REI Anniversary – REI’s biggest annual sale runs May 15 through Memorial Day, May 25, with up to 30% off many items and additional savings for REI Co-op members using promo code ANNIV26 at checkout.
It’s nearly summer. and REI is making the usual pre-season push with its annual Anniversary Sale—complete with discounts on tents. stoves. sleeping bags. camping gear. and apparel.. The retailer’s pitch is simple: stock up now for the trips you’re already planning. with savings that stack for members and deal-seekers.
REI’s Anniversary Sale starts May 15 and runs through Memorial Day, May 25.. Many items are marked up to 30% off. while REI Co-op members can save up to 20% on any full-price item and an extra 20% off any REI Outlet item.. To claim the member pricing, shoppers are instructed to add promo code ANNIV26 at checkout.
For shoppers who like to compare gear based on real testing, REI’s sale also leans into products the publication has highlighted over years of use—covering everything from power stations and rugged watches to car-camping tents and ultralight sleep systems.
Among the standout electronics for the backcountry and overlanding crowd is Goal Zero’s new Yeti 1500 power station.. The unit uses LiFePO4 chemistry rated for 4. 000 charge cycles (about 10 years of average use). and it includes a new high amp output of 30 A for tying into van and overlanding setups.. Goal Zero also designed the Yeti 1500 to handle the vibration environment of off-roading. and it offers 4 AC outlets plus USB charging up to 140 watts.
Garmin is also in the sale spotlight with its inReach Mini 3 satellite messenger.. The device is described as offering some phone-like features. including voice and photo messaging. paired with emergency capabilities and “excellent service worldwide.” A smaller. cheaper option is also included: the Garmin inReach Mini 3 is listed on sale for $400 ($50 off). with the note that this version does not have the new photo sharing features.
For day-to-day rugged use, the Garmin Instinct Solar is positioned as a favorite outdoor watch powered by the sun, with GPS enabled and sports tracking and navigation features. It’s described as cheaper than a Fenix while still “just as reliable.”
Coleman rounds out the stove picks with the Cascade 3-in-1. featuring heavy-duty cast iron grates. a cast-iron griddle and grill. and the ability to fit a 12-inch pan and a 10-inch pan side by side.. It’s described as sturdier and more robust than other Coleman stoves. and described as worth the extra money if you’re serious about camp cooking.
If you’re shopping more casually, the cheaper option below it is meant to “get you by” for a few nights a year, with the guide noting that a less fancy version is priced at $59 at Walmart.
REI’s private-label value is built into the buying advice too.. The publication’s overall rule of thumb when shopping REI brand gear: you get 90% of a designer item for 70% of the price.. A chair is cited as an example—comfortable but with slight side-to-side wobble when you move—and priced nearly half of a higher-end alternative.
Tents are another major focus of the sale coverage.. REI’s Base Camp tent is described as WIRED’s favorite car camping tent. citing its traditional dome design. weatherproof performance in testing. and a high-quality 150-denier (150D) polyester floor.. It also includes storage pockets, double doors, vents, and “huge windows” meant to keep things comfortable in summer heat.
For backpackers watching their budget, the REI Half Dome 2 is called the best budget two-person backpacking tent, with notes that it’s sturdy, quick to set up, and fits two people plus gear. It also includes a footprint.
Ultralight options come through with the Big Agnes Copper Spur series, described as a top pick for freestanding ultralight tents.. The guidance points to a mix of 15D nylon and 20D ripstop construction. along with an “awning” design held aloft with trekking poles or sticks.. A 4-person version in the lineup is also noted as being on sale.
Nemo’s Dragonfly tents are featured as a good summer option, emphasizing ventilation from a generous mesh area near the top and the Osmo fabric’s reduced water absorption compared to nylon tents in rainy weather. The tents are also praised for storage room.
Sleeping bags and pads get the same deal-focused treatment, starting with REI’s Magma line of down gear.. The Magma 15 is positioned as an affordable shoulder-season choice. with a comfort rating of 21 degrees Fahrenheit. multiple lengths and widths. and 850-fill-power Bluesign-approved goose down that packs down small.. The Magma 30 is also noted as on sale for $262 ($87 off), described as a great summer sleeping bag.
Quilts and ultralight bags are included as well.. The coverage cites a Magma quilt used during the Biggest Week in American Birding. where the bag reportedly stayed comfortable down to 30 degrees Fahrenheit with a puffer jacket.. The quilt is described as light at 20.3 ounces for the medium. packing down small. with straps to keep it on a sleeping pad and the ability to fully unzip into a comforter.
Another ultralight pick is a mummy-style bag, described as having the smallest pack size in its tested temperature range.. The down fill is listed as PFC-free and 850+ hydrophobic down, with zippers that slide well and rarely snag.. That tester says they’ve slept in it down to 20 degrees without feeling cold.
Synthetic insulation is represented by Nemo’s Forte 20. described as a 20-degree synthetic sleeping bag with a comfort rating of 30 degrees.. The shell is noted as 30-denier recycled polyester ripstop with a 20-denier recycled polyester taffeta liner. and the insulation is “Zerofiber. ” made from 100% postconsumer recycled fibers.
Sleeping pads are where the comfort claims get specific.. One pad is described as pricier but “totally worth” the improved sleep. with a note of about 6 extra ounces versus other backpacking pads.. The Tensor All-Season is listed with weight of 18.2 ounces. 3 inches of padding. and an R value of 5.4. which the coverage says is enough insulation for colder spring or autumn nights.. It’s also described as “mercifully quiet,” avoiding the crunching noise when rolling over.
For winter camping. the Tensor Extreme Conditions is highlighted as having the highest R value of any pad the tester has used. listed as 8.5. while packing down to about the size of a Nalgene water bottle and weighing about 21 ounces (587 g).. Another winter option—an Exped winter pad—is described as slightly less insulating than the Tensor Extreme. but reportedly more comfortable. with warm performance even during a night at minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit when paired with a Therm-a-Rest Z-lite.
Finally. the big comfort pad category is covered by Exped’s Megamat. described as a 4-inch-thick pad with closed-cell foam inside meant to relieve pressure and feel close to a bedroom mattress.. It’s also tied to overlanding again: when a Jeep was sold. the coverage says the buyer had to give up overlanding dreams. but the Megamat’s ability to cut to fit around SUV wheel wells is said to bring them back.. The tester reports putting it in a back seat area for an SUV and calls out that it’s “not a perfect fit” and that buyers should check which vehicles are supported.
If you’re preparing for summer trips—or trying to upgrade shelter and sleep systems before colder nights arrive—REI’s Anniversary Sale runs a tight window. May 15 through May 25.. With savings for members and an extra code-based discount at checkout. it’s one of the year’s main moments to stack deals on the gear that actually determines how comfortable you feel outdoors.
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