I definitely believe that the outdoors is for everyone, but unfortunately one of the barriers to getting outside is having to buy tons of gear. And of course, that gear doesn’t come cheap!
I worked at the head office of a big outdoor retailer for six years, so I understand the seasonal sales cycle. One of my tried and true tips for getting deals on hiking and backpacking gear is to wait for sales. So of course in the run-up to the holidays, I’m always watching for Black Friday deals for hikers.
This year I’ve complied all the Black Friday and Boxing Day deals for hikers together into one giant post so you can view them all at a glance. I’ve also provided my picks for the best gear from each of the sales and some tips on how to make sure it is really is a good deal.
This page was updated with the latest deals on December 3, 2024
This post includes:
- When are the sales? Key dates for Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Boxing Day
- The deals: A huge list of all outdoor retailers running holiday deals along with my picks for the best gear discounts. Includes deals for both Canadians and Americans.
- Retailers who don’t do Black Friday: A few retailers (like REI and Patagonia) don’t participate in Black Friday. But they do have alternative sales
- What gear is on sale: My ex-outdoor retail insider’s tips on what kind of gear you can find on sale and why
- Why aren’t Black Friday sales as good as they used to be? What happened to huge 70% off door buster deals?
- How to make sure you’re getting a good deal: Tips for spotting true deals and avoiding purchases you will regret.
Hey there: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks for your support. -Taryn
HEY CANADIANS: Join the Canadian Hiking Gear Deals Facebook group for the latest sales and discounts on hiking gear in Canada
When are the Sales?
Some retailers have started to run Pre-Black Friday Sales in early November.
In 2024, Black Friday is on Friday November 29th. Look for lots of sales to start the week before and continue through the weekend. (Black Friday is now turning into Black Friday Week and Black Friday Weekend!)
Cyber Monday happens on the Monday immediately after Black Friday. In 2024, Cyber Monday is Monday December 2nd.
Many outdoor retailers will also have Boxing Day sales on hiking and backpacking gear. In 2024, Boxing Day is Thursday December 26th. You can also find “Boxing Week” Sales the week before and the week after Boxing Day.
Lots of outdoor brands also have general holiday sales throughout December and into the new year. I’ve got details on those below too.
The Deals
Here’s my running list of all the Black Friday, Boxing Day, and holiday sales on hiking and backpacking gear that I know about from American and Canadian retailers. I’ll keep them updated every day during the holiday shopping season. If you hear of other great deals, let me know in the comments and I’ll add them.
AllTrails
Black Friday: 50% off AllTrails+ membership (ends Dec 4)
Altitude Sports (Canada)
Cyber Week Deals – Up to 40% off (ends Dec 3)
- 25 to 40% off Smartwool socks and accessories
- 15% off Happy Yak backpacking meals
- 25% off Sea to Summit sleeping bags, sleeping pads, and pillows
- 25% off Outdoor Research clothing
- 15% off Alpine Aire backpacking meals
- 25% off Black Diamond trekking poles
- 25% off Cotopaxi fleece and down jackets
- 25% off Darn Tough socks
- 25% off Gregory packs
- 20% off Nemo Fillo pillows
- 25% off Icebreaker base layers and clothing
- 40% off Vessi shoes
- 20% off Rab Siltarp
- 20% off Nemo tents
- 25% off Therm-a-rest Pillows
- 20% off Jetboil Stoves
- 10% off Backpackers Pantry meals
- 25% off Helinox camp chairs and tables
- 30% off Hillsound Trail Crampons
- 25% off GSI pots, stoves, and dishes
Amazon Canada
- 53% off Lifestraw filters
- 30% off YETI coolers and mugs
- 20% off my book, Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia
- Up to 30% off food dehydrators
- 20% off Loop earplugs
- 26% off Garmin inReach Mini 2
- 25 to 30% off SAXX underwear
Amazon USA
Backcountry
Cyber Savings – Up to 60% off
Branwyn
Black Friday Sale – 25% off everything until Dec 3
Buff
Cyber Monday – up to 50% off
Cabela’s Canada
Cyber Monday Sale – ends Dec 4
- Get free shipping on all orders with code FREESHIP
- 10-15% off Mountain House meals
Cabela’s USA
Camp Saver
Cyber Week – Up to 50% off (ends Dec 4)
Columbia Canada
Cyber Monday: 50% off doorbusters, everything on sale up to 40% off – ends Dec 3
Columbia USA
Cyber Monday: 50% off doorbusters, everything on sale up to 40% off, and free shipping on everything – ends Dec 3
Eddie Bauer Canada
Cyber Monday Sale – Up to 50% off
Eddie Bauer USA
Cyber Monday Sale – Up to 50% off
Enlightened Equipment
Giving Tuesday Sale – 20% off everything – ends Dec 3
Gregory
Cyber Monday Deals: 25% off sitewide
Helinox
Black Friday: Up to 50% off (ends Dec 8)
Helly Hansen Canada
Black Friday Sale: 25% off everything on their website (ends Dec 3)
Hyperlite Mountain Gear
Black Friday: 15% off sitewide – Ends Dec 3
Icebreaker
Black Friday: 25% off – ends Dec 9
Injini Socks
Annual Sale: Up to 50% off
Mark’s
Cyber Days: Save up to 60% – ends Dec 4
MEC
Black Friday Deals – Up to 60% off
- Take $140 off Garmin inReach Mini 2 (ends Dec 4)
- 40% off Big Agnes Tiger Wall Tents (ends Dec 11)
- 40% off Big Agnes Copper Spur tents (ends Dec 11)
- Take $70 off Garmin inReach Messenger (ends Dec 4)
- MEC Rewards members get an extra 10% off MEC brand clothing and gear
- 25% off Smartwool socks (ends Dec 3)
- Up to 50% off Merrell shoes and hiking boots (ends Dec 4)
- Up to 60% off MEC brand clothing and gear (ends Dec 8)
- 25% off Garmin Instict Solar GPS watches (ends Dec 30)
- 40% off Nemo Disco -9C sleeping bags (ends Dec 4)
- 25% off Hydro Flask bottles and mugs (ends Dec 10)
Mountain Hardwear USA
Holiday Sale: 25% off all regular priced styles plus free shipping (ends December 8)
Exclusive Offer: Up to 65% off select items with code MHWDEC65 (ends Dec 15)
Mountain Hardwear Canada
Holiday Sale: 25% off all regular priced items
Naturehike
Black Friday: Up to 50% off
Outdoor Research
Cyber Savings: Up to 50% off (ends Dec 3)
Platypus
Holiday Savings: 25% off sitewide
REI
Cyber Week Sale: Up to 30% off (ends Dec 9)
- Extra 25% off one Outlet item Just for REI Co-op Members – use code CYBER24 (ends Dec 2)
Salomon Canada
Cyber Monday Sale: 25 to 40% off
Salomon USA
Cyber Monday Sale: 25 to 40% off
Sport Chek
Cyber Days: Use code 24CYBER20 in cart for 20% off full priced items (ends Dec 3)
Steep Cheap
Cyber Leftovers Sale: Up to 60% off
Sunski Sunglasses
Chase the Sun Sale: Up to 45% off sunglasses
The Last Hunt
Cyber Week (ends Dec 8)
- 40 to 80% everything
- 40 to 60% off Rab jackets
- Daily Flash Sales
Therm-a-Rest
Holiday Savings: 30% of select sleeping pads and pillows
Valhalla Pure Outfitters (Canada)
Black Friday Sale: Up to 60% off
- Save $70 on Zoleo satellite messengers
- 25% off Ruffwear
- 25% off Deuter packs
- 25% off MSR stoves, snowshoes, tents, and water filters
- 20% off Rab clothing and gear
- 20% off Jetboil stoves and accessories
- 25% off MSR tents
- 25% off MSR stoves
- 25% off Platypus water filters
- 20% off Big Agnes
Zenbivy
Black Friday Sale: Up to 30% off sitewide
Retailers Who Don’t Do Black Friday
A few brands have pushed back on the consumerism around Black Friday and don’t have Black Friday sales.
Patagonia and Patagonia Canada
Patagonia’s website says: “Black Friday is a frenzy of deep discounts, limited-time offers and last-ditch efforts urging you to “save” by spending more. We’re not doing that.” It goes on to explain that they are committed to making durable gear and encouraging repairing gear rather than buying new.
REI
REI’s website says: “Since 2015, we’ve closed our doors on Black Friday, choosing time outside over the busiest in-store shopping day of the year.” However, they do have a sale each year in mid-November called the Winter Sale. This year it runs until November 25. They also participate in Cyber Monday.
What Gear is on Sale?
There are two main types of products offered at a discount for Black Friday and Boxing Day: stuff that is discontinued and stuff that’s on sale just for the holidays.
Discontinued Gear
Most of the hiking gear that is on sale is usually colors or styles that will be discontinued next year. Retailers want to clear this stuff out so they’ll have room for next year’s gear. In November and December you will usually find the dregs of last summer’s gear on deep discounts.
You might also find winter gear like jackets on sale. Typically winter gear goes on sale this early if the retailer bought too much and they aren’t selling that well. The main things you’ll find in this category are clothing and footwear since they change every year.
Seasonal Sales
The other type is just regular priced product that is selling just fine, but the retailer decides to mark-it down for a limited time to bring in extra sales. The retailer is making less profit on these products but they hope that you’ll buy more stuff and boost their overall sales.
Tents, backpacks, stoves, headlamps and other non-clothing gear is what you’ll find in this category. Since this kind of gear rarely goes on sale otherwise, Black Friday and Boxing Day are the best time to find deals on hiking and backpacking gear.
Why Aren’t Black Friday Sales as Good As They Used to Be?
If you’re over 25 you might remember that Black Friday sales used to have insane prices: Doorbuster deals for 70% off were common. But if you’re looking at the current deals listed on this page, you’ll notice most of them are are 20% or 30% off. What happened?
Those day of insane Black Friday discounts are over for a few reasons. The main one is that Black Friday shopping has shifted from in-person to online. Those 70% off doorbuster deals were loss leaders (offered at below cost) designed to get people to come into the store. Once in the store, retailers hoped you people would buy other things with more modest discounts.
Today, Black Friday is almost entirely online. And the way we shop is different. We spend lots of time comparing prices between sites and choosing the exact thing we want. We don’t go to a store and impulse buy something because its 70% off.
Most e-commerce retailers aren’t willing to do limited-time doorbuster-style deals online because they don’t have the tech set-up to do it or they are worried about their site crashing. Going offline during Black Friday would be a disaster for them!
It’s also worth noting that it only seems like Black Friday sales aren’t as good as they used to be. Yes, we don’t have those crazy 70% off doorbusters anymore. But the rest of the deals we get now are pretty comparable to the ones we used to see back then if we got past the doorbusters and explored what else was on sale.
How to Make Sure You’re Getting a Good Deal
Just because it’s on sale, doesn’t mean it’s a good deal. Do your research before you buy. Make sure the gear you buy is the right size and works for your style of hiking or backpacking. Be sure to read reviews. Make sure you buy from companies with good return policies.
Some retailers will offer seemingly insane deals on gear from brands you’ve never heard of. Do your research. These are often knock-off brands that sell things super-cheap anyway. The best Black Friday deals for hikers are on brand name gear that doesn’t usually go on sale otherwise. Save your money for the deals that are actually good – not the ones that just LOOK good.
I hope you found this list of the best Black Friday deals for hikers helpful. (And I hope you snag some sweet gear!) Have you spotted any other good Black Friday deals on hiking and backpacking gear? Tell me in the comments and I’ll add them to the list.
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Joe
Wednesday 15th of November 2023
RTIC Outdoors is having their Black Friday now, too!
April
Friday 16th of November 2018
So very true! Proper hiking equipment can be expensive. If you opt for the cheap stuff, you quickly learn it was a waste of money. And, I agree, research what you want/need, and then wait for the sales. I was looking for a a water filter system and after reading and reading about the various options. I made my decision and then waited. And, got a great deal last week with REIs sale!