Best Colorado Climbing Shop

In your opinion what is the Best climbing shop in Colorado? And we're not talking about selection only. What shop makes you feel at home when you go in, and doesn't proceed to tell you that the "5mm cord your buying is not strong enough your rock rings at home."

My personal favorite shop is Wilderness Exchange in Denver, even though Bent Gate is right down the street from my house.

Here's why:

• The staff is very friendly, and laid back. They are great about providing help and knowledge, without shoving their personal opinions down your throat.
• They have a great selection of gear from rock, ice, aid, bolting, tele, backpacks, big wall, clothing and much more.
• They always have AWESOME deals on gear like brand new "blemished" cams, to consignment clothing and gear.
• If you've never checked out they're blog spot, your missing out. They always provide a good laugh while informing you on sweet deals and product specs.

So in other words this was a big personal shout out to WildyX.
Who's your favorite?

I love going to Neptunes and having the staff all but say, "must we help you?"

Bent Gate, hands down for all the reasons you cite (except for carrying blems and overstock/discontinued items). Excellent gear (rock, ice, alpine, ski), footwear, and clothing selection, very knowledgeable staff who don't have 'tude, outstanding customer service, very good website.

For some reason, I almost never find anything at WildyX that I'm interested in buying. To be fair, however, I haven't been to the new location yet so their selection may have improved. Also a pain to get there. I can't believe, Monty, that you'd deal with the distance/traffic/parking hassles to go to WildyX when Bent Gate is right down the street.

I used to buy about the same amount of gear and clothing from Neptunes and Bent Gate, but over the years it's gradually become almost 100% Bent Gate. Bent Gate rocks!

I was wondering when another "Neptune" bashing party was going to happen...

Awww Neptunes is a mixed bag in my opinion. If you get the right person they will let you try on every shoe in the damn store. Wrong person or people you can stand at the gear counter staring at the one nut you want to buy for half an hour and not get any help. Love Bent Gate for their insta service.

Bent Gate......

Come on Rob, Neptunes deserves their reputation.......

Dude unless your not pulling down on 5.12 trad, or climbing WI6 SOLO.

They look down on you.......

Oh yea and their expensive.....

johnL wrote:Mountain Miser RIP It's not fair to just talk about the Denver/Boulder area. The shop in Ouray is pretty sweet for their niche (frozen things). The shop in Ft. Collins is also good. For the Neptune hate, I've never had a really bad experience there. It's a little big and impersonal but I've never been snubbed. The worst part for me is that it's in Boulder. Aside from that it's fine.

I've only been to Colorado once. I went to Neptunes and the shop in Fort Collins. I thought the Ft. Collins store was really good. I bought a pair of shoes, but they let me try on quite a few and chatted with me about them without being pushy. Neptunes wasn't really bad either. The Ft. Collins store was top-notch though in my experience.

Kevin Craig wrote:I can't believe, Monty, that you'd deal with the distance/traffic/parking hassles to go to WildyX when Bent Gate is right down the street.

I work down town so that definately helps. So the only days I'd ever need to go to bent gate, they're closed. I will say though, that that wildy parking lot might be the worst lot ever!

I have no idea what the "best" climbing store would look like, but
I have had no problems with Neptunes - quite the opposite.

When buying climbing shoes I found their staff knowledgeable and
helpful, and above all patient as I tried on pair after pair and
dithered about making a decision. (In the end, they special-ordered
a pair for me, and got them in within the two days they promised.)
No complaints.

I also watched them be patient with a total beginner asking about
shoes - her major goal seemed to be to get a pair that would match
her brand new Prana top! Neptunes staff, both male and female were
extremely helpful.

Also, the Neptune slideshows are a great Boulder institution.

If there's attitude at Neptunes, I haven't run into it.

Adrian

Colorado is a big state, seems like your answers are for "Best Boulder (area) Climbing Shop". Me thinks Pagan Mountaineering is the best in Colorado.

Beagle wrote:Colorado is a big state, seems like your answers are for "Best Boulder (area) Climbing Shop". Me thinks Pagan Mountaineering is the best in Colorado.

??? Pagan is in Moab, Utah. Mountain Chalet in Colorado Springs has been very good to me.

Bent Gate - Yep, I'm a fan boy. I've even gone into Neptune tried on a pair of shoes that fit, called Bent Gate from Neptune to see if they had them, and then drove down to Bent Gate just so I could support those guys.

My worst experience at Neptune:
I've been using Metolious Super Chalk(MSC) for 10 yrs now. However in NC they did not carry the super, giant bag like they do behind the counter of Neptune's. As I was checking out I noticed that big ass bag and simply asked the girl, "How much for that big bag of MSC?" Her response, "Do you have dry hands?" Me, "Umm, I just want to know how much?" Her, "Do you have dry hands?" At this point it became evident to both my wife and I that she wasn't going tell me anything until I answered her question. This whole, "Do you have..." vs "How much?" went on for I kid you not 2 mins.

Finally she starts going on about how MSC has an extra drying agent...blah, blah, blah. YES I KNOW THIS!!! I knew this after getting launched repeatedly off a high ball bouldering problem and not wanting to do that a third time. My friend says, "Hey try this." As soon as I dipped my hands in the MSC I sent the problem. I've been using it for over 10 yrs. I'm an informed consumer, if I find something I like I research the crap out of of it so I can find out what seperates it from other like items on the market.

Yes I bought the MSC, but that's about all I'll buy from that store if I can help it. Not everyone at Neptune acts this way, but if I can avoid going in there(which is hard to do since I work in Boulder and Bent Gate is closed on Saturdays)I'll drive down to Golden.

I love the Bent Gate. Great shop and very helpful people. I do really miss Mountain Miser though.

Big thumbs up for Wilderness Exchange in Denver...new location is very nice, staff is cool/knowledgeable and there are some good deals to be had. Check out their twice annual gear swaps too where they offer up free space for you to go sell along side local brands that set up tables with samples/closeouts/etc.

I have never personally had an issue at Bent Gate, and have gotten great service from their staff, however I might be the only person I know that feels that way.

Aside from that, if I want to know about gear I go to Bent Gate, if I want to wait for 45 mins before I get any help and an attitude while they help me, I go to Neptune.

I am surprised no one has mentioned the Estes Park Mountain Shop. Best place to go for amazing deals on clothing (if you happen to be in Estes) imho.

johnL wrote:The shop in Ouray is pretty sweet for their niche (frozen things). For the Neptune hate, I've never had a really bad experience there. It's a little big and impersonal but I've never been snubbed. The worst part for me is that it's in Boulder. Aside from that it's fine.

Yep! Definite props to Ouray Mountain Sports. I'm sad/glad they're so far away because otherwise i would have a horrible dilemma regarding my local gear shop. Just this last weekend they helped my partner out of a jam. GREAT folks!

By and large I've had good experiences at Neptunes too just their selection especially of clothes has taken a big hit in the last year or so. Also peeved that I get no love/discount despite many years and 10's of thousands of $$$ spent there.

I'd have to go with Neptune on this one. Their little museum is really cool. They have slide shows all the time. I've never had issues w/ the staff (though I can believe there is probably some attitude there at times).

I was big fan of the sexchange until I applied for a job there (in spite of numerous "attitude" experiences I had already had there). In my interview dude scoffed at my lack of trad experience (I had done a few routes in Eldo, attempted the Diamond once, and had a smattering of other small trad days under my belt), and how I wouldn't be able to give a thorough explanation to a customer on the difference between cam companies and their placement specifics. He said he'd call me to let me know his decision in a couple days. I was so excited that I still might actually have a shot. Since I hadn't heard back a week later I went into the shop to see what was up. Lo and behold he was training 2 other dudes for the position at that very moment. Awkward. I didn't mind that I didn't get the job. I didn't even know what Gortex was (I mean, I knew what it was, just not what it's specific phsycal make up was--also scoffed at). I just wish doosh mcgee could've taken 2 seconds to give me a ring like a man and say, "You're not qualified. We like our $10/hour employees to already know everything about climbing and climbing equipment." I would've been fine.

+1 for Mountain Miser, and the Boulder Mountaineer (RIP)

Currently, my business goes to Wilderness or Bent Gate if im near Golden. I dig the gear swaps and used gear at Wilderness, and I haven't met an unfriendly employee at Bent Gate.

jarthur wrote:Bent Gate - Yep, I'm a fan boy. I've even gone into Neptune tried on a pair of shoes that fit, called Bent Gate from Neptune to see if they had them, and then drove down to Bent Gate just so I could support those guys. My worst experience at Neptune: I've been using Metolious Super Chalk(MSC) for 10 yrs now. However in NC they did not carry the super, giant bag like they do behind the counter of Neptune's. As I was checking out I noticed that big ass bag and simply asked the girl, "How much for that big bag of MSC?" Her response, "Do you have dry hands?" Me, "Umm, I just want to know how much?" Her, "Do you have dry hands?" At this point it became evident to both my wife and I that she wasn't going tell me anything until I answered her question. This whole, "Do you have..." vs "How much?" went on for I kid you not 2 mins. Finally she starts going on about how MSC has an extra drying agent...blah, blah, blah. YES I KNOW THIS!!! I knew this after getting launched repeatedly off a high ball bouldering problem and not wanting to do that a third time. My friend says, "Hey try this." As soon as I dipped my hands in the MSC I sent the problem. I've been using it for over 10 yrs. I'm an informed consumer, if I find something I like I research the crap out of of it so I can find out what seperates it from other like items on the market. Yes I bought the MSC, but that's about all I'll buy from that store if I can help it. Not everyone at Neptune acts this way, but if I can avoid going in there(which is hard to do since I work in Boulder and Bent Gate is closed on Saturdays)I'll drive down to Golden.

you should have asked if she has a dry ******..... neptune is definitely hit or miss. i've had bad experiences (clerks searching through the items that i was purchasing, apparently convinced that i hid something in them). buying several rolls of tape for my wife for an extended trip and having the lady behind the counter go on for 10 minutes about how insane it is to buy 4 rolls of tape.....

on the flip side,the other day i ran in to grab a pair of shoes and watched dan hare patiently wait on the most obnoxious woman i have ever seen. his level of patience and professionalism was down-right saintly. i was really impressed. i seriously would have just killed the lady.

anyway, my votes go to wilderness xchange for prices and good selection. and (gasp) REI because when something is jacked up, i bring it in and they don't try to explain to me that it is 'user error' or 'standard wear and tear'. they just give me credit and no hassle.

I like REI best.

You may not ever find any employee who knows anything about any sport, but I pretty much never seek technical advice - I am just looking for shoes/harness/rope/clothes/gear etc. at a reasonable cost. Usually I am just replacing a worn out thing, exact same brand and size as the last time.

And since I live in the boonies, a website with some shipping is a good thing.

For a long time Neptune's seemed to have almost no sales, but that seems to have changed in the past few years. I imagine they're feeling more competitive pressure, which is too bad for them but good for us.
Never really had major attitude problems there, but perhaps I just don't even notice it as it's "business as usual" when you live in Boulder.