A Hiker’s Guide to the 2026 REI Labor Day Sale

As many of my US readers will be aware, the Labor Day sales are now in full swing. It’s a great opportunity to pick up wishlist hiking and backpacking gear at heavily reduced prices.

Over the last few days, I’ve been scouring the web for the best deals from REI and a few other companies I’ve regularly used, including Cascade Designs, Sea to Summit, and Backcountry. I’ve either carried all of the discounted items listed below myself or hiked with folks who have.

Unless otherwise noted, the sales listed below run until Monday, September 7 (Labor Day). I’ll start with links to the storewide sales, followed by deals on specific hiking and backpacking brands at REI.

As always, if you have any questions about the gear, please let me know in the comments below.

Storewide Sales

REI Labor Day Deals by Brand 

Getting a weather update with the Garmin inReach while riding out a storm in the Nepal Himalaya (April, 2026). Pretty sure it called for more snow.

Wearing the La Sportiva Ultra Raptors on a 15 day hike in Alaska’s Brooks Range (2021).

Crossing the Salar de Uyuni in Merrell Moab’s during the Altiplano Traverse (2017).

Justin “Trauma” Lichter with his Leki trekking poles during the Copper Canyon Traverse (2013).

• REI Co-op Brand (may not be the lightest items, but almost always well-made, durable, and very good value for money)

Yours truly in the REI Sahara Shirt with a fully loaded Mountain Laurel Designs Burn 38L / Continental Divide Trail, 12 Long Walks, 2012. Believe it or not, the shirt is still going strong(ish) some 14 years later.

Therm-a-rest NeoAir XLite (top/center) as part of my backpacking kit for Iceland (2023).

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