Academy Sports + Outdoors — Local services in Houston

Sugar Land Store**W O R S E E X P E R I E N C E E V E R ! God don't like UGLY & HE sits high & look LOW! Racially profiled (Because, I'm African American & Woman) After working 8 LONG HOURS, I had to rush to ACADEMY to get my child's first "baseball outfit".... I didn't know what to get & there was NO HELP "until they assumed I was stealing" Jordan an employee "who I thought had that time was HELPING ME only to find out he thought I was a CRIMINAL. I'm a MOTHER, WIFE & A WOMAN of GOD what I look like stealing? I had a lime green baseball bat (blue "baseball backpack") I put the bat on the side of the bag, trying to see how everything work & would it be too heavy for my child. I picked up some youth size gloves that looked too big.. I started looking for smaller ones, came across some tee-ball gloves.. opened the backpack trying to see how everything was going to fit... Jordan approached me & I showed him everything I was getting "being excited for my son" he told me the youth gloves were too big, so I kept the tee-ball gloves & put them back in the bag. He said "Do you need anything else? I said "yes, shoes" he walked me to shoes & someone else helped us pick out some shoes... Red Nike Vapors... I said do you have blue, he said no this all we have... (I like my kids outfits to match, so I went back to get a red backpack instead). At this time I took the bat out the bag, the tee-ball gloves, that had a ball attached to it & got a red bag & put the blue bag up. Another rep came to help me & I also told him, what I was doing & asked him did I need anything else. Showed him the gloves & he said "that his fine for his age" I said "thank u" & walked to the counter. I walked to the counter realizing I wouldn't have time to go home, so I turned around walked to the boys SHIRT & got a Under Armour shirt... Walk to the counter & it was only one cash register & she looked frustrated because the line was long & I was in a rush. I was in line a good 5 minutes & she finally got to me. She rang all my items up (there was a tag on the bag, idk why) she found the item online I entered the numbers. My total was $167.18 I gave her $170.00. As I was waiting on change a cop entered & told me to come here after I paid for my stuff. I was so confused & puzzled also scared. Jordan & Sharon came up "claiming I was stealing" HOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW? WHY? I'M SO MAD THE WORDS I WANT TO USE THE CHRISTIAN IN ME WON'T DO IT. I stayed calm & the cop searched my bag , took my ID, humiliated me in front of EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Jordan had the nerves to talk smart to me like I'm a child & if you know me....... MAN O MAN! I remained calm & stood my PRIDE.... The cop asked her repeatedly what she wanted to do. She couldn't even look me in my eyes, her voice was stern enough.. The cop had to coach her on what to say. But, it's all good. When you go to a department store & you're purchasing they take everything OUT OF THE BAGS, MAKE SURE THE SHOES ARE MATES & SO ON. I had on some tights & a tight fitting jacket... Where would items be that I stole? Nowhere, cause I PAID FOR ALL OF MY ITEMS. I do want to thank the cops of Sugar Land he felt my pain & emotions. I will be sending him flowers & thank you card. He also, stated he would be mad if the shoes were on the other foot. T H I S W I L L NO T BE THE LAST OF ME...

If you're looking for a well-stocked, budget-friendly outdoor and sports retailer with a laid-back, hassle-free vibe, Academy Sports + Outdoors is the spot. Whether you're gearing up for camping, fishing, hitting the gym, or just grabbing some casual athletic wear, this place has you covered—without the pretentiousness of high-end outdoor stores.

What Makes It Great: ✅ Massive Selection – From kayaks and tents to workout gear and team sports equipment, their inventory is impressively diverse for the price range. Need a last-minute camping trip setup? They’ve got it. Want affordable yet decent-quality hiking shoes? Done.

✅ Fair Pricing – Compared to specialty outdoor retailers, Academy keeps things reasonably priced without sacrificing too much quality. Their store-brand stuff (like Magellan for fishing/outdoor gear) is a solid value for casual adventurers.

✅ Chill, No-Pressure Staff – Unlike some outdoor stores where employees aggressively upsell, the staff here lets you browse in peace but still helps when asked. No judgment if you’re just buying a $20 tent for a one-time trip.

✅ Clean & Organized – For a big-box store, it’s surprisingly well-kept and easy to navigate. No tripping over messy clearance piles (most of the time).

Who It’s Best For: Weekend warriors (not hardcore mountaineers needing $500 jackets). Budget-conscious shoppers who still want decent gear. Families stocking up on sports/camping essentials.

Minor Downsides: Not for ultra-specialized needs (you won’t find Arctic-expedition-level gear here). Store hours vary—some locations close earlier than expected.

Verdict: Academy is the go-to for affordable, no-fuss outdoor and sports gear. It’s like if Walmart’s sporting goods section grew up, got organized, and actually knew what it was doing. 9/10 for casual to mid-level adventurers!

Pro Tip: Check their online clearance first—some hidden deals aren’t...

Update: As of March 2021Academy continues to give excellent service. I was able to replenish some emergency and camping gear that I used during the SUPER COLD spell we had in February. Useful camp gear such as Nebo Flip It lights, Sterno camp fuel, fleece blankets, and the like came in very handy during that cold snap, and I was glad to see that Academy had supplies on hand for replenishment, even with all the people who came in to replenish their supplies. They also did not try to price gouge their customers, when everyone was buying batteries, blankets, camp fuel, jackets, and the like. Way to go Academy.

I've bought from Academy over many decades but the Academy off of the SW Freeway has been the one I've gone to most often. At first I went largely for the exercise and fitness equipment. They have a wide selection for weight training, boxing, martial arts, baseball, golf, biking, swimming, etc. However I soon noticed their excellent selection of optical, hunting, camping, sporting, and boating gear, and an expanding category of clothes and footwear as well. Additionally, consumer electronics such as wristwatches, Bluetooth speakers, and USB power banks are present as well. The quality is very good, and if for some reason you are not satisfied the return policy is very generous. The staff have always seemed to be friendly and professional, and there are enough Academy personnel around that you can get help very quickly if needed. They keep up with the latest trends so the gear and products are usually top notch and includes many high end name brands. Customer satisfaction seems to be very good too, as their stores always seem to have lots of people. Overall it's a very nice one stop shop for a large number of outdoor related activities such as hunting, fishing and bird watching, sports, family events,,and obtaining your...