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Where to Find Deals on Backpacking Gear and Clothing

We always encourage you to support your local gear shop first and foremost, but for the absolute best deals on backpacking equipment and clothing it can be a good idea to shop around. Online, RIE and Backcountry are two of our favorite retailers, and both host significant sales throughout the year that offer savings of 20% or more on nearly their entire inventory. If you shop at REI,it pays to become a me member (with a one-time-fee of $30) in order to access some of these discounts and receive a yearly dividend (up to 10% back on purchases). Unsurprisingly, Amazon is also a great place to find some types of outdoor gear (including footwear and tents) for a low price. And we’d be remiss not to mention the numerous used gear programs online, including REI Used Gear, Arc’teryx Used Gear, The North Face Renewed, and Patagonia Worn Wear. After all, what’s not to like about saving cash and being an ethical consumer at the same time?

It’s also worth looking for a used gear or gear consignment shop in your neck of the woods. Buying used gear can be a great way to find quality items at huge markdowns, and we always love the opportunity to give someone's old tent or backpack a second life. Shopping this way can be a bit of a gamble though—especially for the uninitiated—and you will want to be sure to inspect whatever you’re considering to see that it’s in good shape. A couple examples of used gear shops are the Boulder Sports Recycler in Boulder, Colo., Second Wind Sports in Bozeman, Mont., and Switchback Gear Exchange in Grand Rapids, Mich. (not to mention, they have a fantastic name).

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