Best Time to Buy Outdoor Gear

Best Months to Buy Outdoor Gear

September-October: End-of-Season Clearance (30-50% off)

September and October deliver the deepest discounts on camping, hiking, and warm-weather gear. Retailers need to clear floor space for ski and winter inventory, so three-season gear gets marked down 30-50%. The Labor Day Sales in early September kick off this window, with discounts deepening through October.

• Tents and shelters: Models from Big Agnes, MSR, and REI Co-op that were $300-500 drop to $180-300
• Sleeping bags and pads: Kelty, Marmot, and NEMO bags see 30-40% markdowns; insulated pads from Therm-a-Rest follow the same pattern
• Backpacking packs: Osprey, Gregory, and Deuter packs in last season's colors drop 25-40%; the Osprey Atmos 65 ($300 retail) regularly hits $200 or less
• Hiking boots and trail runners: Salomon, Merrell, and Hoka clear summer styles at 30-50% off

January: Winter Clearance (40-60% off)

Winter Clearance brings 40-60% off winter outdoor gear as retailers clear post-holiday inventory. The New Year's Sales period is especially strong at REI, Backcountry, and Moosejaw.

• Insulated jackets: Arc'teryx, Patagonia, and The North Face puffy jackets drop 30-50%; a Patagonia Nano Puff ($229 retail) often hits $140-160
• Ski and snowboard gear: Current-season skis, boots, and bindings drop 20-35%, with deeper markdowns (40-50%) by February-March
• Base layers and mid-layers: Merino wool from Smartwool and Icebreaker, plus Patagonia fleeces (Better Sweater, R1) hit annual lows
• Winter boots: Insulated hiking boots from Oboz, Salomon, and Merrell clear at 30-50% off

November: Black Friday (25-40% off)

Black Friday is unique for outdoor gear because it discounts current-season winter gear you will use immediately -- not just clearance leftovers.

• REI: 25-30% off one full-price item for members, plus up to 40% off outlet items
• Backcountry: 20-40% off Arc'teryx, Patagonia, The North Face, and Osprey -- brands that rarely discount elsewhere
• Patagonia: Typically 30% off select items
• Moosejaw: Stacks reward dollars (often 40-50% back) on top of sale prices

Other Buying Windows

• May (REI Anniversary Sale): REI's biggest sale -- 25-30% off full-price items and up to 50% off outlet; overlaps with Memorial Day Sales
• March-April: End-of-winter clearance pushes ski gear to 40-60% off; also when REI holds its spring Garage Sale
• July: Amazon Prime Day offers deals on Columbia, Merrell, and outdoor accessories, though premium brands are less represented

What to Buy When

Camping gear (tents, sleeping bags, stoves): Buy September-October during end-of-season clearance. For car camping where weight does not matter, Costco and Walmart offer good value on Coleman and Ozark Trail year-round.

Hiking gear (packs, boots, trekking poles): Footwear is best purchased during fall clearance. Try boots on in-store at REI, then check Backcountry, Moosejaw, and Sierra before buying. Osprey packs come with an "All Mighty Guarantee" (essentially lifetime), so buying last season's model at a discount is risk-free.

Winter sports (ski, snowboard, snowshoe): March-April is cheapest, when resorts close and shops liquidate. January offers a secondary window at 20-35% off current-season equipment.

Climbing gear (harnesses, ropes, protection): Always buy new from authorized dealers. REI and Backcountry discount Black Diamond, Petzl, and Sterling gear during Black Friday and anniversary sales at 20-30% off. Never buy used ropes or helmets.

Where to Buy

Full-Service / Premium

• REI: The 10% annual member dividend (on full-price purchases), member-only sales, used gear program, and generous return policy make it the default for most outdoor shoppers. Key sales: Anniversary Sale (May), Black Friday.
• Backcountry: Best online selection of premium brands. Their "Gearheads" are knowledgeable and can apply additional discounts. Semi-annual sales in January and July.
• Brand direct (Patagonia, Arc'teryx, The North Face): Run their own seasonal clearance sales and are the safest source for authentic gear with full warranty.

Value / Overstock

• Moosejaw: Competitive pricing with an aggressive rewards program that effectively adds 10-40% back on purchases.
• Sierra (Sierra Trading Post): TJX-owned overstock retailer; 25-50% below retail year-round on outdoor gear. Inconsistent selection but excellent for basics.
• Amazon: Good for Columbia, Merrell, CamelBak, and budget brands. Less reliable for premium brands (watch for unauthorized sellers). Prime Day is the key event.

Used and Refurbished

• Patagonia Worn Wear: Inspected, cleaned used Patagonia gear at 40-60% below retail with free repairs
• REI Used Gear (online + Garage Sales): Returned and gently used gear at 30-50% off; in-store Garage Sales offer even steeper deals
• Arc'teryx ReBird: Used and refurbished Arc'teryx gear at 30-50% off -- substantial savings given $300-800 retail prices
• GearTrade.com: Marketplace for used gear from individual sellers, often 40-70% off retail

Buying Tips

• Join REI Co-op ($30 lifetime membership): The 10% annual dividend on full-price purchases, access to member-only sales, and the used gear program easily pay for the one-time fee
• Buy end-of-season, use next year: A sleeping bag bought in October works identically to one bought in May -- but costs 30-50% less. Outdoor gear rarely changes between model years.
• Check Patagonia Worn Wear and REI Used Gear before buying new: Both sell inspected, warrantied gear at 40-60% off. Returned outdoor gear is often in excellent condition since many items are tried once and sent back.
• Invest in the "big three" first: For backpacking, your pack, sleeping bag/pad, and shelter account for most of your weight and comfort. Buy the best you can in these categories and economize on everything else.
• Layer systems over single garments: A $100 base layer + $150 fleece + $200 rain shell outperforms a $400 insulated jacket in versatility. Buy layers during different sales events to spread the cost.
• Check weight, not just price: For backpacking, dollars-per-ounce matters. A $200 tent at 5 lbs is a worse value than a $350 tent at 2.5 lbs if you are carrying it on your back.
• Never buy used climbing ropes, helmets, or harnesses: Safety-critical gear can have invisible damage from falls or UV exposure. Always buy new from authorized retailers.
• Sign up for Backcountry and Moosejaw email lists: Both send exclusive discount codes (15-20% off) that stack with sale pricing for effective discounts of 35-50%.