Holiday sales have crept into early November, and for hikers that's actually good news. Outdoor gear editors have rounded up 13 tested-and-approved items already discounted 25 percent or more, well before the main Black Friday event even begins. REI's official winter sale doesn't kick off until November 13, but plenty of brands have quietly dropped prices now — meaning you can finish your gift shopping before the festive playlists even start, with no shipping-deadline panic.
The deals cover the full kit list. On the shelter front, there's something for every style of camper. The Marmot Limelight (34.4 square feet of floor space in the two-person version, 42.5 in the three-person) suits beginners and anyone who likes roomy camps, with double doors, vestibules and wings for gear storage. The Kelty-style freestanding option with an 8.72-square-foot vestibule and a 38.2-inch peak height comes in under $200 — rare for a proper backpacking tent — with colour-coded clips for easy pitching. Ultralight fans have options too: the REI Co-op Flash Air 2 pitches on trekking poles and weighs just 2 lb 6.5 oz, while the Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL1 Bikepack offers 20 square feet of floor space at a feathery 2 lb 5 oz.
Sleep systems get a look in as well. The Sidewinder bag is built specifically for side sleepers, with a centre zip you won't end up lying on. The REI Co-op Magma 30 is a straightforward three-season bag with 850-fill-power down that compresses to roughly the size of two two-litre water bottles.
Clothing and footwear round out the list. The Outdoor Research Aspire — testers' favourite women's rain jacket of 2026 — is half off, thanks to breathable 3-layer Ascentshell fabric and recycled nylon that shrugs off brush. Black Diamond's Fineline, named best-value women's rain shell, adds a helmet-compatible hood and stretchy 2.5-layer build. On feet, the Altra Olympus 6 offers a wide toebox, zero drop and a generous 33mm cushioned stack; the Adidas Terrex Free series packs a Gore-Tex bootie and bouncy DreamStrike+ midsole; and Merrell's futuristic-looking trail runners earn praise for a thick EVA midsole that soaks up shock without wobbling.
Why care? Because good gear rarely gets cheaper than this, and buying early beats gambling on stock levels closer to the holidays. If you're kitting out a first-time backpacker or upgrading your own setup before a winter trip, this is a sensible moment to buy. The discounts span major retailers like REI and Backcountry, so it's worth comparing prices across sites before clicking buy — and remember some brands' official sales are still to come, so a price check closer to Black Friday never hurts.
