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 Canadian Black Friday 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 November 4, 2026
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 (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
- Are Black Friday sales worse than 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
Table of Contents
When are the Sales?
Some retailers have started to run Pre-Black Friday Sales in early November.
In 2026, Black Friday is on Friday November 27th. 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 2026, Cyber Monday is Monday November 30.
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 and holiday sales on hiking and backpacking gear that I know about from 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.
All Canadian Deals are in Canadian dollars and ship from Canada without additional duties or tariffs.
AllTrails
Altitude Sports
Amazon Canada
Arc’teryx Canada
Athleta Canada
Backroad Map Books
Bass Pro/Cabela’s Canada
Columbia Canada
evo Canada
Gaia GPS
I use this GPS app since it’s so much better than AllTrails for advanced navigation, especially off-trail. I also like their slope angle layer for assessing avalanche terrain. This is their only sale of the year.
Gear Trade
Helly Hansen Canada
lululemon Canada
MEC
Mountain Hardwear Canada
Mountain Warehouse Canada
Nomad Nutrition
Outdoor Research Canada
SAIL
Sea to Summit Canada
Smartwool Canada
The Last Hunt
ThermoWorks
Valhalla Pure Outfitters
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
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.
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.
Are Black Friday Sales Worse Than 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.
What’s the Deal with Boxing Day?
Some of you might be old enough to remember a time where Black Friday wasn’t a thing in Canada. Instead, all of the big sales used to be on Boxing Day, which is the day after Christmas.
As online shopping rose and American influence become more prominent, retailers in Canada started to offer both Black Friday and Boxing Day sales. Black Friday sales were a way to get people shopping at the start of the holiday season and Boxing Day sales helped retailers get rid of extra stock they had hoped to sell during the holidays but didn’t.
However, I’ve noticed a big shift in Canada away from Boxing Day sales. You’ll still see a few Canadian retailers doing Boxing Day sales, but many do not. As well, the deals on Boxing Day don’t tend to be as good. Instead, most outdoor stores wait until the end of winter and then have a big sale.
All of that is to say, when it comes to outdoor gear, I think you’ll get the best deal when you buy on Black Friday or if you want for end of winter sales (usually in late March). Don’t hold on Black Friday thinking you’ll get a better deal on Boxing Day. That hasn’t been a helpful strategy for at least 15 years.
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. Be wary of deep discounts on last year’s gear – it likely was on sale before Black Friday. Save your money for the deals that are actually good – not the ones that just LOOK good.
Final Thoughts
I hope you found this list of the best Black Friday deals for hikers helpful. (And I hope you snag some sweet gear!)
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4 responses to “2026 Canadian Black Friday Deals for Hikers”
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!
RTIC Outdoors is having their Black Friday now, too!
Just a heads up that Rad is experiencing financial difficulties and may shut down in January.
I’ve bought some spare parts for my 6 and convinced my parents to buy new mini 2 batteries as it seemed proprietary.
Oh I hadn’t heard that! Hopefully they can find a way to restructure and stay in business. I’d say at least half the ebikes I see on the streets of Squamish are rad power bikes.