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If there’s some gear you desperately need (or, let’s be honest, desperately want), but you haven’t pulled the trigger yet, congratulations. That procrastination might’ve just paid off. Labor Day is the perfect time for savvy gear shoppers to take advantage of online bargains. Retailers like REI are shifting focus from summer to winter and clearing shelves with gusto. Below, you’ll find deals on Backpacker-approved gear available at REI this week, ranging from hiking boots and headlamps to tents and apparel.
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Jetboil Flash Cooking System for $97 ($130)
Backpackers around the globe—Backpacker gear testers included—love Jetboil’s compact, easy-to-use Flash Cooking System. The integrated canister stove boils a liter of water in just under three and a half minutes, works well in the wind, and has an auto-ignition in case you forgot matches or a lighter. If you’re exclusively heating water for coffee, tea, oatmeal, and dehydrated meals, this tried-and-true system is hard to beat.
Pro Tip: A lot of Jetboil stoves and accessories are 25% off, including its coffee press, making it a great time to stock up on all of your camp kitchen equipment.
MSR Whisperlite International for $120 ($160)
If your backpacking adventures involve border-crossings, you can’t go wrong with MSR’s Whisperlite International. This expedition-tested stove is exceptionally durable and, perhaps more importantly, easy to fix in the field if something does go awry. It also runs off multiple fuel types (white gas, auto fuel, and kerosene), making it a go-to stove for globe-trotting trekkers. Even better? The stove simmers like a champ, enabling backpackers to whip up healthy trail meals and divert from solely dehydrated diets.
MSR MiniWorks EX Water Filter for $90 ($120)
Backpackers have been putting their faith in MSR’s MiniWorks EX Water Filter for years. The pump-style MiniWorks EX uses a ceramic and carbon filter to eliminate potentially harmful bacteria and protozoa from your drinking water, among them trip-ruining giardia and cryptosporidia. The pump generates clean, delicious H20, and field maintenance is a fairly straightforward affair.
Eno SubLink Hammock Shelter System for $199 ($265)
Itching to ditch the tent? Check out Eno’s SubLink Hammock Shelter System. The kit includes a comfy hammock, the necessary straps, a bug net, and a rain fly. All told, it boasts an impressive packed weight of just under two and a half pounds—much less than your average one-person tent and ultralight backpacking pad combo. And with the REI Labor Day deal discount, it costs much less than a tent and sleeping pad combo, too.
Altra Lone Peak Hiker 2 – Men’s for $112 ($150)
Altra Lone Peak Hiker 2 – Women’s for $112 ($150)
Altra’s trail running DNA isn’t lost on the Lone Peak Hiker 2, a popular pick for backpackers who want lightweight kicks but appreciate the support of an over-the-ankle cut. We’re big fans of the durable, aggressively lugged outsole, which can handle scree fields and scrambles, as well as the broad toe box. If your digits often feel cramped after racking up serious mileage on the trail, look no further.
Black Diamond Spot 400 for $37 ($50)
Shopping for a headlamp? There are so many options on the market right now, it’s easy to feel like you’re, well, in the dark. Black Diamond’s Spot 400 is a compact-yet-bright 400-lumen headlamp that can run off AAA batteries or a rechargeable lithium-ion battery (sold separately), increasing utility on longer expeditions and international adventures. The overall feature set is somewhat minimal compared to pricier, more complex competitors, but that keeps the price attractively low and minimizes user error. That said, the Spot 400 does sport multiple light modes, a dimmable light, and an all-important digital lockout.
Exped Ultra 7R for $180 ($240)
It’s never too early to start dialing in your winter camping kit. Exped’s Ultra 7R is packed with goose down for extra insulation, giving the 3.5-inch-thick, ultra-comfy backpacking pad an impressive R-value of 7.1. We recently tested this pad on a point-to-point backcountry ski expedition in the Arctic Circle, and slept well and stayed toasty, even when overnight temps plummeted well below zero.
Pro Tip: If you’re looking to spruce up your summer setup, Exped’s Ultra 1R ($90, $120) is a much lighter yet similarly solid play.
REI Half Dome SL 2+ Tent With Footprint for $244 ($349)
REI’s Half Dome two-person tent certainly isn’t the lightest tent on the market, but this recently updated “Superlight” version shaves over a pound from previous iterations. The latest Half Dome is well-made, roomy, and comfortable, with a peak height of 42 inches and a surprisingly spacious 33.75-square-foot floor area. Factor in the price, which is currently slashed by 30%, and this co-op adventure abode is an affordable-yet-reliable option for any backpacker on a budget.
Gregory Baltoro 65 for $247 ($330)
Gregory Deva 60 for $247 ($330)
Gregory’s Baltoro (men’s) and Deva (women’s) backpacks aren’t designed for thru-hikers looking to slash weight whenever possible. Instead, these premium packs are loaded with high-tech harnesses, padded straps, and mesh suspension that can handle a heavy load, even in sweltering weather. Plus, Gregory decked out the Baltoro with features galore, among them a holster-style water bottle holder for on-trail hydration, XXL hipbelt pockets that can accommodate a phone, and a stretchy, external mesh pocket perfect for stashing rain gear. Long story short? If you value organizational features and comfortable carry systems over all, give the Baltoro and Deva a closer look.
REI Co-op Merino Base Layers for 30% off
We’re big fans of merino wool on the trail—the natural fiber is comfortable and soft against the skin, odor-resistant, wicks sweat extremely well, and it’s warm for the weight. That said, merino usually isn’t cheap. Enter REI’s Co-op branded base layers, which are the best way for backpackers to score premium merino at an affordable price. That holds especially true during the Labor Day Sale, as all styles are 30% off. That includes the midweight, versatile Merino 185 Long Bottoms and corresponding Merino 185 Long Sleeve Crew (both now $56 a pop, down from $80).
Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake Hoodie for $52 ($70)
Newsflash: unlike sunscreen, you don’t need to reapply a hoodie. Hiking in a UPF 50+ sunshirt like Mountain Hardwear’s Crater Lake Hoodie is always a smart idea, as the hooded style provides exceptional, comprehensive protection from UV rays. The polyester and elastane blend fabric is stretchy, comfortable, and quick-drying. It’s ready for afternoon showers, spicy river crossings—you name it.
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