Another thread made me wonder what aspects of an outfitter make them "the best". Knowledge of the wilderness and park and fishing, quality of gear and canoes, location, lodging facilities, shuttle and tows, or just customer service? Maybe just your personal comfort because, like me, you've always gone to that one outfitter trip after trip.

Probably should try to not name outfitters.

Having worked for three different guide services and outfitters, and now living up here, I've gotten to know a lot of the different options on the Ely side and on the Gunflint side.

A lot of what makes an outfitter great is entirely subjective and what a person becomes used to. If it wasn't, there wouldn't be as many outfitters as there are.

Some of it comes down to their business model. Are they a lodge who also outfits? If that's their emphasis, they usually have really amazing accommodations and maybe only a few canoes to rent. Are they a camp that also outfits? Some may have older gear, others may be top notch. And of course there are the outfitters who may not always have accommodations options (depends where they are at) and their gear selection is often broader than the lodges. It doesn't make one better or worse, but they do have different focuses.

Also to note, a lot of outfitters, not all, but a lot are very regionally focused in their knowledge. They have to be. They know the routes in the area of their outfitter and may not know as much in other parts of the wilderness meaning that getting an outfitter close to your entry is important if you are looking for good information going into your trip.

Past that, if we are talking just about the outfitters, there is every range of options and it takes trying things out to really know what you're getting and how great of a fit a particular outfitter might be. The best way I can put it is the outfitters are as distinct as the entry points they service! There are outfitters out there that are just renting a small fleet of 50 year old aluminum canoes and 40 year old packs that have been patched a half-dozen times. Does that make them a bad outfitter? I don't think it immediately does if they still find ways to care for their customers and help them enjoy this incredible wilderness of ours. On the flip side. There are outfitters that offer four different makes of canoes, dozens of different package options, towboat and ride services, and accommodations. Does that make them a good outfitter? Not necessarily if it means they overlook details or get too focused on profit. To me, the best outfitters are the ones that really show how much they remember the reasons that they are doing this job in the first place. Outfitting is a tough job. The finances are fickle, each year is different. The people that are doing it are doing it because they love it, they love the people, or they love the place they live and the way of life that surrounds it. The outfitters that are able to keep looking past those challenges and really create a culture and a community of customers that will come back every year for that experience are the ones that, to me, "really get it."

And of course I have my favorites and the ones I have never liked quite as well, but that comes back to the subjectivity. Bad outfitters rarely last forever because it is about the community as much as the location. If someone didn't get the experience they wanted, there are other options. But a good outfitter that really cares and equips well can help set a group up for success in a way few other entities can.

When your outfitter hires a previous, experienced employee (that day!) to drive a boat out and assist with your rescue and gear retrieval on Saganaga, they are the best.

Bobberbumber3 hit the nail on the head…when they do something you weren’t expecting or wouldn’t expect them to do.

1) give ya some soda or beer on the tow pickup or entry point pickup
2) Radio the park on a really bad weather day to change your entry to one that was safer—even though that entry was full
3) You win a trip for 2 fully outfitted and you ask to add a third person and they just throw them with the trip no charges…even though you insist on paying.
4) They always come early for the pickup or tow
5) You arrive late and they stay or come back for you
6) You are renting just a few things and they show an interest in your trip and mark up your map or give advice
7) They give your kids a souvenir on their first trip which makes them light up and smile
8) They remember you and call you by name like an old friend

Those are just a few, obviously they still need to provide good service, but if they do the above things the service has always been excellent.

I wouldn’t expect any one of the things I listed and I wouldn’t be mad if an outfitter didn’t do them…but when they do the unexpected that makes them “the Best”…

Awesome thread. I’ve used 3 different outfitters. All 3 have been great but one has treated me like “family” and that just feels incredible. It’s gotten to the point where I miss them when I don’t see them. And even though they aren’t always the most convenient for the trip I’m planning on any given year, I will go out of my way to work with them. They’re the best!

I'm pretty easy to please...we've used a number of different outfitters over the years and would probably use any of them again. The main thing for us is that things go smoothly, they are easy to communicate with both leading up to the trip and day before/of, and they deliver what they agreed to.

That said, what irks me is when groups like us who typically just use an outfitter for a bunkhouse, canoe rental, and a couple odd items get treated as an afterthought because we're not the big spenders, or relying on them for a ton of stuff.

Multiple times we've had outfitters think they can pull one over on us by giving us subpar gear for some reason.

"Here are some paddles for you fellas!"
"Do you have any bent shaft paddles?"
"Sure do...do you want them?"
"They're better aren't they?"
"Yup!"
"Then we want them."

Same thing with tarps...they've tried to sneak the old blue Fleet Farm tarps into our packs before, that take up half the pack and are terrible to work with in the field.

"Uh, you got any of the SylNylon, CCS type lightweight tarps?"
"Sure do...would you like that instead?"
"Of course, dumbf...."

Anyway, just sort of ranting. I think all outfitters have some old stock of gear still hanging around and will try to pawn it off on people they don't think will know better, to save the nice stuff for people they think WILL know better.

Like "thegildedgopher" stated above... they treat you like family. They adapt to your needs and desires instead of you having to fit their business model. They ask questions and really listen to your answers. They assist in your route planning and mention neat things to see, awesome campsites, great fishing spots, what the fish are biting on and when, and obstacles to avoid along the way. They go over a checklist before they send you off to make sure that you have everything. They come down to the shore to greet you on your return as they see you coming across the lake. They recommend restaurants, points of interest, and other things to do in the area. If they don't have the equipment you need they work with other outfitters in the area and secure it for you. If they are booked they work with other outfitters to accommodate you. If they are booked/closed and their competitors have openings they post openings on their website or Facebook page to help their fellow outfitters out. They work with others outfitters as a team and they support each other to provide paddlers the best experience possible.

treehorn: "I'm pretty easy to please...we've used a number of different outfitters over the years and would probably use any of them again. The main thing for us is that things go smoothly, they are easy to communicate with both leading up to the trip and day before/of, and they deliver what they agreed to.


That said, what irks me is when groups like us who typically just use an outfitter for a bunkhouse, canoe rental, and a couple odd items get treated as an afterthought because we're not the big spenders, or relying on them for a ton of stuff.


Multiple times we've had outfitters think they can pull one over on us by giving us subpar gear for some reason.


"Here are some paddles for you fellas!"
"Do you have any bent shaft paddles?"
"Sure do...do you want them?"
"They're better aren't they?"
"Yup!"
"Then we want them."


Same thing with tarps...they've tried to sneak the old blue Fleet Farm tarps into our packs before, that take up half the pack and are terrible to work with in the field.


"Uh, you got any of the SylNylon, CCS type lightweight tarps?"
"Sure do...would you like that instead?"
"Of course, dumbf...."


Anyway, just sort of ranting. I think all outfitters have some old stock of gear still hanging around and will try to pawn it off on people they don't think will know better, to save the nice stuff for people they think WILL know better."

You use outfitters for bunkhouse only and they try slip-in tarps and paddles? You'd use them again after they try to pawn off old stock gear on you??

I'd recommend that you keep shopping for at least something better!!

bobbernumber3: "

treehorn: "I'm pretty easy to please...we've used a number of different outfitters over the years and would probably use any of them again. The main thing for us is that things go smoothly, they are easy to communicate with both leading up to the trip and day before/of, and they deliver what they agreed to.



That said, what irks me is when groups like us who typically just use an outfitter for a bunkhouse, canoe rental, and a couple odd items get treated as an afterthought because we're not the big spenders, or relying on them for a ton of stuff.



Multiple times we've had outfitters think they can pull one over on us by giving us subpar gear for some reason.



"Here are some paddles for you fellas!"
"Do you have any bent shaft paddles?"
"Sure do...do you want them?"
"They're better aren't they?"
"Yup!"
"Then we want them."



Same thing with tarps...they've tried to sneak the old blue Fleet Farm tarps into our packs before, that take up half the pack and are terrible to work with in the field.



"Uh, you got any of the SylNylon, CCS type lightweight tarps?"
"Sure do...would you like that instead?"
"Of course, dumbf...."



Anyway, just sort of ranting. I think all outfitters have some old stock of gear still hanging around and will try to pawn it off on people they don't think will know better, to save the nice stuff for people they think WILL know better."

You use outfitters for bunkhouse only and they try slip-in tarps and paddles? You'd use them again after they try to pawn off old stock gear on you??


I'd recommend that you keep shopping for at least something better!!
"

No, I said we use them for bunkhouse, canoes (usually comes with paddles) and "a couple odd items" - i.e. a tarp & pack if needed.

As far as using them again...it's usually just some 19 y/o summer help doing these things...I wouldn't hold that against the outfitter as a whole necessarily, unless I really got the impression they don't care or are trying to screw people.

The community of BWCA outfitters is unique in that is nearly a perfect competition economy. That is to say, each of the companies provide similar goods and services at similar prices. All pricing is freely available on their webpages as is the exact gear, food, etc. that they will provide. Each of them can reserve permits on your behalf and, as previous posters have suggested, your experience in the woods will be very similar regardless of which outfitter you use. Some of that is because the BWCA experience by itself is a rustic one, so pretty much any additional "luxury" means more weight in your pack, and is therefore avoided.

So the real difference lies in your experience OUT of the woods...the customer service, the family touch, the knowledge of the guides, the extra time spent showing you how to operate a new piece of gear, etc.

Another really interesting point is that the outfitters themselves are friendly to each other, often recommending you visit the other company's store or even recommending that you call so-and-so for a specific tow service.

We have a favorite outfitter because we know them and they know us. But I'll be the first to admit that their camp store and lodging aren't the best in town. That's ok...I'll just walk down the street to the other place because I like them, too.

I've used 6 different outfitters and they have all been very good. 2 in Ely, 2 out of Tofte, and 2 up the Gunflint Trail.

1 of them I have used a lot more than the others . 1. I do feel more like I'm visiting friends/family than an outfitter when I'm there. They treat me the same way each visit whether I'm renting a cabin for a week, bunkhouse stay and canoe rental, just bunkhouse stay, just canoe rental, only picking up my permit, or just stopping by to harass them LOL. They are also have my favorite bunkhouse.

I think it is really cool how much some of the outfitters support and help each other so much. Especially when new owners are just starting out.

Can I pick none of the above? The only time I have ever used an outfitter was the one time I needed to rent a canoe.

I only use outfitters to bunk in the night prior to a trip. They need to be clean, and, as some others have alluded to, they need to treat me with the same respect as someone who is looking to be totally outfitted. To that extent, there is one who is heads above all others, and one who constantly receives rave reviews here who is sorely lacking.

They all have basically the same "goods" to offer (canoes, packs, gear, etc.) so the competitive advantage comes down to the customer experience. Did they grab a couple paddles, point you to where the canoes are stored and said "see ya later"? Or did they get you the right paddles for you and get the canoe ready for you to load? Did they take an interest in you and your trip - "Where you planning to go?" "Are you fisherman?" etc. They can then recommend good camp sites or fishing spots or sites such as waterfalls on your route.

Those of us returning to the same outfitter do so because of past customer experience, and not because their canoe was the best. Evident by the fact of all the comments around "they treat me like family".

It comes down to this - customer will go back to the same supplier, until given a reason not to.

I’ll echo there is a great community for the BWCA outfitters.

In my examples of outfitters going way beyond any expectations…it spans 5 different outfitters. That says a lot about the people that decide to do this business.

Another time I was trying to start a trip during the Blueberry festival. The outfitter I called didn’t have any rooms, but they took it upon themselves and found me some options. I didn’t ask them to do it…in fact I had secured a spot before they contacted me, but that gesture was awesome.

T

Frenchy19: "I only use outfitters to bunk in the night prior to a trip. They need to be clean, and, as some others have alluded to, they need to treat me with the same respect as someone who is looking to be totally outfitted. To that extent, there is one who is heads above all others, and one who constantly receives rave reviews here who is sorely lacking. "

Agreed, last year I had the displeasure of using an outfitter that had recently taken on the business from what I would consider exceptional outfitters. Unfortunately we were treated awful because we brought our own canoes and did not require full outfitting. Left a sour enough taste that I will never be back.

I’ve been really lucky as a partial outfitting customer I haven’t had the same negative experiences others have.

For many years all we rented was a tow or maybe a shower post trip, or a bunkhouse prior to the trip, but now that our family is bigger we rent a canoe. If we had not been treated well, it definitely would have affected who we rented from.

T

The short answer is them doing whatever they can to make your trip as good as possible. This could be gear recommendations, accommodations, route/fishing tips, etc. I don’t even care if I have to pay extra for it, actually I’m happy to.

The long answer has to do with competition. In Ely there are several outfitters competing for the same customer base. On the gunflint trail more often than not you only have one convenient option servicing your entry point and they act like they know it. Full disclosure I am one of those partial outfitting customers but my Ely experiences have been much more positive than with the gunflint trail outfitters.

I don't need many supplies from outfitters these days. So for me, it's more about knowledge of the area. Since I don't rent anything, I try to buy maps and gear from them to trade for some inside info. That is all.

We have our own gear, so we continue to rent a kevlar canoe and bunk house the night before - is how we continue to support outfitters. I certainly do not expect similar treatment as people who are using more outfitter services. Every outfitter we have used throughout the past 25 years has been outstanding. If we arrive at busier times, we know they will be busy attending to more needy guests. Nothing at all wrong with that issue. We do not expect to be pampered - in fact, we are heading into the wilderness and will pamper ourselves just fine!

TreeBear: "Having worked for three different guide services and outfitters, and now living up here, I've gotten to know a lot of the different options on the Ely side and on the Gunflint side.


A lot of what makes an outfitter great is entirely subjective and what a person becomes used to. If it wasn't, there wouldn't be as many outfitters as there are.


Some of it comes down to their business model. Are they a lodge who also outfits? If that's their emphasis, they usually have really amazing accommodations and maybe only a few canoes to rent. Are they a camp that also outfits? Some may have older gear, others may be top notch. And of course there are the outfitters who may not always have accommodations options (depends where they are at) and their gear selection is often broader than the lodges. It doesn't make one better or worse, but they do have different focuses.


Also to note, a lot of outfitters, not all, but a lot are very regionally focused in their knowledge. They have to be. They know the routes in the area of their outfitter and may not know as much in other parts of the wilderness meaning that getting an outfitter close to your entry is important if you are looking for good information going into your trip.


Past that, if we are talking just about the outfitters, there is every range of options and it takes trying things out to really know what you're getting and how great of a fit a particular outfitter might be. The best way I can put it is the outfitters are as distinct as the entry points they service! There are outfitters out there that are just renting a small fleet of 50 year old aluminum canoes and 40 year old packs that have been patched a half-dozen times. Does that make them a bad outfitter? I don't think it immediately does if they still find ways to care for their customers and help them enjoy this incredible wilderness of ours. On the flip side. There are outfitters that offer four different makes of canoes, dozens of different package options, towboat and ride services, and accommodations. Does that make them a good outfitter? Not necessarily if it means they overlook details or get too focused on profit. To me, the best outfitters are the ones that really show how much they remember the reasons that they are doing this job in the first place. Outfitting is a tough job. The finances are fickle, each year is different. The people that are doing it are doing it because they love it, they love the people, or they love the place they live and the way of life that surrounds it. The outfitters that are able to keep looking past those challenges and really create a culture and a community of customers that will come back every year for that experience are the ones that, to me, "really get it."


And of course I have my favorites and the ones I have never liked quite as well, but that comes back to the subjectivity. Bad outfitters rarely last forever because it is about the community as much as the location. If someone didn't get the experience they wanted, there are other options. But a good outfitter that really cares and equips well can help set a group up for success in a way few other entities can. "

Great post !

Good and interesting replies. Another thread asked about an outfitter and at least 5 posters said they were the best outfitter. I'm not surprised it really comes to customer service and relations. I've as always used the same outfitter - from near full outfitting first trip to mostly lodging and last minute purchases latest trips - and I can't imagine anyone providing better service. I'm sure I'd feel same about many others, just never had a reason to try.

They run a clean, neat, organized, efficient and friendly business; and they don't automatically talk to you like you've never been in the woods!