April of 2012, just in time for the spring hiking season.
If you are interested in attending one of these free classes in March and April 2012, they are currently being offered at the following school locations. It’s tricky to look up this information on a national level using REI’s web-based event search capability so really, check out the event list for your local store or call them . You can’t beat FREE.
- Marina, California
- Puget Sound Area
- Fairfax, Virgina
- San Francisco, CA
- Conshohocken (Philadelpha Area)
- Roseville, Minnesota
- Santa Monica, CA
- Reno, Nevada
- Atlanta, Georgia
- Boise, Idaho
Please note, because these classes are FREE Clinics, they are not usually listed under the REI Outdoor School’s Class calendar but under the store Events calendar for your area. They are still being taught by Outdoor School Instructors or other REI Specialists.
Enjoy!
Tags
- rei outdoor
- backpacking classes
- rei vs ems classes
Well that’s pretty neat! Good on REI. Maybe EMS can step it up in the northeast, too… although I remember you mentioning how well EMS promotes their classes and such. Ah well. Good for REI and good for the general public.
I love the folks at EMS, but they have a hard time getting organized for an initiative like this beyond a single store. Believe me, I’ve tried.
As for REI – I am really excited to see them using the School to get the word out. This is really very exciting, for me at least. Plus, they’re making the education freely available, which is an idea I embrace.
Yeah, I hear you. But with one major store picking up the cause, maybe there will be a snowball effect somewhere along the line. Regardless, kudos to REI.
This is interesting because my teaching partner and I were approached by an REI store in Colorado just yesterday about the possibility of teaching an ultralight class for them. We kept thinking, “REI?!”, then came home to find this post. Weird. But welcome. Word must be getting out.
Cool. Who do you teach for David?
My teaching partner and I have belong to the Poudre Wilderness Volunteers, a group that patrols and does trail maintenance on wilderness trails in the northern part of the state for the Forest Service. We have been teaching an ultralight class primarily for our members. So far, it has been extremely well received, as many of our members are over 50 and appear grateful to know their backpacking days don’t necessarily have to be behind them!
Good for you – keep it up, UL/Lightweight backpacking is really a blessing for us older folks. I’m training with a 40 pound pack now for a special expedition and I can’t imagine how anyone could carry this much weight on a normal backpacking trip. Thanks for the comment and your service to others!
I’m always hard pressed to find lightweight anything at EMS. REI does a better job stocking lighter equipment in general in my opinion. As a merchandiser this doesn’t make any sense as lighter weight gear is generally an “upsell” anyways. As merchandising (specifically online) goes EMS is about 5 years behind REI anyways.
Props to REI though, I didn’t know much about lightweight when I got into backpacking and I’ve been able to exchange some heavier gear and upgrade to lighter pieces thanks to them.
I’ve been kicking around this REI idea all morning. The last thing we want to do is walk into REI as their guest and trash the company for selling heavy items. In fact, I still spend a LOT of money at REI (please don’t tell my wife!). Not backpacks and shelters, to be sure, buts socks, shoes, hiking pants, the list goes on and on. If lightweight backpacking gets people into the mountains who otherwise wouldn’t be there, it has to be a win for REI. In that context, teaching ultralight classes at REI makes a lot of sense.
i wouldn’t worry about that too much. REI has a strong corporate culture dedicated to customer education, even if it doesn’t completely mesh with their product offerings now, which are a little more oriented to families and car camping. I still support the company for this very reason and I also still buy a ton of stuff from them. As you say, they benefit regardless if more people get out there, and we benefit because those same people will become better stewards of our wild lands if we can educate them.
I’m very curious so I signed up for the Atlanta class.
We’ll want a report. :-)
of course, until then be patient as the class isn’t until late April
I went to one of these at one of the REI stores here in Houston, just out of curiosity. All of the basics were presented in a PowerPoint presentation, and then the instructor showed example gear — all grabbed from the shelves of the store. Blue tarp for shelter, lightest pack, sleeping bag, and pad. Simple set of clothes, without lots of features. The only thing that wasn’t shown was the use of trailrunners instead of boots, but very light boots were shown. Everyone attending also got a coupon good for 20% off of one item.
I thought it was a useful presentation for folks that didn’t know much lightweight techniques…
My grandson and I went to an REI lightweight presentation a couple years ago and it was very informative and well done. The speaker had many trail miles under his boots/trail runners and had gradually transformed his way of hiking to lightweight techniques. He conducted a Powerpoint lecture and gave informative handouts. It wasn’t a pitch for REI products. I’ll check the schedule and see when it’s going to be back in Dallas.
The two REI stores in our area aren’t on my normal routes to anywhere, but if I happen to be driving by, there’s some unseen force that always snags me and reels me in for a while. I don’t understand it but the force is truly dedicated to lightweight processes because I’m never released from the place until my bank account is lighter.
I view the move to lightweight or UL very much as a personal evolution or considered choice. How much can a company such as EMS or REI do absent a willing customer? Lets take boots. Even now the standard dogma is you need boots such as Asolos to provide support, etc. I moved from boots to much lighter alternatives out of willingness and a financial ability to do so. Lugging a pack that was pretty heavy wasn’t an issue with footwear that wasn’t much more than a sole. Tarps. Though I appreciate the technical skill to go with a tarp it’s not for me. I did however spend a lot of time finding the lightest tent possible which met my requirements. My point? Stores aren’t there to change hearts and minds, they’re there to provide products based on the criteria you walk in the door with.
Unfortunately a lot of people go to REI in order to be told what to buy. REI has sales training for a reason….I see this a lot with people just getting into hiking and camping.
The last one I attended in San Diego seemed to me to be really a “hard sell” versus an informative presentation..I used to attend the old Adventure 16 Classes when the “Old Man” still ran the show whereas now the “kids” ruined it….A-16 went over every brand in that particular category they had in stock listing the items good and not so good parts, sometimes the Brand Rep’s would be in attendance and dutifully took down lots of notes and complaints and shortcomings people found in their equipment which were incorperated in their brands.
Still waiting for that sturdy do everything 2.5 pint Cup with a lid that actually fits and stays on which can also be used to bake bread in that weighs in under 5 oz.’s.
Thanks for the Info I just may attend the Atlanta workshop.