Married to the Outdoors: REI Relaunches Wedding Registry

Outdoorsy couples no longer have to worry about returning the blender. REI’s registry has real-life gear they’ll actually use — together.

The revamped REI registry makes gifting easy for couples and guests in life’s biggest moments. Anyone can build or search an REI registry in minutes. And it’s not just for weddings. Powered by MyRegistry, the REI registry works for any major milestone, from commitment ceremonies to parenthood.

First, couples add their most needed (or wanted) outdoor items, such as gear for biking, climbing, camping, and hiking, to an online registry account. Then, gifters can choose what to give from the curated registry. (See some gift suggestions below.) And for those who don’t know outdoor gear or can’t decide what to give, an REI gift card is the way to go.

REI revamped its registry for the next generation. People are marrying later in life, and couples often live together before they celebrate a lifelong commitment. That means they may already own traditional wedding registry items like cookware and appliances. Increasingly, couples and parents want to build wish lists around aspiring or active lifestyles — and making more memories together.

How to Register and Shop for REI Registry Gifts

Shopping for an REI registry gift online means you can do it anywhere at any time, which is especially nice for procrastinators. Just go to the universal REI registry page and search by name. The process is straightforward, but if you need more help, call an REI agent. They’ll walk you through the registry gifting process or tell you more about gear selected for the registry.

You can view product recommendations and see inventory levels to help prioritize purchases. Most orders over $50 — a typical baseline for a milestone gift — ship free. And if you’re shopping in an REI store, use a mobile device to scan items directly to a registry.

Popular Outdoor Gifts for Wedding Registries

Looking for inspiration? Here are a few favorite wedding registry gift ideas from REI customers:

• ENO DoubleNest Hammock
• REI Co-op Half Dome 2 Plus Tent
• America the Beautiful National Parks Pass
• The North Face Dolomite 20 Double Sleeping Bag
• Jetboil Flash Cooking System
• You can never go wrong with a gift card

A New, Better Gift Registry

REI’s new registry aims to outfit couples for a lifetime in the outdoors. Couples don’t need to be REI members to make a registry (but you should for the dividends!), and it comes with a 100-percent-satisfaction guarantee. So if you get a duplicate or have a change of heart on a piece of gear, just return it within a year, no questions asked.

Likewise, REI registry couples save 10 percent on any unfulfilled registry items they wish to buy outright.

Beyond the gifts and gear for the couple, the registry benefits the gift givers and the outdoors as well. If you’re an REI member, the gifts you give could earn you a 10 percent dividend so you can get some gear of your own — a win-win.

Moreover, REI gives 70 percent of its profits back to the outdoor community through investments in nonprofits dedicated to the outdoors, member dividends, and employee retirement each year.

People are now prioritizing experiences over elegant dishware, and REI’s gift registry offers the gear they need to get outside and make those lasting memories. Let the marital bliss begin.

This article is sponsored by REI. Create or find an REI registry here.