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Feel that? That tickling sensation on your skin? That’s called “warmth,” and it’s your sign that, with winter and most of spring in the rearview mirror, summer is around the corner. If you’re looking for gear for your summer adventures, REI is currently running its biggest sale of the year, with discounts on everything from shoes and apparel to tents and electronics. We combed the discounts so you wouldn’t have to, collecting our favorite backpacking picks in one place. Here are the Backpacker editors’ six favorite deals from REI’s anniversary sale, from top items from our 2025 summer gear guide to personal favorites.
Updated 5/23 to add the Gregory Maven/Paragon and Nemo Tensor
Big Agnes Copper Spur 2 Platinum Tent
$450 (25% off) at REI
Big Agnes’s Copper Spur line has long been a mainstay for the Backpacker staff, performing so well over the years that we awarded it a spot in our Hall of Fame. The Copper Spur 2 Platinum shaves about 5 ounces off the traditional Copper Spur 2 UL, coming in at a trail weight of just 2 pounds, 5 ounces, while still offering features like a breathable double-wall design, twin doors, and twin vestibules.
NEMO Tensor All-Season Ultralight Insulated Sleeping Pad
Starting at $150 (25% off) at REI
At just 14.1 ounces for the mummy version, the Tensor All-Season is light for a winter-ready inflatable pad. Clocking in at an R-value of 5.4 and packing down to the size of a Nalgene, it’s a lot of warmth for little weight penalty—especially considering the comfy, 3.5-inch height.
Altra Lone Peak 9
$105 (25% off) at REI — Men’s
$105 (25% off) at REI — Women’s
Next to consumables like food and fuel, shoes are probably the item that backpackers need to replace the most, and Altras, long-trail standbys for their comfort, tend to wear out after a few hundred miles. If it’s time for you to stock up, nearly all Altra shoes are on sale for 20% off, including its flagship, do-anything Lone Peak 9.
Gregory Paragon 60 / Maven 58
$203 (25% off) at REI—Paragon 60
$203 (25% off) at REI—Maven 58
Our test team tries out dozens of backpacks every year, so when they say that something is their favorite pack of the season? That means something. The Paragon 60 / Maven 58 made that cut, getting the nod as the best all-around backpacking pack of 2025. Credit the wrap-around padded harness, which held the pack in place with essentially no sway, and the upgraded 210-denier nylon packbag and 330-denier boot, which stood up to hard use with little wear.
Kelty Cosmic 20 Sleeping Bag
Starting at $120 (25% off) at REI—Men’s
Our reviewers named the Cosmic 20 the best budget bag in our test this year, praising its comfort, warmth, and soft interior (though, at 2.4 pounds for a men’s regular, it does compromise on weight). A PFC-free DWR, draft collar, and tight-cinching hood helps seal it up on cold nights, and our testers appreciated the roomier footbox compared to previous model years. (Caveat: With 13 ounces less 550-fill duck down than the women’s model, our testers found the men’s version most comfortable when they weren’t pushing it all the way to the temp rating.)
REI Co-op Sahara Shade Hoodie
$35 (30% off) at REI—Women’s
$35 (30% off) at REI—Men’s
Whether I’m backpacking or paddling, I live in sun hoodies all summer. If you’re going to be out all day, they’re an essential tool to help you avoid sunburn without having to remember to reapply sunscreen every hour or so. The Sahara may be the most comfortable one I own, thanks to its stretchy, 50+ UPF-rated, poly-spandex fabric blend and roomy-but-not-baggy cut. The three-panel hood stays in place, and features a discreet drawstring to cinch it down in high winds.
Garmin inReach Mini 2
$300 (25% off) at REI
A satellite communicator has become an all-but-essential tool for hikers headed into the deep backcountry, and Garmin’s inReach Mini 2 is a trail favorite thanks to its reliability, small form factor, and ability to send and receive text messages with a paired app. The 3.5-ounce device also features tracking, an electronic compass, and the ability to navigate back to a designated waypoint, like a campsite.
Nemo Helio LX Pressure Shower – 22 Liters
$120 (25% off) at REI
For summer basecamping adventures, I’ve found the Helio LX to make a big difference in my quality of life. The shower’s collapsible tank holds 22 liters of water and packs down to about the size of a volleyball when not in use. (A smaller version that holds 11 liters is also on sale.) Pressurize it with the attached foot pump and you’ll get a steady stream of water from the trigger-operated, dish-sprayer-style hose, perfect for hosing off yourself or your dog or for making short work of camp dishes.
