50 Ways To Save on the Best Ultralight Gear with Coupons & Sale Pricing
This content is sponsored by REI Co-op, but the views expressed are my own
The REI Co-op Anniversary Sale event is on now, and this guide is your shortcut to the best savings on ultralight backpacking gear. If you want to upgrade your kit, you’ve come to the right place! To shop optimally, check if the type of item you need is on-sale or in the Outlet before cashing in your 20% off one full price item coupon.
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Cover Photo: Big Agnes Sarvist VST 2
REI Co-op Anniversary Sale Details
- May 15-25, 2026
- 25% off thousands of styles
- 20% off coupon, full price item
- 20% off coupon, Outlet item
Big Agnes Sarvis VST 2
40 oz | $750 MSRP
Woah, an ultralight, hybrid single wall freestanding tent from… Big Agnes! The 2.5 pound Sarvis VST 2 offers a massive 32 sq ft of interior area, and unlike the 29 sq ft Copper Spur UL, can fit two 25″ pads. A mesh ceiling canopy reduces contact with condensation. This is one of the best lightweight freestanding tents on the market. For 3P, check out the Sarvis VST 3.
Big Agnes String Ridge VST 2.5
30 oz | $680 MSRP
String Ridge VST 2.5 is an enlarged version of the trustworthy dual apex trekking pole tent design, with a unique beak vent that improves air flow. No Big Agnes tent has a better area-to-weight ratio. For solo camping, check out the S String Ridge VST 1.5.
Big Agnes Copper Spur UL
42 oz | $600 MSRP
Copper Spur UL2 is the most popular and beloved Big Agnes tent for backpacking, renown for its light weight, double-wall, fully freestanding construction, and awning vestibule. It is a great tent for mixed 1-2P use. Upgrade to the UL2 XL version for a more spacious dedicated 2P shelter. Options for all capacity levels are available.
NEMO DragonFly OSMO (2026 Edition)
45 oz | $550 MSRP
The NEMO Dragonfly OSMO is a lightweight, fully-freestanding tent designed to compete directly with Copper Spur, complete with high tech sag-resistant OSMO fabric. The end result is an excellent, lightweight, versatile backpacking tent. The latest version of Dragonfly has a larger interior volume thanks to a new and improved spreader bar.
Osprey Exos & Eja 58
45 oz | $285 MSRP
Osprey Men’s Exos 58 & Women’s Eja 58 are iconic lightweight backpacks, notable for their adjustable and superbly aerated trampoline-style back panel. They have a traditional lid which can be removed to save weight, and full suite of external pockets.
Exped Lightning 50
41.5 oz | $270 MSRP
Exped Lightning 50, redesigned for 2026, is a roll-top pack with a T-shaped aluminum frame that supports serious load lifters. The curvature of the frame lifts the back panel off your back to reduces sweat. It’s also a great value.
REI Co-op Flash Air 50
30 oz | $299 MSRP
Weighing in under two pounds, the Flash Air 50 is a true Co-op label ultralight backpack! This design is a more dialed-in version of the popular Flash 55, built with a simpler chassis, no brain, and fancier UHMWPE ripstop fabric.
REI Co-op Flash 55
45 oz | $229 MSRP
REI Co-op Flash 55 is a distinctly good value proposition to begin with, and an exceptional value when on sale. At 45 ounces, it classes as light-not-ultralight, but you get your money’s worth via a comfortable carry and copious external storage.
REI Co-op Flash 22
14 oz | $60 MSRP
REI Co-op Flash 22 is the least expensive ultralight daypack out there, and an absolute crowd pleasing value monster. Sixteen ounces is the ultralight bar, and Flash smashes it at just 14 oz. The 22L internal compartment opens and closes with a drawcord cinch, and is covered by a lid with a zippered pocket, handy for storing snacks and useful knickknacks.
Black Diamond Distance 22
14.1 oz |$ 230
Don’t over look the option of using a running vest instead of a traditional daypack! They’re lighter weight, have built-in shoulder strap pockets, and the torso-hugging fit reduce bounce-and-sway as you move. This enables jogging if that kind of pace is desired, but it’s perfectly great for walking too. Black Diamond Distance 22 is an exemplary vest with a comfortable, breathable mesh harness, low weight, and great external storage.
NEMO Pulse 20/30 Quilt
18 oz | $550 MSRP
Choose NEMO Pulse because it’s the highest warmth-to-weight ratio quilt sold at REI, and the most sustainable option on the marketplace. Send it back to NEMO at end of life and they’ll recycle it! Thanks to 1000 fill power Expedry gold-treated down and 10d fabric, it outperforms all other non-cottage industry option. It’s also notable for the use of kero step baffling, which creates a maze like network of semi-open chambers to hold down in place while evening out distribution and reducing cold spots.
Therm-a-Rest Vesper 20 Quilt
19 oz | $460 MSRP
Therm-a-Rest Vesper 20 is second highest warmth-to-weight ratio quilt sold at REI Co-op, comfier and better than every sleeping bag, and a top tier option for ultralight backpackers. It is a marginally worse performer than NEMO Pulse, but a better value.
REI Co-op Magma 30 Trail Quilt
20.3 oz | $329
REI Co-op Magma 30 Trail Quilt is a great value for a solid ultralight sleeping setup. The bottom opens up fully, and it has a proper mix of vertical and horizontal baffles where each is needed most.
Exped Ultra 6.5R
12.7 oz | $200 MSRP
Exped rereleased their entire Ultra range of sleeping pads for spring 2026, and the specs are really impressive. The mummy-shaped Ultra 6.5R is particularly nice; slightly lighter, warmer, and comfier than the existing tier-1 ultralight models like Ether Light, NeoAir, Tensor, and Zoom.
NEMO Tensor All-Season UL Sleeping Pad
14.1 oz | $220 MSRP
Choose NEMO Tensor All-Season Insulated because it is the best overall ultralight sleeping pad, with the best combination of stats like weight, R-value, and thickness. The surface dimples form a reasonably comfortable and quiet sleeping surface with enhanced durability on the lower half.
NEMO Eclipse All Season
16.0 oz | $160 MSRP
NEMO Eclipse All-Season is the best value among lightweight sleeping pads. With a whopping R-value of 6.2, a heavily dimpled surface, and four inches of thickness, it’s easily comfier than NeoAir and Tensor (though a 2-3 oz heavier), and $50 less expensive than the similarly specced Sea to Summit Ether Light XR.
Sea to Summit Ether Light XR Insulated ASC
16.6 oz | $199 MSRP
For a superb blend of comfort-and-thickness-to-weight, we recommend Sea to Summit Ether Light XR, which is no slouch on warmth or durability either. This is a great all around pad that includes all the best features like a deeply dimpled surface, double valve, perimeter bumpers, and a quiet sleeping experience; much quieter and warmer than its predecessor. And on top of that, the size regular is actually 21.7″ wide, 1.7″ wider than industry standard.
Sea to Summit Ultralight XR
14.6 oz | $149 MSRP
Few insulated sleeping pads weigh under a pound, which makes the Sea to Summit Ultralight XR a tempting offer for just $149 in a size regular. While the 2.6″ thick structure is definitely thinner than average and can cause bottoming out as you move, the actual sleeping surface is astoundingly comfy; great for side, stomach, and back sleepers. In fact, it is comfier than StS Ether Light XR, NEMO Tensor, NEMO Eclipse, and Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite, albeit a notch thinner and less warm than all of them. Lastly, the 30d/40d fabric is very tough.
Big Agnes Zoom UL
14 oz | $200 MSRP
Choose Big Agnes Zoom UL because it has one of the comfiest sleeping surfaces for an ultralight sleeping pad weighing less than a pound. It is definitely comfier than Tensor and NeoAir, but sleeps a bit colder.
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT
13 oz | $210 MSRP
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite offers the best blend of low weight and high durability in an ultralight sleeping pad, and is by far the most classic and best selling option in the genre. If you had the old version, you might remember how loud they were. But that is no longer the case; NXT is reasonably quiet.
Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork Poles
17.1 oz | $230 MSRP
For the single strongest option out of the 40 poles we tested, choose Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork. By every possible deflection measurement, and word of mouth on the trail, these heavy duty carbon fiber trekking poles are practically indestructible. They feature an incredibly simple and totally classic 3-part, telescoping design, augmented with the best and snappiest flip locks we’ve ever used.
MSR Dynalock Ascent Carbon
16 oz | $190
For stiffer than average, adjustable height folding poles, consider the MSR Dynalock Ascent Carbon. They boasts the shortest collapsed height on the market, and a superbly snappy flip lock.
REI Co-op Flash Carbon Poles
13.6 oz | $169 MSRP
The REI Co-op Flash are an exquisitely lightweight pair of carbon fiber poles for a reasonable price. These have an extra wide adjustable range of 105 to 140 cm.
C.A.M.P. Corsa Ice Axe
7.1 oz | $120 MSRP
For periodically ascending steep-but-non-technical snowy passes and peaks, the ultralight C.AM.P. Corsa Ice Axe is all you need. It serves the primary purposes of self arrest and acting as balance point, while also saving more pack weight than any other ice axe when stowed. We think it’s the best ice axe for hiking and backpacking.
REI Co-op Active Pursuit Sun Gloves
1 oz | $30 MSRP
The lightweight REI Co-op Active Pursuits Sun Gloves protect your hands from harsh UV, and are recommended for all day wear at high altitude. The reinforced palms help reduce abrasion, such as when leaning on a sharp rock.
MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe
2.9 oz | $85 MSRP
MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe is one of two best-in-class stoves on the market, and our current editor’s choice pick. PRD boils incredibly quickly thanks to the high BTU output, and does so without failing in cold/wind, thanks to a cupped head and pressure regulator.
MSR Titan Double Wall Titanium Mug (25% off)
4.1 oz | $50 MSRP
Double wall titanium mugs are the best backcountry vessel for hot drinks, because they’re strong, lightweight, insulated, and won’t burn your hands when grasped. What’s more, MSR Titan comes with its own lid while most other brands sell lids separately.
HydraPak UltraFlask Filter 500 ml
2.3 oz | $52
Front-mounting a soft flask filter makes it possible to treat water without taking your pack off, and makes hydrating in the backcountry much more efficient. HydraPak UltraFlask is the best tool for the job because the bite valve allows for one-handed direct-to-mouth filtration. By frequently topping off your front-mounted soft flask filter as you pass by sources, you can carry less total water in other vessels, which more than offsets the added weight of the hollow fiber filter head.
Petzl Swift LT
1.5 oz | $55 MSRP
For just 1.5 oz, the Petzl Swift LT has a respectable battery (880 mAh), a respectable brightness (380 lumens max), and a respectable water resistance (IPX4). It even has three brightness levels, red or white light, and up/down tilt! The head strap is comfier and more secure than it looks, albeit not as comfy as a true flat bands.
Garmin inReach Mini 3 Plus
4.4 oz | $500 MSRP
Garmin inReach Mini 3 Plus is the current best SatCom device, offering users super fast messaging over the Irridium Messaging Transport System, the ability to send/receive voicemail and photos, and its best in class full color touch screen. All said and done, it has better standalone operability and more features than any other competing option.
REI Co-op Flash Shade Hoodie
6 oz | $60 MSRP
For an affordable UPF 50 sun hoodie available in plus and tall sizes, choose the REI Co-op Flash Shade. In addition to its cool and quick drying fabric, we laud the $60 price point, inclusive sizing, and addition of a pony tail port for both men and women. Because it is cooler and quicker drying, we recommend Flash Shade over Sahara Shade for runners and hikers.
Black Diamond Alpenglow
8.5 oz | $109 MSRP
Based on our testing, Black Diamond Alpenglow has good breathability and heat escape relative to its high UPF fabric thanks to micro perforations. It’s also super stretchy. However, the lack of thumb loops are a drawback.
Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake Hoodie
4.2 oz | $79 MSRP
Crater Lake is an ultra thin, ultra stretchy UPF 50 sun hoody, and one of the most highly regarded base layers out there. Drawback is that it dries slowly relative to how thin it is.
Smartwool Merino Sun Hoodie
8 oz | $130 MSRP
There’s lots to like about the Smartwool Merino Sun Hoodie, especially its 150gsm, 88% merino/12% nylon fabric blend, which is naturally odor-resistant. The material is extremely breathable, a bit cooler than average, and available in light/warm colorways. A divisive feature are its elongated sleeves + double layer cuffs. These do a great sun gloves impression, but are annoying when you have them pushed back.
Black Diamond Deploy 3L Shell
9 oz | $399 MSRP
Every 3L rain shell under 10 oz catches our attention, and Black Diamond Deploy 3L is one of a select few with hand pockets. It scores superbly well on key metrics – 20k on hydrostatic head and 30k MVTR.
Outdoor Research Helium UL
5.7 oz | $225 MSRP
Outdoor Research’s flagship ultralight jacket, now the Helium UL, just got a big overhaul. Instead of 2.5L Pertex, it’s now made with 2.75L Dermizax. The result is improved waterproof breathability (20k/20k), and a more textural/less plastic-y feel on the inside face. They also shaved an ounce off the list weight!
Black Diamond Deploy 0.5 Jacket
5.8 oz | $550 MSRP
Black Diamond Deploy 0.5 isn’t the warmest or most durable puffy out there, but it’s certainly the lightest and most packable option at REI. The combination of 1000 fill power down and 4d nylon keeps weight down, but please use responsibly.
Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer UL
6.7 oz | $495 MSRP
Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer UL is an even lighter weight version of the best selling ultralight down jacket in the world. To achieve this, Ghost Whisperer UL swaps the 800 fp down out for 1000 fp, and upgrades the 10d fabric to 7d. While the warmth-to-weight ratio is high, it’s on the cusp of being underfilled, and better thought of as a 2-season/summer-only puffy. Don’t choose this if you run cold or want to push its insulative or durability limits. Do choose if you want low weight and very high packability!
Smartwool Run Targeted Cushion Socks
2 oz | $23
Do you hike in trail runners? Ditch those thick hiking socks for sportier running socks. Smartwool Run Targeted Cushion are a go-to for us, with just the right amount of thickness where its needed most.
Altra Olympus 6
24.4 oz | $175 MSRP
The Olympus is Altra’s cushiest trail runner, offering a 33mm stack height, nearly a full cm thicker than Lone Peak. And of course, you still get Vibram rubber outsoles, zero drop, and wide toe box.
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Unbound 2
22.4 oz | $775 MSRP
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Unbound 2 is your classic dual apex trekking pole tent, modernized with peak vents and magnetic door toggles. The Dyneema fabric doesn’t absorb water, doesn’t sag, and is very durable. This style of tent offers the highest area-to-weight ratio. Unbound 2 also works great for soloists!
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Mid 1
16.0 oz | $675 MSRP
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Mid 1 is the lightest tent at REI, and one of the lightest in existence. This single pole, single person tent pitches quickly, and offers a large floor plan, but feels average sized in practice because of the sloping side wall. Its feature set includes dual peak vents and magnetic door toggles.
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 55
30.7 oz | $420 MSRP
This is one of our all-time favorite backpacks, and the model we used most in the decade from 2010-2020. Constructed with ultralight, waterproof, seam-taped, and tough-as-nails 100% woven Dyneema fabric, the HMG Southwest 55 delivers the best overall performance of any ultralight backpacking pack at REI. We laud it also for a surprisingly comfortable carry despite no load lifters, unfathomable durability, waterproofness, low weight, and massive external pockets.
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Elevate 22
17.9 oz | $249
The Hyperlite Mountain Gear Elevate 22 is an ultralight daypack that is basically a slimmed down version of HMG’s iconic Dyneema backpacking packs. This includes the roll-top closure, low wight, high durability, trio of front and side storage pockets, and overall minimalist feature set. Weighing in at just 17.5 ounces, this pack is exceptionally functional for its weight. The side pockets are deep and secure, the hip belt is comfy and removable – though it lacks pockets.
Samaya INSTANT2 Alpine
34.7 oz | $990 MSRP
The Samaya INSTANT2 Alpine is an impressively technical, ultra sturdy, ultralight freestanding tent notable for its combination of Dyneema and waterproof/breathable canopy fabrics. As a brand, Samaya focuses mostly on ultralight mountaineering equipment, and their 4-season design chops shine through in this fastpacking-style, fully-vestibuled beast of a trail shelter. We immediately love the use of 7.8mm carbon poles, which are beefier than what we’ve seen from Zpacks and Durston. And speaking of, Instant2 also gets magnetic door toggles. Drawbacks are it’s high price tag and smaller interior area. For dedicated 2P use, we recommend the 3P version.
Sawyer Squeeze + Cnoc VectoX 2L
5.8 oz | $65 MSRP
Sawyer Squeeze + Cnoc VectoX 2L is the number one filter-bladder combo on the PCT! Cnoc VectoX 2L is durable, leak-proof, and easy to fill bladder that increases max capacity without adding much bulk. Sawyer Squeeze may not be the smallest or fastest filter, but is the most reliable when accounting for longevity, durability, filtration lifespan, and responsiveness to backflushing.
Tifosi Rail Photochromic
1.0 oz | $89 MSRP
When it comes to sunglasses, we highly recommend photochromic shield lenses, and specially the Tifosi Rail. The adaptive light filtration mechanism darkens in bright light and clears in low light, allowing you maintain great visibility while keeping your eyes protected from wind, dust, debris, and UV all day long. Photochromic lenses are normally quite expensive, but Tifosi’s are shockingly affordable. We specifically love the Rail because of the fully rimless frames that maximize peripheral vision and comfortably adapt to the shape of your head.
The North Face FutureFleece Hoodie
7.3 oz | $190 MSRP
The North Face FutureFleece Hoodie is an innovative ultralight grid fleece constructed with high warmth-to-weight, hollow core Octa fiber, configured into lofted tuft clusters on the inside face. This material is warmer than most other fleece in its weight class, and lighter and more breathable than most other fleece in its warmth class. With FutureFleece you can have your cake and eat it too
Patagonia Storm Racer Jacket
7.2 oz | $315 MSRP
The Patagonia Storm Racer is a minimalist ultralight rain jacket designed for trail running, but perfectly suited to hiking, thanks to its low weight and three layer composition. This is an extremely minimalist design with its only feature being a chest pocket; the lack of pit zips are its greatest drawback. Storm Racer runs trim, so size up if in between.
The North Face Papsura FutureLight Jacket
7.9 oz | $390 MSRP
The North Face Summit Series FUTURELIGHT Papsura Jacket is a true 3-layer ultralight minimalist rain shell, weighing in at just eight ounces; a shocker considering how far TNF has drifted away from technical and towards gorp-core. The hand pockets are a nice touch for hanging around at camp. The lack of pit zips are its biggest drawback.
REI Co-op Anniversary Sale 2026 Guide Conclusion
Thank you for reading our REI Co-op Anniversary Sale guide, where we hope you found big time savings on your new favorite lightweight hiking gear. Being a Co-op member has some serious perks, and if you aren’t already, we highly recommend purchasing a lifetime membership for $30, as the savings offset the upfront cost almost immediately. Happy trails!
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Instead of TNF Future Fleece Hoody, the Mountain Hardwear Airmesh is also Octa and is in the Outlet at 25% off and you can use your 20% Coupon on it. Hoody for Men, Women can choose from Hoody, Crew or 1/4 zip.
Big fan of the MH AirMesh series and it would be a great use of the Outlet coupon. 100% agree. I just wasn’t researching outlet for this article because inventory is so spotty; ie the men’s hoody is already sold out in most sizes.
Such a helpful post! Thank you for all you guys do. It saves us all so much time and is fun to read even we don’t need any gear (but of course we still have “wants”).
Thanks Don! Cheers
What’s your take on the Summit Series FUTUREFLEECE LT Half-Zip Pullover? Looks like it uses 100g instead of the 124g in the hoody version. I looked at what Zpacks is using and they are using 80g. Seems like a good lighter weight option for a fleece.
Hey Dylan – great question! We don’t recommend the FutureFleece LT version, despite the fact that it’s lighter weight. Unlike the 124g FutureFleece hoodie which has the loop clusters that loft to create dead air pockets, and the Zpacks Octa (or Mountain Hardwear Airmesh) which has a fuzzy brushed interior that also traps air to insulate, the FutureFleece LT has a relatively smooth flat-ish interior that does not loft (no loop clusters, tufts, or brushed surface) and does nothing to trap air for insulative value beyond the vague whisper of a thin grid fleece. As such, it’s closer to the warmth equivalent of a base layer than it is to a mid-layer.
What do you think of the arcteryx atom lt? Not sure whether to get that or the magma 850.
Hi Avelan, these jackets so different in design and purpose that it’s hard to compare them. One is a puffy down jacket designed to be worn in camp or rest stops. Not really an active layer but very warm when not moving. The Atom LT jacket is a mid-layer that can also function as a moderately insulating outer layer. It has synthetic insulation in the torso and arms, and air permeable fleece side panels and underarms. As such, it is really an active layer for cold weather similar to Patagonia’s Nano Air, and Nano Air Hybrid, both jackets we really like for active layers in cold weather. In summary, which is better will be decided by your intended purpose for the jacket. Hope this helps. Warmest, -alan & alison
Helllooooo HMG 3400. This is what I’ve been waiting for! But if I get it, then I HAVE to get my son a new, down sleeping bag because I’ll no longer be able to carry the Marmot Mavericks 30F bag in my pack (along with my quilt, tent, and sleeping pad). Ugh, that’s just too bad that I’ll have to get him a much lighter weight and warmer bag. And he’ll be able to carry it himself now that it will fit in his pack. That’s just too much ‘win’ to ignore!
Great summary…keep up the great work.
Hi E.C. and thanks for sharing you amusing mental machinations about gear. I don’t think there is a question for me in there, but let me know if there was. Otherwise carry on! Warmest, -alan
Hi,Alan
I noticed the Garmin Instinct watch is on sale(30% off).Do you think this would be a good tool to help navigate off trail
(GPS)? I’m thinking about the Grand Loop of the Linville Gorge in North Carolina.I also love the other features of this
watch.Love your site!
Thanks alot.
Nice to hear from you Ronald. Wrist GPS watches, are great training tools and do a great job of keeping track of time and distance — I use the all them time for my day to day training. But they make crappy navigation tools, screen is too small, there is no useable map, and GPS accuracy is not great. As such for off-trail navigation, you would be far better off with a basic wrist watch (I prefer a basic analog field watch) and using GAIA GPS on your phone, see my post on this. This is the system I use, even when guiding in Alaska or Trekking in Patagonia. Hope this helps, -alan
BTW, I do find the inReach Mini invaluable and it goes on every trip for any number of reasons. If I were buying GPS electronics that would be my choice.
Hi, What’s the max height you’d recommend for the Women’s NeoAir? It is 66″ long, so what are assumptions about sleep style, etc. assuming you recommend it for people over 66″ tall? I’m debating whether to get that or a different one for my son who is 5’10” and growing…Thanks Alan!
Hi Denise. I think the answer is what is your sleeping style. My 6’5″ hiking partner uses the pad. For me as long as my calves are supported when I sleep on my back I am fine. Having my heels resting slightly on the ground is just fine (most of the weight is taken off of my heels via my suppored calves). One can always put a bit of clothing or something under your heels but I have never found it necessary. Side sleeping presents a shorter “length” and usually my whole body fits, or close to it. Hope this helps. Best, -alan
What do you think of the Nemo Hornet Elite (1p or 2p)? They’re 25% off.
Hi Ben, the Hornet is a good tent and a good deal. Depends on how good a fit it is for your backpacking style. See more on my 2019 Best Backpacking Tents | Lightweight & Ultralight.
But in summary: For those seeking one of the lightest traditional tents, Nemo Hornet 2P is a great option. At 1.9 lbs it is our lightest recommended traditional tent. And for $370, it’s the second most affordable. So it’s a great value! And the amazing part is that, despite the weight and cost trimmings, Nemo still managed to deliver what is only a somewhat smaller living space and vestibule setup than its heavier competition. Yes, the slanted sidewalls (tent lacks a spreader crossbar at the peak) make it better suited for sleeping than hanging out in (some even consider this a large person’s solo tent), but if small and light is your style, you were probably going to hike all day anyway. Note that this tent has light fabric and should be treated with care.. We would definitely recommend something under the tent to protect its 15 denier floor.Keep in mind that the Nemo family goes deep and quality options abound. Larger hikers or anyone seeking livability will appreciate the expanded footprint, vertical sidewalls, and bigger vestibules on the Dagger 2P (also a very nice tent!).
Best For: Those seeking the lightest traditional tent, even if it means compromising a bit on space and livability. Light fabrics should be treated with care.
I just picked up the 2p on sale at REI. The 2019 version has 2 plastic spreaders at the top of the tent. This seems like the light weight version of my old first love, the 2p quarter dome.
Sweet Mary. Glad you found a deal there. Wishing you a great year of trekking. Warmest, -alan & alison
I’m curious why it is said that the women’s version of the therm a rest is lighter than the men’s, when they are both said to be 12 oz. In the specs. Is it just the R value that is higher on the women’s?
Matthew, you are correct they are the same weight. (The text was an artifact of cutting and pasting). It now reads “At 12 oz and with an R-value of 3.9, it’s warmer for same weight as the “Men’s” version.” Wishing you a great year of hiking. Warmest (pun intended), -alan
Great suggestions! I’ve been waffling around trying to decide what to buy during the sale. Sadly, a lot of the items on the list are already discounted, so do not qualify for the 20% off member discount. For instance the InReach Mini would be cheaper at 20% off full price. You alluded to this in your very good preamble post.
Nevertheless, I grabbed one of those Flash pads for $20 using my dividend (and your affiliate link!), so a win/win. Thanks for all your hard work and research.
By the way, relative to the Altra entry, I’ve been coveting a pair of Olympus 3.0, but they’re nowhere to be found. I called Altra today and they’re about to release the 3.5 model sometime in July. Sadly too late for any discount :-).
Nice Work Vic. Hoping you get your Olympus 3.5s soon. Best, -alan & alison
Thanks for this Alan! In looking at the sleeping bag options, I noted that one of them–the Magma 17 Women’s sleeping bag (https://www.rei.com/product/110927/rei-co-op-magma-17-sleeping-bag-womens) is on sale already for $275 and appears to have the same specs across the board to the Women’s 15 except that the “stuff volume” is 8 liters instead of 10 liters. It is on sale but not in the outlet, so doesn’t qualify for either 20% coupon, but does qualify for the 10% member bonus. Do you see any difference in this bag that I’m missing, compared to the Women’s 15?
Denise, good find. Go for it! (and I will be adding it to my guide). All the best my friend. -a
Hi Alan – thanks for summing up sale highlights…super helpful. Picked up an Atom LT hoodie…it’s fantastic!
Could you double check the Darn Tough entry…thinking only the ski socks are on sale, not the hiking editions. I walked into a store yesterday, and I was so darned confused about the pricing. :)
Good catch Craig, only ski socks were on sale. Since this is backpacking and hiking site, I pulled the socks out of the guide. Still there are some very nice Smartwool socks on sale for 30% off and that includes hiking and running socks. Best, -alan
Great post but want to clarify one thing. The Exos backpack shown is last year’s model; the 2018 version lost the hipbelt pockets (which is a real shame)
Thanks for finding that Steven. Yes, the actual link is was and is correct for the current model but the image is not. I already had the image of last years in my image library and forgot to change it in the rush to get the guide out in time for the sale. Hoping you had a great Memorial Day Weekend. Warmest -alan
REI has Sea to Summit inflatable pillows 25% off. I just picked up the Ultra Light:
https://www.rei.com/product/866772/sea-to-summit-aeros-pillow-ultra-light
Pillows are a luxury to some, and essential to a good night’s sleep for others.
Nice Rocky. Sweet dreams :-) Warmest, -alan
Great post! REI should sponsor you!
Thanks, Taylor. Glad you liked it. The Guide was a fair amount of work. Warmest, -alan
This is a great list! I’m fairly new to backpacking and have some of these items already but I’m adding the Joule 21 sleeping bag, MSR pocket rocket 2, nuun tablets, and a climbing harness from this sale. Steep & Cheap seems to be competing with this sale because they’ve added new items. I purchased prAna Halle pants in a color not available at REI and a compression sack. Excited to test out my new gear :)
Very nice Amy. Glad you are getting some new light gear. And so smart to shop sales and closeouts when you are getting started. Will save you a ton of $. Warmest, -alan
It is awesome that you would compile this list together! I hope you do it in years to come as well!
Thanks Ben. Best, -alan
I used me member discount on a Ursack All-White. Because my “bear hangs” are more often “chipmunk hangs” and it’s time to stop pushing my luck.
Good choice!