Deals on Rain Jackets and Outdoor Clothing
Now is a great time to score some new base layers and mid layers ahead of the cooler months, or pick up one of our favorite rain jackets.
Photograph: Adrienne So
Arc’teryx’s Beta AR rain jacket is one of the burliest rain jackets I’ve tested. The Beta AR uses 40D fabric for most of the face, with reinforced 80D patches in high-wear areas, all of it with a Gore-Tex Pro 3L membrane. It’s been the only Gore-Tex jacket I’ve tested that hasn’t wetted out yet, and the pit zips provide excellent ventilation. At 1 pound, 0.3 ounces, it’s not the lightest jacket, but you’d be hard-pressed to find anything else this durable at this weight.
I have the 2024 version of this jacket and it has proved reliable and waterproof. The taped seams and welded construction keep wind and moisture at bay, and the side zip vents run all the way from the hem to the bicep, offering great ventilation when you’re moving (also handy for getting at stuff in the pockets of your mid layers). Only the men’s version is on sale.
Patagonia’s classic rain jacket is half off. It’s only one color and only women’s sizing, but this is a great deal if it works for you. The Torrentshell has a two-way adjustable hood, and the cuffs have velcro to give a nice, tight seal against the rain. The only real complaint I have with this jacket is that’s it’s on the noisier side, but at this price, I can deal with a little extra nylon crinkling.
Courtesy of REI
The Rainier is our favorite budget rain jacket, especially when it’s on sale. This particular deal, while limited in color options, is the lowest price I’ve seen in 5 years of covering REI sales. Unlike most rain jackets in this price range, the Rainier uses high-quality three-layer, seam-taped, laminate waterproofing that’s non-fluorinated (meaning no PFAS). It has some other features rare in budget rain jackets, like pit zips or venting, a weatherproof center zip, and an adjustable, stowable hood.
Looking to avoid the sun? REI’s Sahara Shade hoodie is a great alternative to sunscreen. I don’t often use a sun hoodie myself, but I have worn this one and it does do a good job of protecting you without feeling too stuffy on a hot day (it’s definitely better for protecting against high altitude sun rather than humid, Florida sun).
The Ghost Whisperer Down jacket is my top pick for a backpacking puffer jacket. This is the hoodie version of the same. It weighs just 10.7 ounces for a men’s medium, packs down to a tiny little thing (stuffing into its own pocket), and the 1,000-fill-power goose down offers one of the best warmth-to-weight ratios on the market. Unfortunately, colors and sizes are very limited.
Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
Darn Tough makes some of our favorite merino wool socks. You can’t go wrong with a pair of on your next trip. The Light Hiker Quarter Socks for $16 are nice for anyone who’s moved to lightweight trail runners or minimal shoes. Most Darn Toughs are about 60 percent merino, with rest nylon. The nylon does mean you can’t wear them as long without washing, I find about 2 days max for blends like this.
This is the quarter zip version of the best midweight base layer we’ve tested. I find this Smartwool shirt perfect for chilly spring and fall mornings. It’s comfortable, though tending to be looser fitting, which is something to keep in mind when layering. The heavy-duty seams (read: sturdier, longer lasting) don’t rub, and sit off the shoulder for more comfort when wearing a pack.
Cold temps are coming soon, grab this and keep your neck warm. I live in this Turtle Fur gaiter during the winter, and I also use the lighter, superfine version for hiking at elevation in the summer to keep the sun off my neck without resorting to sunscreen. It’s wonderfully soft, not overly tight, and never smells.
Courtesy of Patagonia
Our favorite synthetic base layer, these super soft and stretchy unders are made from Capilene, which is 100 percent recycled polyester (Capilene is Patagonia’s proprietary fabric and not the same as polypropylene). The synthetic threads here perform about on par with wool. Capilene is also just about as comfortable, all while being light and quick-drying. Sizes here are very limited since this version has been replaced by an updated, revamp version that we are in the process of testing.
This is an REI Outlet deal because it’s been discontinued, which is a shame (hopefully that just means new colors are coming next year). REI’s 100 percent merino base layers are some of the best values around, even at full price. On sale, they’re a true steal. I like this half-zip for the extra ventilation the zipper provides, but if you prefer, the regular top (on sale for $30) is also on sale, as is the base layer bottom (on sale for $30).
Nothing says outdoors like a hatchet loop on your pants. Fjällräven Vidda Pro trousers give you that and great ventilation. The Vidda Pro uses Fjällräven’s G-1000 fabric, a 65 percent recycled polyester and 35 percent cotton blend, with pockets everywhere and extras like ventilation zippers, reinforced knees (with openings for pads), and that sweet, sweet hatchet loop on the leg.
Deals on Tents
Courtesy of REI
The REI Half Dome 2 is the best budget two-person backpacking tent. I’ve toted it on many backpacking trips and found it plenty sturdy, quick to set up, and capable of fitting two people along with their gear. It even comes with a footprint (which I never bother with, but it’s nice to have it if you have to deal with pointy rocks).
The Big Agnes Copper Spur series is our top pick among freestanding ultralight tents. This is the bike-packing model, which features shorter pole segments that are easier to haul on a bike, but I really prefer it for the more subdued colors. The Copper Spur is a high-quality, well-designed tent that’s lightweight, easy to set up, and roomy enough to be livable in the backcountry. The “awning” design (with trekking poles or sticks) is a nice extra.
Nemo’s Dragonfly tents are roomy for the weight. There’s a generous amount of mesh at the top, which provides some nice ventilation on warm summer nights and is perfect for falling asleep under the stars when the weather permits. The Osmo fabric is a blend of nylon and polyester that absorbs less water than pure nylon rainflies.
MSR’s Groundhog stakes aren’t cheap, but they’re the best backpacking tent upgrade you can make. They’re superstrong—I’ve never had one bend or pull out on me—and considering their strength, they’re pretty lightweight. I suggest carrying a mix of stakes when backpacking—some of these, some carbon fiber pegs, and some shepherd hooks. That way, no matter the terrain, you’ve got something that’ll work.
Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
REI’s Base Camp tent is my favorite car camping tent. It’s a traditional dome tent design, with two crossed poles and two side poles, that hold up very well in wind. The floor is high-quality 150-denier polyester, which so far has not shown any signs of abrasion, despite quite a few nights on rough ground out West. Inside, there are loads of storage pockets, and the double doors make great vents in warmer weather, with huge windows that ensure you catch any whiffs of breeze on hot nights.
The Marmot Halo is my favorite all-weather four-person family tent. The low-profile design stands up better to wind, while the steep sidewalls maximize interior space. It also has a nearly full-length rain fly, which helps make this a real haven in a storm. The name comes from the unusual pole design. There are two cross poles, like every square, domed tent, but the side poles connect halfway up the tent body instead of at the ground. The only downside is that you can’t stand up in it. If you want more room, the six-person version, which, with a 76-inch peak height, may be tall enough for you to stand up in, is also on sale.
Deals on Hiking Boots and Shoes
Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
My favorite barefoot sandals are 25 percent off right now. I always call these the barefoot equivalent of Chaco sandals. They’re not as robust, and I’d still bring Chacos if I were white-water rafting, but for everything else these are perfect. Z-Trails flex and bend as you walk, giving your feet the freedom of movement you’d expect from a barefoot shoe, though these do have 10 mm of cushioning, which makes them a good option if you’re just starting out with barefoot shoes. The even more minimal Z-Trek sandals are also on sale.
The best all-around barefoot shoe, the Prios are your classic sneaker reimagined for barefoot shoe enthusiasts. When you were a kid, you had just one pair of shoes: The Prios are that pair. The toe box is wide enough for my toes to splay out nicely, and the heel cup is snug with no slipping. The ground feel is great too, enough feedback to feel barefoot, but you’re not going to wince when you hit a sharp stone.
Courtesy of Altra
Altra’s Lone Peak shoes have carried countless thru-hikers to the finish line. The Lone Peak first came on the scene in 2011 and quickly built a cult following. They’re light (11.5 ounces) and very comfortable in our testing. The reinforced toe and heel offer excellent protection against rough, rocky trails, and while they’re much more padded these days than early versions, they’re still zero drop.
Keen’s Targhee Apex has finally found a look that isn’t bad by Targhee standards. Perhaps more than any other shoe we’ve tested, these look like the trail-running Gorpcore icons they are. At just 0.75 pounds each, they are light without being fragile, and the generous footbed lets your feet spread comfortably on long days.
The La Sportiva Prodigio combines trail-running agility with boot-level protection, delivering surprising versatility on rugged terrain. They’re one of our favorite light hiking boots. The fit is a little on the snug side—much like La Sportiva climbing shoes—but they should be fine even for wide feet thanks to the generous footbed width. At 1.65 pounds for the pair, these aren’t terribly bulky.
Camping Gear Deals
Courtesy of Kelty
This camp chair is the coziest way to hang out around the fire. It is somewhat huge, heavy, and awkward to fold up and carry, but so long as you have room for it in your vehicle, there’s no better way to relax under the stars with your loved ones.
The thing to keep in mind when you shop REI brand gear is the company’s basic proposition: You get 90 percent of the designer item for 70 percent of the price. It’s a strategy that works well and has produced some great, affordable gear. This chair is a good example: It’s comfortable (it does wobble a little side-to-side when you move) and less than half the price of competitors.
I’ve noticed that when people try to lighten their load with a smaller, lighter backpack, they struggle to fit all their gear. The answer for sleeping bags and clothing is this compression stuff sack, which smashes anything soft down to about half the size of the same item in a regular stuff sack. This works well with sleeping bags and clothing, especially puffer jackets, but also fleece and merino wool.
Deal on Packs and Bags
Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
The High Coast Rolltop 26L pack from Fjällräven is my favorite waterproof pack. It’s the perfect size for a day hike, with room for all my gear, and plenty of kid gear should the family be coming along. It’s made of waterproof 400D polyamide, and it’s seam taped and fully waterproof, thanks to the rolltop closure. The High Coast has stretchy mesh side pockets that hold water bottles and snacks. There’s also a zippered side pocket on the outside of one of those side pockets, which can store small items like wallet and keys (none of the outer pockets are waterproof).
Mountainsmith has been making this lumbar pack for ages and it’s stood the test of time. It’s by far my most used pack. It can be worn as a lumbar pack (which I do when riding my bike), or as a a shoulder bag around town. I also strap it to the handle bars of my bike (it’s amazing what you can do with some voile straps), and to the outside of a Mystery Ranch backpack (to use as a daypack/outside storage). This is an REI Outlet deal, so if you use the code LABORDAY26 you can get an extra 20% off.
A long time WIRED favorite, Peak Design’s Everyday pack is a chic and understated, endlessly adaptable, and easy-to-use pack that can go everywhere you go—from the woods, to the office, to the bar. The greatness is in the thoughtful design details. For example, there are quick-release loops on the arm straps to swiftly loosen one just enough to swing the bag around and get your keys or wallet while standing or walking.
Photograph: Adrienne SoPhotograph: Adrienne So
Nemo’s Resolve is a great little daypack. The Cero fabric is solution dyed to reduce water waste, as is the cushioning, and it uses a system of bungees and pull-tabs, instead of straps or webbing. Over the long term those bungees should be easier to repair and replace making the pack longer lasting. It’s also very comfortable. Though technically frameless, it feels like it has some structure, and at just over two pounds, it’s pretty light.
REI’s Big Haul duffel is a durable, water-resistant, gear-swallowing bag for carrying, well, just about everything. It’s one of our favorite ways to schlep your gear when flying. It hits the right balance of robust build materials and pockets without being too heavy to lug around all day. The strap system is cleverly customizable, and you can convert it to a backpack.
Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
The Flash 22 is one of the best-value day packs on the market, especially on sale. It’s surprisingly comfortable despite the lightweight straps and minimal padding. It carries loads up to 15 pounds without straining the shoulders, and the side stash pockets are fabulously large—big enough for a Nalgene bottle or rain jacket. Note that this deal is only on the patterned colors.
WIRED staffers have North Face duffels that have been going strong for 25 years, earning a spot in our Buy It for Life guide. They’re big ol’ bags (this one is 62 liters), capable of swallowing gear like a whale, and unlike all the other identical cases on the luggage carousel, they’re always easy to spot. This version is made of phthalate-free, recycled PVC and recycled nylon that’s treated with a non-PFC water-repellent (DWR) finish.
Sleeping Bag and Sleeping Pad Deals
Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
Our favorite backpacking sleeping bag, the Bishop Pass 15 offers the best warmth-to-weight ratio while packing down small and staying affordable. I have slept in this bag for more than two weeks, with nighttime temps ranging from 28 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit, and, yes, it was too warm in the heat, but on those warmer nights, I unzipped it and used it as a blanket. It isn’t perfect, but it’s a versatile bag.
REI’s Magma line of down gear is some of the best value around. The Magma 15 sleeping bag has long been an affordable option that’s perfect for shoulder-season trips when the temperature potentially swings lower than you expect (the comfort rating is 21). There are three lengths and three widths, which makes it easy to find a perfect fit for your body, and the 850-fill-power goose down (Bluesign-approved) packs down nicely and small. If you don’t need the shoulder-season coverage, the Magma 30 is also on sale for $262 ($87 off), and it makes a great summer sleeping bag.
This down mummy bag has a spoon-shaped design for side sleepers and extra room in the elbows and knees so you can roll over onto your side without feeling like you’re slipping into a straitjacket. It’s built for temps down to 30 degrees Fahrenheit and has zippered gills you can open to avoid overheating when it’s warmer.
Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
The best budget ultralight quilt, the Magma Trail is a great value for the money. The lower price does mean that this one is a bit heavier (it uses 850-fill-power down), though at 24 ounces for the long, wide version I have, it’s competitive on the scale. The straps for attaching it to your sleep pad aren’t as nice as what you’ll get with something like the Enlightened Equipment’s Revelation Quilt, but it’s just as warm and does a respectable job of keeping out drafts. There’s even a zippered foot box with a drawstring for cooler nights.
Nemo’s Pulse quilt uses RDS-certified, gold-infused 1,000-fill-power ExpeDRY down, which does a good job of shedding moisture from tent condensation and reportedly dries faster than standard down, though I’ve never figured out a good way to test this. The Karo Step baffle stitching keeps down well distributed, and at 12 ounces for the regular, this one is pretty dang lightweight.
The Zenbivy sleep system uses a clever sheet and quilt combo to deliver the best backcountry sleep I’ve ever had. It’s light at 1 pound, 12 ounces (or 793 grams) for the 25 degree Fahrenheit large version, though Zenbivy does make an ligher, Ultralight Quilt. I find the Light Quilt to be the better value (especially on sale like this). You can read my full review of the Light Bed for more on why I think it’s the best way to sleep when backpacking.
Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
This is our favorite ultralight sleeping bag. Quilts are great, but when you need the warmth of a mummy bag on those colder nights, this is the best sleeping bag I’ve tested. It also has the smallest pack size of any bag I’ve tested in this temperature range. The down fill is PFC-free, 850+ hydrophobic down, and while the zippers are on the small side, they slide well and rarely, if ever, snag on the bag. I’ve slept in this bag down to 20 degrees and never been the least bit cold.
This is our favorite sleeping bag for car camping. The REI Siesta is plenty warm and affordable. It’s also not a mummy bag because you’re not climbing Denali here. The rectangular cut makes for a much roomier, more comfortable sleeping experience. The 20-degree-Fahrenheit rating makes it warm enough for three seasons, and unlike most rectangular bags, the Siesta has a hood, which helps on those cold nights.
The Kindercamp makes a great car camping bag if you’ve got young children. Once your kids are about 4 feet tall, an adult sleeping bag works just fine. Prior to that, they’ll benefit from a kids’ sleeping bag like the Kindercamp, which is cut smaller so your little ones don’t have to heat up a huge, adult-size sleeping bag to stay warm.
Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
There are other good sleeping pads out there, but nothing compares to the Therm-a-Rest NeoLoft for comfort. This pad reinvigorated my love of backpacking by ensuring that I get a great night’s sleep. It’s cushy and comfortable, especially if you’re careful not to overinflate it. The R-4.8 insulation keeps you warm down to about freezing, though I’ve used it in colder conditions by pairing it with a closed-cell foam pad.
The Z-Lite Sol weighs next to nothing (10 ounces for the small), folds up compact enough to lash to the outside of any pack, and will completely change your backpacking experience for the better. I am too old and too soft to sleep on just this anymore, but I use it as a chair, padding for a nap on the rocks, a table, extra padding on cold nights, and more. It’s possibly the most versatile piece of gear I own.
If you want to feel like you never left your bed at home, this is the camping pad to get. You really have no idea how comfortable tent camping can be until you sleep on a Megamat. The firm, 4-inch-thick pad is both soft and surprisingly firm thanks to the closed-cell foam inside, which relieves pressure and feels about as close to the mattress in your bedroom as you’re going to get in the woods.
Camp Stove and Water Filter Deals
Nothing says camping like roasting marshmallows over open flames and burning beans on the camp stove. Check out our guides to the best backpacking stoves and best camping stoves for more picks.
Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
MSR’s PocketRocket Deluxe is our top pick for a backpacking stove. It wins the title thanks to its larger burner area, which allows the flame to spread out for faster boil times and better fuel efficiency, especially with larger pots. It also fared better in the wind than smaller burners. The genius of the deluxe model is the small curved lip around the burner, which helps keep wind from getting to the base of the flame. It’s a small design element, and one that you certainly want. During long-term testing, I found it more effective at maintaining a simmer in the wind, should you want to do any actual cooking.
You can put together a lighter cooking setup, but Jetboil’s Stash is the lightest all-in-one system out there, and it does boil water a bit faster than the rest. The heat diffuser design speeds up boil times (Jetboil claims 2.5 minutes, which I could only match indoors in still air), but the real appeal is how this kit packs down into itself and how simple it is to use.
Jetboil’s larger all-in-one cooking system, the Flash, offers a larger-capacity 1-liter pot that combines an integrated pot and burner into an easy-to-use system. I prefer the more compact Stash above, but if you’re cooking for two and are all-in on dehydrated meals, this stove is popular for good reason.
While I prefer the larger burner head of the Deluxe model above, the MSR PocketRocket 2 is lighter at 2.6 ounces compared to the Deluxe’s 2.9. It still has wide enough arms to support just about any one- or two-person pot. It’s simple to use, even while wearing gloves, and it’s efficient. At 947-foot elevation, it boiled 1 liter of water in 3 minutes, 47 seconds. You can even get it to simmer, though the flame radius is small, so fancier cooking isn’t easy.
Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
MSR’s WhisperLite series is probably the most popular backpacking stove ever made. They last forever (mine is over 30 years old and still works great), and this model, the Universal, can use just about any fuel you can imagine—white gas, kerosene, unleaded gasoline, and isobutane-propane canisters, to be precise. The only downside is that it can be fiddly compared to stoves like the Jetboil. But if you’re headed out on a long trip, buying fuel as you go, this is the most flexible option out there.
This is by far the most compact two-burner stove I’ve tested. It’s my pick for any situation where space is at a premium—whether that’s canoeing or just because you have a small car. The burners are large, and with some practice, I could get a light, simmer-friendly flame. My main gripe is the windscreen, which is not the best. The Basecamp version, with fitted pots, is also on sale for $300 ($100 off).
Courtesy of Coleman
My favorite stove in Coleman’s current lineup, the Coleman Cascade 3-in-1 features heavy-duty cast-iron grates and comes with a cast-iron griddle and grill. It’ll comfortably fit a 12-inch pan and a 10-inch pan side by side, and it’s significantly sturdier and more robust than other Coleman stoves, making it worth the extra money if you use it often. That said, the much cheaper stove below will get you by if you’re only using it a few nights a year.
This stove is ubiquitous at campgrounds for a reason. It’s well-built, sturdy on a table, and just works. It’s not the most powerful stove, and it lacks frills like push-button ignition, but it’s capable of holding a low flame, simmering soups, and cooking scrambled eggs without browning them. It’s also incredibly durable.
Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
The MSR Gravity Autoflow filter is a must-have for backpacking with a group. To use this filter, scoop up 10 liters of water in the dirty water bag, attach the hose, connect your water bottle, and sit back and relax. The filter is good enough to keep you safe from all the usual protozoa and bacteria, and the flow rate is a solid 1.5 liters per minute when the filter is clean.
The MSR Guardian is our pick for trips with sketchy water sources because it filters down to 0.02 microns, which will even remove viruses. It is heavy at 22 ounces and may be overkill for trips in the US, but it’s a great option for overseas adventures. I really like that it’s designed to be self-cleaning, which makes field maintenance incredibly easy, and that it screws right onto a Nalgene bottle. Also, because it’s a pump filter, it’s very fast. You can crank out a couple of liters in hardly any time at all. The gravity-fed version is also on sale at Backcountry for $232 ($78 off).
Deals on Action Cameras and Gadgets
If you snap a selfie in the woods and Instagram isn’t around to see it, did it happen? You’ll never have to answer that question if you’ve got one of our favorite action cameras or 360 cameras with you.
Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
Insta360’s X6 360 camera just launched—our review will be coming soon—but the X5 is still a great option, especially on sale. The twin 1/1.28-inch sensors capture 8K video, which means you can reframe your footage to fit rectangular video formats and still have nearly 4K clips sharp enough to mix with footage shot with your phone. The dynamic range is impressive, and the X5 also has great battery life.
If you’re going to turn your action camera on yourself, consider the Ace Pro 2, our top pick for vlogging. It has a great lens and sensor co-engineered with Leica, is capable of recording 8K video at up to 30 frames per second (fps), and has some pretty darn nice color even in the default settings. My guess is that the Ace Pro 3 is coming pretty soon, but this is still a good deal.
Sure, phones have some of the features you’ll get with a satellite messenger, but we still think you’re better off with a dedicated device. Garmin’s new inReach Mini 3 Plus now offers some of those phone features—like voice messaging—along with the emergency features and excellent service worldwide. It’s also still tiny, well-built, and it has great battery life. A non-Plus model, which doesn’t have a speaker and mic, is also on sale.
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