The time to move on the gear you’ve been eyeing is now!

For many, Labor Day signifies the end of recess and the start of school. For others, it’s synonymous with summer send-off sales and obsessive coupon clipping.

But if you’re anything like me, Labor Day marks the beginning of autumnal escapes and fall foliage-focused road trips. It’s prime time to squeeze in the last camping trips of the year and bask in the beauty of nature’s seasonal changes.

It’s also the best time to stock up on gear for the season to come, taking advantage of REI’s biggest sale of the year to replace anything I lost, broke, or grew tired of trying to make work over the summer (and to find new gear to try out, of course!)

Whether you’re looking for a new tent for socially distanced fall camping trips or some beginner basics for your outdoor adventures, be sure to snag these great deals before they’re gone!

The REI Labor Day Sale happening now until September 7!

Heads up! This post contains affiliate links.

 Sleep under the stars

When I get asked for my top tent recommendations, I’m usually pretty hesitant to offer up much advice — tents are all about personal preference! What works for one may not work for another depending on intended use, camping style, family size, etc. However, for those who are in the market for a new tent, I advise you consider these three key criteria that will help you choose the right tent for your adventures:

1. Where do you intend to spend most of your time in this tent?

If you’re intending to pitch a tent during summer months on flat land, 3-season tents will work perfectly fine. The NEMO Dagger 2P/3P tent is an ultra lightweight option loved by backpackers where more space isn’t a tradeoff for more weight!

If you’re planning on sleeping in some extreme and unpredictable weather, say up in the mountains or out in the country during the coldest months of winter, you’ll be much more comfortable in a 4-season tent, like the Marmot Thor that has rave reviews for lengthy stays in the alpine realm. 

2. How are you most likely going to transport this tent?

Will you be backpacking to remote areas? If so, you will need something lightweight and extremely portable. The Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 (pictured above) is a top-choice among backpackers, as well as their 3-person version. If you are driving up to your campsites and weight is less of an issue, take advantage of a more robust option that pack a wide array of special features, like the REI Base Camp 6.

3. How many people are you planning to accommodate?

For solo adventurers, there are a ton of creative, single-person spaces that can make for an unforgettable night’s sleep under the stars, like the Exped Mira I HL tent that features 5 different modes (Stargazer, Optimist, Breeze-way, Privacy and Realist). For couples not overly concerned about weight and packability, I suggest finding a 3-person tent to give you a little more wiggle room, like the Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL3. And for families, you’ll need to fit accordingly to your party size and focus more on durability. This REI Kingdom model fits more than 8 people comfortably with plenty of space to spread out. 

For a good night’s rest

Sleeping Bags on sale

Marmot Trestles Eco 20 ($158 $118)

Looking for the ultimate all-in-one sleeping bag that keeps you snug, warm, comfy and is made with eco-friendly materials? Look no further! The Marmot Trestles Elite Eco 20 ($158 $118)is a budget-friendly bag that uses recycled materials for sustainability and provides maximum warmth with a double blanket layer that isn’t bulky. For an extra cozy bonus, the men’s and women’s versions can zip together — nothing better than extra body heat!

Women’s version | Men’s Version

Prone to tossing and turning in your sleep? A good alternative for side sleepers is the NEMO Tempo 20 ($160 $119), featuring a wider hood and extra shoulder room.

Women’s version | Men’s Version

Camping must have:

A good night’s sleep on a camping trip used to be rarity unless it involved large blow up mattresses and bulky cots—today’s a different story. Sleeping pads are packed with technology that provide insulation and comfort, keeping you warm and off the ground without taking up much space.

High quality sleeping pads can get pretty pricey, so take advantage of a sale when you can!

While the Therm-A-Rest NeoAir XLite ($185-$225) is considered the holy grail of sleeping pads, this Big Agnes Q-Core SLX pad is another solid option. Currently marked down to $104.73 from $139.95, with the additional 20% off outlet items you can snag this pad for $83.78!

Tech to take with you

By far the best deal you can take advantage of right now during the REI Labor Day Sale is $100 off (!!!!) the new GoPro Hero 8. 

We upgraded to the Hero 8 earlier this year while camping in Patagonia and it was the best addition to our camp gear and photography setup. The quality of the images and video is just insane and for me, not having to worry about something happening to the camera if my two-year-old gets his hands on it (versus the extremely off limits DSLR) is worth every penny. We started time lapsing our hikes which has been a fun way to capture our favorite trails hands-free using the head strap.

It’s a lantern, it’s a power hub, it’s bright light anytime, anywhere! With a built-in hand crank and adjustable luminosity, this lantern will never leave you completely in the dark or your tablets/phones without battery. The foldable stand is super convenient for hanging or for propping up anywhere you need a little boost of light. 

Oh, the camp stove. I never knew how much I needed one until I borrowed a friend’s for our first overnight with our 4-month-old and I was worried about warming up milk. Next think you know, I’m making campfire pasta for dinner and omelettes at sunrise. We used to always take along our Jetboil Minimo ($150 $112) while backpacking, but the stove has been a little luxury during our family camps that I’m not willing to part with!

After a long day on the trails or out on the lake, nothing hits the spot like your favorite beverage icy cold. Problem is, no one wants to lug around a bulky cooler packed with refreshments and other campfire goodies that need to stay chilled, so often times we hold back on what we’d like to take with us for the sake of simplifying. Well limit no more! With this cooler that fits up to 30 cans, you can pack snacks and drinks to your satisfaction, easily transport it all to your campsite, and worry not about leaks and spills along the way.

Besides our tent, our ENO doublenest hammock is our most-used camp accessory that we take with us absolutely everywhere we go. We typically don’t bother bringing folding chairs to hang out in while at camp, swinging with the breeze is just so much more enjoyable! It’s light, packs small, and with the Atlas Chroma Suspension System, it sets up in a matter of minutes. These straps can hold up to 400lbs, and have held us up without a single issue for the past 6 years. If you hammock, you need these straps.

Tell me, what are you hoping to grab during the sale?!