The biggest REI sale of the year is going on right now – November 15 through 25, 2019.

Here are some resources to help you save money on decent gear.

What is the one piece of gear I absolutely need from this sale?

  • The Garmin inReach Mini – $75 off retail
    • Read our review
    • These don’t go on sale very often – Garmin exercises strict price control over these devices. Don’t expect the inventory to last at REI.
  • Why?
    • The inReach Mini is the smallest, lightest, and most reliable satellite communicator on the market.
    • It’s an essential tool for wilderness travel and gives your friends and family back home tremendous peace of mind.

How big is this sale?

Pretty dang big:

  • Up to 30% off of 11,908 SKU’s (i.e., individual product/size/color combos)
  • more than 2 million pieces of inventory.

Specifics

  1. REI Members – save 20% on one full-priced item and an extra 20% on one REI Outlet item. Use CODE: GEARUP2019
  2. 20% Off All Thailand Adventure Travel Trips. Save 20% on any remaining 2020 departures when you book November 15–25.

Recommendations

by Ryan Jordan, Backpackinglight.com Founder and Publisher/CEO

I don’t want you to waste money on gear you don’t need, or gear that you’re tempted to buy just because it’s on sale. Read more about my desire to be an ethical steward of consumerism in my recent disclosure letter.

That said, there’s a fine line between being a consumer and saving money by taking advantage of good deals, so here are a few of my specific recommendations for the 2019 REI Gear Up, Go Out sale:

  • The Garmin inReach Mini is one of the very few pieces of gear that I recommend for all hikers, for two reasons: safety/rescue, and peace of mind for loved ones back home. I’ve had mine since its launch, and have had zero issues with it. Read my review here or buy it now at REI for $75 off.
  • Tents: The REI Quarter Dome SL 1 and REI Quarter Dome SL 2 are pretty special tents. They are wind-stable, roomy, and light – and offer what I believe to be the best value (best quality, performance, and weight for the price) on the market right now for double-wall tents. Reviews here (SL 1) and here (SL 2).
  • Kahtoola Microspikes – we use these every day in the winter. I can’t imagine living here (Laramie), and not being able to hike every day. Absolutely essential for our sanity when the trails are covered in snow and ice.

Brands on sale that *might* interest you

From RJ – I’m not much of a brand loyalist, but through the years, there have been a few brands where I purchase items on a recurring basis. Here are some of my favorites, and they will have a ton of products on sale at REI during this sale:

  • Smartwool – look for 150 weight wool items (including my favorite, the beanie), and the PhD sock line.
  • Patagonia – there will be 1,886 Patagonia sku’s on sale at REI during this sale – it’s a gold mine…look for Nano Puffs for starters – they’re only $139.
  • Several different models of Salomon shoes and “trail running boots” are going to be on sale, including lots of XA, X-Mission, and Speedcross models. These two are very popular among lightweight backpackers. I’m a big fan of these for winter hiking, they have enough stiffness to power a snowshoe and are warm enough for cold days.
  • Arc’teryx – love the dinosaur or hate its pretentiousness, nobody will be able to argue that Arc’teryx has become one of the most iconic premium brands in the industry. During this sale, look for one of the best active insulation pieces around – the Photon LT Hoodie. I’ve been experimenting with this trail running shoe lately and they are very impressive – because they are both light and durable. All deadbird goods are 20% off at REI until the 25th…
  • Garmin just announced their fancy new 6-series Fenix watches (the 6x Pro is neat because it’s solar-powered), which granted, are awesome but horrendously expensive. I have the Fenix 5x+ which has become an indispensable tool for training and tracking. During this sale, the 5x+ is going to be a great deal ($150 off), so nab one while you can and avoid early-adopter-retire-late syndrome.
  • Lots of good deals on Nemo gear – especially tents and sleeping pads. As I talk about in the Masterclass, the wide Nemo Tensor has pretty much changed my life when it comes to sleeping on the ground :)

I’ll update this list as the sale goes on, so check back – and subscribe to the newsletter for even more info and recommendations.

More Backpacking Light resources to help you shop the REI sale:

Need some gear recommendations?

Our most popular gear guides:

Some of the REI gear has BPL reviewed:

This video explains why we are REI fans: