A Hiker’s Guide to the Black Friday Sales

As many of my US readers will be aware, the Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales are now in full swing. This represents a great opportunity to save on any wishlist backpacking gear you may have been thinking about during the pandemic.

Over the past few days, I’ve been scanning the net for the best hiking and backpacking gear deals on offer. What follows is a compilation of heavily discounted items from Backcountry, Campsaver, and Moosejaw, along with other great offers from cottage gear companies such as Gossamer Gear, Enlightened Equipment, Mountain Laurel Designs, and Six Moon Designs.

(Note: In line with the overall philosophy of this website, the following offers consist almost entirely of gear that is lightweight or ultralightweight).

Gear for Italy’s Alta Via 1 & 2 (2019)

Storewide Sales

• Backcountry.com – 20% off one full-priced item (exclusions apply). 
• Campsaver –  20% off one full-priced item and 20% off any item in the OUTLET. Ends December 7.
• Enlightened Equipment – 20% off stock items and 10% off all custom quilts, apparel, and accessories. Sale ends November 29.
• Garage Grown Gear – Up to 40% off a wide variety of items from cottage UL gear companies such as Katabatic Gear, Nashville Pack, Toaks, and Waymark Gear Co. 
• Gossamer Gear – Up to 25% off backpacks and shelters. Sale ends December 5.
• Hammock Gear: 15% to 20% off a wide variety of items including quilts, hammocks, and shelters. Sale ends November 29.
• Moosejaw –  Thanksgiving sale. Up to 30% off brands including Prana, Outdoor Research, Mountain Hardwear, Black Diamond, and Smartwool.
• Mountain Hardwear: 25% sitewide. Sale ends December 2.
• Mountain Laurel Designs – 5% off all purchases with code ULTRA200ROCKS. Sale ends November 29.
• Nashville Pack -10% off at checkout with code NashyNovember10. Sale ends November 30.
• Six Moon Designs – 20% off all backpacks and 20%-25% off most of its shelters. Sale ends November 30.
• UGQ Outdoor – 10% off all products (including made-to-order items). Coupon: BLACKFRIDAY2021. Sale ends November 28.
• Ursack – 30% off bear-resistant food sacks. Sale end December 3.

Footwear

All of the models mentioned below are featured in my in-depth article, Trail Runners Vs Hiking Boots: A 30 Year Perspective. I’ve either used each of the listed items personally or have hiked with long-time backpacker mates who have done so: 

Campsaver

Backcountry.com

REI

Bedrock Sandals

SPOTLIGHT: La Sportiva Trail Runners – Over the past three years, a lot of my hiking has been done in La Sportiva trail runners. Particularly the Akashas (discontinued) and the Ultra Raptors. This past summer I used a single pair of the latter model for over 400 miles in extremely rugged terrain up in Alaska, after which I put another 250 miles on them before they were eventually retired. The aforementioned models fit my feet well (i.e. medium width & volume), as do the La Sportiva Wildcats. On the other hand, I’ve found the Bushidos to be too narrow overall, and the Akyras, while having plenty of traction and cushioning, are a little too high and narrow in the heel for my liking. Summary: As of November 2021, the Ultra Raptors have become my go-to trail runner for extended trips in rugged conditions, while long-time favorites, the Brooks Cascadias, still do the trick for everything else.

Yours truly in La Sportiva Ultra Raptors in Alaska’s Gates of the Arctic National Park.

Shelters 

For more shelter ideas see Tents for Thru-hiking:

Six Moon Designs

Gossamer Gear

Backcountry

Mountain Laurel Designs

SPOTLIGHT: Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo

I used this comfortable, lightweight (26 oz) tent for a month during my recent trip to the Pacific Northwest. It holds up well in inclement weather, the setup is quick and easy, and for one person, there’s more than ample room to spread out. It was the first SMD shelter I’d tried since taking the Gatewood Cape for a spin many years ago, and overall I was very impressed.

Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo | Oregon Coast Trail, 2021.

Sleeping Bags & Quilts

For more options, see Sleeping Bags and Quilts for Thru-Hiking.

Enlightened Equipment

Backcountry

Garage Grown Gear

Hammock Gear

SPOTLIGHT: Katabatic Alsek 22F

I’ve been using the Alsek since 2018. Since that time it’s kept me warm in the Scottish Highlands, Lapland and the Alps in the fall, the upper reaches of some of Mexico’s highest volcanoes, and most recently during a late summer trip to northern Alaska. As with the other two Katabatic quilts I’ve used since 2011 (i.e. Palisade 30F and Sawatch 15F – both of which are still going strong), it’s regularly outperformed its temperature rating, and I can’t say enough about the workmanship and overall quality.

Backpacks

For more options see Backpacks for Thru-Hiking.

Mountain Laurel Designs

• 5% off UL frameless classics such as the Burn 38L and Prophet 48L with code ULTRA200ROCKS. Sale ends November 29.

Six Moon Designs

• 20% off all backpacks including the Swift V (40L), Minimalist V2 (50L), and the Swift X (which I used on a 15 day carry in Gates of the Arctic National Park this past summer). Sale ends November 30.

Nashville Packs

Hyperlite Mountain Gear

Gossamer Gear

Bobcat and Dirtmonger carrying Gossamer Gear Kumos | Death Valley, Lowest to Highest Route, 2014.

Other Products

REI

• Garmin inReach Mini: Reduced from $350 to $299. Featherlite at 3.5 oz, the Mini has 2-way messaging, tracking, and SOS capabilities. Pairs with your smartphone via Bluetooth. I used this device on my recent Alaska trip and found the battery life to be excellent. For example, over 15 days in Gates of the Arctic, I sent a daily preset message to my family, answered a handful of texts, checked the weather regularly, but didn’t use GPS tracking. The result? After 15 days I still had more than 60% battery life.

Gossamer Gear

Six Moon Designs

Enlightened Equipment

Backcountry

• Sleeping Mats: Between 15% and 40% off Thermarest NeoAir XLite and ProLite.
• Satellite Messenger: Garmin inReach Mini: $50 off.
• Trekking Poles: 25% off Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork
• GPS Watch: 35% off Garmin Fenix 6X Pro Solar: This is the watch of choice of my old friend and serial thru-hiker, Mike Unger, who knows as much about backcountry electronics as anyone I’ve met. As someone who only recently upgraded from a Timex Ironman, personally, all of the features make my head spin (e.g. solar charging, tracking, mapping, touch-screen, music, heart rate monitor, and about 10,000 other things). That said, if you’re a gadget geek who loves to hike, this watch seems like a great option.

Suunto 

• 40% off Ambit3 Peak Watch – User-friendly, rechargeable battery, GPS, and altimeter. I picked one of these up last year on special. I tend to leave the GPS off while hiking, so the battery typically lasts a few weeks before needing to be recharged.

Moosejaw

OR Ferrosi’s in Mexico’s Sierra Madre | 2020.

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