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The 31 Best Deals From the REI Labor Day Sale
REI's annual Labor Day Sale has come to feel like the end of summer to me. This year’s event kicks off on August 28 and ends on Labor Day, September 7. Many items are up to 40 percent off, and REI Co-op members save up to 20 percent on any REI Outlet item.
Many of the best REI deals are on gear from the company's house brand. But there are also good discounts on other brands, like Mountain Hardwear, Nemo Equipment, Big Agnes, and Coleman, among others. I’ve also pulled some deals from competing sales at Backcountry and other cottage industry retailers. Below, find the best deals on all our favorite tents, backpacks, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, cookware, outdoor apparel, and more. Be sure to check out our outdoor gear guides, like the Best Tents, Best Sleeping Bags, Best Sleeping Pads, Best Backpacking Tents, Best Merino Wool, and Best Base Layers.
Can’t You Just Put Links to All Your Outdoor Guides Right Here?
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 bikepacking 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 liveable 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 tent upgrade you can make. They're super strong—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.
Now is a great time to score some new base layers and mid layers ahead of the cooler months.
Smartwool's 100 percent merino base layer is my top pick for cooler weather in our guide to the Best Base Layers. Its loose fit allows it to work as a long-sleeve T-shirt in the shoulder seasons. That extra bit of roominess also makes it possible to use it as a second light layer over something thinner.
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).