Outfitting For The Outdoors: Where To Get The Gear
Now that warm weather is here, it’s time to break out those hiking shoes and hit the trails. Besides sunscreen and bug spray, you’ll need the right clothing and comfortable shoes. Here are outfitters in the area where you can find your gear.
Berkshires
Situated on the trailhead of Kennedy Park, the Arcadian Shop is a convenient location for hikers: customers can use their new gear right away. They also have the option to rent canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, bikes or skis. The Arcadian Shop offers weekly demos and group “rides and paddles.”
Berkshire Outfitters, Adams, MA
This is another one-stop-shop for all hikers in the area. Berkshire Outfitters offers a large selection of rentals, (kayaks, canoes, stand-up paddleboards, bikes, snowshoes and skis), products for sale (clothing, footwear, camping and hiking equipment), and a service shop that customers can use to keep up their equipment. The service and maintenance team will tune up bikes, and repair canoes, kayaks and paddleboards.
Litchfield County
TrailHeads specializes in accessories but particularly headgear, and have recently branched out to gloves, mittens and hats for winter runners. For the summer, TrailHeads caps, imbued with UV technology, are a safety feature for any hiker or runner. These hats have a 50+ UPF rating and reflective material, making you visible on the trails and street.
Sportsmen’s of Litchfield, Bantam, CT
A family-run business, Sportsmen's of Litchfield goes above and beyond for its customers. Google reviews are full of heartwarming stories of the owners surpassing expectations, including one of the owners driving (after hours) to hand deliver a customer's daughter's soccer cleats so she had them in time. When choosing their selections of products, they aim to be environmentally and socially conscious. Sportsmen’s specializes in all outdoor gear, footwear, accessories and equipment, along with providing some canoe, kayak and bike rentals.
Dutchess County
Cabin Fever Outfitters, Rhinebeck, NY
Cabin Fever Outfitters provides distinctive outdoor apparel and gifts from popular brands (such as Patagonia, Topo Designs, and The Parks Project) as well as local makers like Hudson Made, a soap company. The store offers niche items branded with local imagery and names of places in the area.
Mountain Tops Outfitters, Beacon, NY
As hikers themselves, the owners of Mountain Tops Outfitters have curated a unique storefront. Their website includes links for local places to hike and stay in the area, as well as current weather conditions in Beacon, which hikers need to know. Along with a large base of hiking apparel, footwear, and accessories, they sell camping and mountain-climbing gear, as well as hiking maps and books.
Columbia County
With multiple locations (Glenmont, Hudson, Valatie), Steiner’s Sports is the place to go for a bike or ski apparel. The store is filled with all kinds of bikes including mountain, road, hybrids, e-bikes and over 200 Treks in stock. Steiner’s also has a service shop in every store, one that’s known for its extremely fast turnaround time; customers can usually get their bike back within 24–48 hours.
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