It’s Every outdoor fanatic’s favorite time of year. Snow is melting, birds are migrating, and REI is holding its biggest sale of the year: the annual REI anniversary sale. This year’s event ends on May 27, which is Memorial Day. Many items are up to 30 percent off, but REI Co-op members save up to 20 percent off any full-price item of their choice and an extra 20 percent off any REI Outlet item. To get the discount, add the promo code ANNIV24 at checkout.
Several other retailers have also launched early Memorial Day sales, including Backcountry and Public Lands, along with some of our favorite smaller retailers like Zenbivy, Big Agnes, Cascade Designs, and Marmot. We’ve highlighted some of our favorite deals on gear we’ve loved over our years of testing. There’s something for nearly all our favorite summer activities—tents, stoves, sleeping bags, and plenty of outdoor apparel. Be sure to look at our guides to outdoor gear, like the Best Tents, Best Sleeping Bags, Best Sleeping Pads, Best Rain Jackets, Best Merino Wool, and Best Binoculars.
Updated May 22, 2024: We removed sold-out deals and added new ones, including the Zenbivy bed system, Mountain Hardwear’s Bishop Pass sleeping bag, the Goal Zero Yeti 500 power station, the Ignik gas growler, and more.
Special offer for Gear readers: Get WIRED for just $5 ($25 off). This includes unlimited access to WIRED.com, full Gear coverage, and subscriber-only newsletters. Subscriptions help fund the work we do every day.
WIRED Featured Deals
Tent Deals
Check out our Best Tents guide for more WIRED-tested recommendations.
Our pick for Best Two-Person Backpacking Tent, REI’s Half Dome is rugged and lightweight (4 pounds), and offers generous living space for two with gear. The tent body is made of 40-denier ripstop nylon for durability at the base and on the floor, with 20-denier nylon mesh (both fabrics are Bluesign-approved, which means it has been independently certified to meet strict environmental and manufacturing requirements). It also comes with a footprint, which is a rarity these days. The tent poles are aluminum and interchangeable, which makes them easy to set up and take down.
The Big Agnes Copper Spur series is the king of ultralight tents. I’ve used both the two-person and four-person models over the years, and Big Agnes has continually refined the design to the point that I have nothing left to complain about. This is a high-quality, well-designed tent. It’s lightweight, easy to set up, and stable even in strong winds. The Copper Spur is also very livable, with steep sidewalls to maximize interior space. The ingenious “awning” design makes getting in and out a snap. OK, the only complaint I have is the price, but on sale, it’s a little easier to handle.
Most people do not need the Trango 2, but if you are headed into harsh, four-season, alpine conditions, this is one of the best, most bombproof tents I’ve ever used. It’s heavy (almost 9 pounds for the two-person model) and a pain to set up, but it’s built to withstand high winds and hard weather, and it does just that. If you’re anticipating bad weather at high altitudes, this is the tent you want.
Are you bikepacking yet? I’m in the early stages myself, but this is the tent my fellow WIRED bikepacking experts recommend. Big Agnes’ bikepacking tents have shorter pole lengths, enabling them to fit between drop handlebars, or in panniers. The superlight, super-premium Copper Spur HV UL3 weighs just 3 pounds and 11 ounces, and it has enough space for two (a squeeze for three). It’s also available in lighter, smaller, one- and two-person options, all with twin vestibules and doors, hidden helmet storage, and external webbing for hanging out wet clothes. And yes, if you’re wondering, it works great for backpacking too.
Sleeping Bag and Sleeping Pad Deals
Confused by the options? Check out our guides to the Best Sleeping Bags and the Best Sleeping Pads.
REI Co-op’s Magma 15 is our favorite bag for shoulder season trips when the temps might drop more than expected. It has an excellent draft collar that’s very good at keeping out the chill. The outside is a 15-denier nylon ripstop (Bluesign-approved, with a non-fluorinated DWR coating to keep moisture at bay). Baffles are variably spaced and not stitched through, which helps the fill stay put and minimizes cold spots. The Magma doesn’t have a lot of frills; it just gets the job done.
Our favorite summertime car-camping sleeping bag, the REI Siesta Hooded 20, is plenty warm and affordable. It’s also not a mummy bag, because you’re not climbing Denali; why cramp yourself if you don’t have to? The Siesta’s rectangular cut makes for a much roomier, more comfortable bag. The Siesta’s 20-degree rating makes it enough for three-season trips, and unlike most rectangular bags, the Siesta has a hood, which helps on those cold nights.
Nemo’s Forte 20 is a 20-degree synthetic-fill sleeping bag, but the comfort rating is 30 degrees. In my testing, this feels more like where you’d want to stay temperature-wise with this bag. The outer shell uses a 30-denier recycled polyester ripstop with an inside liner made from 20-denier recycled polyester taffeta. It does a good job of holding back the moisture that often forms inside a tent, which I discovered after one very soggy night of testing. The fill is what Nemo calls Zerofiber insulation, which is made from 100 percent post-consumer recycled content fibers. The Zerofiber packs down remarkably small—this is the most compact synthetic-fill bag I’ve tested in this temp range—and retains its ability to trap warmth even when wet.
Our favorite backpacking sleeping bag, the Bishop Pass offers the best warmth-to-weight ratio while also managing to pack down small and not be too expensive. It isn’t perfect, but it strikes the best compromise for most backpackers. 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 much in the heat, but on those warmer nights, I unzipped it and covered myself like a warm blanket. It’s a versatile bag.
The Zenbivy Bed 25 (9/10, WIRED Recommends) is hands down the most comfortable backcountry sleeping experience I’ve ever had. It wouldn’t be my top pick for extreme situations, but so long as your expected temperatures fit in Zenbivy’s range (the comfort rating is 35 degrees Fahrenheit), it doesn’t get more comfortable than this. The Zenbivy isn’t just a sleeping bag though. It’s a sheet, hood, and quilt-style bag that can be combined in various ways depending on what you want. Zenbivy has a 25 percent off sale on almost everything on its site too.
Nemo new 2024 Tensor-insulated sleeping pads (8/10, WIRED Recommends) have the best R-value-to-weight ratio of anything I’ve tested. The Tensor All-Season featured here sports an R-value of 5.4 and weighs 18.2 ounces. That alone is impressive, but what I love about the Tensor is that it’s thick, comfortable, and most importantly, nearly silent. The slightly lighter Trail model is also on sale, as is the Extreme Conditions pad, which is the lightest, warmest sleeping pad on the market.
This minimal pad isn’t the most comfortable I’ve used (that would be the Nemo above), but it gets the job done and is considerably cheaper. It has an R-value of 4.9, and the 30-denier ripstop polyester with TPU lamination has held up well through years of testing. I also like that this pad is relatively wide and roomy—even the “regular” model (I have not tested the wide, but that’s also an option).
This is the beefy, ultra-luxury pad that started the trend of huge car-camping pads. And for that we thank Exped. The MegaMat is one of our favorite sleeping pads, and has slightly better insulation than our top pick in that guide, making it a better choice if you sleep cold or are headed out in the shoulder seasons where colder temps are possible.
Backpack Deals
Don’t forget to check out our guides to the Best Laptop Backpacks and the Best Travel Bags.
The Flash 22 is possibly the best value day pack on the market, especially on sale. I was surprised by how comfortable this thing is, 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.
The ultralight cousin to the Flash 22, the Flash 18 lacks the hip belt, side stash pockets, and floating lid. What you’re left with is a stripped-down, bare-bones pack that’s great for traveling since you can stuff it down to almost nothing, stash it in your carry-on, and have a nice backpack whenever you need it. Don’t load it up with more than 8 pounds of gear though, and avoid anything with pointy bits as there’s no padding here.
I spent several days in Michigan’s Porcupine Mountains with this pack, and I loved everything about it except the fit. The organization, the pockets, the lid—everything was fantastic, but it rode up on my hips. That doesn’t stop me from recommending it. Everyone is shaped differently. What didn’t work for me might be perfect for you. As with any pack, we suggest you head into an REI store and try them on if possible.
Apparel Deals
Every year, I (Adrienne) repurchase one of these rain jackets for each of my children. It’s hard to find rain jackets that are better value than REI’s. The kid’s version is a 2.5-layer shell with a non-fluorinated (read: PFAS-free) durable water-repellent (DWR) coating, taped seams, and an adjustable hood. These will last all year (at least, as long as your kid doesn’t lose theirs).
This is wildly affordable compared to the other sun hoodies we tested for our Best Sun Protection Clothing guide. WIRED reviewer Jaina Grey found it super soft and breathable, with thumb holes to protect the back of your hands. It’s UPF 50, and it may be a lot easier to get your kids or sensitive family members to wear clothing instead of smearing sticky sunscreen all over their bodies.
I (Adrienne) cannot tell a lie; I have been wearing Halle pants for almost 15 years, and as the nylon content has gone up, they have started pilling very quickly. Nevertheless, the fit is still dialed for women with straighter hips and, er, athletic thighs. ReZion fabric is UPF 50, will not wrinkle, and is light and breathable. This is a good, versatile summer travel pant that looks nice, can accommodate all sorts of activities, and won’t stifle you.
Fitness Deals
Don’t forget to check out our Best Fitness Trackers, Best Barefoot Shoes, Best Garmins, and Best Smartwatches guides.
Photograph: Electra
This lovely little step-through cruiser (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is one of our Best Electric Bikes and one of our Best Cheap Electric Bikes recommendations. Electra went with a new manufacturer of super lightweight systems, so this bike is almost 20 pounds lighter than the last one I tested. It’s simple, cheap, and the perfect easy-going summer ride.
This is one of our favorite pairs of workout headphones. The around-the-neck band is comfortable and secure, and they fit under helmets. You listen to ambient sound when you’re biking or running, and when you want to concentrate on the music or podcast, stick in a pair of earplugs!
Garmin’s two best outdoor sports watches—the Fenix and the Epix lines—are $200 off. The Epix Pro (Gen 2) (8/10, WIRED Recommends) now has much better battery life, a brighter touchscreen, and nifty features like an in-bezel flashlight for when the battery on all your devices has died and you need to find something in your dark tent. Plus there are more navigation features, like being able to find Points of Interest like a coffee shop while you’re on a long run. Can you also do this with an Apple Watch Ultra? Yes, but not if you have an Android phone.
On the off-chance you’re even remotely interested in what I (Adrienne) am buying, these climbing shoes from La Sportiva are in my cart (all La Sportiva climbing shoes are 25 percent off). Summer climbing season is about to begin and I just wore off all the rubber on the rand on my current pair of La Sportiva, which is a legacy climbing brand. I like the crossing Velcro closures, which make it easy to get the shoe on and off quickly and still allow you to fine-tune the fit if you have high arches or narrow feet.
My favorite running shoes are Altras, which have a zero heel-to-toe drop (there is no difference in the height between the toe and the heel) and a wide toebox so you don’t crunch your little tootsies. The Timp is the company’s latest trail running shoe, which I have been running in for the past two months. They feel stiffer and tighter than previous versions; I size up a full size from my street size to avoid getting crunched. However, I like the breathable mesh and the padding. The Lone Peaks are my usual shoes and are a whopping 40 percent off.
Stove, Cookware, and Camp Deals
Read our Best Camping Stoves and Best Portable Grills guides for more.
This is the fancy version of our favorite camp stove. Here you get electronic ignition and a nice pale green paint job. Is it worth the extra $25? That’s up to you. If it’s not, you can snag the less fancy version for $52 at Walmart.
Jetboil’s camp stove packs up smaller than most car-camping stoves, making it ideal for you #vanlifers. It offers a spacious cook area when unpacked and I found it easy to get a simmer. What I don’t like is the lack of any windscreen, but provided you can keep it protected, this is a good if somewhat pricey stove. There’s also an all-in-one cook system version that works like Jetboil’s backpacking stove.
Our favorite way to avoid the green propane bottles is this gas growler. This model gets you a 0.9-pound propane tank with a nice padded/insulated sleeve and a handy strap for carrying, and it makes your camp setup look much nicer than a bare tank. It also saves your shins during those inevitable run-ins with cold hard steel that come from lugging around a big propane tank. This size is the equivalent of four green propane bottles.
As we note in our Best Reusable Water Bottles guide, the Hydro Flask was the popular choice before the giant Stanley cup took over the internet. The standard 40-ounce is on sale, and it has double-walled insulation, a variety of lids, and lots of fun colors; it’s also not easy to damage. If you find you must simply have a similarly handled tumbler with a straw, Hydro Flask also has one.
Nemo’s backpacking chair is lightweight—just 1 pound, 14 ounces—and surprisingly sturdy. I love the reclining aspect, and the mesh and poles have held up well in my testing.
I’m still testing Goal Zero’s recently updated Yeti 500X, but so far I’m impressed. I’ve been able to draw down full capacity, and the new port covers are great for keeping out dust and stray splashes (it now has an IPX4 rating). It’s quick to charge (just under 1.5 hours when you use a wall socket), and there’s a 12V adapter so you can charge off your car (it also charges directly from Goal Zero’s solar panels).
