Mud Sweat n' Gears Reviews

Really cool winter sports store with everything you could possibly imagine needing to hit the slopes.

Not just the worst ski shop in EVL, the worst ski shop in the world. The sales reps are pompous and sexist; the tech guys are worse. They are arrogant, ignorant, and proved themselves to be stupid.

They love their Montana ski tuning machine. They fetishize over its digital accuracy. But they haven't a clue as to how to check its accuracy, nor do they understand the importance of why you need to check the accuracy.

I brought a pair of rare, expensive, handmade skis in that had existing base/side bevels of 1/3. I asked for a stone grind to bring the base bevel to 0, and to please not touch the side edge at all. I got them back and they hadn't touched the base edge, but made the side edge 2 degrees.

I brought the skis back. I wanted an explanation. They said I was wrong, and that it was impossible for their beloved robot to make a mistake. I suggested they get their bevel gauge to check the ski. They said they don't have a gauge, the machine tells them what the bevel is. THEY HAVE NO WAY TO CHECK THE ACCURACY OF THEIR TUNING MACHINE!

Technical skiers who love their skis need to beware of MSG!

Their boot fitting expertise and stock is top notch!

David Mangan

I can't say enough about how wonderful this shop it! It's truly a must go to in Ellicottville! The staff is very knowledgeable and they have a HUGE selection! It's not just ski/board/racing gear either! I can always find a cute fall hat, sweater, backpack, the newest GoPro or just a really cool tee shirt! They also have a bucket of toy cars to keep the little ones entertained and a foosball table that adds to the really cool fun vibe!

As far as the technical stuff goes, my husband is very particular and we buy all of our kids racing gear from here. And, we plan on buying their stuff from them for a long time! Our kids have always had their boots fit by them and they are spot on! I also had a very severe foot injury and Miguel spent countless hours with me to make sure that I was 100% satisfied!

The owners are locals who really care about their community. They have done so much to bring a great business to a small town that is dependent on Mother Nature. Make sure you stop in, support local small businesses. This place will put a smile on your face for sure!

Unfortunate that the disgruntled reviewer had a bad experience. I've found the owners and staff to be extremely helpful and knowledgeable about all the equipment. Not too many people know more about the industry than Miguel and he puts that knowledge to practical use to make sure you are buying what is best for you, your skills, and your budget. Miguel met me on fathers Day to pick up a pair of skis and mount the bindings. He even called one of his technicians to come help him and the tech came in with his wife and young daughter to help out. I think that says more about the service and commitment than anything

I took my ski boots to mud sweat and gears yesterday to have someone take a look to see if they could fit them for me. I had an awful time in them on the slopes that day. I could barely stand in them, let alone ski. I asked if anytime was there who could help me, and someone came out right away. His name was Pat. He spent the good part of an hour with me. My the end, he was covered in bits of plastic from grinding and drilling my boots. He took them off and on to get them perfect. I took them out today and they are so comfortable! He saved my vacation and didn't seem to mind how much work needed to be done. I highly recommend this business for all of your gear needs. I listened to the other employees work with other customers and they were very knowledgeable as well. Mud sweat and gears is the cherry on top of the delicious sundae that is Ellicottville. Thank you guys!

Centrally located, down the road from the resort. Curtis helped me with a couple things I wanted to purchase and rent. I ll be back the next time I need boots & a board. 10 out of 10 would recommend.

They helped me out tremendously when my binding broke. I was back on the mountain within 15 minutes! Very friendly staff and a wide variety of ski and snowboard gear. I highly recommend them.

It was hard to give one star on this encounter, but that was my only choice.
I went into the shop today after my rented ski tip broke. I was greeted by the "ever so delightful" manager, Pat. When I say greeted, it was more like, "did you crash these?" No smile. No hello. Just a hard, hostile accusatory glare that sent chills down my spine.
Like any human whom is approached in such a manner, my guard went up and our little visit took turn....
As mentioned previously, the ski tip was busted in half, and per their policy, one must pay a $100 deductible in order to replace. I ask the "lovely Pat" how he knows that this wasn't a faulty ski. (I mean, common sense, right?) Pat, in his every so lovely (unprofessional) way, says, "IF you crash your brand new car, would you take it back to the lot and demand a new one?"(Hmmm... interesting take, I suppose!) So, I ask Pat, "Do you test drive them before you rent them out?" Pat says, he does not ski with them, but he does do maintenance on all rentals. Ah, OK! :)

Due to the nature of Pats body language and demeanor, I ask Pat if he is the owner of the establishment. He says, no, "I am the manger!" Um... okay, I say. I (only) ask this of him because he has been so unbelievably rude to me. Pat then grabs his phone and starts dialing the owner s number- apparently he wants me to talk to the owner?!?! Of course, I declined that option. I am not a fighter, nor do I enjoy confrontation! (I walked away)
I was charged $100 for a replacement ski- as per their policy. Alissa was the person who was running the register and was extremely kind. I could tell she was very uncomfortable with the situation as well.

I unfortunately do not have money like most skiers, so the likelihood of me returning to purchase something is already pretty slim. However, I do plan on sharing my experience with anyone that will listen. I honestly cannot believe Pat is in the position that he is in! He would definitely benefit from some human interaction training.
So, the question at hand is... would I recommend this store? ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!! Never in my 44 years of life have I felt so uncomfortable in an establishment.

We've been coming to Ellicottville for years to ski and both of my boys race. Pat just took care of my oldest with getting the right fit for his race boot while giving the best advice for getting as much time out of these boots for a growing boy. No where else I'd go for gear!!

I've passed by many times and decided to drop in. I love the selection of outdoor clothing. They have lots of high end equipment and clothing. The lady that was working was very helpful and knowledgeable. She found (or they had exactly) what I was looking for.

Great service. Had what I wanted at the right price. Will buy again.

Why is it called Mud, Sweat, and Gears when it has nothing to do with bikes? Even the logo is a sprocket.....

I am a huge fan of MSG. So much so, in fact, that we have become close friends with the store owners and staff because of our experience as customers.
We are life-long Ellicottville skiers and purchase equipment and accessories for a family of five. MSG is our go-to shop where we get friendly, competent advice at very fair prices.
I stumbled across the poor reviews on Google and felt compelled to "defend" one of the best ski shops I've ever been in. Having travelled to many ski destinations, we've seen a lot of shops and few (if any) compare to our experience with Mud Sweat 'n' Gears. There is an underlying passion for skiing and people that fuels this place.
To be fair to one poster, parking can be an issue, but that's very much the case for the whole village if EVL.
This is a truly great shop...
...not to mention one of the nicest interior designs I've ever seen in a retail shop ;-)

What an amazing staff! I brought my 9, 5, & 3 year old in for ski equipment by myself and was shocked that I did not have to yell at them once. The staff, especially Paige, provided excellent service and professional support. If you're looking for winter gear, this is the place to go. Thanks, guys!

The most incredible experience I ve ever had at a ski shop.

There s a reason why these guys are nationally ranked as a boot fitter. A clear reason.

I walked in with boots bought elsewhere. I told them I had an entirely unlimited budget- no limits, no compromises, no set backs. I wanted a boot that fit, a boot that worked, and most importantly, a boot that was comfortable. I had a ski trip planned in 3 days, and I needed this solved.

Most ski shops, as you can imagine, take someone like that and get the priciest gear they have. Right off the top shelf. This is not the case here- this shop cares.

I spent well over an hour with Nick as he pulled boot after boot, measuring my foot, trying different ideas, and so on. Apparently my feet are a challenge for boot fitting, but eventually we found a boot that fit like an absolute dream. He told me the price- 399.

I asked, completely straight forward Nick, there s no budget here. Would a significantly more expensive boot work better for me? He went though a bunch of reasons why it s simply not needed. I felt reassured.

However, despite all of the work we had done, there was still one small spot issue on my right foot. It hurt a little bit, while my left foot was perfect. Nick took the time to take the boot in the back, refit the sole, and entirely solve my issue. No questions or money asked. He simply took them and made them perfect.

This story gets better. Whenever you get new boots, you have to reset the ski bindings. While working on the boots Nick told me to get my skis so he could reset the bindings. A task which I thought, considering my experience with other ski shops, may ruin my planned trip with how long it takes. Not here. They did it fast.

All in all, I walked in expecting to spend thousands and only spent around 400. My boots fit, they are the most comfortable I ve ever had, AND the shop ensures the fit. Go skiing for a few days and there s an issue? Take them back, get them worked on, and get them fixed.

Lastly, shout out to Sam- their helpful assistant. I had my old boots, new boots, and skis, and couldn t walk them all to my car. He offered to walk through the pouring rain so I didn t have to take two trips. This shop cares.

This is the premier boot shop of WNY. I recommend all of you who have boot pain to come here and get checked out. I ll be returning for sure.

Perfect place to get your new gear. Great team, inventory, and customer service!

The atmosphere was nice and friendly as was the staff. Very helpful and professional. My Daughter brought some boots back and they were more then willing to take care of her. And the pair of gloves that I purchased are so warm and worth the money.

They have a wide variety of snowsports gear and apparel and the staff is very friendly snd willing to help out!

Forgot my poles and the guy was super helpful and understanding. Didn t try to oversell me. Place had tons of cute stuff.

Nothing but good things to say. Went to purchase a new pair of ski boots. The knowledgeable sales staffer spent >1 hour trying boot after boot until I found the "Goldilocks" pair. After skiing with them for 3 days, they needed adjustment which they did, no questions asked. They will do that for the lifetime of the boot.

Great merchandise and selection, excellent service, attentive knowledgeable staff. All in all, exactly what you want in a local ski shop. Skip the internet, buy local!

Great experience with true ski professionals. Needed boots unexpectedly, and they found me a perfect pair quickly and within my budget, then helped fit my bindings. Really pleased with the products and even more so with the spot on service.

Great place ! Staff is very knowledgeable and will help you with everything. Very clean and an enjoyable place!

I'd like to take the time to thank the entire Mud Sweat n Gears staff for their time, patience, and most outstanding boot fitting experience! My husband and I called on our way, we live about 45 mins from Ellicottville, to say were on our way to their shop and afraid we wouldn't get there much before they closed. Miguel and staff stayed open for us and never once did we feel rushed. Fitting children (ages 9 & 10) in ski boots can be tricky. My daughter was all about the boot color, regardless of fit and Miguel knew this. I was amazed at his ability to recognize this and how he was able to tell and eventually got her into the correct boot. Never once did he loose his patience or say she wasn't cooperating. He very cleverly spoke to her and had an arsenal of boot fitting tricks up his sleeve and before too long, she was in the right boot.

Kudos also to Miguel's wife Kimberly Reading! This store is incredibly stocked as it is beautiful! I have previously lived in Colorado mountain towns for 15 years and can honestly say that Mud Sweat n Gears is one of the most beautiful shops I've been in. Everything from the most technical equipment and outerwear to feminine yet functional. While shopping that evening I also left the store with a very stylish new apre ski outfit!

Besides equipment, which you can get anywhere, this store has the customer service, friendly, knowledgeable, and engaging staff to make my family and me loyal customers. Congratulations on your efforts!! Job well done.

ps- the bin of little children's toys caught my eye too, great call!!