> REI... Showing overpaying for shit that doesn't matter is SharperImage's whole business model. Comparing Sharper Image to REI isn't fair at all. REI is the

> REI... Showing overpaying for shit that doesn't matter is SharperImage's whole business model. Comparing Sharper Image to REI isn't fair at all. REI is the only and cheapest place to buy a lot of "backcountry" gear (aside from online, which has obvious downsides) in huge swaths of the country. And not just for big ticket "could make do with cheaper variants" stuff like backpacks and tents. I've never found low-volume quantities of isobutane fuel canisters cheaper anywhere, including online, than when they're on sale at REI. > Or a sleeping pad that collapses down and fits in the closet... "I have so little dwelling space that I'm willing to pay $100 for a sleeping pad the size of a plate" doesn't exactly scream "luxury city" to me.