Camping

Why Altitude Sports Is Worth It for Outdoor Gear in Canada

We needed a GORE-TEX jacket for a backcountry trip in the Canadian Rockies and every local shop either didn’t have our size or wanted full retail. Altitude Sports had the Arc’teryx Alpha SV in stock, C$50 off, and it arrived at our door in Toronto three days later. That was two years ago, and we’ve placed 12 orders with them since.

Canada’s Leading Online Outdoor Retailer

Altitude Sports is a Montreal-based company that pivoted to online-only in 2019, closing their last physical store to focus entirely on e-commerce. That decision paid off—they now carry one of the deepest selections of premium outdoor brands in Canada. We’re talking Arc’teryx, Patagonia, The North Face, Salomon, Black Diamond, Columbia, and dozens more, all in one place. The Patagonia Point Reyes Canvas Coat we bought last fall was C$129 on sale (regularly C$199), and it’s become our daily driver from October through March. Their catalog spans hiking footwear, camping equipment, cycling apparel, and technical layers. When a specific Arc’teryx jacket is sold out everywhere else, Altitude Sports usually still has it.

Free Shipping, Price Matching, and Member Perks

Free shipping kicks in at C$74, which is basically any single jacket or pair of boots. They offer a Best Price Guarantee—if you find the same item cheaper at a Canadian competitor, they’ll match it. Returns are fast and simple, with a prepaid label included. The membership program is free and unlocks early access to sales, which matters more than you’d think. During their seasonal clearance events, popular sizes of Arc’teryx and Patagonia pieces sell out within hours. We snagged a pair of Salomon trail runners at 35% off during their spring sale because we’d signed up for member early access. They also offer four interest-free payments on orders over a certain threshold, which takes the sting out of a C$600 jacket purchase.

Eco-Friendly Shipping and Brand Curation

Altitude Sports partnered with Canada Post on eco-friendly shipping options, using recycled packaging materials and carbon-neutral delivery on most orders. They’re also picky about the brands they carry—every label they stock goes through a selection process that considers sustainability and ethical manufacturing. New brands are featured regularly in their “New Brands” collection, and we’ve discovered some excellent smaller labels through their curation that we never would have found otherwise.

Gear Up Before the Season Hits

We’ll level with you: Altitude Sports isn’t the place to find budget camping gear. Their catalog skews premium, and a tent here will cost you C$300+. But if you’re investing in technical outerwear, hiking footwear, or camping equipment that you need to perform in harsh conditions, their selection, pricing, and service are hard to beat in Canada. The seasonal sales are when to strike—start watching in March for spring gear and October for winter kit. If you wait until you actually need the jacket, the sale will be over and your size will be gone.

Keep Reading

If you enjoyed this review, you might like these too:

2 thoughts on “Why Altitude Sports Is Worth It for Outdoor Gear in Canada”

Leave a Comment

Impact-Site-Verification: 7b7a0554-a8a2-413e-b0b8-f1608d27d9f5