I've shopped here a few times, and have always had a good experience. On different occasions I have bought a rash guard for my husband, New Balance tennis shoes, and Roxy flip flops for myself. I purchased all of these things on sale for a really great price- better than I could find in other stores or online.
While I prefer the look of a store like REI to Sports Chalet (think Target vs Kmart), everyone in Sports Chalet is very helpful and never pushy.
My latest experience, however, was this weekend taking a "Discover Scuba" class. I cannot stress enough how amazing this opportunity is to anyone that has considered learning to dive, but fearful of putting such a large investment into something they may not like.
They offer the class on the 3rd Saturday of every month. It's free. They provide the tank, mask, and fins for you to use- just show up with a bathing suit and towel.
My husband dives a lot and really enjoys it, so I wanted to give it a shot. This class was a great opportunity. You learn a bit about how to use the equipment before you get into the (heated) pool to work with a dive instructor for about 45 minutes.
My only complaint about the class is that it goes a little fast. I was not completely comfortable using the equipment in the shallow end and they were already wanting me to go in the deep end. Everyone else in the class was fine though, I can just be a baby.
So if you've ever thought about diving, I would definitely give them a call and ask to sign up for the next class. It even counts as one of your pool dives if you do consider becoming certified. It's a great deal.
I should note that the "Discover Scuba" class will not provide you with dive certification- you will still need to take the Open Water course to become PADI certified.