REI Coupon Codes – Free Shipping, 15% Off, Rebates

The corpse of a man was discovered frozen and preserved in the Otztal Alps glacier at an elevation of 10,000 feet in 1991. Christened Otzi by its discoverers, it was subsequently dated to be over 5,000 years old. Otzi was then declared to be the first man identified as a mountain climber.

Although the Roman Emperor Hadrian, King Peter III of Aragon, the Italian poet Petrarch, and Leonardo da Vinci never knew about Otzi, they, too, climbed mountains.

In fact, Hadrian’s climb on Mount Etna in 121 CE is the first recorded ascent of that era, and it was not done for any practical purpose. Instead, the emperor only wanted to see what the sunrise looked like at the summit, something plenty of mountaineers do today.

In the 1930s, a group of men in the northwest Pacific corner of the United States wanted to follow in the footsteps of Otzi, Hadrian, Peter III, Petrarch, and Leonardo. At that time, there were very few stores and shops that sold mountaineering gear and equipment. Finding a good ice axe locally was a problem. And a young mountaineer named Lloyd Anderson was only able to find one in an Austrian alpine gear catalog – an Academ Pickel Ice Axe.

Owing to this problem, Anderson and his wife Mary, also a mountaineer, decided to establish a cooperative to help local mountaineers find and purchase climbing gear of excellent quality at affordable prices. Along with 21 of their climbing buddies, the couple set up the Recreational Equipment Incorporated, or REI, in 1938.

REI initially focused on equipment for hard-core backpackers, climbers, and mountaineers. In the 1960s, the cooperative hired Jim Whittaker, the first American to reach the summit of Mt. Everest, as its Chief Executive Officer and first full-time employee.

Click Here for REI Coupon Codes – Free Shipping, 15% Off, Rebates

In the 1980s, changes to the Board of Directors led to a shift in the focus of REI. While continuing to supply the needs of serious climbers and mountaineers, the company began carrying products for family camping, thus expanding their market base. REI also diversified into bicycling, kayaking, and other outdoor sports as well as into sports clothing and apparel. Further, it began offering tour packages as well as classes and tutorials on various outdoor adventure sports.

Throughout the years, REI has been actively leading projects geared towards the maintenance and conservation of our natural resources. It continues to be involved in spearheading and funding cleanup programs, trail building, and animal habitat conservation. In 2006, REI engaged 170,000 people for these projects and donated over $4 million in funding. In the following year, $3.7 million was released to various conservation groups across the United States.

As a cooperative, although it does not use that term in most of its literature, REI provides special privileges to its members. For a lifetime membership fee of only $20, members (click here to learn more about REI membership) can take advantage of REI dividends, the REI Visa® Card, REI coupon discount codes covering most of their products, including gear rental and shop services, and savings on adventure travel and REI Outdoor Classes.

Although the Andersons and the original 21 envisioned REI as a source of quality yet inexpensive climbing gear for its members, today it operates more like a full-service retailer. It runs a website where even non-members can order items for delivery. It also has many brick-and-mortar stores scattered across the country.

REI often offers outright discounts to its clients as part of its marketing and promotional strategies.

Here are some high value REI coupon codes to help you get your gear at a discounted price:

Click Here to get free shipping if you spend $75 or more. (Note: REI membership required; membership entitles you to further discounts).

Click Here to get a coupon for 15% off selected items when you sign up for REI Gearmail.

This pages gives all sorts of selected REI coupon codes. Click Here to learn more.

You can find REI clearance items at discounted prices by Clicking Here.