Gear

The Very Best Deals From REI’s Labor Day Sale

August 29, 2026

A gray camping tent outside on top of a wooden platform. — Claire Wilcox/NYT Wirecutter

A superstar tent for two

Easy to set up and pack away, this lightweight, two-door tent has a generous footprint and a sturdy dome shape.

Cozy up in a tent that’s durable, lightweight, and spacious, with ample three-season protection against the elements. It has a full mesh dome that allows for stargazing when skies are clear. This deal matches the lowest price we’ve seen since 2024.

A fantastic tent that fits the whole family

Spacious and easy to pitch, this dome tent also has other features most families need, namely two large doors and roomy vestibules.

Our favorite tent for families is spacious, sturdy, easy to pitch, and affordable. It’s also been updated with more mesh in the canopy for better breathability and stargazing opportunities. The trade-offs: bulky fiberglass poles and flimsy stakes.

The best sleeping bag for car camping

This roomy, recycled-poly-fill bag is warm, moisture-resistant, easy to clean, and simple to stuff away.

This isn’t the loftiest sleeping bag, but it’s still plenty warm. Plus, its “pillow barn” is big enough to fit a standard-size pillow. The expanded size range can accommodate nearly any size sleeper, and the bag is free of knowingly added PFAS.

An ultralight sleeping bag for budget-conscious backpackers

If weight is your top concern, but money runs a close second, we recommend this entry-level ultralight bag.

A good first step if you want to try ultra-light backpacking, this 850-down-fill bag weighs just 20 ounces and costs much less than similar ultralight options. The narrow cut may feel restrictive, but thankfully it comes in multiple lengths and widths, so you can fine-tune the fit.

The best first sleeping bag for kids

Of all the kids sleeping bags we’ve tried, this one has the most qualities to love: It’s warm, cushy, and tough.

Our kid testers loved this sleeping bag the most. It insulates against cold, it’s coated with a durable water repellent, and it cinches to adjust to a child’s size. The stuff sack is permanently attached to the bag, so it’s easy to pack and keep track of.

A roomy kids sleeping bag that’s perfect for sleepovers

This rugged rectangular sleeping bag lies flat when unzipped, so kids can use it as a compact comforter at camp or at home.

Some kids may prefer the roomier feel of this rectangle bag over a mummy-shaped sleeping bag. It has a 40 °F temperature rating, and it can unzip into a blanket to perform double duty at camp, on sleepovers, or at home.

A mattress-like pad for sleeping under the stars

This sleeping pad isn’t small, and it isn’t light. But it is the most comfortable pad we found.

A wilderness luxury for car campers, this couple-sized sleeping pad feels more like a real mattress, our testers say. With 4 inches of self-inflating foam and air cores, it offers solid motion isolation and even works well for side sleepers. But it’s a pain to deflate without the (separately sold) pump.

A charming rechargeable solar light for on-the-go ambiance

This inflatable light’s battery capacity, brightness, and weatherproof ratings were some of the highest among all the packable lights we tested.

Simply charge this little lamp via its built-in solar panel or USB, inflate it, and let it illuminate your gathering or campsite. It’s one of the brightest we tested, with four light settings, and it can even charge phones and small devices, too.