We still shop at MEC for the odd item but they've become a hipster shop for the Lululemon crowd. There's a bigger choice of stylish stuff there but much of it is less functional than it was. I found better tear-away hiking pants at Mark's work wearhouse, for much less money.

Nowadays, our first-stop outdoor store is Sports Junkies on broadway right near MEC in Vancouver. Just picked up a barely used pair of Merrell Moab trail runners for $40, which were selling in new condition at MEC for $120.00