Best Backpacking Gear Deals from the REI Labor Day Sale

This is a sponsored post brought to you by REI Co-op. The REI Labor Day Sale runs from 8/25 – 9/4.

It’s that wonderful time of the year again. The peak of the summer heat has passed, the crispness of autumn creeps into the mornings, the kids are back in school, and bugs have run their course. This is prime hiking season. It’s also the time of year to find big savings at the annual REI Labor Day Sale. Running for over a week from August 25 to September 4, score up to 40% off select items.

Members of REI are also gifted with an additional 20% off one item coupon at REI Outlet with the code LABORDAY23.

Head over to REI.com to shop the Labor Day Sale. But first, check out our top picks for hiking and backpacking gear from the sale.

Shop the REI Labor Day Sale

25% off Altra Lone Peak 7 (Men’s)
Reg. $150 | Sale $112

Stack Height: 25mm
Drop: 0mm

Ahhhh, the Altra Lone Peak. What more can be said about the most popular thru-hiking shoe in history? Thousands use it, thousands love it, and the style just keeps getting better. It’s not the perfect shoe, but this trail runner is amazingly popular for a reason — the wide footbox and zero-drop platform are just two of the most obvious. Replacing shoes during a long thru-hike quickly gets expensive, so if you know that you like these, then now is a great time to load up for next season.

Read our review of the Lone Peak 7 here.

30% off Exped Ultra 3R Sleeping Pad
Reg. $160 | Sale $112

R-value: 2.9
Weight: 16-20 ounces

A restful night of sleep is one of the best ways to ensure a happy and healthy hike. The Exped Ultra 3R is a cushy inflatable sleeping pad that keeps you comfortable with three inches of supportive spring, while packing small and weighing only a pound. The moderate R-value is also suitable for three-season use, which makes this a great option for a summer thru-hike. The 30% off sale extends to all Exped sleeping pads, including the Ultra 1R, 5R, and 7R, as well as the lighter weight mummy-shaped versions.

30% off REI Co-op XeroDry GTX Rain Jacket (Women’s)
Reg. $180 | Sale $125

Weight: 13 ounces
Material: Gore-Tex Paclite

REI’s best in-house rain jacket has been one of our favorites for a long time. While it might not be the lightest rain shell on the market, it doesn’t skimp on useful features. The two-layer Gore-Tex fabric is protective and reasonably breathable, and the three (yep, three!) mesh-lined pockets boost venting on those sweaty climbs while also keeping important items protectively stashed and handy. This reasonably priced classic just gets more enticing with 30% off.

25% off Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL 2 Tent
Reg. $550 | Sale $412

Weight: 45 ounces
Shelter Type: Freestanding

Your tent is one of the most expensive pieces of gear that you need to survive outside for extended periods of time, and now is the perfect time to save beaucoup bucks on a perennial favorite. The Copper Spur is one of the lightest freestanding tents on the market, so if trekking poles and complicated guy lines aren’t your jam, then this is one of the best alternatives.  The 2-person version will be a palace for one and fit two with space for gear in the double vestibules.

And it’s not just the Copper Spur HV UL 2 that’s on sale. All the favorite tents from Big Agnes are available at 25% off MSRP, including the popular Fly Creek, Tiger Wall, and 1-person versions of all of them.

30% off REI Co-op Sahara Shade Hoodie (Men’s)
Reg. $50 | Sale $35

Material: 92% polyester, 8% spandex
Sun Protection: UPF 50

Summer ain’t over yet, and covering up during your remaining sunny days in the backcountry is just the right thing to do. Save the weight and mess of sloppy sunscreen and let the UPF 50 protection of this lightweight sun hoodie do its thing. With a full-coverage hood and thumb loops, this shirt blocks the rays while a loose fit keeps it breezy and cool on hot days.

Read our review of the Sahara Shade Hoodie here.

25% off Osprey Atmos AG and Aura AG Backpacks
Reg. $315 | Sale $236

 

Weight: 4 lbs 5 oz
Support: 3D suspended mesh

You might be confused why we’ve included such a heavy pack on this list, and it’s because for that weight you get one of the most comfortable packs on the market. The AG stands for Osprey’s ‘Anti-Gravity’ suspension mesh, which, while an exaggeration, is still ridiculously comfortable. You might find that the extra weight is worth it for the all-day comfort and breathability of a pack that truly floats an inch from your back and hips. Putting on this pack feels like receiving a comforting hug, a sensation that is rare enough in life, and especially absent in the wilderness.

25% off Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew Socks (Men’s)
Reg. $25 | Sale $19

Material: 59% merino wool, 39% nylon, 2% Lycra spandex
Warranty: Lifetime

Are you on the Darn Tough bandwagon yet? No, well now’s a great time to get in the game and start rocking the most popular trail socks of our wonderful long trails. The Hiker Micro Crew offers the perfect coverage and cushion whether you wear boots or trail runners. Not only will you be impressed by their longevity, but they are also backed by Darn Tough’s legendary lifetime guarantee. If you find a hole in your socks during a thru-hike, trade ’em out at a participating gear shop or mail them to Darn Tough for replacement credit.

And don’t limit yourself to this favorite sock style. All Darn Tough socks are 25% off during the REI Labor Day Sale.

25% off Jetboil Stash Stove System
Reg. $145 | Sale $109

Weight: 7.1 ounces
Boil Time (1L): 5 minutes

If you’re looking for a light and fast way to cook up a hot meal or cup of tea on the trail, then it’s hard to beat the Stash, Jetboil’s lightest trail stove. The entire system (stove, pot, fuel stabilizer, no fuel) weighs just over seven ounces, which is kind of outrageous. And it all nests together beautifully to make packing up satisfyingly neat and breezy. The Stash might not be the most efficient of Jetboil’s stove options, but the time sacrifice is worth the weight in our opinion. Disagree? Well don’t you worry because all Jetboil stoves are available at a 25% discount.

Read our review of the Stash here.

25% off Mountain Hardwear Bishop Pass 15 Sleeping Bag (Women’s)
Reg. $305 | Sale $229

Weight: 37 ounces
Fill: 650 fill-power down

Quilts aren’t for everyone, and you can still make a thru-hike work with a classic mummy sleeping bag. The Mountain Hardwear Bishop Pass 15 strikes the right balance of weight, warmth, packability, and price making it a solid option for those who want a no-fuss solution for keeping cozy during three-season excursions. And if you want to push into shoulder season or winter camping, then the Bishop Pass 0 can take you there.

Note: Outdated convention dictates that men’s versions of sleeping bags are roughly 10°F less warm than the same-rated women’s version. The Bishop Pass 15 will be “comfortable” to 15°F in the women’s version and only 26°F in the men’s.

25% off Platypus QuickDraw Water Filter
Reg. $50 | Sale $37

Weight: 3.4 ounces
Flow Rate: Up to 3L/min

In the world of squeeze-style water filters, the Quickdraw is easily one of the best. The thoughtful design increases compatibility, offers a faster flow rate (when new), and makes backflushing an easy chore. While using one filter for more than one person is a recipe for dehydration and tired hands, the Quickdraw is an awesome solution to keeping the nasty stuff out of your water. It hardly weighs anything, so bring it along.

Going with a group, the Platypus GravityWorks filter cannot be beaten.

Read our review of the QuickDraw here.

25% off Sawyer Squeeze Water Filter
Reg. $41 | Sale $31

 

Weight: 3 ounces
Flow Rate: 1.7L/min

The Sawyer Squeeze revolutionized lightweight backcountry water filtration and has been the most popular personal water filter for a decade now. It is perfectly suited to the task, filtering reasonably fast while remaining an afterthought in one’s baseweight. As long as you take care of yours, it should last a full thru-hike and then some. Backflush regularly, backflush often, and don’t let it freeze. Get that giardia outta here. Ain’t nobody got time for that!

READ NEXT — Sawyer Mini vs. Sawyer Squeeze: Which Filter is Best For Thru-Hiking

Gear up with up to 30% off this week during the REI Labor Day Sale. It only runs this Friday through next Friday (8/25 – 9/4) so don’t wait too long to jump on this opportunity.

Shop the REI Labor Day Sale

Featured image: Graphic design by Chris Helm.