Autumn is stock-clearing season at REI, and the co-op's sale section is currently loaded with deep discounts on some of the most trusted names in hiking footwear — Merrell, Keen, Hoka, Arc'teryx, La Sportiva, Altra and more. Outside's gear team has sorted through the pile and flagged 13 boots and trail runners worth grabbing, with markdowns of up to 40 percent. The catch: many of these are discontinued models or limited to specific sizes and colourways, so the window is short.
The headline deal is the Merrell Moab Speed 2, an award-winning favourite pairing a Vibram outsole with a Gore-Tex waterproof membrane, now 30 percent off in one men's and one women's colourway. Merrell's classic low-cut Moab 3 is discounted by the same amount, while the adidas Terrex Skychaser AX5 — another Gore-Tex shoe with a grippy Continental outsole — drops under $100 at 30 percent off for both genders. Budget-minded hikers have options too: the women's Merrell Speed Strike 2 mid-cut boot trades licensed tech for house-brand materials and stays under the hundred-dollar mark, and the leather-clad Columbia Newton Explorer is 22 percent off.
For burlier terrain, the Keen Targhee IV gets 30 percent off and brings a wrapped rubber toe box plus a durable TPU outsole built for rocky, technical trails. Arc'teryx's oddball Vertex — a hybrid "speed hiking shoe" with a built-in gaiter that keeps grit out of your socks — is also cut by 30 percent, though only in one loud men's colourway.
Trail runner fans are well served. Hoka's Speedgoat 6 has been discontinued now that the Speedgoat 7 has landed, making this a smart moment to stock up on a proven shoe at 30 percent off. The Topo Athletic Ultraventure 4, a long-distance favourite with a roomy toe box and a Vibram outsole that handles trail and gravel alike, is included, as is Arc'teryx's fast Norvan LD 4. La Sportiva's Bushido III, a scrambler's pick with lugs that wrap the midsole and EVA foam rock protection, is 21 percent off for men and 25 percent off for women. Wide-footed hikers should note the Altra Lone Peak 9 for women is in the sale, though the even roomier 9+ version is full price. The steepest cut belongs to the New Balance Hierro v9 at 40 percent off — but only in a women's 7.5 and a men's 11.
Why it matters: end-of-season clearance is one of the cheapest ways to get genuinely good footwear before a big trip or a new hiking season. If you've been putting off replacing worn-out boots, this is the moment to check whether your size is still in stock.
Story via Outside Online.
