Make the best of your 20% off coupons & find the best deals at the REI Labor Day Sale & Clearance. Last chance of the year for Big Savings! Get the inside scoop on all the deals…
Get the Best Black Friday & Cyber Monday Deals From Top Cottage Ultralight Backpacking Brands. Hikers and backpackers can be very tricky to shop for and many hold their gear to the highest possible standard. That’s why we’ve hand picked a selection of the lightest, smartest, & most innovative pieces of hiking gear that even the most trail-savvy adventurer would be stoked to buy — be it for yourself or give to a special hiker. Happy shopping!
This gear is smarter, lighter and more thoroughly tested than your typical buyer’s guide. Enjoy our picks of the best light and practical gear in our Smart and Light Gift Guide for Hikers and Backpackers.
This gear is smarter, lighter and more thoroughly tested than your typical buyer’s guide. Enjoy our picks of the best light and practical gear in our Smart and Light Gift Guide for Hikers and Backpackers.
This gear is smarter, lighter and more thoroughly tested than your typical buyer’s guide. Enjoy our picks of the best light and practical gear in our Smart and Light Gift Guide for Hikers and Backpackers.
This gear is smarter, lighter and more thoroughly tested than your typical buyer’s guide. Enjoy our picks of the best light and practical gear in our Smart and Light Gift Guide for Hikers and Backpackers.
I’ve been an REI member since the mid 70’s. Still, when a REI sale comes around, I get overwhelmed trying to find the best lightweight gear among the vast inventory. This year, I decided to prep by going for a 2 hour visit to my local REI Store, and then doing research online selecting more great lightweight hiking and backpacking gear. The result is my Lightweight Hiker’s Guide to REI Gear Up Get Out Sale.
- EVENT: Gear Up Get Out Sale. Save up to 30% off at REI.
- PLUS: Members Get 20% off one full price item and 20% off one REI Garage Item
- Coupon Code: GEARUP20
- Dates for the sale are 11/10 to 11/20, so get there early and look around to get the best selection.
Below, I share with you my strategy to get the best out of the REI sale. This is in the following sequence
- First: hit the REI GARAGE to use your 20% off any one GARAGE item. Stuff goes fast and sizes/colors are limited to begin with. I’ve noted a few items that I found to be good deals, but be flexible since sizes and colors can go quickly. And do some searching. If you’re a small or very large person, you can totally score here. I’ve only put in items that had several good sizes. Keep in mind that something labeled “men” might be good for women, and vice versa.
- Second: Hit the Regular REI Sale Items (I have some picks below). The best items on sale will go quickly. There’s a section below that has Regular Sale Items I thought were good.
- Third: shop Full-price Items. This is the last area I would look over. Again in a section below, I have noted some high priced items where 20% off would be welcome, as well as some lower cost options.
Two Quick Pics
Oh, and Patagonia R1 Hoodies & Pullovers are 30% off – might be my favorite sale item! Think of it as “fur for humans.” Possibly the most versatile cold weather base layer ever made. It works over an astonishing range of conditions. Mine has been to many a mountain top all over the world.
The 12 oz REI Co-op Rhyolite with its breathable 3-layer eVENT fabric is durable AND Light. At half the price of competitor’s jackets, it’s a great value! The Rhyolite jacket is on sale at at 40% off – $113!
REI made some good design choices with this jacket: the pockets are high enough to use when wearing hip straps and it has mesh pocket linings creating two large and effective chest vents (which we prefer over pit-zips).
Good luck and happy shopping! -AdventureAlan
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Lightweight Hiker’s Guide to REI Gear Up Get Out Sale
1. REI GARAGE selections |
2. Regular REI Sale Items |
3. Full Priced Items |
Here are some ideas to use your 20% off one REI GARAGE item
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1. REI GARAGE selections |
2. Regular REI Sale Items |
3. Full Priced Items |
Selected Regular Sale Items
Since this gear is already on sale, you can’t use your 20% off any one -full-priced item. But there are some great deals here that can lighten your pack.
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1. REI GARAGE selections |
2. Regular REI Sale Items |
3. Full Priced Items |
Suggestions to get the most from your 20% off any one full-price item
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Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite $160Warm, comfortable, light and compact. What more do you want? The Therm-a-Rest NeoAir line sets the gold standard for backpacking sleeping pads. This is the “Women’s” version of the XLite, but it’s the right size for most backpackers (all the men I know use it). At 12 oz and with an R-value of 3.9, it’s warmer and lighter than the “Men’s” version. This pad will be a go-to piece of any backpacker’s sleeping kit. |
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Osprey Exos 48 Pack – $190A Thru-hiker’s choice and a darling of the Appalachian Trail and Pacific Crest Trail. The Osprey Exos 48 is light but will still hold enough gear and food for 7 days. Best of all, at under $200 it’s a good deal for a pack of this weight and quality. |
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REI Quarter Dome 2 Tent – $349.00REI’s long-time favorite Quarter Dome Tent is a great option for those looking for a reasonably priced lightweight free-standing backpacking tent. If ultralight tarps seem too daunting, this will still help you cut weight, weighing just over 3 lbs, but the Quarter Dome remains comfortable with ample head room, and plenty of space for two backpackers. The increased room and livability from extremely vertical walls is what sets tent apart from most of its peers. (Now even more room with 2017 update.) Note: Compare this to the Big Agnes Fly Creek HV UL 2 Tent |
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REI Co-op Magma Sleeping Bag – 17° W’s & 10° M’s – $399This 2017 Backpacker Editors’ Choice will keep even cold sleepers warm. This Women’s specific bag is rated to 17 °F and stuffed with 850 fill power water-resistant goose down. The weight is not bad at a little over two pounds. |
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REI Co-op Igneo 25 Sleeping Bag M’s & Joule 30 W’s – $269A value 3 season bag for under 2 pounds. Water-repellent 700-fill-power duck down keeps the price low. Strategic waterproof/breathable fabric panels improve its wet weather performance. This Women’s specific Joule bag is rated to 30 °F and the Men’s Igneo bag is rated to 30 °F. |
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Marmot Phase 30 Sleeping Bag – $399This is 1/2 the weight of the bags above it! A very warm one-pound Ultralight bag wth high quality 850 fill power water-resistant goose down. EN rated to 33 °F, and with a full zipper which is a pleasant surprise in a bag this light! |
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Altra Lone Peak Trail-Running Shoes – $120A good pair of hiking shoes, ain’t cheap. So these might be a good choice for the your 20% off any one full price item. These are Alison’s and my favorite backpacking and hiking shoes. These are the most comfortable shoe after a 30+ mile day on the trail. One key is the massive toe room that is so kind to trail-swollen feet at the end of the day. They are light and have a zero drop heel for a more natural stride. These comes in both Men’s and Women’s models. We also like the lighter and award winning Altra Superior shoes. We have even taken them technical canyoneering with good success. M’s model and W’s model. One thing that makes the Superiors stand apart is upper fabric is that it stops sand and grit entry while still being breathable! |
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HOKA ONE Speedgoat Trail-Running Shoes – $140If the a big toebox isn’t your thing, these are some very light (under 10 oz) shoes that are super comfortable. They’ve got tons of padding to protect your feet, great ventilation and super grip from aggressively lugged soles. Like the Altras above, these have a low heel drop, which we prefer. In Men’s and Women’s models. |
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REI Co-Op Rain Jacket – $70This functional rain jacket is under 10 oz. and a great bargain! Most of us end up tearing or wearing out a rain jacket after a few seasons anyway, so why spend the big bucks? This jacket comes in both Men’s and Women’s sizes (9.4 and 8 oz respectively), has zippered pockets and an adjustable hood making this 2.5-layer breathable waterproof jacket a an excellent deal! |
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REI Flash 18 Pack and Flash 22 Pack – $40 and $50These little day packs are great. They are light in an era when many “daypacks” approach the heavy weight of long distance backpacks. With the weight savings you can carry a camera, a drawing pad and pencils, or some extra food. Theses packs hold just the right amount for a day (18 or 22 L), and don’t have too many bells and whistles. Simple, inexpensive, and good. This simple drawstring design has been with us for years, because it has proven itself to be perfect for just about any day-long mission. There are some fancy colors in the Special Edition 18 Pack and the Special Edition 22 Pack. |
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1. REI GARAGE selections |
2. Regular REI Sale Items |
3. Full Priced Items |
Disclaimer
This post contains affilate links. If you make a purchase after clicking on the these links, a slight portion of the sale helps support this site at no additional cost to you. I am never under an obligation to write page post a review about any product. Finally, this post expresses my own independent opinion.
A $10 down vest that looks eerily similar to a $250 Patagonia vest? A $20 down quilt? Hard to believe. These are just the first two items in this post on Cheap Lightweight Backpacking Gear. Other great values include a 9 oz rain jacket, a +20 down quilt that’s ½ the price of the competition, and bomber, lightweight carbon fiber trekking poles. Stay tuned over the next few months as I will continue to add more cheap lightweight backpacking gear. This post contains:
- $20 mild weather Down Quilt (on sale now at Costco)
- $10 Down Vest (on sale now at Costco)
- $55, 9 oz Rain Jacket (some sizes/colors on sale now at REI)
- $45 Carbon Fiber Trekking Poles
- $249, +20 degree, 18 oz Down Quilt
$10 Down Vest – $20 Down Quilt (for mild weather)
These are seasonally in-store at Costco right now! The current promotion from 9/27/16 through 10/10/16 offers $4 off the vest (for a total cost of $10). Caveat: I just purchased the quilt and vest at Costco and therefore, don’t have long term field performance or durability data at this time. Given the price, and the fact that they are from relatively unknown, knock-off manufacturers it’s possible that zippers, stitching or other construction standards may not be up to the those of Patagonia or Mountain Hardwear. None-the-less at $20 and $10, they cost astonishingly less than big brand items. I leave it to the reader to determine if the cost justifies giving them a chance. It is also good to note that Costco has a good return policy. (The quilt and similar vests are also available at Amazon for slightly more $).
Is the Quilt Warm Enough?
For much of the country, temperatures in the “high hiking season” are usually mild. This year in the Mid-Atlantic we had 105 consecutive days where the low temp was above 60 degrees (June 9 to Sept 23). As such, experienced, bargain minded hikers might consider the quilt and/or vest for backpacking along the AT and similar trails during the summer and possibly late spring/early fall (quilt when used in combination with jacket/vest and a warm hat). See Why You Won’t Freeze or Starve Ultralight Backpacking and in particular Use a weather report to help you select the right gear.
Use for Two People in mild weather? My wife and have often/happily shared quilts with similar dimensions. In this case, the temperature rating is better (sharing body heat) and the weight and cost per person less.
Double Black Diamond Packable Down Throw: Think of this quilt as a slightly warmer, lighter, more compressible and wind-proof alternative to the fleece blanket that many camp with in mild weather.
$20 mild weather Down Quilt -“Double Black Diamond Packable Down Throw”
This quilt is available for $20 at Costco or around $33 at Amazon.
This is a mild weather quilt (if you are looking for a bargain in a top-quality, cold weather quilt, see below). Think of this quilt as a slightly warmer, lighter, more compressible and wind-proof alternative to the fleece blanket that many camp with in mild weather. This is a thin quilt, with a single layer loft of 0.7 to 1.0 inches, and sewn through construction. As a wild guess, this quilt might work somewhere into the 50’s for some people, but not for others. Obviously, wearing a jacket or a down vest (possibly the $10 one below), combined with a warm hat and some other clothing would likely extend the quilt’s temperature range.
- 15.5 oz (440 g) Quilt, 0.4 oz (12 g) stuff sack
- 700 fill power duck down
- 20D polyester/nylon shell
- Dimensions: 60” x 70” (155 cm x 177 cm)
- Thin: measured single layer loft of 0.7 to 1.0 inches
$10, 650 fill power Down Vest – 32 Degrees* Packable “Ultra Light” Down Vest
This $12 down women’s vest I bought at Costco looks eerily similar to a $250 Patagonia vest. It’s even approximately the same weight and loft of the Women’s Patagonia Ultralight Down Vest. Some of the Men’s versions at Amazon do as well.
The vest is available for $10-$12 at Costco, or between $20 to $30 at Amazon.
This is a light down vest with similar weight and loft as $180/$250 Patagonia Down Vests. Obviously the quality/durability may not be the same. From reading Amazon reviews (most quite positive) it appears the fabric on some vests is not entirely down-proof (although I’ve had some down leakage from most of my expensive gear too). I purchased a size large “Ladies'” vest for Alison.
Specs below for size large “Ladies” vest:
- 5.9 oz (170 g) Quilt, 0.3 oz (9 g) stuff sack
- 650 fill power duck down (90% down, 10% feathers)
- Wind and water resistant
- Shell: 100% Polyester
- Lining: 100% Nylon
* Note: “32 Degrees” is the brand name and not the temperature rating
A version of 32 Degrees Men’s Packable “Ultra Light” Down Vest is available on Amazon. Some of the Men’s versions at Amazon look similar to a Patagonia UL Down Vest. The Costco version has slightly different baffling and snap pocket closures, but still uses 650 fill power duck down.
Cheap Lightweight Backpacking Gear
The gear listed below is not “cheap” in the sense of low quality. Quite the opposite, it is value gear with performance and weight that far exceeds its low price. And sometimes it’s equal to best in class (e.g. Hammock Gear Burrow Quilt).
Cheap Rainwear
Currently available for $55, the REI Co-Op Rain Jacket costs less and weighs less than much of the competition. It has most of the essential features, a generous and comfortable fit, and gets the job done.
The REI Co-Op Rain Jacket weighs 9 ounces. Some sizes and colors are on sale for $55 (full price is $70). It weighs less and costs less than a standard bargain rain jacket, the Marmot Precip. You aren’t going to win any fashion awards with this REI jacket. The hood brim is on the small side and not so stiff (I wear a ball cap with all my rain jackets anyway). But the REI Co-Op Rain Jacket has most of the essential features, a generous and comfortable fit, and gets the job done.
Specs below forREI Co-Op Rain Jacket, Men’s Medium
- 9.5 oz, on my scale
- Generous fit (some might want to go down a size)
- 2.5-layer waterproof, breathable nylon shell also features a durable water repellent finish to shed light rain; jacket is windproof to 60 mph
- Dual front hood adjusters (but no rear adjustment)
- Internal elastic cuffs and drawcord hem seal out wind
- Weatherproof center front zipper (with rear storm flap)
- Zippered hand pockets (with mesh backing for venting)
Cheap Backpacking Quilts
Hammock Gear Burrow Quilt. A +20° Burrow weighs less and costs almost 1/2 of a conventional down sleeping bag with similar warmth and performance. My version of this quilt is 18 oz (with 2 oz of overfill down).
A down quilt is the best choice for most, if not all backpacking trips. Quilts are lighter and cost less than conventional sleeping bags like Mountain Hardwear’s Phantom 32 sleeping bag but have similar warmth and specifications. I haven’t used a sleeping bag in about 15 years. I’ve used quilts for outings such as a February backcountry ski trip in Wyoming’s Beartooth Plateau, or a winter trip at 15,000 feet in the Andes, or hammock camping down to +10F in the Appalachian mountains. Quilts work!
See more on this topic in Recommended Sleeping Bags & Quilts.
The $250, 18 ounce, 850 fill power down Hammock Gear Burrow 20°F Quilt is an exceptional value in lightweight, high-performance sleeping insulation. It costs far less than comparable down quilts (e.g. the $470 Katabatic Gear Palisade 30°F quilt) or conventional sleeping bags (e.g. $485 Western Mountaineering UltraLite 20°F sleeping bag). The Burrow is equally adept for use with ground sleeping (use like a conventional sleeping-bag) or as a hammock top-quilt. The current version of the Hammock Gear Burrow Quilt has longitudinal baffles (running lengthwise, camouflage fabric in the picture). These longitudinal baffles keep the down on top (over you) rather than drifting down to the sides overnight.
Cheap Trekking Poles
Cascade Tech Carbon Trekking poles cost about 1/3 the price of carbon fiber trekking poles of similar weight, strength and construction.
Cascade Tech Carbon Trekking Poles are a great example of value gear. They perform almost as well the $170, Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork Trekking Poles. In the past two years I’ve used these inexpensive poles everywhere. Four weeks of technical canyoneering in Southern Utah, the rugged and rocky GR-20 in Corsica, the Torres del Paine Trek in Patagonia, and numerous other trips. They are super stiff and have not broken even when jammed in talus and then levered with my body weight. The adjustment mechanisms never slip. The poles have well designed and comfortable grips. And they have a generous 54cm length that is helpful for setting up larger shelters that use trekking poles.
Trekking poles I use. More often than not I take the Cascade Mountain Tech poles.
From front to rear in photo:
- 15.0 oz, $45 – Cascade Mountain Tech Carbon Fiber Quick Lock Trekking Poles
- 15.0 oz, $135 – REI Carbon Power Lock Poles (current version here). Light and strong but not as stiff as the Cascade Tech or Black Diamond poles. Lower shafts easily abrade.
- 16.8 0z, $170 – Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork Trekking Poles – Rugged and dependable. Work just about anywhere. But heavy and expensive.
- 8.5 oz, $103 – Gossamer Gear LT4 Carbon Trekking Poles – Light, and adjustable. Excellent for trail use. But not up to rugged off-trail, talus, etc.
| Again, continue to check back. I will continue to add more cheap lightweight backpacking gear to this list. Or better put, value gear with performance and weight that far exceeds its low price. |