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
$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.
$349.00
from REI
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.
$350.00
from REI
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.”
$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
$499.00
$276
from Amazon
45% off
Contributor Andrew Skurka tested the Ambit3 Peak for more than 1,500 miles and 300 hours in 2018. For ultra runners and backpackers, the Ambit3 Peak excels in three important ways: its long-lasting battery, its barometer, and price. “It makes the traditional outdoor ABC watch obsolete,” he wrote.
$98
$64
from Huckberry
35% off
Marine Layer makes supremely soft clothing that feels buttery on the skin. That’s why our reviews editor likes the men’s yoga joggers for light workouts and lounging around the house.
$129
$97
from Backcountry
25% off
Made with recycled material, the Black Hole is a travel companion that you can feel good about. It’s equipped with an internal sleeve for laptop storage and smaller pockets for a wallet or phone. Our tester noted the Black Hole is also a great option for pure gear hauling.
$125.00
$99.00
from Amazon
21% off
This portable jump starter is the size of a sandwich, but has the juice to single-handedly revive a vehicle. Charge it via the included USB cable, and throw it in the trunk for additional peace of mind wherever you drive.
Sponsor Content
ATG by Wrangler™ Mixed Material Shirt (Women’s)
$40
from ATG by Wrangler™
Bring comfort and style with you on your next outdoor adventure. The Women’s Mixed Material Shirt made with 85 percent recycled materials is quick drying with UPF 50 to keep you cool and protected from the sun. The comfortable stretch and zipper pockets add the functionality you need to play (or work) hard outside.
$230.00
$161.00
30% off
This was our favorite sport climbing pack in our 2021 Summer Buyer’s Guide. “Minimalist looks hide this hauler’s true capabilities,” our testers wrote. “A guidebook sleeve, three external pockets, and a clamshell opening keep you organized.”
$50
$40
from Moosejaw
20% off
The Storm is a perfect example of how far headlamps have come. It’s moderately priced but pumps out 370 lumens from a proximity beam—ideal for working in close quarters or as a spotlight when you’re on the trail. We really like the battery meter, which shows how much juice you have left in your AAAs. Oh, and it’s fully waterproof.
$175
$131
from Backcountry
25% off
Outside Business Journal contributor Amelia Arvesen put the Abisko Trekking Tights through the wringer: “I’ve worn them on hikes, on multi-pitch climbs, to my circuit class at the gym, and to keep me warm when hanging around town,” she wrote. “Needless to say, they’ve become my go-to pants.”
$95
from Huckberry
“It’s easy to spend upward of $500 on field binoculars, but for the beginner or intermittent enthusiast, Nocs makes a solid pair at an affordable price,” our tester wrote. “[The Nocs] are the pair I reach for when I’m scoping out a new face at the birdbath.”
$23.00
from Backcountry
“This sock did everything extremely well, but mostly it was just damn comfy,” wrote our Gear Guy. The Hiker provides a nice cushion for the heel and forefoot without being too bulky, and the fit is super snug. The merino-nylon-spandex blend is odor-resistant and never itchy.
$280
$140
from Backcountry
50% off
The Flight Futurelight is one of our favorite shells for trail runs in any type of weather. “The Futurelight membrane acts like a nano-sieve: it’s permeable to air but not water, so it’s fully weatherproof and remarkably breathable,” wrote tester Martin Fritz Huber in our 2020 Summer Buyer’s Guide.
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.