Water Sports · Alberta
An independent Edmonton outdoor shop near Whyte Avenue selling new and used gear for camping, skiing, paddling and more, with canoe and ski rentals and a service centre. Staff knowledge is the big draw.
Totem Outdoor Outfitters is an independent gear shop just south of Whyte Avenue in Old Strathcona. It covers a wide range of activities, including camping, backpacking, cross-country and downhill skiing, snowboarding, skating and hockey, and it sells both new and used equipment. Paddlers can rent canoes, and there are ski rentals too.
Staff get consistent praise for honest, practical advice rather than a hard sell. Reviewers describe first-time snowboard buyers being walked through a full setup, careful ski and skate fitting for kids, and a service centre that mounts and adjusts bindings well. One customer rented a light Kevlar tripping canoe for a Maligne Lake trip in Jasper and found the price reasonable and pickup and return easy.
The used gear and trade-in side is a favourite, with one regular calling it the best place in the city for used equipment. The ski pole selection alone runs from cheap used poles to competition models. A sewing and repair service has also impressed; one customer had a large gazebo cover remade from the original.
Complaints are few for the number of reviews. The store can feel cramped when busy, according to one reviewer, and parking is a shared lot out front plus nearby side streets. Inspect rental boats before and after your trip, as one canoe renter recommended.
Summarised from visitor reviews on Google Maps. Based on 916 Google reviews. Details change — confirm hours, prices and bookings with Totem Outdoor Outfitters directly.
