No need to brave the post-turkey rush. Backcountry kicked off its Early Black Friday Sale on November 6, 2026, giving shoppers weeks of runway instead of the usual frantic 48-hour scramble. Discounts apply automatically at checkout — no promo code needed — as long as you're signed in to the free Summit Club membership. Members get up to 20% off full-price items and an extra 10–20% off clearance gear, while paid Summit+ members unlock further perks like $50 cash back on select deals.
What makes this round notable, according to Outside's gear editor, is that most of the markdowns apply to current-season kit rather than leftover stock — rare for this time of year. The editor's shortlist of 20 picks, all field-tested around Tahoe, spans ski, camp, and travel.
Highlights worth a look: The North Face's Summit Nuptse Jacket revives the classic puffy with 800-fill goose down and a boxy, retro cut that works as a belay parka, basecamp layer, or everyday winter coat. Skiers get a strong pairing in the Smith Method Pro MIPS helmet — light enough for backcountry tours, with removable ear pads and a magnetic buckle — matched with the Squad MAG goggle and its ChromaPop contrast-boosting lenses.
On the outerwear front, Norrona's Lofoten Gore-Tex Pro jacket-and-pant kit survived its first Tahoe snowfall test with flying colours, and the two pieces zip together for storm-day powder riding. The lighter Norrona More hardshell, with a low-slung bib, targets backcountry tourers who still want serious waterproofing for wet climates.
Campers aren't left out. The Therm-a-Rest NeoLoft sleeping pad is a plush 4.6 inches thick with curved side rails that keep you from rolling onto the ground — better for car camping than ultralight missions. The North Face's new Wawona Universal 3 tent stands out for its accessibility-focused design: a floor-to-ceiling vestibule big enough for two wheelchairs and a leash attachment for service dogs. Snow Peak's stainless steel Takibi Fire & Grill, made in Japan, doubles as fire pit, grill, and camp cooking centrepiece.
For getting all this gear to the mountain, the DB Snow Roller Pro fits skis up to 203cm plus fat snowboards, with an internal ribcage for protection — and it rolls up small for storage. Patagonia's Black Hole Wheeled Duffel gets a nod as a tried-and-true choice for far-flung powder trips to Japan or British Columbia.
If you've got a winter trip on the calendar — ski season, a winter camping weekend, or a powder pilgrimage — this is a decent window to buy, since the discounts deepen as Black Friday approaches but the best current-season stock may not last.
