Campmor: A Great Source for Outdoor Gear
Before I say a word about my favorite outdoor gear supplier, let me say that I am in no way affiliated with the retailer. This is a totally unsolicited review of what I believe to be the best source for most anything camping related.
Campmor has been around since 1978. In 1978 I was a poor kid living in a mountain community with few opportunities for shopping around for gear. This was years before Al Gore invented the internet and even if he had there were no computers to use it. Catalogs were my only choice for lusting after gear.
Campmor’s catalogs were small un-glossy things without photographs. All the goodies, from snow shoes to Swiss Army knives were simple line drawings and still are to this day. Campmor must have a team of artists locked away in some back room feverishly drawing each and every item. Of course today (thanks to computer scientist and former VP Al Gore) you can go to their websight and see pictures of the items. I sincerely hope this new technology doesn’t put line drawing artists out of business.
But anyway, if you’re new to outdoor sports or have never happened across Campmor, give them a look. After several decades of buying tons of gear from them, I have never had a bad experience and their prices are usually the best around. ~ Here’s the link: Campmor
Just my opinion, Jack
"Hey Buffy, that looks like the Brooks saddle you ate last week" 
i like you have found many great items for bike camping as well as every day use…
and i have done my best to share with others by passing on my catalogs…
great subject…
They have some quirky items as well. Like a female portable urinal?
Al Gore invented the Internet??
Haha!
Yes he invented the internet and Dick Chaney invented a water park amusement ride. Some sort of dunking machine I think. We have the most creative Vice Presidents.
Back in those early days there was only a few places like that. REI, Campmor and LLBean. I remember pouring over those catalogs and a-wishin’ I had some money.
It’s a great way to spend the winter hours, looking at gear & day dreaming of the next trip out. Now I find myself pouring over maps instead.
I’ve visited their Paramus store a few times and had positive experiences there, too. Once I went and asked if they could fabricate this webbing snap buckle release thing I had in my imagination, and without blinking, they took me back to this heavy-duty sewing machine and whipped one up for me.
We have a few outdoor retailers in our area now (not Campmor), but they are staffed with young kids who are pretty well experienced with just one outdoor sport (snow boarding, climbing, hiking, mnt. biking, whatever).
I’d like to visit one of their retail outlets.
Campmor was the place I got my first set of camping stuff. I agonized over every item for my limited budget. The hours I spent reading that catalog! While I really like the drawings and the feel of the paper they used, I was especially taken by the product descriptions. Those really got me dreaming of adventures.
Gina
They have some pretty unusual stuff too like a female portable urinal (I don’t even want to know what that is). I like their selection of freeze dried food too.
Thanks for the comment Gina, I’m enjoying your blog, Jack
I have to admit, I went off Campmor when they stopped posting user reviews on their website. I also feel much better supporting retailers like REI and Patagonia, knowing they have a ‘do good’ spirit to them. Still, for budget items, Campmor works.