Summer is practically knocking on the door. The birds are back, the flowers are out, and REI has decided it is time to slash prices.
It is the biggest sale of their calendar. It runs from May 15 until Memorial Day, May 26. Most stuff gets 30 percent off. If you are an REI Co-op member, you save up to 20 percent already on full-price items plus an extra 20 percent on outlet goods. You have to type the code ANNIV26 at checkout. Don’t forget.
We have picked out the gear we actually use. Tents. Stoves. Bags that keep you warm without weighing you down. Look at the specific guides if you want to deep dive, but here are the hits.
WIRED Featured Picks
- Goal Zero Yeti 150: $1,125 (was $1,500)
- Garmin Instinct 3 Solar: $400 (was $500)
- REI Co-op Half Dome 2: $197 (was $329)
- Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite: $195 (was $260)
- REI Co-op 65 Down Jacket: $90 (was $120)
Gadgets And Stoves
Goal Zero’s Yeti 150 is serious business. The battery chemistry is LiFePO4, rated for 4,00 cycles, that is about 10 years. It handles 30 amps for van life setups. It can keep your laptop charged for a week without an outlet.
You might think your phone replaces satellite messengers. It doesn’t. Garmin’s inReach Mini 3 still wins. It does voice and photos now. The older model, the InReach Mini is cheaper and lacks photos, still $400, but $50 off the list price.
The Garmin Instinct Solar charges itself in sunlight. It is cheap. It works. It tracks sports and GPS better than a Fenix at a fraction of the cost.
If you cook outdoors, get the Coleman Cascade 3-in-1. It has cast iron. It fits two pans. It feels heavier and more expensive than it is. If you camp once a year, save $59 and get the simpler version from Walmart.
REI makes decent stuff for low prices. This is their formula, 90 percent of a brand-name item for 70 percent price. The REI Co-op Chair wobbles, sure, but it is half the cost of the Nemo option and sits just fine.
Cutting wood for a fire requires a sharp saw. The Silky Folding Saw is five ounces. It fits in a pannier. Do not cut yourself, it is razor sharp.
Light matters. The Petzl TIKKA headlamp lasts hours, takes three AAA batteries. We use recharges, but it works either way. It costs little enough that losing it feels less catastrophic.
Tents
REI tents are always a steal during this sale.
The REI Base Camp 4 is the best car tent. Two crossed poles, sturdy polyester floor, huge windows. It does not collapse in wind. The Half Dome 2 is for backpackers. It is small. It comes with a footprint. We usually forget to use the footprint but it saves you from sharp rocks.
Big Agnes Copper Spur ultralight series is pricey normally, so grab it now. The mesh is thin but lasts. The tent lives. It feels spacious for the weight.
Nemo Dragonfly tents breathe well. The top mesh lets you watch the stars. The Osmo fabric sheds water without drinking it like regular nylon. If you sleep hot, get this one.
Sleeping Bags And Pads
Sleep is important. Do not cheap out here if you go into cold weather.
The REI Magma 15 Down Sleeping Bag is 850-fill goose down. It warms to 21 degrees. It packs small. There are lengths and widths, get what fits you. The Magma 30 is for summer.
REI Magma Down Quilt was surprisingly warm. Tested to 30 degrees F while wearing a puffer underneath. It clips to the pad or unfolds into a comforter. Two pounds is the tradeoff, and it is worth it.
Need something lighter? This mummy bag weighs less but packs tinier than almost anything else. The 850-plus hydrophobic down sheds water. We have slept to 20 F in it without shivering.
Synthetics work if you hate wet gear. Nemo Forte 20 uses Zero Fiber, recycled plastic insulation. It compresses tightly. Comfort rating is 30 F. It is a safe choice for unpredictable springs.
Therm-a-Rest ProLite XL is heavy, roughly 20 ounces, but we sleep better on it. It supports long mileage recovery. It costs a lot, buy it while discounted.
The Tensor All-Season is 18 ounces. It insulates at R 5.4. No crinkly noise when you turn over. Quiet is underrated at 2 am.
Winter campers need the Tensor Extreme with R 8.5. It packs down to Nalgene bottle size. For 21 ounces, that is insane performance. Or grab the other high-end option, which feels more comfortable to some despite lower R ratings, pair it with a Z-lite for sub-zero nights.
Finally, the Exped Megamat. Four inches thick. It feels like your home bed. Closed-cell foam core adds support. Tent camping suddenly stops feeling like punishment.
Who stays home? The birds are gone. The deals are real. Pick a weekend. Get out.
