Take A Hike Mountain Outfitters

I’m not sure if this place has changed in the last year or so but as far as an outdoor store goes it is pretty much a joke. Their «map selection» is so poor that I was advised by the employee helping me there to go elsewhere because as he put it «we don’t really carry anything relevant to this area.» They do not have even the most basic local guidebooks in stock and unless the only place you want to hike is on a christian college campus the staff seemed to have absolutely no knowledge of outdoor attractions in the area.
The long and the short of it is that unless you are a yuppie from out-​of-​town looking to spend far too much name-​brand «gear» you are better to drive the extra 25 minutes to Asheville.

Working only a few miles from Black Mountain all summer gave me a wonderful opportunity to experience this gem!
I had heard about this place from co-​workers as I pondered where I would be able to find a pair of Chacos at a good price with staff that have a good amount of knowledge in their lore. Take a Hike was just that. When I went to purchase Chacos, an associate was quick to assist me in selecting a pair that would fit me just right. After helping me with my size, he even assisted me in fitting the straps to my foot and instructing me on the best way to wear them and care for them. I left being very pleased with my purchase. In addition to great customer service, they had a wonderfully large selection of Chacos to choose from!
Last weekend, I made a trip back up to Black Mountain for a wedding. I had wanted to buy an Eno at the end of the summer, but when I had the chance to go, they were out of Doublenest Enos. Luckily, I was able to find half an hour to rush over to there and was ecstatic to see that they had a fresh batch of Enos in a wide array of colors! I knew what I wanted, so after choosing a color, I looked for straps. After seeing that Eno added a new Atlas strap to their repertoire, I struggled in choosing a set of straps for my Eno. However, Take a Hike proved just how wonderful their customer service was, and the owner came to help me decide which straps to get! Again, an easy and pleasant experience.
The overall atmosphere is very relaxed. The employees are very knowledgable in the equipment that they carry. Their equipment will satisfy most intermediate outdoorsmen, and quite possibly even a good number of experienced backpackers.
The extraordinary customer service that I had both times combined with a 20% discount that I had received while working at Ridgecrest this summer really made me a happy customer of Take a Hike. If I ever return to the area, I will for sure be back to purchase something else!

nice place, convenient location, average prices. They had about everything a beginning hiker /​camper could need, up to I’d say moderate mountain man…

Good, local hiking shop. They share a building with the bike shop next door. Their prices aren’t the cheapest, but the folks working there seem to know their stuff. Occasionally, you can find them running a sale. They’ve got a great selection of maps from the area (USGS quads, National Geographic maps printed on that waterproof paper) too! I try to visit each time I’m in the area!