_0.jpg)
_0.jpg)
Switchback Travel (Jason Hummel)
REI Co-op’s sale periods are a great way to score deals on leading outdoor products from some of the best brands in the business. Their Member Moment Sale runs from March 17-27 this year and comes with two coupons: one for 20% off one full-priced item and one for 20% any REI Outlet product. Note: A membership is required to take advantage of most of the deals (including the coupons), which costs $30 for a lifetime enrollment and comes with a variety of other benefits, including discounts on shop services and rentals, the ability to buy and trade used gear, and much more. All told, it’s an excellent time to save on bigger-ticket (read: expensive) items that typically aren’t discounted. Below we outline the dates and details of the sale, our favorite discounted items, a few recommendations for your 20% off coupon, and how to shop both in-store and online.
This article has been sponsored by REI, but the picks and descriptions below were made independently and based on our experiences with and opinions of the products.
From March 17 through 27, you can shop in-store or online at REI.com and save up to 50% on products from top brands like REI Co-op, Yakima, and more. Of note: This sale is particularly heavy on REI’s in-house collection, including sizable discounts on many of their leading tents, sleep systems, and bikes. Importantly, most of the deals are only available to members—a lifetime membership to the co-op is $30—and we call out those discounts where applicable below. Finally, as we noted above, members get two coupons to use: one for 20% off one full-priced item and one for 20% any REI Outlet product (online shoppers can use the code MEMBER23 at checkout). Below we outline some of our top picks for on-sale gear, including camping and backpacking equipment, bikes and bike racks, and more.
REI offers a well-rounded selection of camping tents, and the Wonderland stands out as the most luxurious option for those looking for the ultimate home-in-the-woods experience. For families and larger groups, the six-person version is excellent: There’s plenty of room to stand up and spread out thanks to the near-vertical walls and tunnel-like shape, setup is quick and easy with color-coded components, and a center divider allows you to separate sleeping from daytime areas. It’s true the Wonderland 6 is expensive at $599—and many will want to add the separate Mud Room attachment to cover the entryway and boost storage space—but 50% off during the sale translates to a substantial $300 savings, which is the largest discount we’ve seen on this tent to date.
REI also offers a four-person version (discounted from $499 to $250) for smaller families and groups, as well as the basecamping-ready Wonderland X with customizable spaces for eating, sleeping, and hanging out (reduced from $1,249 to around $625).
See the REI Co-op Wonderland 6
Yakima is a longtime leader in the bike rack market, and all of their designs are 20% off during REI’s Member Moment Sale. Starting with hitch-mounted tray designs, we really like their HoldUp for its solid construction and ability to haul bikes without frame contact—it’s a great choice for those with expensive road and mountain bikes, as well as e-bikes up to 60 pounds. For a step up in price and performance, their StageTwo is a more premium and versatile alternative with an even higher maximum weight capacity (70 lbs. per bike).
For those hauling road or lightweight bikes, hanging hitch racks are much cheaper and lighter than tray-style designs. In this category, Yakima’s RidgeBack (offered in two-, four-, and five-bike capacities) is a proven and affordable way to haul a lot of bikes. Vertical hanging racks like Yakima’s HangTight 4 and HangTight 6 have also gained serious popularity of late thanks to their stable position—they keep bikes closer to the back of the vehicle by hanging them vertically by their handlebars—and even higher capacity than traditional hanging models. Finally, for those looking for a simple, durable, and user-friendly rooftop rack that won’t break the bank, Yakima’s FrontLoader is a highly popular and time-tested design.
See Yakima Bike Racks
Quality backpacking tents are generally a pricey bunch, but REI Co-op’s Half Dome SL 2+ stands out for its hard-to-beat combination of price and performance. At just $329 full MSRP and around $164 during the sale, the Half Dome is the tent we recommend most to family and friends: It’s roomy for two (not always the case with backpacking tents), well built and durable, very easy to set up and take down, and comes with ample mesh for stargazing and ventilation. The Half Dome isn’t the lightest option available at 4 pounds 11.5 ounces all in, but it’s affordable, livable, and stands up well to long-term use—a winning recipe for many. If you plan to get out year-round, REI’s four-season-ready Arete ASL 2 is also discounted by 50% for members (from $449 to around $225).
See the REI Co-op Half Dome SL2+
REI consistently does a great job at providing a lot of bang for your buck (as evidenced by their Half Dome above and Frostbreak below), and their HunkerDown 20 is another shining example. For a reasonable $199 and around $100 during the sale, you get a quality camping bag with 600-fill-power down insulation, excellent comfort and roominess thanks to the soft fabrics and rectangular shape, and a full suite of functional features. We especially like the oversized hood that can accommodate a standard pillow (bonus: It folds down when not in use) and wraparound zipper that allows you to open the bag up for use as a quilt in warm weather.
For those who regularly camp with a significant other, REI also makes a double version that’s discounted from $329 to around $165 during the sale. And for a more backpacking-friendly design, check out REI’s Down Time 25 (also 50% off for members), which checks in over a pound lighter and boasts a mummy shape to maximize warmth.
See the REI Co-op HunkerDown 20
A favorite camping mattress of ours for a number of years, the Camp Bed from REI offers a competitive mix of comfort, weight, and price. Highlights include 2.5 inches of thick foam padding, a high-efficiency valve that expedites the self-inflating and deflating processes, and a soft exterior that holds you well and is comfortable enough to lie on directly if you’re camping in a hot environment. With an R-value of 7.6, the Camp Bed is also insulated enough for cold-weather use, and you get the option between two sizes (Regular or XL) depending on your length and width preferences—all for just around $70 during the Member Moment Sale.
See the REI Co-op Camp Bed Sleeping Pad
A cold-weather sleeping bag is essential for campers who like to get out year-round, and REI’s Frostbreak 5 stands out for its excellent warmth at a very reasonable price. In contrast to the rectangular HunkerDown above, the Frostbreak has a narrower “relaxed mummy” shape that trims away material at the shoulders, hips, and feet to minimize cold spots while still providing enough room to comfortably roll around during the night. Other functional additions include a well-insulated hood, draft tube, and differentiated drawcords (one round and one flat) that make it easy to adjust the aperture in the dark. Added up, the Frostbreak is an excellent value for casual winter adventurers.
See the REI Co-op Frostbreak 5
If you’ve been thinking of dipping your toes into cycling, now is a great time: Many of REI’s in-house Co-op Cycles bikes are 10% off for members, including their entry-level DRT 1.1 mountain bike here. Like many of REI’s in-house products, the DRT is well built for the price with a sturdy construction and quality components including a Shimano drivetrain, Suntour front fork, and hydraulic disc brakes. Many will also appreciate the wide range of sizing options (from XS to XL) and two available colorways. Finally, it’s worth noting that the 10% discount also includes Co-op Cycles’ Generation e1.1 and e1.2 electric bikes, and all kids’ bikes are 30% off.
See the Co-op Cycles DRT 1.1
As we covered above, members receive two coupons to this year’s Member Moment Sale: one for 20% off one full-priced item and one for 20% off any REI Outlet product. Given this sale’s heavy slant toward REI’s in-house lineup, we’ve compiled a short list below of some of our favorite products from other brands that aren’t discounted but are eligible for 20% off with your full-priced item coupon. For more of our top picks, check out our hiking, backpacking, and camping gear reviews.
A Patagonia classic, the brand’s signature Torrentshell 3L is our current top-rated rain jacket. Its 3-layer H2No construction offers stalwart protection, the clean design wears well just about everywhere, and the price is right at $179 (the 20% off coupon knocks that down to around $144). In addition, the Torrentshell 3L is offered in a range of colors and sizes, and its durable materials have proven to be long-lasting. We’ve found the jacket excels as an around-town and hiking option, and the latest version offers a very competitive sustainability slant with recycled and bluesign-approved materials, bio-based content in the membrane, a PFC-free DWR coating, and certification to the Fair Trade standard. For those in need of insulation, the brand’s Down Sweater is another standout with a healthy dose of high-quality down in a lightweight and good-looking package.
See the Men's Patagonia Torrentshell 3L See the Women's Patagonia Torrentshell 3L
YETI is practically synonymous with hard-sided coolers, and their flagship Tundra remains a popular sight at campgrounds, beaches, and tailgates across the country. All told, these coolers exude quality: Like the rest of the series, the “65" model (which has a 57.6L capacity with the thick walls) is highly durable with a rotomolded build, well insulated for keeping food and beverages cold for days on end, and has the sleek and streamlined look that YETI is known for. YETI didn’t skimp on the details either, including a freezer-quality lid gasket, durable rubber latches, tie-down points for securing to a truck or boat, and a dry goods rack to keep items like produce or sandwiches fresh longer. You certainly pay a steep premium for the quality and performance, but $75 off during the sale is a sizable savings for a YETI.
See the YETI Tundra 65 Cooler
Salomon’s X Ultra is legendary in the world of hiking footwear, and their latest X Ultra 4 Mid GTX offers a standout mix of trail runner-like agility with added support and protection around the ankle. Most boots that weight under 2 pounds per pair sacrifice some durability or on-trail comfort, but not the X Ultra: It’s light and nimble underfoot, stands up well to long-term abuse, and retains solid stability and grip on everything from steep, loose rock to dirt, mud, and even snow. For fast-moving day hikers and lightweight backpackers, there’s really no question: The X Ultra 4 Mid GTX is the ticket.
If you prefer something a little sturdier for shuttling a heavy pack, Salomon’s Quest 4 is another standout with a sizable boost in all-around protection and support. And for those who don’t need the ankle coverage, the X Ultra 4 is also available in low-top versions with or without waterproofing.
See the Men's Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid GTX See the Women's Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid GTX
Camping gear has gotten pretty luxurious of late, and Exped’s MegaMat Duo 10 two-person sleeping mat is case in point. In sum, the MegaMat combines the dimensions of a full-size air bed with the cushy comfort of a foam self-inflating pad. The 3.9-inch-thick cushioning nicely isolates you from the cold and hard ground below, the pad is nicely insulated for year-round use with an R-value of 8.1, and the intuitive double-valve system makes inflation and deflation pretty painless. In fact, we’ve even used the MegaMat as a backup bed for guests at home (with no complaints to date). It’s a sizable investment at $400 MSRP (and $350 for the smaller Medium Double size), but this is a great time to save some serious cash.
See the Exped MegaMat Duo 10
As we covered above, REI’s Member Moment Sale runs from March 17 through 27 this year, and there are a few ways to shop. If you live near a brick-and-mortar REI, you can shop in store. This is a great way to try on gear and clothing in person and make sure you’re getting the right fit. If an item is not in stock at your store, a sales representative can place the order for you online—you’ll have the option of picking it up in store or having it shipped to your home address. Alternatively, you can go online and make your purchases either on REI.com or through the REI Outlet. Shipping is free on orders over $50 (members get free shipping regardless of the total), and you also have the option of sending your order to your local store for free pickup. However you choose to shop, all items are covered by REI’s 100% Satisfaction Guarantee and can be returned either by mail or in store within one year of purchase for members (non-members have a 90-day return window).
In addition to discounting gear by up to 50%, REI is also providing each member with two 20%-off coupons: One provides a discount on a full-price item (with some exclusions) and the other can be used at the REI Outlet (online only). If you’re shopping online, entering the MEMBER23 code at checkout will automatically apply the discount to the highest full-price and Outlet items in your cart, so be sure to shop accordingly to maximize the discounts. Importantly, certain products are exempt from the sale, including bike simulators, ski and snowboard equipment (including skis, snowboards, boots, and bindings), kayaks, canoes, rafts, GPS-equipped electronics, and more. The coupons also won’t work on sale products, clearance items, or used gear. For a full list of exclusions, you can view REI’s details on the sale here under “terms and conditions.
Shop the 2023 REI Co-op Member Moment Sale