Cabela's

Pros:  Easy to navigate, uncluttered, detailed product descriptions.

Cons:  Not quite as cool as going to one of the stores.

The Bottom Line:  If you need outdoor gear and can't make it to a Cabela's store, this is the next best thing. Customer service, selection, and quality here can't be beat.

Full review
When I was a boy growing up in Western Nebraska, I visited the original Cabela's store in Sidney (Nebraska, not Austrailia). It was a quaint little Mom & Pop store in an old brownstone two story building. The most memorable part of going to the store was seeing the impressive collection of taxidermy there. The Cabela family were avid hunters and had been hunting wild game all over the world. Their most impressive trophies had been mounted and displayed in their store. I'll never forget the first time I mounted the steps to the French-Style oak double doors, stepped inside and saw the huge stuffed polar bear standing on its hind legs, paws outstreached and mouth posed in a silent roar. It nearly frightened me to death! A lot has changed over the years from the one little store in Sidney to a much larger one there, then a second store in Kearney, then stores in Minnesota, Michigan, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and a new store coming to Kansas in 2002.

I have shopped in the stores in Sidney and Kearney and they are truly a sight to behold. They are worth visiting for the mounts, huge aquarium filled with real game fish, and statues even if you manage to resist the urge to buy anything. Every item I have purchased from them in the stores and by catalog have been top-rate and have lived up to expectations. I grew up on a cattle ranch and did a lot of deer, Canada goose, pheasant, and prairie chicken hunting with my dad, so I put my Cabela's clothes through quite a test in all kinds of conditions.

Last October, I moved to Oklahoma to take a new job which would involve spending a lot of time outdoors in areas where there are rattlesnakes. Not wanting to get bit, I began looking for snake gaiters to protect my legs. When I learned that Cabela's had gone online, I decided to try it out. I figured if anyone had snake gaiters they would as their selection of outdoor gear is second to none.

Shopping on their site couldn't be easier. I typed in the simple address www.cabelas.com then once at the home page, I selected clothing, then typed in snake gaiters in the search box. I was presented with color photos and descriptions of three brands of snake gaiters with a variety of price levels, materials they were made from, and lengths. The info described what each type of gaiter was like and how well it protected from snake bite. I chose the Cordura knee-length gaiters. I have worn them many times over the course of the summer and have been well pleased with them. Fortunately, I haven't been struck by a snake yet, so I can't say how well they protect from that, but they do keep mesquite thorns and other stickery things from scratching my legs.

All the features that have made Cabela's famous are there, the 100% satisfaction guarantee, the wide selection, the top quality products, even the Bargain Cave where you can get discontinued, returned, and discounted items just like at the stores. Using my credit card was easy and I got a confirmation number and tracking number for my order quickly. My gaiters arrived by UPS on time and were just as they were described on the site.

It's not quite the same as going to one of the stores, seeing the game mounts, statues, and hunting lodge style buildings, but it is a well put together site that is easy to navigate and read and has pages that load quickly. Of course, you can't try the clothes on or handle the equipment before you buy, but with the unconditional guarantee, you can always send it back if you don't like it no questions asked.

If you love to be outdoors for work, hunting, camping, etc. they have the gear you've been looking for so give their site a try. If you happen to be in one of the states I mentioned, check out their stores, they are quite an experience in themselves.