As you may know, Midwest Mountaineering (a killer outdoor shop!) is going out of business after 53 years. Anyone in the Twin Cities area looking for gear should check out their liquidation sale starting on 9/1 and running through 10/8. 30-75% off everything, so some decent deals should abound.

Are you still picking up the Polaris Stealth for me?

T

timatkn: "Are you still picking up the Polaris Stealth for me?


T"

Two of them!

Frenchy19: "

timatkn: "Are you still picking up the Polaris Stealth for me?

T"

Two of them!"

Do you mind grabbing one for me too while you are at it?

Heads up, with some of their bigger items like canoes, they’re already willing to negotiate down from the sticker & sale price. I went in the day it was announced and walked out with a Northstar B16 in IXP with wood trim for about 40% off retail.

Kermit: "Heads up, with some of their bigger items like canoes, they’re already willing to negotiate down from the sticker & sale price. I went in the day it was announced and walked out with a Northstar B16 in IXP with wood trim for about 40% off retail."

Good to know, but scary...good thing my wife will be going with me.

Kermit: "Heads up, with some of their bigger items like canoes, they’re already willing to negotiate down from the sticker & sale price. I went in the day it was announced and walked out with a Northstar B16 in IXP with wood trim for about 40% off retail."

Pics, please!!!!!

Two hour plus wait in line. Place is packed; waited for half hour to get into the store.

Frenchy19: "

Kermit: "Heads up, with some of their bigger items like canoes, they’re already willing to negotiate down from the sticker & sale price. I went in the day it was announced and walked out with a Northstar B16 in IXP with wood trim for about 40% off retail."

Pics, please!!!!!"

Here's a couple. We've had it out paddling every day since. It handles great. We're looking forward to taking it down some rivers.

Kermit: "

Frenchy19: "

Kermit: "Heads up, with some of their bigger items like canoes, they’re already willing to negotiate down from the sticker & sale price. I went in the day it was announced and walked out with a Northstar B16 in IXP with wood trim for about 40% off retail."

Pics, please!!!!!"

Here's a couple. We've had it out paddling every day since. It handles great. We're looking forward to taking it down some rivers.

"

Beautiful! And you went at the right time; was a chaotic mess today.

My many trips to Midwest Mountaineering over the past 30 years were filled with anticipation of a great trip planned or joy of finding a deal on a perfect addition of outdoors gear. I visited twice this week and couldn't bring myself to buy any thing. It felt like visiting a dying friend before they pass.

Nice deal Kermit!

I don’t think you could buy an outfitter used one for that.

T

Got the last CCS pack, I think, so apologies to anyone else that was hoping to nab one.

I stopped by one more time this morning to see what was left. The Northstar composite canoe repair kits are all 50% off, so grabbed one of those just in case. Couple bottles of 303, a can of Watco, some boat board bungees, and a kneeling pad, all heavily discounted and useful. Still worth dropping in if you're close.

For real?
Is it too nostalgic to feel sad about this?
I have lots of good memories going to seminars, film festivals, and the like up there. They will be missed!

PabloKabo: "For real?
Is it too nostalgic to feel sad about this?
I have lots of good memories going to seminars, film festivals, and the like up there. They will be missed!"

No, I think it is appropriate to feel sad.

This store has influenced my own outdoors experience for more than 3 decades. I am certainly not the only one. Novices today have many more options for research, YouTube, online reviews, bulletin boards like BWCA.com and others, but almost everything I learned about equipping myself for outdoor adventure I learned from the staff at MWM. Even in my middle-age with more equipment than anyone needs, I rarely prepared for a camping, hiking, climbing or canoe trip without stopping by to see if there might be a gadget or new piece of apparel to add for the trip.

My final trip to the store was yesterday. I almost felt like I should have hugged the cashier as I left with my final purchase.

Made my final trip yesterday. Didn’t buy anything.

Store is pretty picked over. I almost bought some Darn Tough socks at 30% off but the lines were long and I didn’t really need them…you can find them for 30% throughout the year usually anyway so put them back on the shelf.

Still happy I went. I think I would of regretted not taking one final lap around.

No line to get in but longer lines to purchase. So people still must feel like they are finding some deals.

It looked like Midwest has items in storage and is still replenishing. For instance when I walked in I didn’t see any socks I wanted but 30 minutes later there was fresh/new Darn Tough out.

Still had a decent amount of shoes, wool socks, higher end wool clothing in stock. I saw some clamp on portage yokes/pads left. At some point they will probably increase the discount on these items to higher than 30% if they still have them in stock so still could be some good deals in the future.

T

I think I want to remember that place as I experienced it. I've been sad since the first email about closing. Those Outdoor Expos were a highlight of my years and my children will forever remember being forced to attend, lol.

I wish I had been in a position to grab a new boat, but I wasn't.

RIP MWM, you were special and will be missed.