SPORTING GOODS

Most online sporting goods and outdoor gear stores are virtual versions of retail outlets, such as Sport Chalet (https://www.sportchalet.com), REI (https://www.rei.com) and Big 5 (https://www.big5sportinggoods.com) and there’s a wide swing in what they offer in terms of information and the ability to actually complete a purchase.

Best site to shop: REI.com. With tons of merchandise and even better tips, the site helps novices and experts make solid choices on subjects such as whether a bivouac sack is right for you. Keep in mind, though, that the ultimate goal of all this helpful advice is to move merchandise. The REI gear checklist for kayaking is so long that all that stuff might swamp your boat. Prices here are not cheap, but all purchases earn member dividends.

Best site to buy: Gear.com (https://www.gear.com). A Web-only store dealing solely in close-out sporting goods, Gear.com offers killer deals on clothing and equipment. Sure, it may be last year’s stuff, but saving $150 on a pair of ski boots means you’ll have enough dough left over to buy a three-day lift ticket at Mammoth.

Convenience: Super easy to navigate. Nine buttons at the top of the page break the products down into categories such as “Racquet & Golf,” “Fitness & Exercise” and “Outdoor Shop.” A 10th button links to “More Gear,” which has stuff on even deeper discount. In addition, users can search by brand name, so North Face snobs can rummage through that brand without stumbling across Patagonia.

Customer service: No problems. The site offers up self-help choices as well as easy access to e-mail and telephone service.

Shipping and return policy: Regular shipping for most purchases over $75 is free and items generally leave the warehouse within two days. Express (three-day) shipping costs $15. Odd-sized or heavy gear such as skis and bicycles get slapped with an extra shipping charge that varies with the dimensions and weight of the product. Returns are accepted without questions within 30 days of the original order. Unless Gear.com sends the wrong stuff, customers are responsible for return shipping.

How it compares with offline: If you are familiar enough with the idiosyncrasies of individual clothing makers, there’s no reason to waste another glorious Saturday stuck in line.