Mountain Hardwear

I bought a jacket in the winter for spring purposes (lightweight and waterproof). Turns out the jacket might be slightly defective, since it wasn’t so waterproof on my commute this morning.
Nate, the sales associate I spoke with on the phone was super nice. I went to the store for a refund/​exchange/​return. Thanks to their rewards program, they were able to look up my receipt, since I didn’t have it on me. I did get the up-​sell for a different jacket. I’m a sucker, but I also value my dryness in this beloved Portland weather. So I bought the more expensive one. Regardless, everyone was super pleasant and helpful.
–1 star for my leaky jacket!

I came in here the other day and found a nice fleece layer. This is one of the few Mountain Hardwear «brick and mortar» stores, and although their HQ is in Richmond (California), I never seem to be around for their infrequent warehouse sales.
This store has a nice selection, that is well displayed on 2 levels. Staff was also helpful, although I think we use this type of outdoors clothing in completely different applications. Better yet, my item was on sale, and I got another 10% off for signing up for their list serve. And when you consider that there’s no sales tax in Oregon, I was very pleased with my Trifecta.

An integral part of falling in love with climbing mountains is realizing that you’ve doomed yourself to a lifetime of drooling over gear. It’s pretty much unavoidable but actually becomes enjoyable once you make a deal with yourself to live on ramen in exchange for owning a better jacket.
This is where Mountain Hardwear comes in. I can’t help it — I love the stuff these people make. Love it. They have two stores in the U.S. Disastrously, one *had* to be located in Portland. Even worse, it’s on my bike route to work. Each and every day that I bike to work I end up nearly wrecking as I stare longingly at their window display.
Yesterday, I decided to hoof it over there after the gym with the sole purpose of buying their hooded Compressor Jacket. Oh, big mistake Petra. Big. Effing. Mistake.
To begin, they have the nicest staff ever. Well, I can at least speak very highly of the two I interacted with. Lots of attention without being pushy, great knowledge of their products, and when *isn’t* it fun to geek out over gear with people who share your passion for their own hobbies? Instead of walking out with one jacket, I barely escaped with a pair of pants, a shirt, and two jackets.
They even took 10% off my entire purchase. They must have seen the maelstrom of both pain and pleasure in my eyes when I watched the total on the register increase.
Their stuff can be expensive, but good lord I love it. I almost fell asleep cradling the Compressor Jacket last night — it’s that cozy.

Flagship store! I’m a bit partial to HardWear so I may have a bit of a bias opinion, that said; this store made me salivate. The displays are fun, the dressing rooms are one of a kind, the staff was helpful and the lounge is cool (they just need wifi and pillows in the tent model and I can go here instead of the coffee shop!) Go visit.