Our Picks From Outdoor Winter Clearance Sales Going on Now
Now’s the best time to buy winter gear. The season might be winding down, but the savings are substantial. When I had to buy all my mountain climbing equipment as a budding mountain climber years ago, it was during the annual end-of-winter sales. Plan a few months ahead and you could save some serious money.
Looking for more? Our Valentine’s Day deals roundup has you covered with potential gifts for that special someone (or yourself).
Updated February 14: I’ve crossed out some sold-out items and added five new deals to the list that we’ve spotted since publication, including Black Diamon’s Momentum climbing shoes, a wheeled duffel bag, and more. It isn’t advertised, but after purchasing something from REI’s sale through Feb. 17, members seem to get a $20 bonus card emailed to them. It’s good if you make a $100+ purchase between February 21 and March 3.\
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Technical Gear Deals
Need more ideas? Read our Best Fitness Trackers and Best Laptop Bags guides.
- REI Flash 18 Pack for $20 ($20 off): Taking a big, bloated pack on a day hike is unnecessary suffering. For a quick “get outside” bag, the Flash 18 is one of our favorites because it’s lightweight and cheap, but has enough room for a rain jacket, lunch, sunscreen, and water.
- Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork Trekking Poles for $135 ($45 off): I’ve banged and abused carbon fiber Black Diamond trekking poles over some nasty trail rocks and they’ve held up well. The cork hand grips are cushiony and handle sweaty palms well. I’m not sure I’d want to go back to non-cork handles. Trekking poles are useful for stability and taking some of the strain off your legs and knees.
- Black Diamond Momentum Climbing Shoes for $70 ($25 off): These are a solid, non-aggressive climbing shoe good for novice climbers and those who, regardless of skill level, tackle certain types of smooth outdoor rock, such as granite slab. They’re some of the most comfortable sub-$100 climbing shoes I’ve worn. The women’s version is on sale for the same price.
Garmin Forerunner 735XT Run-Bundle for $240 ($160 off):(Update: sold out) WIRED writer Adrienne So, who tests fitness trackers among other things, says this is a great deal. It includes an HRM-Run chest strap that measures your heart rate. The Forerunner 735XL has GPS, is water-resistant to 50 meters, and pairs with your Android or iOS smartphone.Toaks Titanium Folding Spork for $6 ($3 off):(Update: sold out) If backpacking had a symbol, it’d be the titanium spork. Toaks is a solid manufacturer of titanium cookware. This folder weighs only 0.6 ounces and folds down nice and small in your pack.REI Co-Op Multi Towel Mini for $4 ($5 off):(Update: sold out) You should have a couple of pack towels when you’re backpacking. Condensation and mist collect on the fabric of your backpack as the weather changes. To keep it from soaking into your fabric and weighing you down, it’s helpful to have a small towel handy to periodically wipe it down.
Camp and Travel Deals
