Gear up for summer during REI's Anniversary Sale through May 26. (Getty)(Getty)
It's my favorite time of year: The snow is long gone, the birds are singing, the trees have leaves again and the REI Anniversary Sale has begun. If you need to stock up on outdoorsy gear before summer, REI's biggest event of the year is the time to do it. Running through Memorial Day weekend, you'll find discounts on everything from tents to coolers, backpacks to sleeping bags, and, of course, outdoor clothing that'll keep you comfy when temps soar.
Even better, you can get 20% off any full-price item with your member coupon and another 20% off any one item at REI Outlet. Not yet a member? Sign up here. At just $30 for a lifetime membership, it's gotta be the best deal out there.
Here's a breakdown of some of the top REI Anniversary Sale offers:
25% off select clothing from The North Face, Cotopaxi and more
25% off select footwear from Altra, Danner, Keen, La Sportiva, Oboz and more
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
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," raves 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)." Sizes are going fast, but there's still pretty decent availability with these black and white beauties.
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 says. The sneakers come in regular and GTX (waterproof) styles and both standard and wide sizes, helpful since Zaydenberg finds them a bit narrow.
Squishy, supportive and washable, these Oofos slides are just what your tired tootsies need for summertime recovery. Made with foam specially designed to absorb significantly more impact than regular old flip-flops, they're shock-absorbing and arch-supporting, making them great for after a workout, after a walk or giving your feet a break from hard floors.
"I use these as house slippers and they're like walking on a cloud," raved a happy REI shopper. "Each step is so soft. Perfect as recovery slides after long hours of being on your feet, hiking, running, or doing your house chores and cooking."
If you're looking for the Patagonia jacket to roll up and throw in your backpack when there's a chance of showers, this is the one — and at this price, it's tough to beat. It comes in a variety of colors and sizes, so finding the right one should be a piece of cake.
This is my personal choice for tent camping most of the time. It's spacious enough for my family of three and I like the vestibule as a place to store gear that isn't inside the tent itself. It's easy to set up with two people.
Got camping plans for the entire family? While a tent might say it fits four people, remember that is a limit, not what will be comfortable. You'll be better off going big, like this six-person tent that not only has enough room to stand up in, but room for your gear in the included vestibule should foul weather join you on your trip. The 8-person version is also on sale.
If you're looking for the best down mummy bag for your money, you'll be hard-pressed to find one better than the Magma 15. Like its name suggests, it'll keep you warm. I fit square in the middle of the size chart for Medium and though it is snug, it's not restricting. I really like the anti-snag zipper as well.
Having carried my fair share of 60-plus-quart coolers uphill to a campsite, I beg of you: Do yourself a favor and get one with wheels. Trust me, it'll be worth the extra cash, especially considering this one is 95 bucks off.
This one was road-tested by Yahoo Commerce Editor Janelle Randazza, and she had this to say: "I'm crazy about this cooler. It's big enough to store everything we need for a campout or tailgate but small enough to fit in the trunk of our Prius. I can attest that everything will stay cool (from cans to hot dogs and anything else) for up to 48 hours."
The cooler that started it all. The Tundra will keep your food and drinks cold for days, even in blistering 90°F heat (I've tested it). It's incredibly durable too. I once checked mine on a flight, and when I got to baggage claim, it came tumbling down the carousel onto the hard tile floor — didn't even get a scratch.
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.
The first time I threw on a Nano Puff jacket, I thought to myself, "How the heck is this thing going to keep me warm?" It's way less puffy than down-insulated coats, but it managed to do the trick in the middle of the desert in the wintertime as temps dipped below freezing, all without making me look like the Michelin Man.
Want protection from the rain but something that's a bit more fashionable than your everyday jacket? This is exactly what you're looking for. It's more relaxed than normal rain gear, which helps when it comes to layering. Plus it's made from recycled materials and strikes a nice balance between street-style and performance trailwear.
As someone with Scandinavian and Irish ancestry, I've been betrayed by the sun more times than I can count. I also hate putting on sunscreen. I find it greasy and annoying, and I always forget to do it until it's too late. That's where a lightweight, sun-blocking shirt like this one can literally be a lifesaver, keeping the UV rays away all day long.
Hokas may have opted out of REI's sale, but never fear! These On sneakers are just as comfortable and — I say this as a wearer of both brands — more stylish too.
I live in Colorado, a state known for its hiking trails and outdoorsy residents. When it comes to hiking boots, I see these Merrells on the trails more often than I see any other hiking boot. The Moab is iconic, and for good reason: comfort and durability. If your walks tend to take you off the beaten path, these boots are for you. They're even Yahoo's pick for the best hiking boots of 2025.
I have traveled all over the world with my Black Hole duffels. They've been thrown in the back of a truck on long road trips, rained on, snowed on and dropped onto the tarmac as they were being loaded onto a plane. While they have a scuff here and there, they still protect all of my clothing and gear like they did when they were brand new.
Carry enough duffels and you'll start to question your life choices. Example: "Was saving a few bucks even worth it when you consider the chiropractor bills?" The Black Hole wheeled duffel comes in multiple sizes, including a carry-on, and it's backed by a lifetime guarantee. That's a great perk when you see how rough some of those baggage handlers can be.
This is the one travel backpack to rule them all. I should know; I have two. Small enough to be used as a personal item on even the stingiest of airlines (I'm looking at you, Frontier) it has pockets to keep everything organized. I've traveled through dozens of airports with this bag on my back and I've yet to come up with a downside, except maybe the price, which is much easier to stomach with this sale.
Like to sleep in? This tent is for you. With enough room for two, possibly three people and their stuff, this tent is perfect for couples and small families looking to get outside and enjoy nature. The Dark Room feature means that no matter what time of the day it is, you can crawl inside and block out all of the sun, which also makes it nice and cool inside as well.
I have a distinct memory of my dad trying to pull into our garage with an incredibly tall roof box on, demolishing the box and our siding at the same time. This one, though larger in volume, is much lower profile, so it probably would've fit easily and definitely would've given us better gas mileage. Of course, in the '90s, we weren't so concerned about that (Ford Excursion anyone?).