Whether you’re planning a weekend overnight or a months-long thru-hike, these Labor Day sales have you covered.
(Photo: Courtesy of REI, Altra)
Published August 31, 2026 12:06PM
Best Labor Day Deals for Backpackers
Labor Day’s a sweet time to backpack. You’ve hopefully still got some summer sun, and cooler, crisper nights for comfortable sleeping. The lakes aren’t filled to the brim with stinging snowmelt, and the worst of the bugs has come and gone. We’re getting amped to camp just thinking about it.
But Labor Day is also a sweet time to stock up on backpacking gear. Outdoor retailers like REI and Backcountry use Labor Day to launch one last big summer sale, clearing shelves for fall and winter gear. For the savvy shopper or the backpacker on a budget, there’s no better time to stock up.
With literally thousands of pieces of gear on sale at REI alone, it can be overwhelming to separate the wheat from the chaff. To help you navigate these digital slot canyons, our team of gear nerds pulled together 15 trail-ready Labor Day deals that’ll speak to backpackers and hikers. Check them out below and prep for your next trip like a pro.
The Best Labor Day Sales for Backpackers
Backpacking Sleeping Pad and Sleeping Bag Deals
25% Off All Therm-a-Rest Sleeping Pads
What Chapstick is to lip balm, or Kleenex is to tissue, Therm-a-Rest is to sleeping pads. The brand is synonymous with slumber, and whether you’re looking for a cheap, indestructible closed-cell foam pad or a lightweight, winter-ready pad with a hefty R-value, Therm-a-Rest has you dialed. And all Therm-a-Rest pads are all on sale for 25 percent off during REI’s Labor Day sale.
REI Co-op Magma 15 Sleeping Bag for $299 ($399)
Budget backpackers have long since turned to REI Co-op for relatively affordable sleeping bags. The Magma 15 is stuffed with premium, 850-fill, hydrophobic goose down for an excellent warmth-to-weight ratio. And while the price isn’t cheap by any means, it’s fairly reasonable given the quality of materials. Luckily, though, the Magma is now on sale for 25 percent off, making this an opportune time to upgrade your kit.
Backpacking Tent Deals
25% Off Big Agnes Tiger Wall Tents & Footprints (excludes Platinum)
We have good news and bad news. The good news: Big Agnes’ lightweight, Backpacker-approved Tiger Wall tents are now on sale for 25 percent off. The bad news: the premium Tiger Wall Platinum is not on sale. Alas. There are still plenty of options to choose from, from one-person bikepacking tents to three-person options perfect for one of the core millennial family units (two adults plus dog).
25% Off All NEMO Hornet OSMO Tents & Footprints
Between the storm-ready polyester ripstop rainfly and DAC Featherlite poles, Nemo’s Hornet tents balance low weight and high performance. The resulting tents are a dream in the pack. For instance, the Hornet OSMO Elite 2P has a minimum trail weight of 1 lb, 11 oz, and a packed weight of 2 lbs, 1 oz. For a semi-freestanding tent, those are big numbers (and by big numbers, we mean small numbers). Nemo’s premium tents don’t come cheap, but REI’s knocking off 25 percent during the Co-op’s Labor Day extravaganza.
Backpacking Pack Deals
25% Off All Gregory Baltoro and Deva Packs
The Baltoro (men’s) and Deva (women’s) are the crown jewels of the Gregory pack lineup, particularly for backpackers who appreciate comfortable suspension and a robust feature set. These aren’t the lightest packs on the market—nor are they the cheapest—but they’re now on sale for 25 percent off.
Backpacking Kitchen and Water Filtration Deals
25% Off Jetboil Stoves, Cookware & Accessories (excludes TrailCook & fuel)
Integrated canister stove loyalists, rejoice! Jetboil’s rapid-roiling stoves, cookware, and accessories are now on sale for 25 percent off. Unfortunately, this doesn’t include fuel, as much as we’d like to stockpile discounted isobutane like apocalypse preppers.
25% Off MSR Stoves, Cook Gear & Accessories (excludes fuel)
You’ve heard of the Pocket Rocket 2: a prized possession of weight-worrying backpackers around the world. Allow us to introduce the Pocket Rocket 25 percent off. (It’s still a Pocket Rocket 2, but it’s 25 percent off.) Awful jokes aside, MSR’s full lineup of stoves is on sale for 25 percent off. That includes the Pocket Rocket as well as MSR’s integrated canister WindBurner and the expedition-grade, white-gas-fueled WhisperLite.
25% Off All Katadyn Water Treatment
Hydrating in the high-alpine becomes much easier with Katadyn’s water filtration systems. We’re big fans of the BeFree water bottles, which pair flexible bladders with filters integrated into the mouthpiece. Our testers feel they save space in your pack when empty, and they’re so easy to fill up on the go that they encourage you to carry less water on the trail.
Hiking Footwear Deals
40% Off During Altra’s Huge Trail Runner and Hiking Boot Sale
Altra’s Labor Day sale is stacked with trail-ready footwear that’s up to half off. If you prefer a lower-cut trail runner, check out the Lone Peak 8, Olympus 6, or Timp 5. If you gravitate toward a more supportive mid-cut boot, all signs point to the Timp 5 Hiker and Olympus 6 GTX mid. All of these options are 40 percent off through September 7.
Backpacking Apparel and Accessories Deals
25% Off All Mammut Outerwear for Men
We’ve put Mammut’s outerwear to the test from backcountry skintracks to bramble-strewn trails. From heavy-duty hardshells to lightweight rain jackets and down hoodies, the Swiss outfitter always delivers. And right now, REI’s delivering 25 percent off men’s Mammut outerwear during the Co-op’s Labor Day sale.
25% Off All BioLite Headlamps
We’ve been impressed with BioLite’s headlamps since they launched eight years ago, and they’ve been getting better ever since. The new Range models, available in 300-, 400-, and 500-lumen versions, are streamlined, easy to dim, and feature an adjustable, comfortable headband. Plus, all BioLite headlamps are on sale for 25 percent off.
25% Off All Sunski Sunglasses
We’re fans of cheap shades around here. It’s just too damn easy to scratch, break, or lose sunnies on the trail. We’re even bigger fans of discounted cheap shades, and Sunski’s polarized peeper protectors are now on sale for 25 percent off.
25% Off All Sawyer Bug Protection
The old saying “don’t bring a knife to a gun fight” applies to backpacking in bug country. Make sure you’re adequately prepped for ticks, mosquitoes, and other pestilent party crashers with Sawyer’s bug repellent, clothing treatments, and more, all of which are slashed by 25 percent this week at REI.
Adventure Medical Mountain Series Medical Kit for $46 ($57)
Last but certainly not least, we’ve got a Mountain Series Medical Kit from Adventure Medical. Actually, we should’ve put this up front—“safety first,” and all. Regardless, this generously packed first-aid kit will help combat blisters, chaffing, minor cuts and scrapes, and even some fsprains. But be warned: this is insufficient to treat more catastrophic injuries like accidental decapitation, mysterious rashes that you should’ve asked your doctor about weeks ago, and unseen emotional wounds. Remember, as much as we’d like to believe otherwise, backpacking is not always a suitable substitute for therapy.
