It’s nearly summer. The flowers are in full bloom, the birds are well north, and REI is kicking off its annual anniversary sale, the outdoor company’s biggest sale of the year. This year’s REI sale started May 16 and runs through Memorial Day, May 26. Many items are up to 30 percent off, but REI Co-op members save up to 20 percent on any full-price item and an extra 20 percent off any REI Outlet item. To get the discount, add the promo code ANNIV2025 at checkout.
Several other retailers have launched early Memorial Day sales, including Backcountry and Public Lands, plus some of our favorite smaller retailers like Sea to Summit and Zenbivy, along with many others you can find on Garage Grown Gear. We’ve highlighted some 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 Day-Hiking Packs, Best Tents, Best Sleeping Bags, Best Backpacking Sleeping Pads, Best Rain Jackets, Best Backpacking Water Filters, Best Merino Wool, and Best Binoculars.
Updated Monday, May 26, 2025: We’ve added fresh deals on Bote paddleboards, our favorite REI puffy jacket, Danner boots, merino base layers, and other essential hiking and backpacking gear.
WIRED Featured Deals
The Best Deals on Hiking Apparel
Be sure to check out our guides to the best rain jackets, the best merino wool, and how to layer your clothes to stay comfy in any weather.
Every year, I 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). —Adrienne So
I bought my father, father-in-law, brother-in-law, and husband each one of these shirts last year. Roark Clothing is a small company that makes some of my favorite active apparel, and the Bless Up shirt is the perfect summer shirt. It’s perforated and made from synthetic fibers, so it’s perfect for super-humid beach days when the temperatures are above 90 degrees. —Adrienne So
Fjällräven’s hiking pants—er, sorry, trousers—are legendary, and having now spent most of spring in a pair of these Abisko Trail trousers, I understand why. They’re light but surprisingly warm and especially good at blocking the wind. The G-1000 Lite Stretch recycled fabric gives you a nice, stretchy freedom of movement, and having had Lyme disease already, the ability to cinch down the leg cuffs and keep things out is invaluable. (I’ve also put a good bit of repellant on the fabric with no staining or other damage.) I also like that the G-1000 can be waxed to refurbish the waterproofness (though I haven’t had to do this yet).
Photograph: Smartwool
I still prefer Darn Tough’s lightweight hiking socks, but these Smartwool socks are a close second and well worth buying at this price. Can you ever have too many wool hiking socks? I’d say no. These are 56 percent merino wool, so there’s a good bit of stretchiness, yet they stay pretty odor-free even after a couple of days on the trail. Grab two pair and rotate them to keep your feet dry and happy.
I haven’t had a chance to add them to my Best Merino Wool Clothing Guide, but these are the best merino ankle running socks I’ve tried. They’re not the highest merino content (54 percent, the remainder is nylon and elastane), but they’re thin, light, and work well with barefoot shoes (and other shoes). They also resist odor surprisingly well for only about half merino. —Adrienne So
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. —Adrienne So
Photograph: Smartwool
The best midweight base layer we’ve tested, this smartwool shirt is 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. At 87 percent merino wool (blended with nylon), these are also very durable while remaining lightweight (10.3 oz for a men’s large).
This is what I bought from this REI sale and thanks to speedy shipping I am wearing it while I add deals to this post. Spring has been decided cool in my area, so I’ve already worn this hat everyday since it arrived. It’s great, slightly oversized, but very soft, stretchy and comfortable. I mean it’s a merino wool beanie, hard to go wrong with one of those. And it’s Fjällräven so it’s well made and should last a very long time.
Huckberry’s Proof 72-hour Merino t-shirt will rank very high in our upcoming guide to merino t-shirts. It’s soft, and the classic fit is loose and comfortable. It doesn’t look overly “sporty,” the way many merino t-shirts do (though there is a slim fit version also on sale for $52 ($20 off) if you prefer that style). This shirt is 87 percent merino wool and 13 percent nylon, which gives it a bit of extra stretch.
Photograph: REI
This REI 650 puffy jacket (9/10, WIRED Recommends) is the best budget 3-season puffy you can buy. At 10.9 ounces it’s reasonably lightweight and has large hand pockets and some very nice internal pockets for stashing a hat or gloves. The ripstop nylon shell fabric (Bluesign-approved) has proved durable in my testing and I love the waist cinch for keeping out wind gusts. The fit is what you might charitably call boxy, and you probably won’t win any fashion awards, but it doesn’t look bad to me.
Picture “hiking boots” and these are iconic image that will likely spring to mind. Contrary to the name, Danner’s Mountain Light Boots aren’t the lightest, nor are they the most nimble, and the fit is perhaps not as dialed in as more modern designs, but these will last forever. They’re still made by hand in Portland, Oregon, and my editor’s pair is 18 years old and still going strong. Sadly, the women’s version is not on sale.
Backpack Deals
Don’t forget to check out our guide to the Best Day-Hiking Backpacks and the Best Travel Bags.
Courtesy of REI
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 Flash 22 is made of 70-denier recycled ripstop nylon, which is on the lighter side, but mine has held up well, even coming through some rough canyon hikes in Utah without any more than mud stains.
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.
One of our favorite day-hiking packs, This Mystery Rack pack was my introduction to wider shoulder straps, which provide more comfort without the bulk of extra padding. The result is a comfortable pack that’s light (1 lb, 6 oz) and packable, making it a great extra pack when traveling. The side pockets are big enough for a Nalgene water bottle and the 25-L capacity carries everything you need for a day. It also fits under the seat of even small planes. This is a great little pack for hitting the trail or just walking around town.
Our favorite day-hiking pack for the eco-conscious looking to travel light, Nemo’s Resolve pack is 100 percent recycled, infinitely adjustable, and repairable, and once it’s reached the end of its life, it can be sent back to Nemo for total recycling. The Resolve has a somewhat strange system of bungees and pull-tabs, instead of straps or webbing, but it’s comfortable, sitting nice and high on your back. At 1 lb, 15 oz it’s pretty light, considering all the hardware that it has on it.
Osprey has been making Talon packs since 2007. This model is the smaller cousin to the 33L version in our guide to the best day-hiking packs. The success of the Talon line is well deserved, the 100-denier high-tenacity nylon (Bluesign-approved) makes for a durable pack while remaining reasonably lightweight (2 pounds, 1 ounce for the S/M size). The dual zippered panel-loading design makes getting to your stuff a snap, and there are plenty of extra pockets inside and outside to help you stash all your gear.
This is the smaller, 20L cousin of our favorite gear hauling daypack, the Mystery Ranch Coulee 30. Everything that’s true of the 30L version (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is true of this 20L model, it’s just a bit smaller. The suspension system is highly adjustable (with two pack sizes for different torso lengths), making it easy to dial in the perfect fit. Note that the deal price varies by color.
Photograph: Mountainsmith
Oddly enough, for someone who isn’t a big fan of lumbar packs, this is probably my most used bag. It’s our top pick for all-day adventures thanks to its array of pockets. The Tour is loaded with stash spaces, allowing my to carry camera, binoculars, snacks, rain jacket, and more. Thanks to the shoulder strap (sold separately, $14) and the ability to tuck away the belt, the Tour can also be used as a shoulder bag. I even modified mine with a couple extra loops to secure it to the handlebars of my bike.
Deals on Running Gear
Courtesy of Xero Shoes
These are the only shoes that have ever inspired me to write 1,000 words. They are really that good. Think of these as the barefoot answer to Chacos. Except where Chacos are like putting tractors on your feet, the Z-Trails flex and bend as you walk, giving your feet the freedom of movement you expect from a barefoot shoe. Despite being sandals, these have 10 mm of cushion, which is a good bit for a barefoot shoe, making the Z-Trail a good option for newcomers.
This is last year’s version of my favorite Salomon X Ultra 5 hiking boots, which I just tested over the weekend in the Columbia River Gorge. Salomon makes our favorite hiking boots—the company offers impressive levels of protection and traction, while being lightweight and remarkably easy to take off and put on. I like how the heel grips so I don’t smash my toes while going downhill, and it’s so sticky that I can climb up rocks like an ant. —Adrienne So
I have worn the women’s version of this shoe for years and years. Altra is the best running shoe if you want a shoe that has a barefoot feel (zero heel to toe drop, big toebox) but retains traction and protection against rocks and prickers. —Adrienne So
These are Altra’s version of the Brooks Glycerin Max—a super-plush, comfy road running shoe. If you want a very cushioned shoe but are addicted to Altra’s big toe box (no need to be embarrassed, I am too), these are the shoes to get. Also, don’t forget to check out our guide to the Best Barefoot Shoes. —Adrienne So
Sleeping Bag and Sleeping Pad Deals
Confused by the options? Check out our guides to the Best Sleeping Bags and the Best Backpacking Sleeping Pads.
Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
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.
It’s no longer our top pick for side sleepers, but the Questar remains a good option for those who want more room. It uses what Therm-a-Rest calls W.A.R.M. fit, which stands for “with additional room for multiple” positions. Indeed, this bag is very roomy for a mummy design. I was able to draw my legs up when side-sleeping and spread out considerably more than with most of the other sleeping bags I’ve tested.
Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
This is our favorite ultralight sleeping bag. There are lighter quilts out there, 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. With the included compression sack, this thing is truly tiny. It’s got most of the benefits of a quilt and none of the negatives. The down fill is PFC-free, 850+ hydrophobic down. The zippers are on the small side, but 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. If you need something warmer, the 0-degree version—which I spent a good deal of time in this past winter—is also a great deal at $486 ($163 off).
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 postconsumer 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 it retains its ability to trap warmth even when wet.
Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
Our favorite backpacking sleeping bag, the Bishop Pass 30 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. Note that for the men’s bag, only the long version is on sale. Both the long and regular size women’s 30 bags are on sale.
I haven’t had a chance to write about it yet, but I tested the Bishop Pass 0 over the winter and was pleasantly surprised at how warm it was. I took it out on several nights where temps dipped into the single digits (below the comfort rating of 13 Fahrenheit) and stayed warm. I did wear some merino base layers and a wool hat, but sleeping bag comfort ratings assume this. If you need a colder-weather bag, without dipping into extreme temps (and extremely pricey sleeping bags), this is a good option.
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. It’s a sheet, hood, and quilt-style bag that can be combined in various ways.
Zenbivy’s Light Bed is a brand-new option that takes the basic clip design of other Zenbivy beds and lightens up the load. I’ve been testing this bag for several months, and it is everything I loved about the original above, but lighter weight. I’ll have a full review very soon, but if you’ve been tempted by the Zenbivy, but wanted to keep your base gear weight down, this is the option you’ve been look for. The price I’ve put here includes both the bed/sheet portion and the quilt. Note that Zenbivy is having a 25 percent off sale on almost everything on its site right now.
Nemo’s new 2024 Tensor-insulated sleeping pads (8/10, WIRED Recommends) have the best R-value-to-weight ratio of anything I’ve tested, and the All-Season is our top pick for backpacking trips. It has 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.
The darling of ultralight hikers everywhere, the XLite NXT is our pick for backpackers looking to shed pack weight but preserve some margin of comfort. The XLite delivers a comfortable night’s sleep while remaining well under 1 pound for the regular size. At 3 inches thick, it’s plenty of protection from the ground, and the R-Value of 4.5 means it’ll be plenty warm in most three-season conditions.
Sea to Summit’s Ether Light XT is only marginally heavier than the Therm-a-Rest above. The extra 4 ounces for the Sea to Summit pad gets you quite a bit more cushion too—this is a 4-inch thick pad, compared to the 3 inches of the Therm-a-rest X-Lite, which makes this a better ultralight option for side sleepers. I also like the baffle design better, and it seems to be a little more durable, making this an excellent alternative ultralight pad. Note that this one is an REI Outlet deal; the XT has been replaced by a newer model.
Tent Deals
Check out our Best Tents guide for more WIRED-tested recommendations.
REI Co-op brand gear represents some of the best deals in the hiking/backpacking market, and this tent is a perfect example. 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 at a reasonably price. The tent body is made of 40-denier ripstop nylon for durability at the base and on the floor, with 20-denier nylon mesh for the body. The Half Dome comes with a footprint, which is a rarity these days, and nice to have. The tent poles are aluminum and interchangeable, which makes them easy to set up and take down.
Sea to Summit’s ultralight Alto (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is designed to keep weight down on your solo adventures. At just 33 ounces for a semi-freestanding tent, it remains one of the lighter options on the market, and at this price it’s hard to pass up. The mesh netting helps keep weight down, though for something warmer, the Plus version, which has less mesh, is also on sale for $275 ($275 off), an equally outstanding deal.
Sea to Summit’s “3-plus season” tents are capable enough in almost any weather while staying crazy light—just 3 pounds and 12 ounces for this three-person model. I used it on a five-day trip to Loon Lake in northern California in early October, a true “shoulder season” trip with daytime highs in the 80s, nighttime lows in the 40s, and overnight winds of up to 60 mph. My favorite design detail is that the pole bag is kept rigid by an insert of opaque white plastic. Clip it to the tent’s ceiling, pop in your headlamp, and illuminate your abode. —Michael Calore
Photograph: Big Agnes
The Big Agnes Copper Spur series is the king of freestanding ultralight tents. I’ve used the two-person and three-person models (on sale for $450) over the years, and Big Agnes has continually refined the design to the point that these are pretty near perfect. This is a high-quality, well-designed tent. It’s lightweight, easy to set up, and stable even in strong winds. The steep sidewalls give you more livable space than most tents, and the “awning” design (with trekking poles or sticks) is great. The only complaint I have is the price, but on sale it’s a little easier to handle.
Bikepacking (backpacking on a bike) is awesome, and brands are catching on. Big Agnes was an early adopter among the mainstream brands, designing tents with shorter pole lengths to fit between drop handlebars or in panniers. The Copper Spur UL3 Bikepacking tent is our favorite of the bunch we’ve tested. It weighs just 3 pounds, 11 ounces (1.6 kilos), and 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.
Nemo’s Dagger Osmo (8/10, WIRED Recommends) line of tents are reasonably light with roomy interiors. The three-person version (also on sale) has long been my tent of choice for trips with my kids. Setup is simple thanks to the single main pole design (which forks at each end) with a cross pole in the middle. There are two spacious vestibules for storing gear, and if you leave the rain fly off, the mesh room is excellent for stargazing.
Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
The Nemo Mayfly (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is a three-season backpacking tent with a trail weight of 3 pounds, 8 ounces for the two-person version I tested. Split between two people, each is carrying under 2 pounds. The Mayfly saves on weight by using a semi-freestanding design, which means you have to partly stake it out. It’s on the small side as well, at 27.9 square feet of living space, with two 7-square-foot vestibule areas. I find it plenty livable for two, and the cross pole gives you a wider roof area than most tents this size. I love the white mesh (instead of black) and the super simple clips that keep the rain fly secured.
This is my favorite single-wall ultralight solo tent. I have a full review coming later this month, but after spending quite a while with this tent I’m something of a convert, at least for summer camping. The Lunar Solo makes it easy to combat the main problem with single-wall tents: condensation. Thanks to plenty of mesh, and a top vent in the vestibule (like my all-time favorite backcountry shelter, the Hilleberg Akto (10/10, WIRED Recommends), I haven’t had much issue with condensation in the Lunar Solo. It’s not without its quirks (read the pitching tips), but if you want something more than a tarp, that still weighs just 26 ounces (740 grams), this one is hard to beat.
Biking Deals
Photograph: Michael Venutolo-Mantovani
This is our second best helmet in our guide to the Best Bike Helmets. It’s chock-full of extra features, like a magnetic rear light that snaps off for easy recharging and a pullout tab so that you can easily lock it up on the rack. It comes in a wide array of fun designs and colors. —Adrienne So
The Giro MIPS helmet has rechargeable lights on both the front and back of the helmet. It has an unassuming commuter-friendly design, and of course it has MIPS to protect against rotational impact. —Adrienne So
The CTY e2.1 (7/10, WIRED Review) is our favorite commuter ebike. It’s a class 1 ebike with a 250-watt Suntour HESC motor, a 418-Wh battery, and a whole host of commuter extras, like front suspension, hydraulic disc brakes, big 2-inch-wide tires, gel grips, lights, and a hefty kickstand. It weighs a 54 pounds and has a little less torque than some of our other favorite ebikes, so it might not have quite enough oomph to get you up some of the bigger hills, but for the price it’s a lot of ebike and will serve most people well.
Water Filter and Stove Deals
Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
The simplest, most convenient method of filtering water, the Katadyn BeFree Water is one of the lightest filters on the market (2.3 ounces, or 65 grams, for the filter and bottle). It’s a great option for when you want to go as light as possible, such as trail running or day hikes. The design of the BeFree is part of its appeal. The filter is inside the collapsible container. Scoop up some water into the container, screw on the lid, and drink. The collapsible soft bottle rolls down to a tiny package, making it easy to stash in your pack or trail running vest.
The MSR Guardian is fantastically expensive, but it’s our pick for trips with sketchy water sources. It’s also heavy and requires pumping, but the Guardian filters down to 0.02 micron, which will remove even viruses. It’s also designed to be self-cleaning, which makes field maintenance incredibly easy. It’s rated to pump 10,000 liters, and because it screws right onto a Nalgene bottle, it’s pretty easy to crank out a couple of liters in hardly any time at all.
This MSR Gravity filter changed backpacking for me. Pumping water for a family of five, day after day on the trail, sucks all the fun out of backpacking. This filter eliminated the pumping and returned my sanity, which is why it’s our favorite backpacking water filter for large groups. All you have to do with this filter is 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.
Courtesy of MSR
We’re in the final stage of testing for a backpacking stove guide that will be up very soon, and the MSR PocketRocket 2 will be our top pick for propane canister stoves. It’s simple to use and boils water quickly (about 3.5 minutes for 1 liter at sea level). It’s also more durable and therefore more reliable than the other ultralight stoves I’ve tested. And it weighs just 2.6 ounces.
The WhisperLite Universal is a legend for good reason. It’ll burn just about anything (isobutane-propane, white gas, gasoline, kerosene), making it a great choice for traveling internationally or wherever you don’t know what kind of fuel will be available. Flame control is a little tricky, but we have managed to get it to simmer, as long as the wind isn’t too bad. Just be forewarned that it sounds like a jet engine.
I’m not sure this really qualifies for the “ultralight” moniker, and these pots are unfortunately marred by having a ton of fake influencer reviews out there, but they’re actually quite good. And if you’re cooking for a group, this 3-liter pot is about as light as it gets. This is my go-to pot for family backpacking trips. The hard-anodized aluminum is sturdy and provides good heat transfer. The ceramic nonstick coating makes for easy cleanup (especially paired with the GSI scraper below). You can also nest the 2L version ($49) inside this one for more cooking options on the trail. If you want to go nuts with it, I haven’t tried it, but you can theoretically also nest the 1.3L version ($49) inside the 2L.
Sea to Summit’s Frontier pan is my all-time favorite backcountry cooking vessel. It’s not ultralight to bring an 8-inch frying pan backpacking, but when you’re ready to move beyond boil-in-a-bag food and whatever those disgusting gel tubes are, the Frontier pan is the way to do it. When you want to build a cream sauce from dried milk (it can be done!) or need to sauté those brook trout, a good pan that distributes heat reasonably evenly is indispensable. The Frontier manages to do that, and it has a nice curved edge, making it easy to work with and easy to clean up. The Frontier pan checks all the boxes thanks to its great design and ceramic coating, and it somehow manages to weigh just 13 ounces.
No, it’s not an earth-shattering deal, but this is possibly the best piece of backpacking gear I own. GSI’s pot scraper is the unsung hero of backcountry cooking, turning cleanup from a tedious chore to a couple of seconds’ work. Now, if you seriously burn something, this thing will not save you (boil water in the pan to loosen the burnt bits), but for every other situation, scraping down your pot with this tool will get you 99 percent of the way to a clean pot. I consider this one indispensable; you might as well grab one while it’s a couple bucks cheaper.
Deals on Backpacking Gear
Photograph: Sea to Summit
I’ve noticed that, when trying to lighten their load with a smaller, lighterweight backpack, people then struggle to fit all their gear. The answer for sleeping bags and clothing is this compression stuff sack, which takes my favorite sleeping bag (the Sea to Summit Spark above) and smashes it down to about half the size of the included stuff sack. You can do the same thing to clothing, especially puffer jackets, but also fleece and merino to some extent, free up more room in your pack.
I carry a pillow when backpacking these days, and this Sea to Summit, while not the lightest I’ve tested is one of the comfiest thanks to the down fill topper. I know some people get by using a puffer jacket for a pillow. And hey, if you enjoy laying your head down at night on a lumpy pile of clothes, be my guest, but I’ll be enjoying this nice soft pillow. Pro tip: if you don’t need your puffy jacket for extra warmth in the night, zip it up, tuck the top of your sleeping pad into it, then put this pillow in so it stays in place during the night.
Do you crave a chair when you’re backpacking? If so, this is one to get. It’s just about the lightest on the market at 18 ounces, packs down very small, and solves the number one problem with all pole chairs: the included base pad keeps it from sinking in soft ground.
Heading into bear country this summer? You’ll very likely need a bear resistant way to store your food. In my experience, the BV500 from Bear Vault is the most widely approved option (though always check with the rangers in the area you’re heading to). At 700 cubic inches, the BV500 has room for about 3-5 days of food for 2 (depending on how well you pack). It does weigh almost 3 pounds, and it’s a bummer to carry, but when you need it, you need it—might as well grab one when it’s a little cheaper.
Camping Deals
This chair is the coziest way to hang out around camp. 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 around the fire with your loved ones.
Nalgene water bottles for half off, what’s not to love? I’ve always preferred the timeless classic to the latest style, which might be part of why I’ve never used another water bottle (well, not counting reusing Smartwater bottles when backpacking). Nalgenes are lighter than stainless steel and, frankly, the only sane option for hiking. Grab two of the big 48 ounce bottles, stick them in the sides of your Mystery Ranch Coulee 30, and your family will never be thirsty again.
This is the built-in straw version of the most durable water bottle we’ve tested. So long as you’re not hiking with it (it’s heavy) this is a great water bottle, and it comes in a variety of fun colors.
Photograph: Coleman
My favorite of Coleman’s current lineup, the Cascade 3-in-1 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) features heavy-duty cast iron grates, comes with a cast-iron griddle and grill, and can fit a 12-inch pan and a 10-inch pan side by side. It’s all-around sturdier and more robust than other Coleman stoves, well worth the extra money if you’re serious about camp cooking. That said, the much cheaper stove below will get you by if you’re only using it a few nights a year.
This is our favorite camp stove for most people. Technically this version is a little fancier than our top pick, with electronic ignition and a nice pale green paint job. Is it worth an extra $30? That’s up to you. If it’s not, snag the less fancy version for $59 at Walmart.
Our favorite way to avoid the green propane bottles is this gas growler. This model gets you a 1.2-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 five green propane bottles.
Photograph: Kieran Alger
I have yet to do a trip with a satellite communicator, but I do understand why people use them. If I were to bring one along, this is the one I’d get. It’s tiny, light (3.5 ounces), and easily stashable. It utilizes the super-fast Iridium satellite network, so you can send a rapid SOS from pretty much anywhere. There are extra features like waypoints and interval tracking, and it plays nice with compatible Garmin watches.
This is my own personal REI purchase for this year, which is a life jacket for my 1-year-old puppy. We do a lot of boating during the summer, and while my spouse insists that dogs can swim, I am not quite sure I trust her. At the very least, it gives my dog a few handles for me to grab if she gets swept away. —Adrienne So
The Petzl Tikka is our favorite headlamp. I’ve had the same one since 2012, and it’s still going strong, which beats every other headlamp or flashlight I’ve tried in that time. The Tikka is not the brightest light. The models linked here top out at 350 lumens, but it’s plenty of light to cook by in the backcountry or trace the source of that transmission fluid dripping off the oil pan. This Tikka runs on three AAA batteries (we recommend Panasonic Eneloop rechargeable batteries) and lasts over 5.5 hours.
Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
Whenever I can, I like to cook over open flame using my firebox stove, which often means cutting wood. The best portable saw I’ve found is this Silky folding saw. It’s light enough to bring bikepacking (5.3 ounces), and it folds down to about 9 inches long, which slips in a pannier no problem. This thing is razor sharp though, be careful when using it in the backcountry.
I like these dry bags for organizing things in my pack. They’re not dry bags in the since that you can submerge them and your gear will be fine, but the 30D silnylon with PCF-free DWR sheds a little rain no problem and makes finding your stuff so long as you use different colors for each thing. I put all my cooking gear in a red bag (red for fire), all my water filtering stuff in a blue bag for, wait for it, water, and so on. I find the 3 and 5 liter bags the most useful, but you can get all the way up to 35L.
NRS straps are a must-have for anyone strapping … well, anything to anything. Whether you’re a river guide cinching gear to your boat or, like me just want to make sure the paddleboards stay on the Jeep roof, these are the best straps I’ve ever used. I have NRS straps that are over 30 years old and still going strong. I find the 1-inch straps the most useful. You can grab a two-pack of 6-footers for $13 or a two-pack of 12-footers for $14.
The 12-foot-long Oru Kayak folds into a small, flat package for storage and transport.Photo: Nicolas Zurcher
Oru’s foldable kayaks are genius—all the boat, none of the size. The lake is light, reasonably fast, and the cheapest way to get into the world of folding kayaks. As with all Oru’s offerings, the Lake folds origami-style into a roughly 30-inch square that’s just 15 inches deep—small enough to fit in a car trunk or hall closet.
The Breeze Aero (7/10, WIRED Recommends) inflatable paddleboard is well-built and durable, and it packs up reasonably small. It’s also one of the most stable paddleboards I’ve tried, making it a good choice for beginners. It’s easy to unpack and easy to use. Inflating is something of a chore with the hand pump, but once it’s deflated, it’s not hard to stow it away again. This deal is on the 11’6″ model (which supports up to 355 pounds).
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