Wilderness Supply

What visitors say

Wilderness Supply has been Thunder Bay's go-to outdoor shop for decades, and one long-time customer calls it the only real option in town for serious paddlers. It sells canoes and kayaks, including Kevlar Nova Craft models, along with camping gear, hiking boots, clothing and winter equipment.

The staff are the standout. Reviewers describe patient, honest advice, from fitting a life jacket to building a first ultralight camping kit that was set aside before the customer arrived. If something isn't in stock, staff will try to order it or suggest where else to look. Warranty and repair help comes up often: a replacement bike rack for a cross-country driver, a fix for broken tent poles on a cycling trip, and an old stove brought back to life.

Rentals are available, including canoes and kayaks, and staff help strap boats to your car, even on a bare roof, and suggest where to launch. Roof racks, cargo boxes and bike racks are installed on site, sometimes on short notice. Travellers stopping through have also been pointed to good Crown land camping spots.

Reviews are overwhelmingly positive and no recurring complaint stands out. It's worth a stop if you're heading into northwestern Ontario's backcountry.

Summarised from visitor reviews on Google Maps. Based on 141 Google reviews. Details change — confirm hours, prices and bookings with Wilderness Supply directly.