'Good Europeans don't die; they go shopping in the US'

I'm expecting to fit a trip in this year, or at least unleash her ladship with my credit cards (share my pain) on an unsuspecting New York.
When is the best time to shop for outdoor gear there? I think hunting is a winter sport there so are the January sales actually a bad time?
Simon

New York is probably too miserable for hunting in winter. Most likely lots of their hunting is November or April.
http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/hunting.html

Personally, I hate winters in that region. Sept. is late enough to avoid most of the tourist crowds. Probably catch some end-of-summer sales, maybe some "new" winter gear.

I don't hunt, but thought it was a mass sport there (hardly anyone does in england). so wondered if that affected sales of outdoor gear generally. just don't want her ladyship coming back with tents, waterproofs,sleeping bags etc in january and telling me it would be half the price a few months later.
simon

Really depends on the area as to when sales happen. Most of the major retailers (BassPro Shops, Cabelas, REI, Campmor) have continous sales on various items. In Oklahoma for example, BassPro always has a huge sale around the start of Summer on coolers, family tents..that kind of stuff. I have generally adapted the principle that if it's quality and the product I want...I just get it. Yeah, there can be buyers remorse if three days later you see it goes on sale, but if she's back from the trip...you wouldn't be able to take advantage of it anyway.

Good luck.

Thanks.
Sounds like it's different to here, no one would have a sale on summer camping stuff at the start of summer. I'll take my luck then; Like you; I'm used to the signs in the windows 'reduced following simons's purchase'.
simon

ROTFL!

Is she just stuck in New York City. There's got to be an EMS (Eastern Mountain Sports) store somewhere for her to hit. Of course, if there is your wallet will really be the one hit...

-Blast

Oh man... As a New Yorker I can point you into right directions but very few "natives" shops for stuff in the stores. We go and look but when it comes to gear we order it on line to save 8.75% tax and prices are also cheaper. The best time for sale on gear is february/march as in when a lot of companies start introducing their spring gear.

What kind of stuff you are looking for? I may be able to comply a list of stores or point you into right direction.

Let's see, if you're coming later this year, there are the fall/back to school sales, the Thanksgiving sales and the pre and post Christmas sales among others.

As mentioned in other posts, prices are steep and selection is not that great. However, since the following are also close to or in city sights/attractions, they are worth a visit.

City Hall/World Trade Site area, Tent and Trails a small cramped multilevel store crammed with outdoor stuff on Park Place. (if shopping is the game also hit J&R for electronics and Century 21 for clothes) Hungry? Go to nearby Chinatown or Little Italy instead of the typical fast food joints.

Traveling uptown to SOHO you'll find an EMS outpost on Broadway just South Of Houston (where else?!) Also boutiques, galleries and the like.

Keep going uptown through Greenwich Village and just north of Union Square you will come across Paragon Sports probably the biggest and most well known of the in city stores.

Got a car? A half hour out of the city is Campmor.

They all have websites for more info.

Have Fun!

Thanks that's very helpful of you.
New York is one of the places we'll visit. We'll probably stay with friends in New Jersey. So the time of year to go and names of chains of stores would be the most useful. Or is it best to simply shop on the net?
I need just about everything for backpacking and camping. Been putting off upgrading my gear for too long. Tents, sleeping bags, mats, boots, clothing, stoves....In fact I've barely bought anything in a decade so need a winter coat, summer coat, suits, shirts......Just think of me as being born full grown today! And (guess what) I'm pessimistic enough to want some survival gear in there in case I get lost.
So the best times of year and chains are?
simple simon

I'd concur with Urbanite, you're not going to find much in NYC for outdoors gear like what we have out west in the Mountain states. Upstate New York gets better, and Pennsylvania has a lot more to offer. Forget about New Jersey. They don't even have a Gander Mountain in that state, anywhere. I've given up on trying to find a decent sporting goods outfit within 100 miles of my home. The best I can do is a "Dicks Sporting Goods", which is pretty poor from my point of view. Basically it is a glorified clothing store for runner, bicyclists, and water sportsmen. They have token fishing and hunting supplies, but their prices and policies pretty much discourage you from making such purchases.

More and more, I am compelled to order stuff from the internet. It is usually cheaper, more convenient, and I can find what I want. The sooner I can get out of northeast area, the better. There's no room for a Burt Gummer type like myself. Imagine, Burt Gummer meets the Sopranos. You should hear us talk up at the barber shop. A big Irish Texan talking politics and business with a bunch of wiseguys. They are right, I don't belong in their world anymore than they in mine. Unfortunately, work is work. I do like the pizza.

Sounds like she should head for the fair city of Philadelphia. Handy for New Jersey and New York. It never occurred to me there might not be anywhere near to where she was going. (But then there are 60 million of us here in britain crowded into a country you could fit in a corner of texas. We can't be too far from anywhere)
Thanks everyone; between that lot of advice I'm sure she'll manage to financially cripple me! :-)
simon

Eastern Mountain Sports & the Campmor retail store are both a short drive away from NYC in Paramus, NJ.

There is also:

Paragon Sports located on 18st and Broadway which carries probably the best selection of outdoor gear I've seen (besides REI) but their prices reflect that. They also have large selction of surefire, knives and other equipment. (http://www.paragonsports.com/Paragon/Shop)

EMS on Broadway and Houston is also good but they mostly carry their brand gear with some sprinkle of North Face.

Swiss Army Store is located on Spring St adn West Bway has all the knives and watches plus their line of clothes.

Patagonia store is also few blocks away from there.

Iceberg Army and Navy shop is located at Canal and Broadway and has some surplus stuff and also nice selction of cutting gear, zippos and surefire. This is also Chinatown area so enjoy the culture shock. Little pricey but nice to visit.

Tents and Trails is located at Park Place and West Bway has great selction of gear at really good prices. They always run sales on stuff. (http://www.tenttrails.com/) I bought a lot of my climbing/hiking gear here really cheap in comparison to other stores.

When I need to check out what's new in the world of gear I start off with Paragon Sports and make my way down to Tents and Trails. All you have to do is walk down Broadway. By the end of the walk I'm at the South Street Sea port where they have J and R music world (www.jr.com) with probably the best and cheap electronic gear in nyc plus some other stores and few decent food places. This is also home of the Twin Towers if you want to pay respects. There is also very famous exhibit called Bodies (http://www.bodiestheexhibition.com/) and possbility of visiting financial district (wall st) and taking some cruises around nyc harbor and statue of libery. You are also two steps away from Brooklyn Bridge if ya want to walk about it.

What!? You're staying in New Jersey and asking about shopping in New York?? Where do you think New Yorkers shop?

Kidding aside, in my old age I don't remember specific dates for sales, depending on post cards, circulars and e-mail from stores letting me know of sales. Typically they coincide with major holidays and end of seasons. For instance many of the major outdoor retailers like REI and Cabelas are having their 4th of July/Summer Clearance sales right now. Friends willing, you can save on overseas shipping by delivering to your friend's house and then lugging the stuff home yourself.

In northern New Jersey, Campmor on Route 17 in Paramus, NJ is your best bet for your outdoor needs.

For your other shopping pleasure Garden State Plaza Mall is also in Paramus. 350 stores anchored by 5 major department stores. About 30 miles north, in Central Valley, NY is the Woodbury Commons Outlet Mall. If high end/designer shopping is your game, this place is for you. Sak's Fifth Ave, Neiman Marcus, Barney's, Calvin Klien, Donna Karan, Armani, Gucci, Movado, Burberry (oh wait you don't need that one ) and others all have outlets there. Everything at a discount.

If you decide on Philidelphia, hit the Franklin Mills Outlet Mall. The Sak's Fifth Ave Outlet and the Neiman Marcus Outlet are bigger here, but there are fewer of the other high end designers. About a half hour away is another mega mall the King of Prussia Mall In King of Prussia, PA. Over 400 stores anchored by no less than 7 major department stores.

All the above, have websites for more information.

Don't forget poor New York tho it's still a great place to visit and for shopping. Several major department stores like Macy's, Bloomingdales and Lord and Taylor have their flagship stores here, Not to mention specialty retailers like Barneys, Bendels and Bergdorf Goodman. There's always Madison Ave, Fifth Ave and other shopping meccas.

Have fun.

Thanks very much for that. Good idea to give the sights with the gear locations.
Will certainly want to pay my respects at Ground Zero. There was tremendous sympathy here in England. There still is. We had 2 minutes silence the week after and people had US flags (the papers printed pages with them) in their windows.
The Iraq war is a seperate issue. Lets not go there.
No one here doesn't mourn your loss on 9/11.
So in NYC is there a best time of year for outdoor gear?
Simon

Well sale seasons correspond to big holidays such as Labor day, Memorial Day, 4th July, Thanksgiving, Xmas and few others I cant remember. Thanksgiving happens on fourth thursday of november. Friday after thanksgiving is called "black friday" and officially kicks off xmas shopping season. Stores open at 6 am and you can get really good deals on stuff. The sales will last on and off until xmas. After new years you will also see reduction in prices since everyone slows down in their shopping sprees... Next time you will see sales is around tax day which is April 21. For sure victoria secret will have a sale on feb 14 .

Now one word of advice. My parents are from Poland and I get a lot their friends trying to buy things (mostly electronics) when they visit. You can get good deals in NYC but remember you always pay tax which is $8.75 on every $100 you spend. Little much regardless how low the dollar is on the market now. A lot of times I tell them to do their homework and find the cheapest deal on the item on the web and then run it thru me. I order a lot of stuff from amazon becasue of their free shipping and get items delivered to my house tax free. So if you bought a $500 camera it is an extra $40 saving in tax that you can spend on better fleece or jacket. And don't believe what other salesmen tell you that you can get your tax back at the airport. It is not true. When I worked retail in my young age we always told tourist that they can get their tax back at the airport so they wouldn't go other places or get their items shipped from mail order. I know that 8% is not as bad as VAT but every dollar counts.

Think you've covered just about everything there!
Thanks, I'll compare your recommendations for outdoor gear.
And I feel it's my duty as a husband to check out the Victoria Secrets models for her ladyship....
Simon