Labor Day already? Say it ain't so. Today is the last day to shop the best deals on WIRED-tested outdoor gear from REI, Nemo, MSR, Coleman, and more during REI's Labor Day sale.
Courtesy of REI Save this story Save this story REI's annual Labor Day Sale ends today - this is your last chance to score some great deals on outdoor gear. Many items are up to 40 percent off, and REI Co-op members can save up to 20 percent on any REI Outlet item.
Many of the best REI deals are on gear from the company's house brand. But there are also good discounts on other brands, like Mountain Hardwear, Nemo Equipment, Big Agnes, and Coleman, among others. I've also pulled some deals from competing sales at Backcountry, Fjällräven, and other cottage industry retailers. Below, find the best deals on all our favorite tents, backpacks, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, cookware, outdoor apparel, and more. Be sure to check out our outdoor gear guides, like the Best Tents , Best Sleeping Bags , Best Sleeping Pads , Best Backpacking Tents , Best Merino Wool , and Best Base Layers .
Updated September 7, 2026: We've removed a few sold-out deals and added more deals on merino base layers, backpacks, sleeping bags, socks, rain jackets, and more.
Can't You Just Put Links to All Your Outdoor Guides Right Here?
Now is a great time to score some new base layers and mid layers ahead of the cooler months, or pick up one of our favorite rain jackets .
Photograph: Adrienne So Arc'teryx Beta AR Rain Jacket for $350 ($150 off) REI (Men's) REI (Women's) Arc'teryx's Beta AR rain jacket is one of the burliest rain jackets I've tested. The Beta AR uses 40D fabric for most of the face, with reinforced 80D patches in high-wear areas, all of it with a Gore-Tex Pro 3L membrane. It's been the only Gore-Tex jacket I've tested that hasn't wetted out yet, and the pit zips provide excellent ventilation. At 1 pound, 0.3 ounces, it's not the lightest jacket, but you'd be hard-pressed to find anything else this durable at this weight.
I have the 2024 version of this jacket and it has proved reliable and waterproof. The taped seams and welded construction keep wind and moisture at bay, and the side zip vents run all the way from the hem to the bicep, offering great ventilation when you're moving (also handy for getting at stuff in the pockets of your mid layers). Only the men's version is on sale.
Patagonia's classic rain jacket is half off. It's only one color and only women's sizing, but this is a great deal if it works for you. The Torrentshell has a two-way adjustable hood, and the cuffs have velcro to give a nice, tight seal against the rain. The only real complaint I have with this jacket is that's it's on the noisier side, but at this price, I can deal with a little extra nylon crinkling.
Courtesy of REI REI Co-op Rainier Rain Jacket for $75 ($25 off) REI (Men's) REI (Women's) The Rainier is our favorite budget rain jacket , especially when it's on sale. This particular deal, while limited in color options, is the lowest price I've seen in 5 years of covering REI sales. Unlike most rain jackets in this price range, the Rainier uses high-quality three-layer, seam-taped, laminate waterproofing that's non-fluorinated (meaning no PFAS). It has some other features rare in budget rain jackets, like pit zips or venting, a weatherproof center zip, and an adjustable, stowable hood.
Looking to avoid the sun? REI's Sahara Shade hoodie is a great alternative to sunscreen. I don't often use a sun hoodie myself, but I have worn this one and it does do a good job of protecting you without feeling too stuffy on a hot day (it's definitely better for protecting against high altitude sun rather than humid, Florida sun).
The Ghost Whisperer Down jacket is my top pick for a backpacking puffer jacket . This is the hoodie version of the same. It weighs just 10.7 ounces for a men's medium, packs down to a tiny little thing (stuffing into its own pocket), and the 1,000-fill-power goose down offers one of the best warmth-to-weight ratios on the market. Unfortunately, colors and sizes are very limited.
Photograph: Scott Gilbertson Darn Tough Socks for 50 Percent Off REI Darn Tough makes some of our favorite merino wool socks . You can't go wrong with a pair of on your next trip. The Light Hiker Quarter Socks for $16 are nice for anyone who's moved to lightweight trail runners or minimal shoes. Most Darn Toughs are about 60 percent merino, with rest nylon. The nylon does mean you can't wear them as long without washing, I find about 2 days max for blends like this.
This is the quarter zip version of the best midweight base layer we've tested . I find this Smartwool shirt perfect for chilly spring and fall mornings. It's comfortable, though tending to be looser fitting, which is something to keep in mind when layering . The heavy-duty seams (read: sturdier, longer lasting) don't rub, and sit off the shoulder for more comfort when wearing a pack.
Cold temps are coming soon, grab this and keep your neck warm. I live in this Turtle Fur gaiter during the winter, and I also use the lighter, superfine version for hiking at elevation in the summer to keep the sun off my neck without resorting to sunscreen. It's wonderfully soft, not overly tight, and never smells.
Courtesy of Patagonia Patagonia Capilene Base Layer Top for $53 ($36 off) REI (Men's) REI (Women's) Our favorite synthetic base layer , these super soft and stretchy unders are made from Capilene, which is 100 percent recycled polyester (Capilene is Patagonia's proprietary fabric and not the same as polypropylene). The synthetic threads here perform about on par with wool. Capilene is also just about as comfortable, all while being light and quick-drying. Sizes here are very limited since this version has been replaced by an updated, revamp version that we are in the process of testing.
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