Specialty gear shops around LA/SB/Vegas?

Nice beach in Santa Barbara if you don’t mind tarballs. If you’re heading up through SLO, Avila Beach is a lot nicer. Morro Bay is worth a visit. Montana de Oro. Go through Atascadero to get up towards Yosemite.  Sorry I can’t help with the stores.

Nomad Ventures is one of the few I know about besides REI. They have stores in Idyllwild, Joshua Tree and Escondido. They might have a few things not available (in store) at REI.  There are some small mountain town shops in Mammoth and Lone Pine, but not sure it’s worth a side trip if you weren’t planning to travel the 395 through the Eastern Sierra. I’m less familiar with the Western Sierra but will follow for other’s suggestions.

otherwise maybe check out the larger REI stores or their Manhattan Beach resupply store for used gear.

Nomad Ventures carries mostly high quality gear. The JT store catered more towards the rock climbing crowd.

There’s an outlet mall in Barstow that has a Columbia store. Nike and such. The one in Cabazon used to have North Face and Timberland. Small shops in Yosemite may be your best chance. Mostly clothes though. Tourist stuff.

Santa Barbara is an affluent area, additionally with UCSB nearby, a lot of part time gearheads there.  The used sports equipment market is pretty impressive.  Lots of great gear at low priced, road bikes, surf and dive gear, most high end sports stuff.  UL gear?  Worth looking into.  My 2 cents.

Maybe in I,V.

Like Bob said, Eastern Sierra. Bishop (Sage to Summit and Palante) and Lone Pine have some nice gear stores.

Michael,

Besides REI in Santa Barbara the place to check out is Mountain Air Sports on State Street. It caters more to snow and water sports so I would keep expectations low for UL gear, but clothing options are decent and if you are already in SB it may be worth a visit.

If you hit the 395 corridor on the eastern side of the Sierra, definitely go to Eastside Sports in Bishop. Best gear shop in the area. Clothing is your standard Patagonia attire, but lots of low top footwear, and several UL options you rarely see in retail stores. For instance, on a recent visit last month, I checked out Enlightened Equipment quilts, Gossamer Gear packs, tarps, and umbrellas, Evernew water bladders, and Dirty Girl gaiters. Their backpacking gear selection is impressive!

Santa Barbara area

Ventura, down the road a bit from SB, should still have Real Cheap Sports a couple blocks east of the Patagonia flagship store. You should be going right past it in your general travel area (US 101).  Right off the coastal highway but may need to exit a little earlier if coming from Los Angeles .. looking at it, the most direct route is through downtown Ventura if coming from Los Angeles but may as well drive the coastal frontage road for some views to the Olive St overpass).

Probably better for soft goods (they’ll get bulk Patagonia last season clothing with maybe, just maybe a discount),with mountain hardware and others.

They sold general gear items albeit mostly traditional wt.  MSR was big iirc.  They also have a website and it’s one storefront.

That part of Ventura is a nice walk too.

Honestly if I was in Santa Barbara, I’d drive up to Big Sur and Monterey. The shopping won’t be any better, but the wine will be. Beautiful country.

REI has aa shop in Henderson, NV (southern ‘burb of Las Vegas) and a bit larger one in the Summerlin area (western Las Vegas).

I grew up in SB, but it looks like everyone already mentioned all the gear shops. If you have time to sneak away for a dayhike I can offer some suggestions though! If youre in SB go hit up San Ysidro trail. You can go up to the waterfall and turn around or continue up to the crest of the Santa Ynez mountains. Cold Springs Trail to Montecito peak or Tunnel Trail to La Cumbre Peak are some other good 9-10 mile round trips. Or theres plenty of other trails like Mcmenemy or Hot Springs. In Los Olivos/Santa Ynez Valley you can hike in the Midland School trail system up to Grass Mountain. It’s beautiful but the last bit is STEEP. You could also do a hike from Nira Campground up the Manzana creek a ways.

For other suggestions check out Diane (Piper)’s website:

https://santabarbarahikes.com/