Is a Rei membership worth it?

Is paying $ 30 for a travel membership really worth it? If you shop there more than once, the answer is probably ‘yes’.

Rei Co-op sells almost all outdoor equipment you would ever want, alongside fishing and shotguns. This equipment is supplied with a return policy of one year, free shipping and a credit of 10% rewards-as you are a member, that is. For outdoor species, membership can pay itself quickly.

Let’s talk about whether a REI CO-OP Membership is worth it You.

What is a Rei membership?

Members put the “cooperative” in Rei Co-op. Rei is a consumer cooperative, which means that members get a say in how the company is going – and part of its profit. When you buy that membership of $ 30, join the cooperative.

Membership has its advantages. It contains a reward of 10% on rei purchases, extra discounts with only members and access to a used gear site, to name just a few. “It saves members time and money so that they can come out more often,” said Clay Walton-House, vice-president of Cooperative at Rei.

It’s not just about saving money. Members also contribute to the advocacy of Rei, because $ 5 of each membership costs to the Rei Cooperative Action Fund. They can even weigh on business governance from time to time. In May 2025, Rei -members voted to reject The chosen management candidates of the company.

To clarify you not to have To be a member to shop at Rei. You just don’t get access to all those shiny benefits.

Tip: Rei memberships will last a lifetime. There is a chance that you are already a member and you have forgotten.

How much does membership cost?

From June 2025 the membership costs $ 30. “That one-off reimbursement of $ 30 covers your membership for the rest of your life,” said Walton-Huish.

Tip: Watch out for promotions that sweeten the deal. Until September 1, 2025, if you make a purchase of $ 50 and add a $ 30 membership to your shopping cart, you will receive a $ 30 bonus card.

Important financial benefits of a membership

What benefits do you get in exchange for your REI membership of $ 30? Here is a non-exhausting list.

• REI -MEEDS. At the end of the year, Rei members get 10% back on all their purchases. Read the small print before being too excited. Technically, 10% is “Typically but not guaranteed.” You only earn rewards for purchases with full price in the rei-store-not used, exhaust or clean-up equipment. And you have to wait until March to publish the credit that has been built up all year round.
• Rei Re/Supply. Only rei -members get access to the marketplace used, RE/Supply. Exchange your old skis for store credit; Or hook new-to-your hiking boots for cheap. According to Walton-House, Rei carries out necessary repairs. “You can really trust that these products still have a good, useful life that remains, which is sometimes different from buying things online at Craigslist or Facebook market.”
• Free shipping. Want to order some Permethrin Spray and only Permethrin Spray Rei.com? That is $ 7.99 in shipping – unless you are a member. Then it’s free.
• Class discounts. Rei organizes lessons and members can register cheaply. A Beginner’s Camping Workshop in the Alpharetta Rei Was $ 45 for the general public, but only $ 15 for members.
• Maintenance discounts. Members save 20% on bicycle and snow shop services.
• Longer return period. Sorry, Rei no longer offers a lifetime warranty. With a few exceptions, rei-members will receive a year to give back their items, while non-members get 90 days.

Is a Rei membership worth it for you?

All those benefits may be fun, but are they $ 30 fun?

The answer can be yes, if …

• You expect to earn back your membership costs. “Many members notice that they get $ 30 of savings back from their first or second purchase,” said Walton-House. That can be due to a temporary promotion. It can also be because they have spent great. One Yeti cooler can earn $ 30 or more from rewards.
• You want to become a member of the REI community. Rei stores not only sell equipment – they maintain equipment and also offer lessons. If you plan to become regular, membership is probably worth it.
• You want great equipment. Rei sells affordable equipment from its own brand, top equipment and everything in between. If you take the outdoors seriously and plan to spend a lot on the best of the best, it makes sense to earn 10% back from those purchases.

On the other hand, there are a few indications that membership is not suitable for you.

• There is no rei in your area. If you don’t live near a rei, you miss class and maintenance discounts.
• There is A great independent outdoor shop in your area. Are you lucky to be surrounded by small companies that focus on your outside hobby? You might better support them instead.
• You are a bargainer. If you search through the proverbial bargain bin at Rei – via RE/Supply, the Outlet Store or the approval section – you do not earn any rewards.

Final assessment: Is a Rei membership worth the costs?

Our two cents? If you do not occasionally shop with Rei, you will not receive membership. If you occasionally shop at Rei, you go for it: membership can pay itself quickly. But if you want a membership and $ 30 are too steep, wait for a promotion. You can simply cover the costs in one well -timed purchase.

Contributor Ciara McLaren is a freelance writer with work in Huffpost, Insider and elsewhere.