When outdoor gear goes on sale

Outdoor gear discounts follow the seasons, not the calendar of holidays, and the pattern repeats closely enough that it is worth planning around. The year below is how it looks in our data. A single retailer can decide to do something odd at any time, but the shape holds.

Spring

March and April are when snow gear gets cleared out and summer gear arrives at full price. If you need skis or an avalanche beacon, this is your window. For hiking gear it is the worst time to buy. REI's anniversary sale in May is the first big one of the season, and it is a real sale: 20% to 30% on current gear, with member coupons on top. It is also crowded, and the popular sizes go fast.

Summer

July has the odd mid-season sale, but the real event is late August into September, when retailers clear summer stock before the autumn lines land. This is when tents, pads and packs show up at 40% to 60% off and why our shelter and sleep categories are fullest in September. Labor Day weekend is the peak. If you can wait until then to buy a tent, wait.

Autumn and winter

Black Friday through the first week of December is the other peak, and it is the one where list prices get most creative. Compare against the price history, not the tag. December gift guides push prices back up. January and February are quiet for hiking gear but are prime time for snow.

Brand-direct sales

The small makers in the ultralight world discount differently. Enlightened Equipment runs a warehouse page of overstock and seconds that changes often. Hyperlite has occasional garage sales; Zpacks discounts rarely at all. These items are single size, single colour and gone within hours, which is exactly the kind of deal the daily digest exists to catch.