Looking for deals and discounts on hiking, camping, and other outdoor gear and outdoor clothes for women and men? You’re in the right place, fellow budget adventurer. 🙂
In this post you’ll find over 15 ideas for places to look for discounted outdoor clothing and gear, tips for finding amazing deals, and my personal favorite spots to shop for deals.
Outdoor clothing and gear is THE BEST! The first time I ever went to REI, in Austin, Texas, my friend Nannette made a comment about how outdoor gear is amazing because it is so functional – every part has a purpose.
And damn, if that wasn’t one of the truest things I’ve ever heard. That was probably a decade ago and to this day, I continue to be amazed by, and comment on the functionality, of outdoor gear. There’s no such thing as random when it comes to outdoor gear. The two holes in the top of a CamelBak? Allows you to decide what side you want to drink from!
The only downside? Outdoor clothing and gear can be expensive! BUT it’s one area in my life where I do generally think buying brand name matters.
Sure, I’ll buy the occasional off-brand for something like a long spoon for backpacking (why you need one here), but when it’s an item that I need to perform, like you a dry sack to keep my camera dry? I’m not trusting anything less than Sea-to-Summit (a great outdoor brand for dry sacks.)
Fortunately, with a little creativity, you CAN “gear up” for hiking, camping, backpacking, and other outdoor adventures without breaking the bank.
This post contains affiliate links which means if you use one to make a purchase, I get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Would love it if you would consider using them if you are in the market for outdoor gear. Opinions are all my own.
15 Places to Look for Discounted Outdoor Clothing & Outdoor Gear
Discounted New Clothing & Gear
1. REI Outlet
REI Outlet is the epic outdoor retailer’s discount arm. You can acess deals 365 days a year by clicking the REI Outlet section of the website. Deals available 365 days a year in the REI outlet. And, unlike many other discount sites and outlets, REI’s satisfaction guarantee applies to outdoor gear purchased through the outlet! REI does not have an in-person outlet, but it does have a swoon worthy “garage sale” about 4 – 6 times per year (see below).
Shop Discounted Outdoor Clothing & Gear at REI Outlet
2. Steep and Cheap
Steep and Cheap is Backcountry’s discount site for outdoor clothing and gear. Flash sales and “buy it now before it sells out” deals abound. It is a great place to find discounts on brand name outdoor clothing and gear. Take a deep breath and turn your impulse control up because the timers ticking down how long until a deal goes away will test your ability to avoid impulse buys the same way the check-out counter at in-person retailers does.
Shop Discounted Outdoor Clothing & Gear at Steep and Cheap
3. Sierra (fka “Sierra Trading Post”)
Sierra (formerly, “Sierra Trading Post”) is like the TJ Maxx of outdoor clothing and gear, literally, it’s the same family of brands as TJ Maxx and Marshalls. Similar to those stores, what you find can vary quite a bit, but that feeling when you get a deep discount on a great product is worth it. Items are overstocks, closeouts, or factory seconds. Factory seconds may have barely imperceptible irregularities or blemishes but none that impact performance.
Last winter, my cousin found a great deal on Sierra for women’s Blundstone boots factory seconds. The boots rarely go on sale – and I wore them all winter without noticing a single issue. They kept my feet toasty warm during Portland’s shut-the-city-down winter snow storm and ice caving exploring.
Shop Discounted Outdoor Clothing & Gear at Sierra
4. The Clymb
The Clymb is an outdoor gear and clothing site that focuses on deep discounts on great brands. There is something for just about every sport from cycling to hiking to triathalon-ing. The only catch? You have to be a member to view the deals. Fortunately, the only cost of membership is providing your email address.
The Clymb is where I bought my first sleeping bag and tent ever so it will always have a special place in my heart.
Shop Discounted Outdoor Clothing & Gear at The Clymb
5. CampSaver
CampSaver is another great site to check for great deals on great outdoor clothing and products. Don’t let the name fool you, CampSaver has evolved into a site that covers the full-spectrum of outdoor activities, not just camping. Shop CampSaver’s Outlet for the deepest discounts.
Shop Discounted Outdoor Clothing & Gear at CampSaver
6. Sales at Any Outdoor Store
Looking for a deal? Start with the sale section at any online or in-person outdoor retailer. This can be a particularly good approach if you want to support your local mom-and-pop outdoor store but can’t quite afford the full-priced options.
7. REI Alternatives
I freaking LOVE REI. Like love it so much that just walking around it feels like an activity. It is the go-to retailer for so many people, myself included, but is not always the cheapest outdoor retailer. (Although, members get 10% back annually on purchases)
If the budget is really tight, it helps to think outside of REI and check out other outdoor retailers. MooseJaw, Sportsman’s Warehouse, and BackCountry are just three examples of REI alternatives that I find often have good deals.
Shop Moosejaw | Shop Sportsman’s Warehouse | Shop Backcountry
8. Pro Deals
A number of outdoor companies offer ProDeals to athletes. These deals give the athletes discounts off the company’s clothing, goods, and nutrition. Note that while they are called pro deals, some companies offer these types of deals to semi-pros – meaning you don’t always have to be a nationally recognized athlete; it may be enough to just be a local athlete involved in your sport’s community.
9. Friends & Family
Friends and family that are sponsored athletes, have pro deals, or work for an outdoorsy company may be able to hook you up with a discount, or in some cases (e.g. Columbia has company stores), access to a company store that offers gear year-round at a discounted price from regular retail.
Discounted Used Clothing & Gear
10. REI Garage Sale
A few times a year (4-6), REI has a “garage sale” for its members (Membership is: $20 for life). Members shop returned goods at local REI stores for absurdly discounted deals on the clothing and gear. (Note: at the time of writing this garage sales are on pause due to pandemic related changes, however, it is anticipated that they will return)
11. REI “Good & Used”
Sick of hearing about REI yet? I told you, I love that place. Another REI option for snagging good deals on used gear is their “Good & Used” website, where you can shop used outdoor clothing and gear online. Bonus: if you have gently used gear, you can trade it in for REI gift cards!
Shop Discounted Outdoor Clothing & Gear at REI’s Good & Used
12. Patagonia Worn Wear
Patagonia is one of the most respected names in the outdoor industry because of the quality of their goods and their commitment to social and environmental ethics. It’s Worn Wear program promotes reuse rather than trashing of its products. You can buy used Patagonia items on discount from new prices. (Looking for the ever coveted Patagonia puffy but can’t stomach the price tag, look for a used one!) You can also trade-in your used Patagonia gear.
Shop Patagonia Discounted Outdoor Clothing & Gear at Worn Wear
13. Outdoor Gear Exchange
In many areas, especially those with a strong outdoor culture, you can find Gear Exchanges where you can buy, sell, and trade used outdoor clothing and gear. Added bonus: you can inspect and try on the gear, which isn’t possible when buying online.
14. GearTrade
GearTrade is basically an online version of a gear exchange. Buy and sell used outdoor clothes and outdoor gear. Make money, save money, help the environment. What’s not to like?
Shop Discounted Outdoor Clothing & Gear at GearTrade
15. Hand Me Downs
Hand me downs are a great way to get outdoor clothing and gear. I know I’d much rather give something to a friend or family member that I know will use it than let it collect dust in my closet. In the past year alone, I scored a NorthFace fleece from my sister and snow pants from my cousin.
16. Thrift Stores in Outdoorsy Areas
Next time you’re in an outdoorsy area, check out the thrift stores. The more outdoorsy people in an area, the more outdoorsy clothing and gear at thrift stores. And look for the gear people use in the area. For example, if you need discounted ski gear, your probability of finding it at a thrift store in Colorado is pretty good, Florida, not so much.
17. Online Marketplaces
Online marketplaces like Facebook marketplace and Craig’s list often have outdoor gear and clothing for resale. A little luck and knowing what you’re looking for can help.
18. “Buy Nothing” Groups on Facebook
One of the newer Facebook trends are local “Buy Nothing” groups where the goal is to, well, buy nothing. Members post items that they are looking to get ride of FOR FREE and other members reach out to claim the items. I’ve heard good stories of getting free outdoor clothing in these groups.
Tips for Finding Outdoor Gear and Clothing Deals
Decide What You Need/Want
Stay focused and stop yourself from overspending by knowing what you need. It will help you narrow your search – you can review 5 websites for a certain item relatively quickly but just browsing them to see if anything pops up can be a huge time suck.
Know What a Good Deal Is
Get an idea of what the item you want or need usually costs so you’ll know a good deal when you see it and won’t be swayed by advertising that says “great deal!” if it really is not.
Tell People What You’re Looking For
Tell your friends and family what you’re looking for. They may have an item that fits the bill to hand down or sell you, or if they see the item on sale they’ll know to tell you about it. I freaking love sharing when I find something someone wants on sale – and love when others do the same. (Especially my cousin “Little” Larissa because she’s also a great product researcher.)
Think [At Least] One Season Ahead
Shopping for items in their off season is one of the best ways to get a discount. Sure, it feels a little odd to buy a winter jacket in spring or summer (I just did that) but you’ll thank yourself when the season rolls around. Sometimes the same item even goes back off sale when season arrives.
Search by Size
When shopping online, use search filters to search for your size. Nothing worse than finding an amah-zing deal on the product you want only to find it’s an XXL and you need an XXS, or visa-versa.
Be Flexible on Color
…within reason. Having flexibility about color can save you a lot of money. I’ve seen $20 – $50+ discounts on the same exact item because of color. That being said, I’m of the opinion that on some items that you’re going to wear a lot for a long time (like a winter jacket) are worth paying for a color that you feel good in. CamelBaks on the other hand….does color realllllly matter that much?
My Favorite Places to Get Discounted Outdoor Clothes and Gear
There are a lot of options for searching for discounted gear. Currently, the ones I use the most are REI Outlet, MooseJaw, and Sierra. (Although, I’m itching to get back to Bend, OR because I hear The Gear Fix has great used options!)
