REI Equivalent Help!

Ok, so I'm an outdoor NUT.  I live near Seattle, WA where REI, Therma-Rest, Outdoor Research, The Mountaineers Club, and more are based out of.  I've been a Wilderness Ranger, Spent a year and a bit studying Primitive Skills/Bushcraft, Worked for 2 seasons as a Trail maker, Got a Remote/Wilderness EMT Cert, and Now work as an Arborist/Pro Tree Climber.
I've got a good amount of gear, but I get the feeling that I am going to want to upgrade, repair or replace it at some point in time... I'm just like that.   Where do I go?
And I've looked online and found "camping" stuff, but it's a 20 GBP tent, nothing like the quality/lightweight tent I might use that I got for $150.  or a sleeping bag with a temp rating of 0degrees CELSIUS, NOT Farenheit. BIG HUGE difference.
There was ONE store in Bath (Itchy Feet, I think. Just south of the circus) That I was extatic to find.  I want to move to the area JUST because of the store.  My wife (a jane austen zombie/theatrical costuming freak) isn't sure that we want to move exactly there.  SO where do I find the good stuff?

I'm aware of berghaus, Craghoppers, Snugpak, and..... can't remember the name.  What are other good quality UK/European Outdoor gear names?

100 Good Neighbor Points and a Super big thanks to the poster with the finest answer (possibly a Pint and a backpacking/Climbing trip some day).

Okay, as a person who moved to the Denver/Boulder area to climb and hike like a nut for 8 years, I'm going to try to let you down as gently as possible:

You will not find a good equivalent to any of these that is nearly as cheap.

 

I've tried.

I finally gave up and just started ordering stuff online to be delivered to friends and family in the US and brought over on trips.  

You're pretty much spot on, though:  Berhause, Regatta, Lowe Alpine is mostly what you'll see.  And loads of European brands:  Marmot, Petzl, LaSportiva.

Especially if you're talking about any specialised technical climbing or mountaineering gear.  I think that's why I often see Scottish climbers run out to hell on nuts or hexes - you'd have to be a millionnaire to keep updating your cams/SLCDs (on top of poor quality rock that doesn't pro well).

There's a chain called Tiso that's okay, but otherwise it's mostly local shops.

Hmm... well that sucks.
I'm going to have to go hog wild on the online ordering stuff...
I'll probably need to brush up on my canadian french classes so I can order mountaineering gear from the frogs (no offence) cause they're friggin awesome in the climbing world.

otherwise... KEEP EM COMIN

Hmm... well that sucks.
I'm going to have to go hog wild on the online ordering stuff...
I'll probably need to brush up on my canadian french classes so I can order mountaineering gear from the frogs (no offence) cause they're friggin awesome in the climbing world.

otherwise... KEEP EM COMIN

In technical places, you do see a lot of Petzl, Lowe Alpine, Marmot.  A lot of Wild Country and Trango.  I paid to bring a fairly substantial amount of BD technical gear over, none of which had been in any falls, and have to say I was glad I did because I more than made my money back (just have the buyer come in person if they know their stuff of course you can tell what's just past it).

Berghaus and Regetta.

I've found it a bit hit or miss wrt quality, although admittedly I live in a place which can develop pretty poor conditions (although my best friend from Portsmouth, WA says it's about the same as any WA conditions).

Be prepared to see some wild stuff, too!  Like granny knots to tie two ropes together to rap, which they say 'abseil'.  Also 'SAFE!' for off belay or off repel.

I have to say, though, as a die-hard traditionalist who only clipped bolts in a gym or when the weather only permitted accessing sport areas, climbing with Brits is a pleasure.  Because most serve a lengthy apprenticeship before taking the sharp end and so there's much to be learned.

As my ex h put it after getting back from an ice route on Ben Nevis (The Ben) after several years of challenging ice climbing in CO, Canada, the Himalayas, about the route:  bad ice, bad pro, bad belay, nightmare decent.

That'll make a believer out of anyone!

You don't get so many cocky b*stards and when you do, they're usually pretty s*&t hot.

I don't climb, only seriously hike (I keep the feet on the ground as much as possible). 

There are no good stores here in Cambridge, I buy stuff from REI and when I had a friend on the local base got it shipped to her.  Now she moved back to the US and I am not sure what I will do.

There is a really good store in Glasgow, but I can't remember the name.  I could give walking directions to it.

What about Snow & Rock: http://www.snowandrock.com/.  I know they exist in London...and have their own indoor ice wall.  It won't be cheap but it seemed to be a good store (from someone who used to climb but doesn't any longer).

You (those who may actually want outddor stuff for an affordable price) will like what I'm about to say.  I just visited an REI near my work where an REI veteran employee told me that REI ships internationally!  They also maintain members with international addresses!! SO, those of you with old REI membership cards lying at the bottom of a box somewhere collecting dust can revive that old pseudo-outdoorsy feeling and pull up the REI.com site and do a little window shopping.

Hope that just made someone's day!

Oh they ship internationally.  But the fees were, at least as of last year, crazy.

Anything under 50.00 is 21.00 for shipping. 

http://www.rei.com/help/intl_order.html#1

Plus they can't ship a lot of things overseas.   

Hah, well that's prohibitive...
Still on the hunt then.  Keep me updated if you find a good store or online retailer of fine outdoors gear.

Outdoors gear stores here:

Millets
Blacks
North Face
Cotswold Outdoors
Nevisport

Another one that starts with an 'R' whose name escapes me, at present.  ETA:  Rohan!  That's the one.

These all have websites, AFAIK!

Plus if you're in an outdoorsy area, like the Lake District, for instance - there'll be loads of more indie, specialist shops for it.

You might find other shops on the continent.  We bought one pair of my walking boots in Paris at a fab shop called Au Vieux Campeur (the old camper!).