REI Labor Day Sale

Gear up for fall and winter this weekend at the REI Labor Day Sale

Save Now Thru September 6

The REI annual Labor Day weekend sale is the perfect time to grab the latest gear at discount prices ranging from 15-30% off. With fall and winter just around the corner, here are my recommendations on the best buys this time of year to get you prepared for a change in weather.

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As we enter into fall, it’s the perfect time to look into getting a new down jacket, a necessity for camping in cool temperatures. This women’s REI Co-op 650 down jacket 2.0 is a great deal. It’s not bulky or heavy, but still provides a great layer of warmth. They also offer it in men’s.

Another essential piece of gear for fall and winter is a waterproof, breathable, windproof jacket like this women's REI Co-op Rainier Rain jacket. It has a 2.5 layer waterproof breathable laminate and is windproof up to 60 mph. It is lightweight and incredibly packable as it can quickly be stashed into its own pocket which is something I love. You can also find the comparable men’s REI Co-op Rainer Rain Jacket on sale now too.

Base layers are an absolute necessity for camping outdoors in fall and winter. Right now, you can shop REI’s clearance items and find things like this Smartwool Merino 250 base layer top and fleece pullovers.

Wool socks are a must when temps drop. Unlike cotton, wool is a great insulator and can absorb a much higher amount of moisture keeping feet drier which means feet stay warmer longer. When we camp in cold weather, I change socks often because as soon as feet get even a little bit wet, they can become extremely cold. Wearing wool socks helps alleviate that problem. Right now REI’s clearance sale has merino wool socks on sale for under $10 which is a really great deal since they are normally $20 per pair.

Get ready for winter with new crampon traction devices for hiking on icy winter trails. They’re super easy to put on and fit most shoes or boots and can literally save you from falling on icy trails. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve seen unprepared visitors slipping in the parking lots and trails at our national parks in the winter not realizing how dangerous it is not to have a pair of these on. They are truly life savers. When not in use, just clip them onto your backpack. They are truly a must if you plan on traveling anywhere with snow or freezing cold temperatures were ice becomes a risk.

Note: These crampons are not currently on sale, but they are still absolute must haves.

It’s time to think about purchasing a durable down design mummy sleeping bag to keep you warm as fall approaches. Mummy bags are great because they keep your head warm and there’s not a lot of extra space around you for air to get trapped which causes bags to get cold when sleeping.

A great tip if you tend to get cold even in a zero degree bag, put one mummy bag inside a second mummy bag. This double bagging is a lifesaver for me when we camp in snow.

If you’re short like me, you can also take a scarf or small blanket and stuff it at the bottom of the bag below your feet to take up any extra space. This also works to fill any air pockets around the sides of you. Air pockets trap cooler air around you so doing this helps keep you insulated.

Looking for a new tent that’s able to handle winter weather? A typical 3-season backpacking tent will work well if you’re camping below the tree line and not anticipating stormy conditions. For high winds and heavy snow fall, a 4-season is recommended.

From now through September 6, REI Co-op Kingdom tents, footprints, mud rooms and front porches are 15% off when you buy any two or more.