REI membership guide: What you should know

REI is a go-to retailer for every outdoor enthusiast’s needs. The brand specializes in essentials for camping, hiking, running, climbing, cycling and many other outdoor activities. In fact, some of REI’s most highly rated items include its half-dome tents, reusable water bottles and rain jackets from brands like Columbia, The North Face and Patagonia. 

In addition to must-have outdoor gear, however, REI offers a membership to customers, formally known as the REI Co-Op Membership, which provides people with lots of benefits, including exclusive discounts and a generous return policy. If you’ve ever wondered if an REI membership is worth it, read on to learn more about the details  of the program.

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REI Co-Op, more casually referred to as REI (an acronym for Recreational Equipment Inc.), is a retailer of outdoor and athletic equipment founded in 1938. The brand has both online and more than 180 brick-and-mortar storefronts in 41 states within the United States, according to the brand. In addition to being a popular outdoor gear retailer, REI is known for its member-owned cooperative business structure, meaning that it’s owned and operated by its members and employees instead of shareholders. The benefit of this type of business structure is that it allows the retailer to prioritize the values of the members and employees before its profits, according to REI. The company currently has 23 million members, according to the brand. 

REI’s Co-Op Membership is a lifetime membership offered to customers. It costs just $30, which customers pay once, to get a multitude of benefits both monthly and annually. 

The REI Co-Op Membership, which lasts a lifetime, provides benefits such as a rewards program, exclusive discounts, early product access and more. Below I highlight all of the benefits of an REI Co-Op Membership:

• Rewards program: Members get up to 10% back on eligible full-price purchases annually. You can see rewards you earned in your account in March the next year, and the company notifies you via email or mail. You can redeem your rewards either in-store, online or via the REI Co-Op app. 
• 100% Satisfaction guarantee: REI members benefit from a 100% satisfaction guarantee policy regarding product return windows. This means the company allows customers to purchase and try out eligible products for up to one year (from the purchase date) before deciding whether or not to return them and get a refund or replacement. While members get up to one year, non-members only get a window of 90 days after the purchase date. The company does have a few exceptions to this policy, such as purchases on cameras and GPS-enabled devices, which still have to be returned within 90 days, regardless of membership status. 
• Free shipping: The REI membership offers free US Standard shipping on all orders, with no minimum purchase amount, while non-members only get free shipping on orders of at least $60 pre-tax. This benefit has some exclusions, including oversized packages and return shipments. The free US Standard shipping is also only available via REI.com and REI Outlet purchases. 
• Exclusive discounts: Members get exclusive, member-only deals and coupons on products at REI throughout the year, according to the brand. This includes a $30 Member Bonus Card, which you get after making a purchase of at least $50 at REI and purchasing a membership in the same transaction. You’ll then get a $30 bonus card via email, which you must use within 30 days. In addition to deals throughout the year, members also get discounts of up to 20% off on eligible cycling and winter shop services.
• Buy and trade-in: As an REI member, you can access Re/Supply, REI’s buy and trade-in programs. With Re/Supply, members can shop or trade-in eligible used gear and receive an REI gift card in return. Members can trade in the items in-person at an REI store or ship it to one — the brand also provides the label to make the trade-in even more streamlined.
• Discounted rentals: Additionally, members get discounts of 33% on rental gear, such as items for camping, paddling, cycling and other outdoor activities. You can use the REI site to find a participating rental store close to you. Members also get a free tube after purchasing a flat tire repair service from the brand’s cycling shop.
• Access to member-only events: REI’s membership includes access to members-only local and virtual events, hosted by other REI members, including REI guides, who are professional outdoor experts that offer classes and day trips for people who are interested in being more active outdoors. Examples of classes include a “Running Basics: Trail and Road Presentation,” a “Flat Tire Repair Workshop,” and “Basics of Backpacking the Appalachian Trail.”
• Charitable donations: The membership also helps the company donate to various charitable causes, such as The REI Co-operative Action Fund, which invests in non-profit organizations. Members also contribute to The Co-operative Action Network, a program that advocates for environmental protection policies and climate action, and provides funding to state parks, according to REI. 
• Credit card program: REI also has an REI Co-Op Mastercard program, which allows members to apply for a REI credit card to get benefits such as 5% in rewards on eligible REI purchases, 1.5% in rewards on purchases outside of REI and the chance to redeem rewards while earning them. The credit card doesn’t have annual or foreign transaction fees, according to the brand. After being approved, you get a $100 REI gift card by purchasing outside of REI within 60 days of opening the account, according to the brand.  
• REI Co-Op board elections: REI’s membership program also allows you to vote for candidates in the company’s board elections.

Whether you’re experienced in outdoor activities like camping, trail running, paddling and backpacking, or you’re interested in becoming more active outdoors, you should consider the membership program. As someone who regularly covers sale events and deals at REI, I often feature the retailer’s most popular and highly rated products, which fall into categories we cover at NBC Select, such as running and wellness. If you purchase items such as outdoor apparel, running shoes, sleeping bags, reusable water bottles, and smartwatches frequently, then you’ll get plenty of use out of an REI membership. Additionally, if you’re passionate about supporting environmental preservation policies, an REI membership lets you contribute to that mission, too.

I’m a commerce editor at NBC Select, where I regularly cover deals and sales events at retailers such as REI. I also write product review and roundups on home appliances and everyday items.