Gear up for less with savings on brands like Patagonia and The North Face. (Getty)(Getty)
Growing up in the Great Lakes state of Michigan, fall was prime time to be outdoors, but ever since I moved to Colorado almost a decade ago, spring has become my favorite season. April temps hover around 60 (minus the random blizzard or 80-degree day), meaning it's cool enough to enjoy time on the trails while everything is still green from springtime rain. It's also the perfect time to take inventory of all of my outdoor gear, see what needs to be repaired or replaced, and decide what outdoor sport I'm going to get into this year (this year, I think it might be gravel biking).
That usually means waiting for REI's Anniversary Sale in May to stock up on gear and new shoes. Imagine my surprise, then, when I hopped onto REI.com and found tons of clothing and shoes from brands like Patagonia, Hoka and The North Face already on sale. So I did what any outdoors-obsessed writer would do: I scrolled through all of it to bring you the best deals of the bunch.
If you shop the REI Outlet, you can save even more: Get 20% off when you spend $50, 25% off $150, and 30% off when you hit $250. Just make sure to grab your gear before the deal ends on April 28.
Best REI deals by brand: Hoka deals | Patagonia deals | The North Face deals | On Running deals | Nike deals | Brooks deals | Arc'teryx deals | Helly Hansen deals | Columbia deals | REI Co-op deals | Thule deals | Yakima deals | Yeti deals | Salomon deals
This sale includes over 300 Patagonia items, nearly 250 pieces of gear from The North Face and over 20 pairs of Hokas, but it does come with a caveat: a lot of the items come in limited sizes or colors. That said, I tried to include items that still have most sizes and multiple colors available. Who knows, maybe you'll find that ultra-specific size and color combo that was made just for you (for me, it's almost anything teal and purple and size medium).
If you've seen a pair of Hokas in the wild, there's a good chance they were Cliftons. These are among the brand's most popular picks, and it's easy to see why. "They're absolutely cloud-like," raved Yahoo Deputy Editor Izabella Zaydenberg. "They were the only shoes that didn't exacerbate my plantar fasciitis (especially when I walked for hours at Disneyland)."
The knit upper is breathable, and the rubber sole provides great traction. "While they're definitely a little bulky, they're still really lightweight and comfortable enough for all-day wear," Zaydenberg said. The sneakers come in regular and GTX (waterproof) styles and both standard and wide sizes, helpful since Zaydenberg found them a bit narrow. And they come in a wide range of colors, so it's easy to land on a favorite look (or two).
I love the sun, but it does not love me. More than 15 minutes in direct sunlight, and I start turning pink. I also hate the feeling of greasy sunscreen, so my go-to shirts for hikes and hanging out at the beach are sun hoodies. This one comes in a great light-reflecting white, which will keep you cool as well.
Medium wearers, don't fret! Size medium can be found on sale here.
Okay, so you know how I said I'd try and stick to products that have a ton of sizes? This is the exception. These shoes are down to just sizes between size 9 and 12.5, but they're also one of my favorite shoes of all time (they are my favorite trail running and hiking shoe of all time). They offer a great amount of support, cushioning and grip thanks to 5mm lugs on the bottom, and they're comfortable enough to wear all day (I wore them to run a half marathon up in the mountains and didn't feel the need to take them off afterwards).
The color isn't my favorite (I bought three pairs of Scuba Blue when they were on sale), but if you don't mind bright colors, this shoe will serve you and your feet well.
For years, I relied on The North Face Base Camp duffels when traveling around the world. They're sturdy enough to hold up to the roughest airport baggage handlers and are semi-easy to carry around. After a more recent trip to Iceland, then Sedona, where I was hauling around my 135L bag full of baby supplies, I decided that since I'm nowhere near my 20s anymore, it's time for my duffles to have wheels.
This rolling duffel is my go-to bag for when I am flying or on a road trip. It fits a surprising amount of stuff and rolls around airports, sidewalks, even gravel pathways with ease.
There are very few companies whose products I use every single day. Apple is one, Patagonia is another. Yeti is the third I can think of. Whether I'm at home or on vacation thousands of miles away, my Yeti Rambler isn't far behind. It's perfect for my morning coffee (I drink a lot, perhaps too much), and once that's done, I fill it up with water or iced tea and stay hydrated the rest of the day. To me, it's no contest between this and a Stanley. Yeti is the clear winner.
Don't need all that this 42-ounce behemoth has to offer? The 35-ounce version is also on sale, as is the strawless 30-ounce travel mug.
As someone who likes to stay up in the mountains as much as possible to avoid the summer heat, I never pack away my jackets. Whether you spend your summer evenings lakeside, fireside or at a high elevation, it can get cool, which is exactly where a jacket like this one can come in handy. It packs down small, and if the temps drop you'll have it around, so you won't be the one shivering while making s'mores.
This is another item that has limited sizing, but it's also a shirt that I wear multiple times a week in the summer. It keeps me cool, sunburn-free and odor-free. As I write this, both medium and extra large are still available, though I imagine they'll go fast!
The Houdini is ultra-lightweight. Like, pack it in a backpack and you'll forget about it (that is, until you need it). While it does come with a durable water-repellent (DWR) coating, it performs best when blocking wind. Mine has seen me through hour-long runs in the snow and rain, and even a memorable jog up a mountain in 70 mph wind gusts.
This backpack has been my wife's go-to personal item on flights for years now, and when we're not traveling, it holds her climbing shoes and harness for the gym. It also comes with a removable padded sleeve that fits up to a 15-inch laptop, as well as two drop-in pockets plus a zip pocket to hold pens, cords and whatever else you might need to keep organized.