MEC Ottawa

Great return policy… wish the staff was a bit more consistent and knowledgable. Expertise with equipment is hit or miss. But a real store for outdoors with good quality.

I used to never go into MEC because I thought it was just camping, hiking and mountain climbing gear. And I’ll be the first to admit that I am not the outdoorsy adventure type. How can I go camping? Where the heck would I plug in my flat iron? Haha.
That being said, one of my friends was wearing a really cute jersey dress one day and I asked her where she got it. She said MEC. I was shocked. «Don’t they just sell camping kind of clothes?» I asked. That was when I learned that they sell regular clothes too. Well, I would describe the «regular clothes» there as «active lifestyle» clothes. So on the expensive side, and comfort and function first. However, they carry Toad and Co., Prana and Nau, which are brands I love for comfy causal dresses and skirts (which are great for travelling).
Other reviewers here have already waxed eloquent about their camping, hiking, etc. gear. So I’ll just add that they have clothes for people who are not their target demographic as well. Sure, I feel out of place there — no one else ever seems to be wearing high heels or makeup, but that’s OK with me. Another reviewer mentioned that she didn’t get good customer service there. No one ever asks me if I need help when I’m there, but again that’s fine with me. I prefer to shop without salespeople bothering me anyway. If I go up to them and ask for a size or something, they will help me and are pretty pleasant about it. So I’m good with that.
All their stuff is generally very expensive but they do have sales and a clearance section, which is almost exclusively where I shop when I’m there.

I have visited twice in the past week to get myself all set up for the camping season. My first stop was the backpack section where one of the staff helped me SO much, he wasn’t trying to push the most expensive or elaborate bag, but one that fit right. I actually ended up walking out of there with an amazing deal on a MEC brand bag that he found in the back, discounted because it was last year’s model. He actually found a second one that was the right size for my friend so he got that bag too.
We picked up a few other items — dry sack, bug repellent, cookware, everything we wanted was in stock and priced better in store than you would find on Amazon or the like which was surprising.
We went back because my friend’s bag was missing some of the extra straps that mine had, no questions asked they grabbed some off of the rack and provided them free of charge.
Although there are a few stores we can go to for similar camping goods, I found MEC was the most helpful and fairly priced.

Français, vous connaissez Décathlon bien sûr. Et bien MEC (Mountain Equipment Co-​op), c’est un peu la même chose mais en mieux. Y a pas à dire les Canadiens, ils savent y faire en sport de plein air et en équipements.
Il s’agit d’une coopérative, il faut donc avoir une carte de membre pour acheter dans ce magasin. Celle-​ci coûte 5 $ pour une inscription à vie. (ou alors emprunter la carte d’un de vos collègues si vous avez besoin de vous y rendre seulement une à deux fois durant votre séjour).
C’est dans ce magasin que je me suis équipée pour mon road-​trip à travers le Québec. Il y a de tout et pour toutes les bourses. J’ai passé des après-​midis entiers dans ce magasins à chercher tout ce dont nous avions besoin.
Je recommande à 100% cette enseigne pour s’équiper. Beaucoup d’articles sont très bien pensés, optimisés en terme de rangement et de poids. C’est donc ici que j’ai trouvé un set pour cuisiner qui tient dans une micro-​trousse — chose qui n’existe pas en France, je l’utilise toujours quand je pars sur le GR10. Ou alors mon oreiller de camping garnis de duvet de canard — incomparable par rapport à ceux que l’on gonfle.
L’accueil est conviviale. On m’a toujours renseigné et conseillé quand j’en ai eu besoin. Le seul inconvénient est que ce magasin se situe loin du centre ville dans la banlieue d’Ottawa Ouest.
Bref, c’est le paradis pour les fans de sports d’extérieur. Rentrée en France, j’en viens à regretter que cette marque n’existe pas ici.

Terrible!
Tried to buy a wedding gift. Started with their toll free line trying to avoid the obvious cash grab of a $ 5 member fee which I have no use for because it is a gift at a store I never shop at. The woman on the line couldn’t get my address right and told me the $ 5 was necessary regardless. went to the website which wouldn’t accept my credit or debit credit cards which are both valid. called my local store only to be be told they would not transfer the item unless it is prepaid on their website which would not allow me to enter my info! Lost sale and will never shop there again!

Great place. However, you need to be a member, $ 5fee. We don’t live in the area but needed stuff that the outdoor shop across the street didn’t carry, so we signed up. Saved us looking for another outdoor place that sold freeze dried food. Mountain house is a favorite of ours.

This store is fantastic for outdoor gear, but also for oh so much more! As mentioned, you have to pay a $ 5 lifetime membership (what a bargain right?!), but I kind of like the membership component, since they run as a coop model store.
A bit of a bummer? You have to pay for parking (even though there is no paid parking in Westboro), but I’m assuming it’s because of the co-​op model that they follow. They also set aside parking for hybrids, car coops and they have to electric charging stations (cool!).
I love that MEC holds all kinds of workshops and events and is really active in the Ottawa community. They recently held MEC Bikefest, they run a Trail Run club, bike riding club and more. They offer a meeting space in their massive (and pretty!) store and will give tours upon request.
Anything I’ve ever purchased from MEC has been awesome quality. They have great shoes for kids as well! Awesome camping materials, cool clothing and way more. Check it out if you love the outdoors!

My spouse and I have visited this store on multiple occasions for our outdoor equipment needs. It offers a nice variety of products at reasonable prices. The MEC labelled products are of very good value. The staff is friendly and usually helpful; however some of them appear to be more knowledgeable than others. This store is one of the few good outdoor one in Ottawa that we always go to if we need some specific items or equipment.

Good selection of outdoor gear. Have met some super helpful staff and others that were terrible. The quality of customer service has never been consistent here. There are better stores on richmond road to purchase outdoor supplies.

Got into biking at the wrong time a year but my motivation is high so why waste it. I needed some warmer winter clothes for biking and they help me get a nice wardrobe for the seasons. Happy and excited to flash my new attire

This is a review for MEC’s bike services, not the store itself.
I’m a fan of MEC. I pretty much buy most of my sport clothing here. I even buy most of my bike stuff here as well.
For the past probably 10 years, I’ve been taking my bike to Bertrand’s in Hull for my tune ups. They do good work, but they are pricey and while not that far away, a closer place is always more convenient. As such, I’ve been willing to try other places. The last time I did this was with Bushtukah. While this is another store I like to shop at, there bike service really let me know as they made soo many mistakes I refused to go back.
This year I thought I’d try MEC as their price for an overhaul is $ 140 (vs. $ 165 at Bertrands). Well, I guess you get what you pay for as MEC too seems a bit out of their league for bike repair.
I think these guys mean well as they are polite and you get the sense they want to help you but they just are not on the ball. In bringing my bike in for a tune-​up, they did not preform everything that was listed on the invoice. In addition, the invoice stated that my chain should be replaced but they never advised me of this until I went in to pick it up. So, essentially, I wasted my time going to pick up a bike that wasn’t ready even though I was told it was.
I think their skill level is oriented more towards the casual cyclist even though their prices and what they ‘state’ they offer for service covers the intermediate and advanced cyclists.
Maybe I’ve just been spoiled by the service I’ve gotten at Bertrand’s but so far, I haven’t found another place in Ottawa that has that level of expertise and confidence in what they are doing. Shame really. Biking is becoming a big business and it is really hard for cyclists to find a good bike shop.

Yeah, you have to buy a $ 5 membership your first time purchasing. No big deal; it lasts forever, so you’re all set even a decade later. The selection for outdoor enthusiasts is pretty decent and in some areas, it’s fairly competitive pricing (though I stay far away when it comes to my running gear — if I want to buy a $ 60 running shirt, I’ll find better brands elsewhere).
My real problem has been with the service the last few times. Maybe it’s just me? I don’t have that outdoorsy look about me? I’m too short? Don’t look like a buyer? There’s no denying other people were being served, but this last time, even after politely asking a salesguy if he could help me with backpacks when he was free… nothing. And in my whole 40 minutes in the store, no one asked me if I needed help (I clearly did! Even another customer tried to help!). So I left empty-​handed, even though I’d come in fully intending to buy.
I’ll still come back here (hey, I don’t want that $ 5 membership I bought in 2006 going to waste!), but I’ll come equipped with online research and not expect a lot of help from the busy staff.

From its insufferable «bag-​free» philosophy, to its unco-​operative prices, to the fact that they don’t refund parking, going to Mountain Equipment is an experience in being nickle and dimed, this after you wait and wait for service. Want to be bag-​free? Go to

Getting the MEC catalogue for outdoors lovers is sort of like getting the Wish Book for your kids or the Ikea catalogue for bachelors.
Ottawa’s MEC is quite large and filled with pretty much anything you need if you’re heading up to Gatineau Park, Algonquin or anywhere where you need to be prepared for the elements.
I’ve been in the MEC in Calgary and dealt quite a bit with the MEC staff there who seem to know everything and anything about climbing and hiking so my expectations for these Ottawa folks was high. Although I’ve only shopped for a pair of boots I found the staff in the Ottawa MEC to be helpful and friendly.
I left the Westboro store with boots which have lasted me quite some time and I don’t regret shopping at this place.
The people of Westboro may frown upon «big box stores» but I think this store is a great fit. By the way, there are three other large competitors within a few blocks so if you want to compare — go right ahead.

We have been to MEC now for the three years we have lived in Ottawa many times. It is not much different than going to REI in the states. Tons of things to buy and sometimes great sales. the sales people are great and very helpful.

Pretty much the best outdoor store chain in Canada if not the world. MEC brand stuff is a great way to get something that is high quality, ethically sourced (or even made in Canada a lot of the time), and most importantly cheap. The employees are very knowledgeable, they don’t just work there, they live the lifestyle and practise what they preach. Sure you have to be a member ($ 5 for a lifetime membership) but it is well worth it just to have access to this fantastic chain in most majour Canadian cities and online.

Mountain Equipment CO-​OP (MEC) is a true cooperative.
A lifetime membership is a mere five dollars, but is a must on your first purchase. The floor staff at the location are extremely nice and very well informed. MEC gear is usually very good, is «inspired» by popular and tested designs from the major outdoor gear/​clothing companies, and in most cases is MUCH MUCH less than a comparable item.
ex: A stretchy softshell jacket from North Face is $ 400, MEC’s comparable item is $ 200.
Great selection across most outdoor pursuits, well informed *professional* staff who have no incentive to sell you stuff you don’t need *and* low-​to-​compeitive prices?
Why would you shop elsewhere?
^^Ok for outdoor clothes I can understand. But for camping/​hiking gear
like stoves and packs? NO WAY. MEC is the only way.

I’ve been a member of MEC for years and have shopped their Ottawa, Toronto, and Vancouver stores repeatedly. For me, outdoor equipment stores, including REI and Eastern Mountain Sports, don’t compare to this true Canadian original. While MEC does carry a lot of items that are available in the States, they have a wider selection of higher-​quality goods that make this store a must. I bought a winter parka here a few years ago that kept me toasty warm on a minus-​20 degree Fahrenheit day.
This store location has special meaning for me because my grandfather used to own a small business just a few doors down the way in the 1950s/​1960s. The area has changed a lot, but I’m glad MEC is here because it always gives me a reason to stop in the neighborhood when I’m in Ottawa. I love this place.

The name says it all, MEC sells sporting goods for the hikers, climbers and adventurers out there. The Ottawa location is a massive building in Westboro. It’s new, fancy and impressive. Walk in and you’ll be in awe of all the products they carry. Although a lot of people shop here, the store is directed toward those who really know what they are talking about. The only downside to MEC is you have to sign up for a membership in order to shop there. That isn’t a big deal really, but it is an extra step that isn’t needed at a store like Trailhead, a store that competes in the same genre. The staff are all incredibly informed and will answer any questions you might have, no matter how small, silly or out there. You pay a bit more at MEC sometimes, but it can be worth it. They have quality products just like the have quality staff. There isn’t much else to say, other than climbers and hikers should make this a stop next time they are in Westboro and see for themselves.