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Best Outdoor Gear Stores In Metro Detroit

After one of the coldest winters on record, metro Detroiters are more ready than ever to get back outside and start enjoying Michigan for the real reason we all live here: the beautiful spring and summer weather. In order to best enjoy your time in the great Michigan outdoors, here is a list of some of the best area shops around the Motor City that will help you get ready for all of the fun promises of warm weather in the Mitten State.

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(Credit, Michael Ferro)

Bivouac
336 S. State St.
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
(734) 761-6207
www.bivouacannarbor.com

A staple in the outdoor-obsessed Ann Arbor area since 1970, this local shop has everything you need for each member of the family when it comes to gear. Founded by Ed Davidson, this company specializes in having only the most experienced staff on hand to help you when it comes to purchasing and selecting the outdoor equipment that best suits you and your family's needs. And with every type of outdoor activity covered, no matter what it is you're looking to do, you'll find someone who knows about it at Bivouac.

University of Michigan Outdoor Adventures Center
336 Hill St.
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
(734) 764-3967
www.recsports.umich.eduThe University of Michigan is proud to offer one of the best selections of rentals and sales for used and new outdoor equipment to anyone within the student body or to folks within the Ann Arbor area alike. The Outdoor Adventures Center regularly hosts swap meets and lightly-used equipment sales, as well as rentals for any number of sports or outdoor activities. There are a number of events listed on the website as sales and swap meets are always being updated and new information is made available on a regular basis. Please call or visit the website for more information.
Sun and Snow Sports
2471 W. Stadium Blvd.
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
(734) 663-9515
www.sunandsnow.comNot just for snowboarders anymore, this staple of the Ann Arbor area has been loved for years and has been the go-to place for anything involving snow or sun since 1971. With another new location in Plymouth, MI, folks from metro Detroit can now find more of the gear they are looking for at low prices with the "mom and pop" attention to detail that big box stores just can't offer. The staff at each location is happy to answer any questions you may have concerning any of the equipment you are interested in and specials are constantly being updated on the website.

Related: Ask A Detroit Guide: Packing List For Your Next Campout

Outdoor Action Company
2129 Orchard Lake Road
Sylvan Lake, MI 48320
(248) 454-1188Whether it's biking, skating, skiing or anything else related to Michigan outdoors activities, Outdoor Action Company has someone to help you find just the gear you need for your next big trip this spring or summer. The customer service at Outdoor Action Company is one of the most respected in the business and finding what you are looking for is never a problem with this specialized staff. Check the website for regular and seasonal specials.
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Back Alley Bikes
3611 Cass Ave.
Detroit, MI 48201
(313) 879-5630
www.thehubofdetroit.org

Back Alley Bikes, also known as The Hub of Detroit, is a non-profit that began back in the summer of 2000 by Detroit Summer, a "youth program/movement to re-spirit, redefine and re-imagine Detroit from the ground up." Since then, it has been one of the best biking shops within the city of Detroit, and the staff, including volunteers, is made up of some of the most knowledgeable sources on anything involving two wheels within the city. With a full service outdoor shop, including some of the best and most affordable bikes in Motown, Back Alley Bikes is sure to have whatever it is you're looking for, whether it is biking out in the woods or down the center of Woodward Avenue.

Related: Best Kayaking Around Detroit

Michael Ferro is freelance writer and a graduate of Michigan State University where he majored in Creative Writing and received the Jim Cash Creative Writing Award. Born and bred in Detroit, he currently resides in Ypsilanti Township. Additional writing can be found at Examiner.com.
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