Adventure 16 Outdoor & Travel Outfitters

You will get helpful advice here from experienced, friendly outdoor enthusiasts/​employees. I really like the vibe in here (calm, relaxed, organized). It is a smaller store but has all the essentials and instantly feels comfortable when you walk in (instead of overwhelming like some of the larger outdoor stores). They know what to suggest and what works for your needs!
Check their website for broader stock. Ships fast from San Diego.

This is a really great little store, with everything you need to get outfitted to get outdoors. The staff is very friendly, knowledgeable and experienced. They also offer some really great FREE classes in the evenings. If you are looking to get into hiking, camping, backpacking, or even if you are highly experienced in these areas, this is the store for you.

5 Stars for the rentals.
The staff was nice on the phone, but hit or miss when I visited the store on two occasions. Prices are moderate to high, but typical of an outdoor store.
The Santa Monica store is very large and I love it. The Tarzana location is small and as a result has limited stock.

I LOVE this place!!! The service is unbelievable! Went in there not knowing a thing about camping to pick up gear for my daughters camping trip and had the honor of having Traci help and I can’t say enough nice things about her! She truly loves what she does and shows it! Thank you Traci! You Rock!

This store is the best! It’s just perfect for all of my adventuring questions and needs. Every time I come in here, I literally end up spending hours learning about gear and trying on clothes. The staff are always so friendly and helpful, answering my many many questions about camping, trips to the desert, backpacking, different weather conditions and climates, etc. They are always more than willing to help me find what suits my needs best, and I learn a lot in the process! I have purchased many things from here, including hiking pants, UPF shirts, base layers, warm socks, gloves. I always feel prepared on my adventures because of this place. They have a great selection and can order sizes if they don’t have them in store. I love that the staff are actually outdoorsy people themselves with a lot of experience. If you tell them where you’re going, I can guarantee someone will have some recommendations about things to do and places to explore!
I also really appreciate the honesty of the people who work here — it never feels like they’re trying to get you to buy things. Instead, they just want their customers to be happy with their purchases and get what they will truly need instead of ending up with a bunch of extra unnecessary things.
I also love all the rentals! I have rented sleeping bags and tents here and have always been very satisfied!
Needless to say, I will continue to come back to this store and I highly recommend it to everyone! Best store! Thank you for all of the many fun hours I’ve spent here!

Great store with a very helpful staff. Eric is especially good. I love that their team really gets out into the wild and are not just working in retail. They have a really good policy on shoes and boots with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. They want you to be satisfied with your boot selection. Eric told me that the side of a mountain is not the place to have a problem with your boots. I appreciate that.

If you’re new to the world of the outdoors and need some help, this is a good one-​stop shop for you. I personally have only camped twice in my life. I think it is safe to say that I’m a rookie. This was a problem when I found out that my close friend’s wedding is going to be a week long camping trip. I didn’t know where to begin.
I walked into the store and immediately went to the staff. The only thing I had to say was «Hi, I’m new to camping and have to prepare for a week long wedding trip. Where do I start?». I originally thought they were going to recommend the most expensive items and ask me to buy out the store, but that wasn’t the case. Instead, they took the time to explain what I needed, things I wouldn’t need, and things to consider. They even suggested other services like renting out the gears to save money. It helps, that the staff were knowledgable of all the gears and were easy to talk to. They even let me try out a few of the gears.
I ended up buying a few items and probably spent a lot less that what I expected. Overall, I’m glad I went to Adventure 16 cause I feel like I can actually enjoy my friends wedding since I will be prepared.
Reason for ⁵⁄₅
— Friendly and knowledgeable staff
— Wide variety of selection and choices

I’ve been preparing for a hiking trip and have been in this A16 at least 6 times in the last month. Yes, REI has more stuff but the difference is that of Home Depot and your local hardware store. (And I prefer the local hardware store)
They have nice, knowledgeable people who know your name when you walk through the door. Hunter, Eric and Tracy have all been really helpful and have been key in steering my business from Big Box to small/​friendly.
Are there prices competitive? I have no idea… I compare prices (or use Amazon) on a lot of things but A16 is easier on the brain. Seriously, I don’t want to decide between 75 to 100 different hiking socks… I want to look at 15 or 20 good choices and get on with it.

this Saturday morning went into store. i would never buy on line again if every store and its personnel were as nice, helpful, knowledgeable as Adventure 16. a real pleasure to shop there. so not used to being treated so nice i have to fight the urge just to go and hang out there.
highest recommendation.

I LOVE this place!
My boyfriend & I have been little adventurers for years & I have never been in here! How have I missed this gem all this time?!
We decided to drive up north & instead of the usual expensive hotel stay, we decided to invest in camping equipment. Awesome choice on our part!
Tracy helped me pick the dopest hiking boots & even tipped us on awesome hikes in Big Sur to enjoy. Nailed it!
A very nice man helped my boyfriend pick the best 2 person tent & warmest sleeping bag for me to survive winter camping in. They were patient & knowledgeable for all of our hesitations and inquiries.
They assured us to bring back or exchange anything we were not confident with because it was better to have the equipment we NEED & nothing we don’t. How considerate & awesome is that?!
I love an honest business & just that statement makes me feel so comfortable shopping here.
They’re even ordering the boots I bought in my size because I needed a bigger size and they no longer carried my size. I’m sure they’ll call in a few days for me to pick up.
Excellent customer care, great selection! Thanks guys for an awesome shopping experience! I’m sure we’ll be back soon!

Stopped here to pick up some water shoes right before kayaking the LA River. The staff person was great, helping us figure out which shoes were available in our sizes – and even checking to find ones that were on sale. We were in and out quickly, and were so happy with our shoes when we were wading in the river about an hour later. Will definitely return when we need more gear!

I wish there was a way to give 4.25 stars, because that’s what I really rate A-​16, (I take the .75 off for the parking, a tiny lot, which is fine/​just park on the street but there isn’t much available on the street as an alternative.)
Huge 5-​stars for Eric, who was very helpful. I’d done my research and I had a pretty good idea what I wanted when I went in. Eric didn’t try to sell me on anything I didn’t need, just got down to business and showed me what I was looking for, as well as a few other options.
I’ve been away from ultra marathon running for 3 years and it was great to be in a store like A-​16 and get to feel the gear again instead of just buying over the internet without testing it out.
The Leki trek poles which replace my old Leki’s were exactly what I expected to get and are perfect for my needs, (collapsible, something I can toss in the hydration pack I run with on longer trail ultras, they’re there if I need them, but not too much additional weight if I never take them out/​if the terrain doesn’t warrant it.)
On the headlamp side for night running I’d done a little research before I went in the store, but I was also a little clueless. It was great to get the input from the employees as to what they’ve used, liked, and not liked, in their own outdoor pursuits. I didn’t feel like they were trying to sell me the priciest stuff, they ‘got it’ that I’m primarily a runner and that weight, reliability, and durability were the important considerations for me. I ended up with a great headlamp that was reasonably priced and has served me well on night runs so far. I feel solid about its reliability out on my own on single track in the middle of nowhere-​so awesome! :)
I really like A-​16 Tarzana. The staff is über knowledgable, and it was great to walk into a store and get exactly what I needed quickly, and without high-​pressure sales.

Friendly and knowledgeable staff. A great selection of times, but a bit on the pricier side. They are definitely more expensive than say Sports Authority, but they definitely have a greater variety of items.
I would definitely recommend stopping in here if you are looking for hiking/​camping essentials especially since there are no other outdoor type of stores in the area.
Small parking lot that holds about 8 cars in the rear.
Don’t hesitate to ask the employees any questions because they really know their stuff and can most likely help you find what you are looking for.

Pros: EXPERT staff extremely knowledgeable in the outdoor and the gear required for make your life comfortable in the wilderness. I always leave this place informed and equipped with the gear I need for my next outing even if my wallet is considerably lighter. I guess when you’re the Nordstrom of outdoor gear, you can’t have premium quality products and top-​notch service without charging a price for it and for that I can’t blame them. Besides, they have a 100% satisfaction guarantee on all their products. Love shopping here and browsing through all the latest gadgets and gear even if they have a limited selection, you know it’s all the best of the best.
I scored A16 a ⁴⁄₅ only because of the prices and the miniature parking lot. They deserve a 4.5 for sure.

Helpful friendly staff. Not very well stocked and out of many sizes.

I was referred here by a friend and it was the best experience yet in L.A. I have been here two years and I do not go to corporate shops unless I am obligated. The independently owned stores resonate with me more.
They have a sign you can’t miss, a great location on the corner, parking in the back, and everyone is friendly and honest. Even the employees helping other customers chimed in with advice.
The employees are experienced climbers and knowledgeable about the outdoors. They aren’t high school kids trained for their department/​that random employee put into a department they don’t know anything about.
I wasn’t rushed, or sold into anything more expensive. Even the customers were in a good mood, and kind. They have such an array of outdoor gear at fair prices.
I will be returning. The only other mainstream place I have really gone to is Sports Chalet. But this place has been put at the top of my list.

A16 is one of those stores that you just cant refuse to go to. I been in and out of here a bunch of times and never had any issues. no issues today but was kinda thrown off with the way one employee handled himself to have another save the day. I went to buy a hand full of bandanas today. when i noticed the price on 2 of them were cheaper than the other 3 I was buying. I asked were they all priced correctly. I figured some were on sale. come to find out someone didnt finish re pricing them and the ones that were cheaper were actually not the right price. so I figured what the heck its only a few buck difference over the whole sale but why not ask if they will honor the price on the tag. the employee told me he will not able to honor that. at first I thought he was kidding but he really was dead serious. so I asked how can you have one price on the item and expect me to pay more for it. his answer was there is nothing he could do about it. then I guess his manager walked up and right away honored the lower price. and saved the day. no complaints about a16 just make sure you are getting charged whats on the label.

I love A16 Tarzana! Very Mom & Pop feel compared to REI or Big 5. The staff is always knowledgeable, helpful and friendly. They sell good quality gear that works as advertised. The staff goes out of their way to get you the right item to fit your needs. They carry quality brands like North Face, Patagonia, ExOfficio, Icebreaker Merino, Smartwool, Mountainsmith, Teva, Keen, Eagle Creek & much more. The Tarzana store is small, the one on Pico feels more like REI size. But the Tarzana store will get any item in stock from their larger stores and have it waiting for you in a matter of days. Everyone who works there is really nice. Lots of local sporting/​camping enthusiasts. They’re dog friendly and love when I bring my pup in and will ask about her if I’ve left her at home. When I say I LOVE the gear I’ve bought there I am not exaggerating. The best jacket I’ve ever owned in my life is an ExOfficio Storm Logic Jacket that I literally wear all year long from warm nights to frigid temps. The guy who sold it to me took the time to explain the difference between down and synthetic Primaloft and how he had both kinds and what type of weather and activities worked best for each. I’ve had that jacket 2 years and I love it as much today as the day I bought it. When you buy gear from people who actually use the same gear, it really helps in making informed purchasing decisions. They are THE place to go for hiking boot fitting. The only local place to get custom Superfeet (Pico store). Because of A16 I’ve learned about Injinji toe socks and I literally NEVER get blisters anymore when I hike or walk. Sure I still go to Sportsmart & Sports Chalet & Big 5 for some gear, but none of those places feel like a local hangout with a friendly & well versed staff. I cannot recommend A16 enough. So glad to have this store as part of the community. A great local valley business!

I love this A16. I actually like that it’s small because they have the basics for everything, and my mind doesn’t blow off by the crazy selections.
I had purchased a sleeping pad a few weeks ago, and returned it later with no problems when I didn’t use it.
Today, I came in looking for a camping stove, but walked out with new hiking shoes, a cute top, a bandanna (the Buff) and a pair of socks instead. Fortunately everything I bought was on sale. Yay!
I like REI because they’re huge, but I prefer A16 for shoes and gear because their staff is way more knowledgeable and helpful in helping you find the appropriate gear. A16’s staff also seem to be regular outdoor people so they actually know what they’re talking about.

Small, especially when compared to the REI store in Santa Monica, but the selection of hiking gear was surprisingly good for the size. The employees were friendly and helpful, especially Carlos. If you are in the area or thinking about going to the REI in Northridge it’s worth a stop by.
(Note: I did not think the staff in the West LA location were friendly nor helpful)