Where to buy BC touring gears in the San Francisco Bay Area?

Hi all,

I have been doing some nordic skiing in midwest for a few years.
Recently I moved to the bay area and I want to try some off track
touring. The question is where I can demo and purchase the gears? Are
the stores all located around Lake Tahoo?

My purpose is exploring winter outdoors. I must be able to do "kick and
slide" on the flat section and have enough control in gentle slopes. A
brief search of this group suggests to me that something like "Atomic
Sierra" might be a good fit to my requirement.

Any recommendations on the gears and where to get them?

BTW, my boot size is 39 and it seems difficult to find this size.

Thanks.

Dong

Marmot Mountain Works in Berkeley is, by far, your best bet. (510)
849-0735. Ask for their Snow News catalog (at the printer right now.)

Captain Nordic wrote:
Marmot Mountain Works in Berkeley is, by far, your best bet. (510)
849-0735. Ask for their Snow News catalog (at the printer right now.)

I believe Marmot in Berkeley also rents gear for try-before-buy. If they
don't any longer, see below.

Also Wilderness Exchange on San Pablo (one block south of Gilman) in
Berkeley has a good supply of backcountry gear, and lots of
used/consignment gear for the low budget BCer. They also have an active
bulletin board for connecting up with like minded BCers if you need to
make connections. (The Berkeley REI is across the street for the high
budget BCer.)

It might be more convenient for a newcomer to the area to check out The
Backcountry shop in Truckee for both gear, rentals, and guidance on
where to go on a given day - highly recommended. Paco's in the Gateway
Center (where the Truckee Safeway is) specializes in Nordic during the
winter (and road biking during the summer.) Backcountry specializes in
Telemark/AT BC gear in the winter (and mountain biking in the summer.)
Everybody is a specialist these days.
The Backcountry http://www.thebackcountry.net/
Paco's http://www.pacosbikeandski.com/

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In article ,
lal_truckee wrote:
Captain Nordic wrote:
Marmot Mountain Works in Berkeley is, by far, your best bet. (510)
849-0735. Ask for their Snow News catalog (at the printer right now.)

I believe Marmot in Berkeley also rents gear for try-before-buy. If they
don't any longer, see below.


_ For what the OP is looking for the REI in Berkeley has a
slightly better selection than Marmot. Marmot is most focused
on heavier telemark and AT gear with a "one of each kind" in
lighter end. However, don't go to REI unless you already know
what you want and approximately what size to get. REI is very
hit or miss in getting gear selection advice and help.
REI does some winter gear rental as well. Marmot does rent
lot's of stuff, but it's mostly in the plastic tele boot
and AT gear range.

_ While you can get some extremely good deals on stuff that's
hard to find at Wilderness Exchange, you need to be aware that
it is a closeout shop. Many of the skis in there are seconds
or rejects. Take a long close look at anything you buy and if
there are two or three compare them all.

_ Booker C. Bense

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Thanks for all the replies. I guess I should go to Berkeley at least.
I was at the Saragota REI and did not see much choices at all
(especially on boots).

Thanks.

Dong

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In article .com,
Dong wrote:
Thanks for all the replies. I guess I should go to Berkeley at least.
I was at the Saragota REI and did not see much choices at all
(especially on boots).


_ The different REI's vary widely on what they carry in the
store. For instance the Redwood REI has no XC gear or telemark
gear at all, while the Berkeley one has a reasonable selection
of both, although they have cut back quite a bit in the last
few years on telemark gear.

_ Booker C. Bense



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