The 65 Best Deals From REI’s 2025 Holiday Sale
This year marks a decade of REI’s unique approach to the consumer frenzy known as Black Friday. For the past 10 years, the outdoor retailer has famously shut its doors, encouraging potential customers to "Opt Outside" and immerse themselves in the natural world. This commendable philosophy aligns perfectly with REI’s mission, yet Black Friday remains one of the year’s most significant retail spending events. As a for-profit co-op, REI smartly navigates this by hosting its major holiday sale early, allowing adventurers to gear up before the traditional shopping madness, while still promoting outdoor activity on the actual day. This proactive strategy ensures members and enthusiasts alike can snag incredible deals on top-tier outdoor equipment and apparel.
We’re now entering the final crucial weekend of REI’s highly anticipated 2025 Holiday Sale. This year’s event has been running from November 14 to November 24, offering a limited window for savvy shoppers to capitalize on significant savings. Integral to this sale are two exclusive member coupons: a generous 20 percent off one regular-priced item at REI, and another 20 percent off any item at REI Outlet. To unlock these fantastic discounts, simply use the code HOLIDAY2025 at checkout. While many of the standout deals this year feature REI’s reliable house-brand gear, we’ve also curated a selection of compelling offers from other reputable retailers like Backcountry, Six Moon Designs, Zenbivy, and various innovative cottage industry brands. Below, you’ll find an extensive compilation of the best deals across all our favorite categories, including tents, backpacks, sleeping bags, pads, cookware, outdoor apparel, and much more, meticulously updated to reflect the latest offers.
If you’re unsure which piece of gear best suits your next adventure, our comprehensive outdoor gear guides are an invaluable resource. Dive into expert recommendations on the best backpacking tents, the most comfortable sleeping bags for every adventure, optimal sleeping pads for backpacking, essential base layers for varying conditions, top-performing merino wool clothing, and the most reliable rain jackets, among many others. These guides provide well-tested picks to help you make informed decisions. Updated November 21: We’ve added fresh deals on tents, versatile sleeping bags, awesome wool winter shirt jackets, noted that Zenbivy is having a site-wide sale, and more, ensuring you have the most current information.
WIRED Featured Deals
Can’t You Just Put Links to All Your Outdoor Guides Right Here? (Yes, the answer is within the text, linking to various specific guides.)
Backpack Deals
The Flash 22 is arguably the best-value daypack available on the market, especially with the current sale price. This exceptionally lightweight and minimalist pack surprises with its comfort, easily handling loads up to 15 pounds without causing shoulder strain. Its practical side stash pockets are generously sized for a Nalgene bottle or a rain jacket. Constructed from 70-denier recycled ripstop nylon, the Flash 22, while on the lighter side, boasts impressive durability, holding up remarkably well even on challenging cross-country hikes.
Its ultralight sibling, the Flash 18, takes minimalism a step further, shedding the hip belt, side stash pockets, and floating lid. The result is a stripped-down, bare-bones pack perfect for stuffing into your carry-on, providing a convenient daypack whenever needed. Best for loads under 8 pounds and items without sharp edges due to its lack of padding, this little pack is a stellar choice when its limitations are understood.
For a more robust option, the no-nonsense Trail 25 daypack offers superior comfort with loads up to about 10 pounds and features ample pockets for meticulous gear organization. Its DWR-coated ripstop nylon fabric and better-padded, stiffer back distinguish it from the Flash series. The U-shape access panel, reminiscent of Mystery Ranch’s Ripruck series, provides quick access to the main compartment, complemented by a top zip pocket for smaller essentials. Large side pockets accommodate Nalgene bottles, and daisy chains offer additional clipping points.
The Six Moon Designs Carry-On Backpack revolutionizes travel, eliminating the trade-off between airline optimization and carrying comfort over long distances. It’s a rare bag that maximizes carry-on space while remaining comfortable for city walks or day hikes. Its square shape and suitcase handle simplify airline compliance, while adjustable shoulder straps, designed by a brand known for serious backpackers, ensure comfort post-flight. A padded harness with water bottle holders and zippered pouches adds to its utility. –Martin Cizmar
If I were limited to a single bag for lifelong world travel, the GoRuck GR2 would be my unequivocal choice. This gear-hauling behemoth offers extensive built-in organization options. The 40L version, currently on sale, is the perfect size for #onebag travel, qualifying as a carry-on for US flights (though overseas might be trickier). The 34L waxed canvas version is also on sale for $340 ($115 off). While it can double as a rucker, specialized options exist for primary rucking use.
The GR1 (7/10, WIRED Review) is the pack that launched GoRuck, and it remains the best and most versatile in their lineup. This deal applies to the smaller 21L pack, an ideal size for rucking, everyday carry, and weekend trips. Its deceptive capacity allowed me to live out of it for a week-long trip (with a camera shoulder bag).
For dedicated rucking, the GoRuck Rucker is the pack to get. Similar to the GR1 in size, layout, and fabric, the Rucker features additional side handles for use as a workout weight. Its interior includes a Ruck Plate pocket for weights (20L for 3-pound plates, 25L for 45-pound plates), and Velcro closures replace zippers in the interior pockets.
Despite not being a huge fan of lumbar packs, the Mountainsmith Tour is perhaps my most-used bag, earning its spot as our top pick for all-day adventures. Its abundant stash pockets accommodate my camera, binoculars, snacks, and rain jacket. With a separately sold shoulder strap ($14) and a tuck-away belt, it transforms into a versatile shoulder bag. I even modified mine with loops to attach it to my bike handlebars.
Tent Deals
Six Moon Design’s Lunar Solo (7/10, WIRED Review) is my top choice for a single-wall ultralight solo tent. While it has its quirks (definitely read the pitching tips), it’s hard to beat for something more substantial than a tarp, weighing just 26 ounces (740 grams). It offers excellent ventilation for a single-walled tent, with the option to raise the front door in fair weather. I particularly appreciate that it only requires one trekking pole for setup. You’d struggle to find a tent of this quality at this price.
The Big Agnes Copper Spur tents are a perpetual favorite among the WIRED team. This year, the only model on sale at REI is the enormous five-person version. While untested by me, my experience backpacking with my three kids in the four-person model made me desperately wish for this larger one. True to backpacking tent wisdom, Copper Spur tents are more comfortable with an extra person’s capacity than needed. Remarkably, this five-person model weighs only 7 pounds, 5 ounces – an excellent weight when distributed among four people. As an REI Outlet deal, members can get an additional 20 percent off with coupon HOLIDAY2025, bringing the price down to an incredible $467.
A big thank you to Public Lands for putting the two-person version of the Copper Spur on sale. It’s our top pick for lightweight freestanding backpacking tents and has been a reader favorite for years. This high-quality, well-designed tent is lightweight, easy to set up, and offers ample living space. The "awning" design (using trekking poles or sticks) is a welcome bonus, and the 15D nylon/20D ripstop mix, while feeling delicate, has proven durable over time.
Sea to Summit’s “3-plus season” tents like the Telos TR2 are robust enough for nearly any weather while remaining impressively light—just 3 pounds, 12 ounces for this two-person model. I used the three-person version on a challenging five-day trip in northern California in early October, experiencing shoulder season conditions from 80-degree days to 40-degree nights and 60 mph winds. A favorite design detail is the rigid pole bag, which, clipped to the ceiling with a headlamp inside, brilliantly illuminates the tent. –Michael Calore
Nemo’s Dagger Osmo line of tents is known for being reasonably light, offering roomy interiors, and proving exceptionally storm-proof in my tests. The three-person version has long been my go-to for trips with my children. Setup is straightforward thanks to its single main pole design (forking at each end) with a cross pole. It boasts two spacious vestibules for gear storage, and without the rain fly, the mesh room provides an excellent stargazing experience.
The Nemo Mayfly is a three-season backpacking tent, with the two-person version I tested having a trail weight of 3 pounds, 8 ounces. Split between two people, this means less than 2 pounds each. Its semi-freestanding design minimizes weight, requiring the foot end to be staked out. At 27.9 square feet of living space and two 7-square-foot vestibules, it’s on the smaller side but perfectly livable for two. The cross pole creates a wider roof area than most tents its size. I particularly love the white mesh (instead of black) and the super simple clips for securing the rain fly.
Sea to Summit’s ultralight Alto tent (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is engineered to minimize weight for solo adventurers. At just 33 ounces for a semi-freestanding tent, it remains one of the lightest options on the market, and at this price, it’s an undeniable bargain. The mesh netting contributes to its low weight, but for colder conditions, the Plus version (with less mesh) is also on sale for $412 ($137 off), an equally outstanding deal.
Camping and Backpacking Deals
I rarely bring a chair backpacking, but if I did, the Nemo Moonlite Elite would be in my pack. At a mere 18 ounces, it’s among the lightest chairs available and packs down incredibly small. It’s comfortable, reasonably stable, and Nemo brilliantly solved the common issue with pole chairs by including a base pad to prevent sinking into soft ground.
The Flexlite Air camp chair perfectly exemplifies the value of REI brand gear: it delivers 90 percent of the designer item’s quality for 70 percent of the price. While not quite as refined as the Nemo above, it’s still comfortable (though it does have a slight side-to-side wobble) and comes in at nearly half the cost.
The Kelty Lowdown 2-Person Camp Couch is the ultimate cozy solution for camp gatherings. While somewhat huge, heavy, and awkward to fold and carry, its comfort makes it all worthwhile, especially when everyone you love is crammed on it in front of a fire. The even larger and more awkward three-person version is also on sale for $108 ($71 off).
I’ve observed that people often struggle to fit all their gear into smaller, lighter backpacks. The solution for sleeping bags and clothing is a compression stuff sack like this one, which compacts soft items to about half their original size. It works wonders for sleeping bags, puffer jackets, fleece, and merino wool.
The Petzl Tikka is, without a doubt, the best headlamp you can buy. I’ve owned the same Petzl Tikka for 14 years, and it’s still going strong. While not the brightest at 450 lumens, it provides ample light for backcountry cooking. It features three light modes (bright, brighter, brightest) and a red light mode to preserve night vision. Running on three AAA batteries (Panasonic Eneloop rechargeables are recommended), it lasts over 5.5 hours.
I have never slept as well camping as I have on this mat. Technically, I own the car-friendly model, but in terms of comfort, they’re identical. In our guide to car camping pads, the Therm-a-rest MondoKing slightly edges out the MegaMat, but I prefer the MegaMat for its superior warmth (R-value of 8.1 vs. MondoKing’s R 7.0) and the soft texture of its top. It’s comfortable enough to sleep directly on.
For a single pad that’s plush enough for car camping yet reasonably lightweight (2 pounds, 2 ounces for the regular size) and compact enough for backpacking, the Sea to Summit Comfort Plus is the ultimate choice. This versatility is why it’s our favorite sleeping pad for car camping. While lighter and comfier pads exist, the Comfort Plus gracefully bridges both worlds.
If you’re camping with a buddy and crave nighttime snuggles, this plush two-person Exped MegaMat Duo 10 sleeping pad is our top pick. Its 5R rating signifies cold-weather suitability, but its considerable size and weight (even in its stuff sack) make it ideal for car camping, canoe camping, or situations where hauling isn’t an issue. (For summer backpacking, consider the lighter three-season 3R version, also on sale.) Each side features its own valve, allowing both sleepers to customize firmness using the included inflation bag. –Michael Calore
The Yeti Hopper Flip 12 is a fantastic personal-size cooler. It seals with a waterproof zipper that has never leaked on me. With a 12-quart capacity, it’s not huge—think a six-pack and a sandwich, best kept cold with ice packs.
Stove and Camp Cooking Deals
My favorite stove for actually cooking real food in the backcountry, the Firebox Nano, is a titanium (or steel, but titanium is highly recommended) shell that can accommodate an alcohol burner like the Trangia Spirit burner, or an isobutane burner. You can also cook directly over wood flames, connecting with ancestral methods. For backpacking, especially with frequent burn bans, the Firebox Gas Burner with its diffusion plate is hands down the best backcountry cooking system. While it won’t win ultralight awards (the titanium Firebox Nano alone weighs 4.25 ounces), it allows for delicious backcountry meals.
The Jetboil Stash is our favorite all-in-one backcountry cook system. Its heat diffuser design significantly speeds up boil times (Jetboil claims 2.5 minutes, which I achieved indoors in still air), but its main appeal is how compactly the entire kit packs into itself. For weekend trips, it’s the simplest two-person cooking system I’ve tested.
Camp Chef’s Explorer 2 is akin to our favorite Camp Chef stove, the Pro 60X. Slightly less powerful but still freestanding, ruggedly built, and capable of extremely high heat. It’s a joy to cook on, and many river guides swear by it. A giant pot of pasta water will boil rapidly, though simmering is not its strong suit. For simmering or griddle use, consider purchasing the heat diffuser. While often overkill, it’s the best choice for large groups like scout troops or guided trips.
Our preferred method to avoid those ubiquitous green propane bottles is the Ignik Gas Growler Deluxe. This 1.2-pound propane tank comes with a padded/insulated sleeve and a convenient carrying strap, making your camp setup look much tidier and saving your shins from inevitable encounters with cold hard steel. This size is equivalent to five green propane bottles.
While the "ultralight" moniker might be a stretch and these pots suffer from an abundance of fake influencer reviews, the GSI Outdoors Pinnacle Base Camp Cookset is actually quite good. Its hard-anodized aluminum is sturdy and provides excellent heat transfer. The ceramic nonstick coating ensures easy cleanup, and the 1.3L size is perfect for cooking for two.
EBike Deals
REI crafts excellent, reasonably priced commuter bikes, and their in-house assembly includes a year of free adjustments. The REI Co-op Cycles CTY e2.1 Electric Bike is a fantastic deal on our favorite commuter, featuring a Class 3 motor (pedal assist up to 28 mph) on a convenient step-through frame.
Cannondale’s Adventure Neo line (8/10, WIRED Recommends) boasts a 250-watt Bafang motor with a Bafang sensor and thumb throttle, classifying it as a Class 2 ebike (topping out at 20 mph assist). While not the most powerful bike we’ve tested, it features reliable Shimano and Bosch components, coupled with great shocks and a suspension seat post for comfort.
We’ve tested several Aventon models and consistently appreciate their high quality for a relatively low price point (their accessories surpass Lectric’s). The Aventon Aventure.2 Fat-Tire Ebike (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is affordable, versatile, and includes built-in commuter essentials. We also like the Soltera.2 and the Abound, both of which are currently on sale.
Outdoor Apparel Deals
This remains the best budget rain jacket you can buy. REI’s Rainier Jacket is impressively waterproof and offers remarkable longevity for just $70. Its durable water repellent (DWR) is PFAS-free yet highly effective. You also benefit from taped seams and an adjustable hood, two premium features rarely found in jackets at this price point.
REI’s Sahara Shade Hoodie features UPF 50+ fabric (a polyester and spandex blend) to shield you from high-altitude or intense sun. It’s soft and stretchy, allowing for an excellent range of movement, and includes thumbholes to keep sleeves from riding up. The three-panel hood has a drawstring for cinching down, ensuring your neck stays covered. While I prefer merino sun hoodies, they typically cost double or more.
These Roark Layover Traveler Pants are my absolute favorite travel pants. I wore them for two weeks on a trip to Southeast Asia and on numerous shorter business trips. In darker black and navy, they project a professional, less sporty image. The cotton-rich blend maintains a crisp look and washes and wears exceptionally well, looking good even after 15 hours of flying (and several years of use). They dried quickly after a full cup of apple juice spilled on my lap (thanks, kids!). The drawcord allows for easy fit adjustment, whether you’re experiencing airplane bloating or traveler’s diarrhea. Moreover, they boast numerous pockets, all with snap or zip closures, preventing your phone or earbuds from falling out during an accidental nap. A men’s version is also available. –Adrienne So
Smartwool’s 100 percent merino Classic Thermal base layer crew is a substantial 250-gsm merino, making it
