Portland area gear shops?

I likely have a trip to PDX area coming up, and might take the opportunity to prowl for some gear. Shoes and a harness, so nothing all that exotic. Where do you like to shop there? 

Best, Helen

Next adventure has a good selection and they are local. They also have a basement full of used gear (non safety rated) that is fun to browse. 

Next Adventure is the best, mountain shop also has cool stuff, more alpine focused

Thanks!

Hey, it looks like Next Adventure has two stores. I couldn't tell online which has the used gear, or is climbing gear (shoes especially). Which should I head to?

Headed west a week from tomorrow! 

Best, Helen

EDIT to add, yes I know PDX is a big foodie mecca, but I'll be in Vancouver WA and don't feel like paying for Portlandia falala. Any place you like for just good, cheap, eats? Coffee joints for breakfasts? Outside eating? We're staying up towards Salmon creek area, but have business with Clark county downtown.

You want the main downtown location 

426 SE Grand Ave, Portland, OR 97214

Obviously lots of good food options, though downtown Vancouver the prices are the same as Portland plus you pay tax on the north side of the river. 

We are always at Portland rock gym Thursday evenings. Let me know if you want a guest pass to check it out. (It’s about a half mile from next adventure)

Old lady H wrote:

EDIT to add, yes I know PDX is a big foodie mecca, but I'll be in Vancouver WA and don't feel like paying for Portlandia falala. 

I don't know what "Portlandia falala" really means (though it definitely sounds condescending), but the 'Couv ain't exactly on the map for its cuisine. Around East 82nd St in Portland, you're surrounded by affordable, non-pretentious global cuisine, like http://www.master-kong-chinese.com/.. 

But I'd just defer to eater for vancouver eats: pdx.eater.com/maps/restaura…

Nate A wrote:

You want the main downtown location 

426 SE Grand Ave, Portland, OR 97214

Obviously lots of good food options, though downtown Vancouver the prices are the same as Portland plus you pay tax on the north side of the river. 

We are always at Portland rock gym Thursday evenings. Let me know if you want a guest pass to check it out. (It’s about a half mile from next adventure)

Thanks for the offer, but we'll likely lay low, a bit. Probably not do any gyms this time.

Best, Helen

J P wrote:

I don't know what "Portlandia falala" really means (though it definitely sounds condescending), but the 'Couv ain't exactly on the map for its cuisine. Around East 82nd St in Portland, you're surrounded by affordable, non-pretentious global cuisine, like http://www.master-kong-chinese.com/.. 

But I'd just defer to eater for vancouver eats: pdx.eater.com/maps/restaura…

Thanks, and apologies.

I'm in Boise, but grew up in The Dalles, and watched Portland morph over the decades. Portland kinda got a little bigheaded in recent times, deservedly, but still with pretentiousness at times. Boise was local food before local food was a thing, so there's the same going on here, the gentrification of peasant food. There are still those places that are just really good food, hand made, with fresh local ingredients....then the la ti da places that plate great food from great ingredients, hand done by award winning chefs. But the one upsmanship makes me do eye rolls, lol!

So, yeah, that was me being mildly snarky.

You are absolutely correct though, the ethnic restaurants are often the most interesting by far, and, often, essentially still home cooking. The table help is the youngsters, who have American English, the back house is still the native tongue. We have a fair number of those here in Boise. A favorite being Kibrom's, which is Ethiopian. But it's a long list!

Best, Helen