Gear Picks
The Best Gear Deals at the REI Anniversary Sale
Get kitted out for summer adventures with these steals at REI’s biggest sale of the year, now through May 31.
Featured
$350
from Outside Shop
The Garmin InReach Mini weighs only 3.5 ounces and operates like a full-size Garmin InReach. According to tester Andrew Skurka, “It retains the core InReach functionality (two-way messaging, location tracking, weather updates) in a package that is more portable.”
$349
from Backcountry
The Mega Mat Duo is the most comfortable mattress we’ve used for car camping, hands down. It’s a 10-centimeter-thick air pad with memory foam insulation. It’s pricey, but it’s the closest we’ve come to feeling like we were in our bed at home while camping.
$450.00
from REI
Though Outside columnist Andrew Skurka loves the Garmin InReach Mini, the device’s bigger and older brother, the Explorer+, offers a few nice features at the cost of size and weight: a bigger color screen, more efficient button layout, better virtual keyboard, and longer-lasting battery.
$99.00
$74.00
from REI
25% off
Senior editor Ariella Gintzler loves the Houdini for its versatile, lightweight material. “The papery quality of the Houdini offers superior next-to-skin comfort; you can wear it over a short-sleeve shirt without that clammy shell sensation against your arms,” she writes. It's billed as a trail-running shell, but works just as well for hiking.
$599.00
$419.00
from REI
30% off
“The Beta weighs a hair over a pound, but it’s built from bombproof Gore-Tex Pro (the stuff many high-end ski jackets are made from),” wrote our Gear Guy in his guide to spring rain shells. “[It’s] packed with nice features, like a helmet-compatible hood, and has a roomy fit to facilitate lots of layering.”
$270.00
from REI
The “AG” stands for Anti-Gravity, Osprey’s term for the Atmos’s swath of torso-conforming mesh that allows airflow while providing balance and support. The unique design creates contact with your entire back, which, combined with tons of adjustability in the torso and hipbelt and four compression straps, allows you to stabilize loads both large and small.
All Gear
$150
$113
from Columbia
25% off
The Escape Summit OutDry was our favorite boot for wet hikes in our 2021 Summer Buyer’s Guide. “We raced up trails during muggy New Mexico monsoons and were flabbergasted by how well the membrane pulled sweat off our feet, keeping them dry and blister-free,” wrote our testers.
$85
$51
from Backcountry
40% off
Testers Ryan Stuart and Stephanie Pearson picked the Groundwork as a killer-value sleeping bag. “We were shocked to learn that this 20-degree synthetic mummy rings up under $100,” they wrote. “It’s a great pick for car camping or even short backcountry jaunts.”
$180
$135
from Dick’s Sporting Goods
25% off
“The Nike ZoomX Invincible shoe might not break speed records, but it rules for recovery runs,” wrote our Buyer’s Guide testers. “From top to bottom, Nike has created the best max-cushion shoe we’ve ever tested.” That’s why we gave it a Gear of the Year award.
$230
$172
from Backcountry
25% off
The Perimeter 50 pack won our Gear of the Year award in our 2021 Summer Buyer’s Guide for its no-frills design and ability to swallow gear. “If you’re looking for a pack that can fit both Mom and Dad and pivot from through-hiker to family wagon, the Perimeter is hard to beat,” wrote our testers.
Sponsor Content
Revo Descend N
$199
Revo's best-selling Descend N glasses features NASA-based polarized lens technology with a rimless design with panoramic views for when you need to see it all.
Sponsor Content
The Birkenstock Outdoor Collection
$170
from Birkenstock
Legendary Birkenstock comfort, build to go off road, on trail, and everywhere in between. Meet the new collection of all-terrain, water-ready, outdoor sandals for every adventure. Available now at Birkenstock.com.
$68
$48
from Backcountry
29% off
“Baggy shorts sag during inversions, but a too-svelte fit can make lunges awkward. Manduka’s four-way-stretch Agility nails the balance, with a nine-inch inseam and 22- inch leg opening that feel just right,” wrote our Buyer’s Guide tester.
$110
$65
from Keen
41% off
“This strappy number is best for those who want the wind on their toes, even on technical terrain,” wrote our Summer Buyer’s Guide tester Jill Robinson. (Men: check out the Targhee Open Toe sandals.)
$150
$130
from Asics
13% off
Running shoe testers Cory Smith and Lisa Jhung picked the Asics Gel-Nimbus Lite 2 as the best shoe for everyday miles in our 2021 Summer Buyer’s Guide. “It feels like a well-worn favorite right out of the box,” they wrote. “Overall, it’s a refreshing departure from the traditionally stiff and firm Asics platform.”
$200
$160
from Backcountry
20% off
The fully-submersible Cyclone hip pack is the bag you want for SUP adventures. Its waterproof compartments made it one of our favorite accessories in our Summer Buyer’s Guide.
$179
$159
from Bose
11% off
Summer Buyer’s Guide tester Will Palmer picked the Bose Sport as the best earbuds for running. “The fit on the well-sealed, sweat- and water-resistant Sport is more secure than anything else in our test,” he wrote.
Gear Picks is a curated selection of products we’ve tested and heartily recommend. We stand by this gear—and the brands that sell it—and many of our editors and writers use this stuff weekly. Whenever possible, we provide a link to a past review so you can make sure it’s something that suits your lifestyle—ideally at a steeply discounted price. Happy shopping—and gear-picking.