Most of the big sales on gear fall around a holiday: Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, and for outdoor enthusiasts, REI’s anniversary. Every May, REI hosts its biggest sale of the year with steep discounts (up to 50 percent off!) on top products from favorite brands. Here’s why gearheads should get excited about one of the biggest sales of the year:
- An epic assortment of products: By our last count, there are almost 6,500 products on sale for this REI event. We’re talking mountains of gear!
- It’s 11 days long: Flash sales can be stressful, but this REI sale runs from May 16th to the 26th, giving you ample time to shop.
- Affordable Co-op gear becomes even more affordable: REI’s in-house Co-Op gear already has a reputation for affordability. During the Anniversary Sale, Co-op gear is heavily discounted, making it even more attractive for bargain hunters.
- Extra Perks For REI Members
If you’re an REI member, you get a 20 percent off coupon for a full-price item or an REI outlet item not included in the Anniversary Sale. Browse coupon-eligible full-price items here and outlet gear here, and remember to use the code “ANNIV2025” at checkout. REI members also get 20 percent off used gear in REI’s Re/Supply inventory by using the code “USED2025” at checkout. Between those two additional deals, REI Members can score double-digit discounts on hundreds of additional products.
Below, we’ve rounded up 13 of the best deals from REI’s Anniversary Sale, each hand-picked by our crew of unabashed gear nerds.
Garmin inReach Mini 2
If you don’t already have a satellite communication device, REI’s Anniversary Sale is the perfect excuse to pull the trigger on this safety essential. For a limited time, you can save $100 on Garmin’s industry-leading inReach Mini 2. This remarkably compact gadget clocks in at a paltry 3.5 ounces. It also comes with an integrated loop and removable carabiner, making it easy to bring along on every human-powered adventure. Not only does the inReach allow you to send SOS alerts in the case of an emergency, but you can also communicate via text messages, allowing you to provide loved ones with peace of mind, organize pick-ups for minor injuries, schedule food drops, or check in regarding weather on expeditions.
Thule SnowPack Ski/Snowboard Rack
If you’re never over ski season and shredding is still on the brain, step up your winter rack game with the Thule SnowPack Ski/Snowboard Rack. The universal attachment system fits more than just your favorite Thule racks; it also secures round bars, most factory options, and competitors’ products. It also has a reliable locking system, an easy-to-use hinging design, and a six-pair capacity, so it checks all the boxes we’re looking for in a ski rack.
REI Co-op Men’s Sahara Stretch Convertible Pants
If you ask us, zip-off pants are the definition of cool. At the very least, they allow hikers, backpackers, and travelers to enjoy a cool breeze when pant legs are jettisoned. Also cool? UPF-50+ protection, a welcome slew of sizes, and a stretchy, comfy spandex-and-nylon fabric blend. But the best part is that REI’s Co-Op Sahara Stretch Convertible Pants for men and women are now 50 percent off during the Anniversary Sale.
REI Co-op Rainier Jacket
During our annual rain jacket test, REI’s Rainier Jacket consistently ranks as our favorite bargain option. The shell features a 2.5-layer construction with a DWR-treated nylon ripstop face fabric and a HydroWall membrane for waterproofing and breathability. The result? Solid weatherproofing that’s virtually unheard of at the hundred-dollar price point. Now slashed by 30 percent for men’s and women’s styles, this bargain pick is more affordable than ever.
Mountain Hardwear Men’s Crater Lake Hoodie
Mountain Hardwear’s Crater Lake Hoodie for men and women is a well-executed rendition of an immensely underrated essential: the hooded sunshirt. Crafted from a light, stretchy, UPF-50+ blend of polyester and elastane, the featherweight hoodie is comfortable, breathable, and shields you from the sun on scorching adventures. The hood protects your neck like the Wu-Tang Clan, while thumbholes, dropped shoulders, and imperceptible seams ensure an unimpeded, chafe-free range of movement. There’s even a stash pocket on the hip, an ideal place to safeguard the $18 you’ll save when you score the Crater Lake Hoodie during REI’s Anniversary Sale.
Jetboil Flash
Although the market is flooded with imitators, they don’t beat Jetboil’s integrated canister stoves, including the Flash. Efficient, easy to use, and lightning fast, the one-liter Flash is ideal for one or two-person use, especially on backpacking trips when you’re relying on dehydrated meals or simple dishes like ramen or oatmeal. Today, you can add one to your backpacking kit for under a hundred bucks.
REI Co-op Magma 15
There’s a lot to love about REI’s Magma 15 sleeping bag. While the retail price is by no means cheap, it’s on the affordable side when you consider the perks. Namely, we’re happy to see it stuffed with top-of-the-line 850-fill goose down, our favorite sleeping bag insulation, which keeps weight low without reducing warmth. For the Anniversary Sale, REI took 30 percent off the Magma, making it even more reasonably priced. Furthermore, a whopping nine shapes and sizes are available, a virtually unheard-of smorgasbord of options for sleeping bags, and part of REI’s admirable efforts to share the outdoors with anyone and everyone. So don’t sleep on this one—sleep in this one.
MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe
If you want more versatility when cooking in the backcountry, but still need a compact backpacking stove, MSR’s Pocket Rocket Deluxe is the way to go. Thanks to collapsible pot supports, the petite powerhouse packs down to the size of a kiwi. A built-in igniter means you won’t be kicking yourself if you forget a lighter, the simmer function is fantastic for whipping up more complex dishes on the trail, and the stable, rigid pot supports can handle everything from slender, ultralight titanium pots to bigger camp skillets. At $85 retail, the MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe already speaks to backpackers on a budget, but you can now score the stellar stove for 25 percent off at REI’s Anniversary Sale.
Roark Men’s Bless Up Shirt
Few shirts marry form and function like Roark’s Bless Up button-downs. The silhouette is classic and casual—perfect for a summer concert, outdoor date night, or a post-ride happy hour. But what sets the Bless Up apart from the pack is a fabric that makes it well-suited to mountain bike rides, hikes, and long travel days, too. Namely, an almost sheer, generously perforated polyester and nylon blend that’s lightweight, airy, and mind-bogglingly comfortable in oppressive heat and humidity. As a matter of fact, I’m wearing the Bless Up as I write this story between surf sessions during a stiflingly tropical trip to mainland Mexico.
Roark Bless Up Dress
This Roark dress is made from the same tester-favorite fabric as the Bless Up button-down shirts, but in a mid-length dress style. We’re big fans of this one, too. It’s lightweight, packable, and versatile, working as a comfy cover-up on the beach or an extra outfit on an international trip.
REI Co-op Magma 30
Like the Magma 15, the Magma 30 offers the premium 850-fill goose down we’re looking for in a backpacking sleeping bag. It also comes in nine sizes, too, from “short narrow” to “long wide,” and is 30 percent off thanks to this savings event. The difference? It’s lighter and not quite as warm, making it a better pick for adventures in more moderate temperatures. Not to mention, it’s a touch cheaper.
LifeStraw Peak Series Squeeze Water Filter System 650ml
What’s the heaviest thing in your backpack? We bet it’s your water bottles. That’s why we dig LifeStraw’s Peak Series Squeeze Water Filter System because it lets you cut back on water weight without sacrificing hydration on the trail. The nifty squeeze bottle features a built-in, hollow-core-membrane water filter, allowing backpackers, hikers, and more to collect water throughout the day instead of hauling multiple liters from the jump. Needless to say, this just-over-pint-sized, 650-milliliter option is a game-changer for minimalists in the mountains.
LifeStraw Peak Series Squeeze Water Filter System 1L
This Peak Series Squeeze Water Filter System features the same practical design as the last filter we highlighted. However, the durable, collapsible bladder is a touch bigger, providing one liter of drinking water between refills.
More Gear Reviews
The Best Tents for Camping in Comfort and Style
The 7 Best Sleeping Bags for Car Camping
The Best Sleeping Pads
The post The Best Gear Deals at REI’s Biggest Sale of the Year appeared first on Outside Online.
