REI’s 4th of July Sale Has Great Deals on Our Favorite Outdoor Gear
What Celebrates Freedom as much as buying stuff? Never mind, don’t answer that question. But REI is having a 4th of July sale, which means if you’ve just discovered your backpack straps or camp chair are rotting, it’s time to stock up on hiking and camping essentials without paying full price.
Several other retailers are also offering 4th of July promotions, including remote area And Public land. We’ve highlighted some of our favorite deals on gear we’ve loved over years of testing. There’s something for almost all of our favorite summer activities—tents, stoves, sleeping bags, and plenty of outdoor gear. Be sure to check out our guide to outdoor gear, like Best tent, Best Sleeping Bag, Best Sleeping Pad, Best Raincoat, The best Merino woolAnd Best Binoculars.
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Check out our guide on best tent, best sleeping padAnd best sleeping bag for more details along with our testing experience.
Photo: Backcountry
My son spent most of his childhood in this Deuter backpack, which is one of the most comfortable baby carriers I’ve ever worn. There’s a little storage space, and it stands on its own when you put it down. If you have a small child and want to hike, this is the best one I’ve tested. It’s also almost never on sale, so get it while you can.
Mystery Ranch used to be a little-known herd company with a cult following. That might be changing now. Yeti got itBut I can at least assume that everyone has heard of Mystery Ranch and is skipping the introduction. I’ve been testing this backpack for over six months now, and it’s pretty much the perfect daypack. It’s comfortable and roomy, and you get the triple zipper system that made Mystery Ranch so legendary.
I’ve traveled the world with an older version of this Osprey backpack, living in it for nearly a year. It’s withstood the abuse of overland travel—on more than one occasion, I’ve watched a bus driver tie it to the roof of a bus by tightening it with a rope, pulling his full weight down the middle of my pack like a cheese grater. The Farpoint survived, and so did my belongings inside, thanks in part to the thick padded sides that provide significant cushioning.
Photo: MSR
Ours favorite family camping tentHabitude is strong and lightweight. It easily fits into a canoe or Stand Up Paddle Board and easy to set up—simple design and color-coded poles. There’s plenty of floor space for a sleeping pad and sleeping bags to keep two adults, two toddlers, and a large dog warm at night. It also has storage pockets, a place to hang lights, and a vestibule.
The Base Camp is a lightweight, breathable car tent that sleeps four people. It’s not too light at 15 pounds, but it’s not too difficult to carry if you’re hiking. It has two doors for great airflow, and it’s easy to set up thanks to a color-coded pole system. There’s also a car canopy sold separately that looks interesting, though we haven’t tested it yet. If you need a little more space, the Base Camp 6 also has a on sale for $384 ($165 off)
The Wonderland 6 replaces the older Kingdom 6 in REI’s large tent line. I liked the Kingdom 6 a lot, but the Wonderland 6 is a capable replacement. The layout and design are very similar, with an optional two-room interior, plenty of large storage pockets, and double doors. The difference is the new pole design, which features a split center pole for added stability.
Photo: REI
Your child may not need a kiddie pad, but if you want to save weight and your child is under 60 inches tall, this pad is great. It has an R-value of 4.5, and we tested it in temperatures as low as 30 degrees Fahrenheit and still had comfortable, happy kids. Separate valves for inflation and deflation make it easy for younger kids to understand so they can help set it up.
Summer camp promotion
Be sure to check out our other related outdoor guides for more great camping gear, including Best tent, Best Hiking Gear, Best camping stove, And Our Camp Cooking Guide.
Photo: REI
This headlight is indestructible. I’ve had it for over 20 years now. Although I’ve had to replace the strap twice in that time, it still works as good as the day I bought it. Buy some AAA rechargeable battery and you will have light for many years.
I am currently converting a school bus into an RV, and my only source of power so far is Target Zero Yeti 1500 ($1,300). It’s a little more powerful than this one, but for weekend camping where you might not be using a circular saw and a vacuum cleaner, the Yeti 700 will provide enough power. This pairs well with the Goal Zero portable solar panel Also, it should be easy to maintain the power source.
I confess that I have never used it as a trash can as it is supposed to be. It is too nice. I use it as a laundry bag. It is made of 600 denier nylon, and the inside is lined with 1,000 mm polyurethane coating, which makes it easy to clean with a hose. Spray it down with water and hang it out to dry. The roll-up lid is like a dry bag. It is not completely waterproof, but it will keep your trash from spilling.
Photo: Aeropress
AeroPress Go (9/10, WIRED recommends) is a great camp coffee solution for large groups. Everyone can make their own cup of coffee, in any The Weird and Interesting AeroPress Method they love it. Even if not everyone loves it, no one hates it either. Well, maybe Steve would hate it, but he complains about everything.
Our favorite way to avoid green propane tanks is this gas canister. This model gives you a 0.9-pound propane tank with a nice padded/insulated sleeve and a handy strap to carry it, and it makes your campsite look a lot nicer than a tank without anything. It also protects your shins from those inevitable collisions with cold hard steel that come with carrying a large propane tank. This is about the size of four green propane tanks.
This chair is the coziest way to gather around camp. It’s a little big, heavy, and a bit difficult to fold up and carry, but it’s all worth it when you’re cramming all your loved ones into it in front of the fire.
Photo: Biolite
Biolite’s FirePit+ is Our favorite high-tech hibachi. This is a sleek, portable mesh box with removable legs, a hibachi-style grill, and an ash bin. It has a 10,400 mAh rechargeable battery that can power 51 streams of air for up to 26 hours. This gives you precise control over the flame and, to some extent, the temperature of the fire. It’s Bluetooth compatible, so you can adjust the air flow—and flame height—on your phone. The FirePit+ can burn charcoal or wood, and thanks to its fan, you don’t need a charcoal chimney and you’ll never have to struggle to get the fire going again.
Bicycle and clothing promotions
Photo: Darn Tough
Darn Tough socks are, well, durable. I am. merino wool guy around hereAnd I’ve tried dozens of pairs of merino wool socks, and Darn Tough holds up better than any other. There are some very comfortable merino wool socks, some with higher merino wool content (60 percent), but none last longer than Darn Tough.
Our review is coming soon, but not only does REI make affordable commuter bikes, the company also builds them themselves and offers a year of free tune-ups. It’s a great value for all the commuter essentials, with a 250-watt motor on a step-through frame. It offers a little less torque than you might need if you live in a city with lots of hills, though.
I like the Trailmade as a jacket to keep in my car as part of my permanent hiking gear—something that’s always there and ready to go. It’s not the best rain jacket. It won’t keep you dry in Thailand’s monsoon rains, but it’s good enough for the occasional afternoon thunderstorms that pop up where I live, and it’s a great windbreaker. I mean, come on, $35 for a decent rain jacket.
