Cover photo courtesy of Solnix
For Ben and Kacey Deakins, owners of Solnix, running a local gear shop is just a way to tap into what they really love: the passionate outdoors community of Spokane. Have just one conversation with either of them, as we did one morning this fall, and you can sense their love for that community and how it translates to a great gear shop culture.
The Deakins have been at the helm of Solnix, formerly known as Shred Sports, since December 2023. “Sol” means sun, “nix” means snow, and the cross-season nod in Latin isn’t just indicative of the gear options you can find in the shop; Ben and Kacey do all the sports in all the seasons, which has included teaching their five kids to snowboard on local mountains. It puts them in a prime position to curate and recommend top-of-the-line gear that will perform for their customers, like kids’ gear designed to expand as kids grow.
Ben’s roots with the shop go back to the mid-90s, when he got a job as a teen at what was then called Sports Outlet. The shop sported a neon color scheme and discount gear that had been over-manufactured. Kacey, who he was dating at the time, drove him to his work shifts on Argonne from Deer Park, because he didn’t have a car. Ben left the shop for a career in the corporate world in the early 2000s but often still took shifts when he was back in town for seasonal stints. Even when he traveled for his full-time job, shop culture was on his radar; he stopped in at gear shops across the country to check out the offerings and chat with employees. “I like to talk about gear. That’s always been a part of my life,” says Ben.
Josh, the shop manager at Solnix, walked in for the morning, and Ben paused our interview to introduce us. Josh gave a wave and headed to the back of the shop to get ready for the day.
During his travels, Ben noticed that some shops had a far more welcoming atmosphere than others. In late 2022, when the opportunity arose for Ben to take the lead at Shred Sports, he knew the type of shop culture he wanted to continue.
“The overwhelming trend when you go into another shop [can be that] you just don’t feel like you’re welcome. You’re not core enough, not wearing the right clothes, or maybe you don’t look like you have enough money, whatever that is. As the leader of the shop, I feel like overall the culture and the vibe of the shop is that anyone can walk through that door and be welcome. Our employees are valued and shown that they matter to the business,” he says.
Ben’s oldest son, Rome, walked in for his shift. Ben paused our interview to put us on a first-name basis and told a story about buying snow gear for Rome that lasted through all five kids.
Solnix is a family affair: Kacey works side by side with Ben, and most of their kids have pulled time behind the counter. It’s a metaphor for how rooted Solnix is in the local outdoors community. They treat other members of that community like family.
To support that larger community, Ben and Kacey started an annual parking lot movie night each November, a kickoff to winter that raises funds for the Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center (IPAC). They’ve continued the employee mountain party that the shop has historically hosted, a private event for employees of the four local mountains—ski patrol members and lifties alike—to gather at the shop for food, beer, prizes, and a special discount on brand-new gear, so even teen employees can have a shot at getting outfitted in the best brands. “I think that’s one of the real flagship events for the shop, where it’s just to give back,” says Ben. “It’s to show appreciation for them keeping the mountains open, and it’s a fun night.”
Connor walked in for his shift a bit before opening time, 9 a.m., and Ben again paused to introduce us, greeting him by first name like he did each employee.
Solnix offers first responders and ski patrol members discounts year-round to help stoke the backbone of the outdoors industry they love. They’ve also continued the Out Cold event, an early December party (held Dec. 9 at Brickwest Brewing this year) that shows the “super cheesy” ‘90s snowboarding movie and offers attendees raffle prizes and free ski and board waxings, with funds donated to a local snowboard and ski nonprofit like IPAC or Mt. Spokane Ski Patrol. This year, it will be IPAC, which lost some of its funding from federal budget cuts.
“I love Spokane,” says Ben. “We were born and raised in this area. And I know it gets a lot of shade, but it’s a great town. We have such abundant access to outdoor activities that there’s hardly a place around that could parallel it. I love the community, and I want people to do these sports, not just as a business.”
Check out the Deakins’ curated gear and culture at Solnix at 4505 N. Division St. in Spokane. And don’t be surprised if you leave knowing a few names of the people working at the shop, supporting the outdoors industry we all love.
