REI’s anniversary sale may be winding down in the coming days, but many of our favorite outdoor gadgets and goods are still available at a hefty discount. Although some of our earlier gear recommendations have sold out — sorry, Jetboil stans — the outdoor retailer will continue to offer 30 percent off a large number of outdoor items through May 26th, letting you save on Garmin watches, water filters, stoves, satellite communicators, and one the best backpacking chairs around.
Below, we’ve rounded up some of the best deals to help you gear up for your summer adventures. In some instances, other retailers like Amazon matching REI’s pricing, giving you additional ways to save. Also, keep in mind that REI members can save an additional 20 percent on one REI Outlet item or get 20 percent off on one qualifying full-price item when they use coupon code ANNIV2025 at checkout.
Many of our favorite Garmin smartwatches are also on sale right now, including the Garmin Forerunner 265, which is our top pick for runners. Normally $450, you can buy the smartwatch in either its 42mm or 46mm sizing at REI and Amazon for $349.99 ($100 off), which matches its best price to date. The 265 features a vibrant OLED display, up to 15 days of battery life, and multi-band GPS for more accurate tracking. It also provides insight into a number of running metrics, including stride length and cadence, while supporting Garmin’s PacePro, Training Readiness, and Race Predictor features.
Garmin’s 41mm Venu 3 is currently available for an all-time low of $349.99, down from its regular price of $449.99, at Amazon and REI. The Venu 3 is our favorite Garmin smartwatch, one that offers a mix of smart features and advanced health tracking at an affordable price. You can make and receive calls when paired with your phone, use your phone’s voice assistant via Bluetooth, and pay with contactless payments. It also includes a broad range of health features, including heart rate monitoring, period tracking, abnormal heart rate alerts, fall detection, and more. Just note: there’s no cellular connectivity, so you’ll need your phone nearby for full functionality. Read our review.
Garmin’s Fenix 8, our top pick for endurance athletes, is available in its 43mm configuration from REI, Amazon, and Garmin starting at $799.99 ($200 off). The platform-agnostic Fenix 8 is an excellent training watch with exceptional battery life that easily surpasses rivals like the Apple Watch Ultra 2. Garmin’s rugged, top-of-the-line wearable also includes a sharp OLED display and a built-in speaker / mic, so you can make calls or carry out voice commands using the onboard voice assistant (you can also connect it to your phone’s voice assistant for more complex queries). That being said, the Fenix 8 doesn’t offer built-in LTE, so your phone will need to stay within Bluetooth range for those features to work. Read our review.
The Helinox Chair Zero — a personal favorite of several Verge staffers — is on sale at REI and Amazon for around $105 ($35 off), which is its best price to date. Weighing just a pound, the collapsible backpacking chair is exceptionally lightweight and easy to pack. It’s also built to support up to 265 pounds and is both comfortable and stable, despite its portable design.
If your summer plans involve hiking or backpacking, the Garmin inReach Mini 2 can provide some peace of mind. And right now, it’s available from REI, Amazon, and Garmin for $299.99 ($100 off), which is just $15 shy of its all-time low. The rugged, palm-sized satellite communicator — which requires a monthly subscription — allows you to send texts, share your location, check the weather, and even trigger SOS alerts. It can easily outlast your average smartphone with satellite connectivity, too, so you’re free to enjoy the outdoors without having to worry about running out of power.
LifeStraw’s portable water filters make for helpful travel companions, regardless of whether you’re heading into the backcountry or touring cities with questionable tap water. Thankfully, Verge favorites like the LifeStraw Peak Series Straw are on sale at Amazon and REI starting at $17.58, down from $24.95. The standalone straw is perfect for filtering out bacteria, parasites, and microplastics from streams and rivers. The Peak Series model features an improved flow rate and a more durable design than earlier models as well, and thanks to its versatile build, you can drink directly from a water source, attach it to a water bottle, or connect it to a gravity hose system
If you’re looking for a more convenient, all-in-one solution, the 22-ounce LifeStraw Go Series Water Bottle is also on sale for an all-time low of around $34 ($11 off) at REI and Amazon. The BPA-free bottle features a built-in two-stage filtration system, including a carbon filter that’s designed to reduce odors and improve taste, making it a solid pick for everything from travel to your daily commute
If you’re looking for a reliable and comfortable headlamp, Black Diamond’s Spot 400 is great for everything from camping to hiking to late-night reading sessions. It’s currently available from REI for $37.39 (about $13 off), which remains one of its better prices to date. The 400-lumen headlamp offers adjustable brightness, a red night vision mode, and an IPX8 waterproof rating, so it can handle rainy nights. It’s also dual-fuel compatible, meaning you can use standard AAA batteries or use it in tandem with Black Diamond’s rechargeable BD 1500 Li-ion battery for more flexibility.
The pocket-sized Black Diamond Moji Lantern is down to $18.69 (about $6 off) at REI in multiple colors (it’s also available directly from Black Diamond for slightly more). The rugged Moji lantern offers 200 lumens of warm, dimmable light and adjustable lightness, along with an IPX4 rating for water resistance. It features a double-hook design, too, so you can use it as a table lantern or hang it up.
The MSR PocketRocket 2 Stove is on sale for $44.89, down from $55.95, at REI. The single-burner canister stove can boil water in just 3.5 minutes. It’s also lightweight, foldable, and compatible with most isobutane-propane fuel canisters, making it a great pick for backpackers looking to shed weight.
If you want a straightforward stove that gets the job done, Coleman’s Cascade Classic Camp Stove is a good option that’s available for around $97 ($33 off) from Coleman and REI. The compact stove is pretty basic, but it offers everything you need for simple, reliable camp cooking. It’s got enough cooking power to handle most meals and two burners, so you can cook multiple things at once. It also features a matchless push-button igniter, along with built-in wind guards for better flame control and adjustable heat knobs for more precise cooking. It’s easy to carry and set up as well, with a durable steel cooktop and a removable chrome-plated grate for easy cleanup.
Garmin’s Varia RTL515 Radar Taillight is on sale at REI and Amazon for $149.99 ($50 off), nearly matching its lowest price to date. The headlight combines a bright LED light with a rearview radar that, when paired with a compatible device, warns you of cars approaching from behind from up to 153 yards away.
You can buy MSR’s TrailShot Water Filter starting at $48.69 (about $16 off) at REI and Amazon. The squeeze-and-sip filter removes bacteria, protozoa, and particulates, so you can drink directly from natural water sources or refill bottles. The filter is highly portable at just 5.2 ounces, too, and easily fits in your pocket.
Garmin’s InReach Messenger Plus is on sale at REI, Amazon, and direct from Garmin for around $399 ($100 off), matching one of its lowest prices to date. Once signed up for a monthly subscription, the Plus model offers satellite connectivity and access to emergency services like the aforementioned InReach Mini 2, only the step-up communicator can send photos and audio clips in addition to standard text messages.
REI is currently selling the Exped MegaMat Duo Sleeping Pad starting at $277.39, down from its normal retail price of $369.95. The 4-inch, self-inflating mattress is a favorite of ours for camping thanks to its extra-wide design, along with its open-cell polyurethane foam and generous padding, the latter of which is designed to keep you warm and comfortable when temperatures begin to dip. It also makes for a great air mattress for guests, regardless of where you put it.
The Half Dome 2 Tent is on sale at REI with a footprint for $209.29 ($90 off), which is one of the best prices we’ve seen on the REI-branded tent. The inexpensive three-season offering is easy to set up and offers plenty of space for two people, with built-in pockets for organizing gear and two large doors that roll up. It’s certainly not the lightest offering you can buy, but at this price, it’s an easy recommendation for first-time backpackers and anyone looking for a solid tent for car camping.
The Chapter MIPS Bike Helmet is on sale starting at around $108 ($37 off) at Amazon and REI, which nearly matches its best price to date. The lightweight helmet features a hidden PopLock for securing it with a U-lock or chain. It also features a sleek visor and a Micro-USB taillight with 30 lumens of brightness, one that will automatically turn on when magnetically attached to the helmet.
You can grab the Kelty Low Love Seat for $97.39 ($33 off) at REI. The seat boasts a sturdy steel frame that supports up to 400 pounds and features adjustable armrests for personalized comfort. It includes two insulated, adjustable drink holders and comes with a padded roll-tote bag for easy portability as well, making the two-seater perfect to take anywhere.
Update, May 22nd: Updated pricing / availability, removed expired deals, and added several new ones, including those for the Shokz OpenFit Air and the Exped MegaMat Duo Sleeping Pad.
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