It isn’t hard to understand why outdoor enthusiasts might want to find some other stores like L.L. Bean.
On the one hand, L.L. Bean is a pioneer.
Founded by Leon Leonwood Bean in 1912 (that’s right – the L.L. actually stands for “Leon Leonwood”), L.L. Bean is famous for inventing duck boots and bringing outdoor apparel to the masses.
It opened its flagship store in Freeport, Maine in 1917, and has been selling outdoor equipment and clothing ever since.
On the other hand, the recreational apparel and equipment industry has exploded over the past century, and today outdoor enthusiasts have more options than ever before.
Fortunately, you don’t have to look far to find a wide range of modern L.L. Bean alternatives that can equip you for adventure.
Below you’ll find dozens of other brands like L.L. Bean that offer all manner of outdoor apparel, equipment and accessories.
The Best Stores Like L.L. Bean
Breaking Down the Best Brands Like LL Bean
Eddie Bauer
Founded in Seattle in 1920 by its namesake outdoorsman, Eddie Bauer boasts hundreds of retail stores across the United States and has long been one of the top LL Bean competitors.
The international outdoor clothing company sells a wide range of high-quality products in categories ranging from clothes and accessories to outdoor equipment and gear.
Lands’ End
Offering everything from kids’ clothing and home goods to outerwear and swimwear, Lands’ End is a little less “hardcore” than some of the outdoor apparel stores like L.L. Bean and Eddie Bauer.
They have a kind of “New England in the fall” aesthetic that’s cozy and durable, but better suited for weekends at the cabin than the sort of months-long outdoor adventures where you hunt and gather your own food.
The North Face
Another one of the best alternatives to L.L. Bean, The North Face is one of those brands like Patagonia that’s beloved for the quality of their gear.
They offer a wide range of outdoor products and apparel that covers pretty much every category of men’s and women’s clothing.
But they might be best known for their bags, which are particularly well loved by hikers and give L.L. Bean backpacks a serious run for their money.
J.Crew
Admittedly, brands like J.Crew, Old Navy and Banana Republic aren’t often thought of in the same vein as outdoor stores like L.L. Bean and Eddie Bauer.
But they’re worth checking out if you’re looking for a stylish and well made winter jacket or other outdoor apparel.
Plus they’re easy to find since they have hundreds of brick and mortar stores across North America, in addition to a well stocked online store.
Cabela’s
Cabela’s is a hunting and fishing supply store that’s arguably a bigger competitor to Bass Pro Shops than to L.L. Bean.
(With that said, there’s definitely some overlap with L.L. Bean products.)
It’s one of the best places to stock up on quality outdoor gear for everything from fly fishing and camping to boating and shooting.
Timberland
Timberland is probably better known for their stylish and comfortable work boots than for outdoor gear, but they offer the same high-quality craftsmanship as L.L.Bean boots and apparel.
And while footwear might be what they’re best known for, they actually carry a pretty wide range of apparel that can work well for outdoor enthusiasts, including backpacks, sweatshirts, rain jackets and more.
Filson
Filson is another alternative brand to L.L. Bean or Cabela’s for well made outdoor gear.
In addition to apparel and accessories, they also carry hunting and fishing supplies, along with a line of rugged bags and luggage that looks just as good at the airport as it does on the mountain.
REI
REI stands for Recreational Equipment Inc, which tells you just about everything you need to know about the store.
As their name implies, they carry a wide range of outdoor and recreational gear across just about every category, including a selection of ski equipment and apparel that rivals a lot of dedicated ski stores.
Orvis
The oldest mail-order retailer in the United States, Orvis got its start selling fishing tackle but long ago expanded to sell a wide range of outdoor clothing and equipment.
In addition to apparel and accessories, they also carry a pretty good selection of home furnishings that includes everything from glassware and bar accessories to furniture and throw rugs.
Sierra
Owned by the same parent company as TJ Maxx and Marshall’s, Sierra – formerly Sierra Trading Post – focuses more on sporting goods and outdoor apparel.
Fortunately, it does have at least one thing in common with its fellow discount department stores – reasonable prices.
It’s a great place to score good deals on a wide range of merchandise, from water bottles and waterproof boots to casual clothing and outdoor furniture.
Gander Outdoors
Gander sells gear and equipment for a wide range of outdoor activities, including RVing, fishing, hunting and more.
Their products compete with L.L. Bean gear in just about every retail category, but Gander’s product offering is more diverse than L.L. Bean’s, and includes a wide range of boating equipment, electronics, motor parts and more.
Sorel
If you live in a snowy climate, there’s a good chance you’ve seen (or owned) a pair of Sorels.
Best known for their sturdy, warm and reliable winter boots, Sorel offers a range of footwear for men, women and kids that can be worn in all seasons.
The Sportsman’s Guide
A close competitor of stores like Cabela’s and Gander, The Sportsman’s Guide is another outdoors store that carries everything from clothing and apparel to hunting gear and ammo.
Unlike some of the other outdoor gear stores on this list, they also have a wide selection of military surplus in categories that range from clothing to first aid and survival gear.
Patagonia
Founded by rock climber Yvon Chouinard in 1957, Patagonia is a direct competitor of L.L. Bean that’s grown into one of the world’s most well regarded brands among outdoor enthusiasts.
Patagonia carries a lot of similar products as L.L. Bean both but offers a larger selection that can be used across a wider range of outdoor activities.
Steep And Cheap
Steep and Cheap easily has the best name of any brand on this list.
(And quite possibly the best name in retail, full stop.)
As you can probably guess, they offer a wide range of outdoor and mountain-appropriate gear for men, women and children, all at (yep) some super affordable prices.
The House
From easily the best name on this list to what’s probably the worst.
(Wasn’t The House an Amy Poehler movie with Will Ferrell and Jason Mantzoukas?)
As you would almost certainly not guess from the name, The House is an outdoor supply store that specializes in board sports like snowboarding, wakeboarding and skateboarding.
They carry a wide selection of ski and skateboard brands in addition to apparel, accessories and other outdoor gear.
Trekkinn
At first blush, Trekkinn sounds like a cute bed and breakfast where Star Trek fans stay during conventions.
(No? Just me? Fine. Guess I won’t be seeing you at StarCon this year!)
Kidding aside, Trekkinn is, in fact, part of the tradeinn family of stores, and specializes in professional-grade outdoor apparel and accessories.
Yeti
Yeti made a name for itself with its heavy duty and impressively insulated thermoses and coolers, which can stand up to just about any temperatures or conditions.
But they’ve since expanded into other categories of outdoor gear and apparel, all made with the same exceptional engineering we’ve come to expect from them.
Arc’teryx
Arc’teryx is a Vancouver-based outdoor apparel company that got its start making rock climbing gear.
Today they make a wide array of technical outerwear that includes everything from winter coats and snowboarding gear to climbing gear like rope bags and harnesses.
Marmot
Marmot is an outdoor clothing and sporting goods company orginally founded in 1974 under the name Marmot Mountain Works.
Since then its name has been contracted, but its product offering has expanded, and now includes just about every kind of apparel you need for toughing it out in the elements.
Dickies
Dickies has come a long way since its founding as a workwear brand back in 1922.
They still offer a wide range of sturdy workwear for both men and women, but they’ve also become well loved by two completely different groups:
Healthcare workers who appreciate the quality of their scrubs, and skateboards who appreciate how resistant their clothes are to rips and tears.
Mountain Hardwear
Mountain Hardwear is a somewhat ironically named brand because so much of their apparel is lightweight, soft and easy to wear.
In addition to outdoor apparel for both men and women, they also offer camping supplies like tents, backpacks and sleeping bags.
Icebreaker
Icebreaker is well known for their soft and breathable merino wool tops, but their selection goes well beyond shirts and sweaters.
They carry soft, wearable layering pieces across just about every category of clothes and apparel, including pants, shorts, hats, underwear, gloves and many more.
Sporting Life
Sporting Life is a Canadian sporting goods store that sells many of the brands mentioned above, including the North Face, Arc’teryx and more.
In addition to its official website it has multiple retail locations across Canada, but unfortunately does not offer international shipping to those outside the country.
Rothco
Rothco is a wholesale site offering a wide variety of outdoor gear, supplies, apparel and equipment.
They carry everything from military and tactical gear to outdoor kids clothing and accessories (and just about everything in between), making it a one-stop shop for hardcore adventurers.
More Great Stuff from Irreverent Gent:
- How to Dress for Fall
- Men’s Winter Fashion: The Ultimate Guide
- The Coolest, Best and Most Fun Toys for Adults
- The Best At-Home Workout Equipment for Men
- How to Grow a Beard Faster
- The (Absolute) Best Men’s T-Shirt Brands
- The Best Athleisure Brands for Men
- The 17 Coolest, Sharpest and Best Shorts for Men
- The 31 Best Outdoor Clothing Brands Like Patagonia
- The Best Carhartt Alternatives for Workwear