Backcountry Essentials
Address:
214 W. Holly St
Bellingham, Washington 98225
Store Hours:
- Monday – Saturday: 10 am – 7 pm
- Sunday: 11 am – 5 pm
Website: backcountryessentials.net
Email: info@backcountryessentials.net
Phone: (360) 543-5678
Since 2006, Backcountry Essentials has been Washington’s premier ski shop, specializing in custom ski boot fitting and precise ski techery.
Backcountry Essentials is consistently voted the ‘Best of Bellingham’ Ski Shop by the community. The shop, started by owners Chris and Erica Gerston, takes serious pride in their craft as specialty retailers. Backcountry Essentials offers expert bootfitting and great ski tuning. They know their product, support other local businesses, host seminars and workshops, and are committed to helping their customers enjoy the outdoors to the fullest. They also happen to have one of the best beer fridges of any outdoor shop in the Pacific Northwest.
If you’re planning a trip to the Pacific Northwest, the Backcountry Essentials’ staff is happy to recommend local hiking / biking trails, guide services, restaurants, parks, and breweries. Check out the Adventurer’s Guide on their website to see some of their favorite spots!
Brands
Backcountry Essentials carries gear for resort and backcountry skiing as well as camping, climbing, and watersports.
They carry top brands like Patagonia, Mammut, Osprey, Smith Optics, Dalbello, Blue Ice, Flylow, KAVU, Black Diamond, Big Agnes, Marker, Outdoor Research, Blizzard-Tecnica, Lib Tech, Atomic, K2, and Line — as well as a number of other brands.
Whether you’re looking for casual wear or high-tech gear, BCE has something for everyone.
Services
Backcountry Essentials is the premier bootfitting shop in the Pacific Northwest. They have an expert team of bootfitters who are passionate about making sure your feet are happy and that your boots are able to perform as intended while out on the slopes. Book a bootfitting appointment HERE.
In addition to offering custom bootwork, BCE also offers precise ski and snowboard tuning to keep your gear in top shape all season long. From core shot repair to basic tunes to stone grinds to binding mounts, BCE’s skilled staff is there for you.
On top of that, they are also the only shop between Seattle and Whistler (and one of only a few shops in the PNW) that can install Quiver Killers. Learn more about their Shop Services.
Ski & Gear Demos
With almost all the skis they sell available to demo, it’s easy to try before you buy at Backcountry Essentials. In addition to alpine gear, they also offer backcountry demo packages with options for AT skis, boots, splitboards, and avy kits. And for the youngest generation, Backcountry Essentials offers seasonal rentals with their snowboard and ski packages.
If you’d like to channel your inner Blister Reviewer and try different skis everyday all-season long — there’s also a seasonal demo package for you.
And while we tend to put our focus on snow-related activities, Backcountry Essentials also rents camping gear (from comfy car camping to lightweight alpine gear), packrafts and accessories, crampons, ice axes, and crash pads. Bellingham is a gateway to a number of outdoor adventures and BCE is there to help you make the most of your days off. You can even make a gear reservation in advance!
Online Presence
Backcountry Essentials’ website features an online store where you can shop their inventory from anywhere. All products ship directly from Bellingham, WA, usually within 24 hours, with orders over $100 shipping for free (excluding skis and ski boots). If you live in the area or will be passing through, you can also pick up your online orders curbside or in-store.
Bottom Line
Backcountry Essentials is dedicated to helping customers get outside. Whether that means helping you pick out the most appropriate skis and gear or simply pointing you to the best trails in the area, you’ll find great customer service at this family-owned shop in Bellingham.
So if you’re in the Bellingham area, stop in and tell them Blister sent you. And if you can’t make it, head over to their website to shop their full line of gear and learn more about their favorite activities and spots around Bellingham, Washington.