Kayaking for Kids Open
General Army Navy Outdoor
4.5(1,730)4.5 out of 5 stars, 1730 reviews Salt Lake City, UT
About General Army Navy Outdoor
This establishment, identified as "General Army Navy Outdoor," is consistently praised as an exceptional retail store specializing in military surplus and outdoor gear. Its unique value proposition lies in its incredibly vast, diverse, and 'interesting to see' inventory, which includes everything from camping and hiking supplies to military costumes and memorabilia. Crucially, the store is distinguished by its 'super great,' 'helpful,' and 'knowledgeable' staff who actively assist customers in finding exactly what they need, often making it a superior experience to online shopping.
What parents should know
Summarized from real visitor reviews.
Best for: Parents seeking to purchase reliable and specialized equipment for family outdoor adventures such as camping, hiking, or other 'great outdoors' activities.Families looking for unique military costumes, historical memorabilia, or specific themed items for school projects, imaginative play, or events.Parents who prioritize an in-person shopping experience with expert advice over impersonal online purchasing, especially for technical or specialized gear.Anyone needing to repair outdoor gear (e.g., tents) or requiring hard-to-find parts for military-themed projects.**Parents with children 8+ years old:** This store could be an excellent resource for outfitting family camping or hiking trips, finding unique items for school projects (e.g., historical military costumes or memorabilia), or sourcing gear for youth outdoor programs. The 'super cool stuff' might also appeal to older children's curiosity.
Why families love it
- **Exceptional Staff Expertise:** Employees like Pat and Cody are highlighted for being 'super great,' 'professional,' 'knowledgeable,' 'eager,' and 'informed,' consistently providing extensive help and advice without condescension, even for complex projects (e.g., building military boxes, tent repair).
- **Vast and Diverse Inventory:** The store is repeatedly described as having 'everything you need,' 'anything you can think of,' and 'all kinds of products.' Specific categories include camping supplies, hiking gear, military equipment/apparel, military costumes, memorabilia, and items for the 'great outdoors.'
- **Superior In-Person Shopping Experience:** Many customers find it 'reliably better to visit than order from Amazon' due to the comprehensive selection and personalized assistance, making it a destination worth going out of your way for.
- **Excellent Value:** Reviews mention 'excellent prices' and 'lots of sale items,' suggesting good value for the quality and range of specialized products.
- **Personalized Expert Guidance:** The staff's profound knowledge and willingness to help (e.g., Pat's detailed advice for military box parts, assistance with tent repair) is a standout feature for parents navigating gear purchases.
- **Unique Product Selection:** The ability to find 'super cool stuff,' 'military costumes,' and specific outdoor/military items not easily available elsewhere is a major draw.
Insider tips
- **Leverage Staff Expertise:** Do not hesitate to ask for help; staff members like Pat and Cody are noted for their deep knowledge and eagerness to assist with specific needs or project guidance, especially for outfitting children for outdoor activities.
- **Allocate Sufficient Time:** Given the 'vast and interesting' inventory, plan for ample time to explore the store to fully appreciate its offerings and discover unique items for your family's needs.
- **Consider for Specific Gear/Projects:** This is an ideal destination for purchasing camping or hiking supplies for family trips, finding military-themed costumes or memorabilia for school projects, or sourcing unique items for children's imaginative play.
- **Manage Expectations for Kids:** While interesting to browse, this is a retail store, not a play area or an activity-based entertainment venue. It's best visited with a specific shopping goal in mind for children's activities or gear.
Good to know before you go
- **Expecting a 'Kayaking for Kids' activity or dedicated children's entertainment:** The reviews unequivocally describe a retail store for outdoor and military surplus goods, not a venue offering kayaking or other direct children's activities.
- **Quick 'in-and-out' visits:** The extensive inventory and beneficial staff interactions suggest that rushing through the store might lead to missed opportunities for valuable finds or advice.
- **Visiting solely for child entertainment:** This is a shopping environment; while browsing might be novel, it is not designed to provide sustained entertainment or play for children.
- **If you are looking for generic, common goods:** While vast, the store specializes in outdoor and military surplus; it's best for specific, unique, or hard-to-find items.
- No specific problems, negative experiences, or areas for improvement were reported in any of the 5-star reviews provided.
- Value
- Customers consistently describe prices as 'excellent' and highlight the presence of 'lots of sale items,' indicating strong value for the diverse and specialized inventory of military surplus and outdoor gear. The benefit of highly knowledgeable staff (e.g., Pat's help preventing a 'disaster') adds significant value by ensuring correct purchases and preventing costly mistakes, making it a cost-effective choice for specific needs.
- Food
- As a retail store specializing in outdoor and military goods, there is no mention of a food policy, on-site cafes, or snack sales, nor is this applicable based on the nature of the business described in the reviews.
- Safety
- As a retail store, no specific safety features related to children's activities, play areas, or supervised entertainment are mentioned in the reviews. The safety features would be typical of a general retail environment.
What parents say
"Awesome guys work here. They have some Character, but what else do you expect from an owner of a Military Surplus Store. The only difference is they ain't anything other than helpful and nice. They have anything you can think of. If you're getting your 214 and missing equipment/apparel/etc. is holding you back, stop by so you can finally answer that call in the am from the CO because you ain't there,or don't ...."
a month ago
"This place Has Everything You need! The Staff are super Great! Not knowing exactly what I needed, this Great Man PAT helped me out, got me everything I needed. I built two Military boxes, and He helped me getting the Correct parts, and gave me so much helpful advice! Without PAT'S help, my project would have been wrong, and a complete disaster! I appreciate Your Help, Professionalism, and Knowledgeable about the Military, and You job. You are an Outstanding Man. Thank You!"
3 months ago
"The employees here were great. I was greeted immediately, and they helped me find exactly what I was looking for to repair a canvas tent that had a sizable hole in it. This store has all kinds of products and definitely worth a stop!"
2 weeks ago
Reviews sourced from public Google data.
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