This is a hiking focused gear guide to the March 2024 REI Co-op Member Coupon Moment Up Sale highlighting the best lightweight gear.
Save big with Black Friday Cyber Monday sale deals from ultralight backpacking gear brands and Cottage Industry manufacturers.
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
Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer Hooded Down Jacket M’s & W’s – REI GarageWomen’ Jacket – REI Garage $244.73
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30% off Patagonia Ultralight Down Hoodie or Jacket – Men’s – REI GarageA steal if you also use your Members Get 20% off one REI Garage Item. This jacket has been a staple of the ultralight crowd for years. My wife and I both own one. It’s not the cheapest jacket but it’s light, and uses a generous 3.5 oz of 800-fill-power traceable down. It comes in both a jacket and a hooded version for a little more money. The hooded version is hands-down our favorite!
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25% off Altra Lone Peak 3.0 Trail Shoes, M’s & W’s – REI GarageA good pair of hiking shoes, ain’t cheap. So these might be a good choice for the your 20% off any one Garage 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 come 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! |
HOKA ONE ONE Speedgoat Trail-Running Shoes – Men’s – REI Garage$97.73
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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.
30% Off All M’s Patagonia R1 Hoodies & Pullovers – possibly 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.
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REI Co-op Rhyolite Rain Jacket M’s & W’s
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25% off All Swiss Army KnivesThis is a great chance to stock up on some small holiday presents And yes, the Swiss Army Classic is well, a classic ultralight knife. But at 25% off don’t stop there if you want something more elaborate for a front country camping knife (e.g. Swiss Army Huntsman Knife) or something in between for everyday carry… |
25% off All REI Co-op Trekking PolesWe particularly like the REI Co-op Flash Carbon Trekking Poles. They are light, strong, and travel friendly. We’ve taken them all over the world.
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25% off Big Agnes Copper Spur Tents and FootprintsIf you want to cut a little weight, but keep lots of space, Big Agnes has you covered with their Copper Spur ultralight freestanding tents. They are some of the most spacious backpacking tents out there, which is great if you are going to be stuck in your tent playing cards for a while in bad weather, or just prefer highly livable tents. The Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL 2 Tent is a longtime favorite among ultralight backpackers. |
Big Agnes Fly Creek HV UL 2 Tent $291.93
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35% Off all Jetboil Flash Cooking SystemsThe Jetboil Flash stove is an all-in-one stove, heat exchanger, pot combination. It’s a great option if you want hot water quickly in camp – it’ll get your morning coffee boiling in just two-and-a-half minutes. That’s 3-4 times faster than an alcohol stove system. At 15.2 oz, it’s not too heavy. Or you could consider the Jetboil FlashLite, which weighs 4 oz less, but has a lower 0.8 L water capacity vs. 1.0 L for the Flash. |
Patagonia Nano Puff Jacket – Men’s and Women’s 30% off now $138.99A Patagonia Ultralight Classic! Compared to fleece its lighter and more compressible for equivalent warmth. And unlike down it still keeps you warm when wet.
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REI Co-op Magma 850 Down Jacket – Men’s and Women’s$129.99
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30% off All Smartwool Midweight Base Layers for Women and MenMen’s Smartwool Midweight Base Layers on SaleWomen’s Smartwool Midweight Base Layers on Sale
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25% off Darn Tough Socks – Men’s and Women’sFrom Darn Tough: “Our unconditional lifetime guarantee is simple and without strings or conditions. If our socks are not the most comfortable, durable and best fitting socks you have ever owned, return them for another pair. For life.” I like Wool Socks and use them for all my hiking. Darn tough socks are among the best. And they make tons of non-wool socks if that’s your thing. I prefer thinner socks with lower tops.
25% Off All Farm to Feet SocksMade in America with American-sourced materials. And tons of fun colors and patterns!
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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 |
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