It’s officially that time of year: is here with loads of sweet deals designed to help you get a jump start on your holiday shopping (or nab yourself a new treat). For a limited time during these October Prime Days, you can score serious savings on favorite brands, including Keen, Igloo, Columbia, and more.

As with the online retailer’s renowned July Prime Days, it can be tricky to suss out the real deals, which is why our team of gear experts has scoured the best brand-name outdoor discounts we feel are worthy of your hard-earned cash. But remember, you need to be an to snag many of these steep discounts. So, double-check that login and keep scrolling for our favorite outdoorsy finds while they’re still on sale.

Updated for Day 2: We’ve added six deals to the list, including the Coleman Sundome 6-Person Camping Tent, Nuun Electrolyte Tablets, Goal Zero Yeti Portable Power Station,Ìę Thule RoundTrip 80L Duffel, Energizer Universal Plus LED Headlamp, and CamelBak Lobo 9 Bike Hydration Pack. We also checked all links, updated prices, and removed the Klymit Double Wide Camping Hammock.

If you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This supports our mission to get more people active and outside. Learn more.

for $96 ($130)

When put to the test, this tent’s durability and ease of setup impressed our gear guys. With decent waterproofing, interior stash pockets, and two D-shaped zip-up doors, this dome tent is a budget-friendly find at 26% off right now. Plus, with 10 feet x 10 feet of floor area, this six-person version has enough space for you to sprawl out with a buddy or bring the kids along on a car camping trip this season.

for $20 ($30)

Staying hydrated is important when you’re going hard in the outdoors, whether you’re pedaling up a steep, dusty incline or sending the gnar in Yosemite Valley. We’ve been big fans of Nuun’s portable hydration tablets for years, and this Prime Day deal makes a good thing even better by slashing the price by 33%. So go ahead and try different flavors with this mixed fruit four-pack and keep those electrolytes handy on your next big adventure.

for $450 ($600)

We’ve rarely seen a price drop this big on Goal Zero’s ever-popular power stations, which make off-grid travel easy for those of us who like to tote our laptops and cameras everywhere. With two USB-A and USB-C outlets, plus three-prong plugs for your standard-issue electronics, charging your tablet while making a backcountry pot of coffee is a cinch. Plus, its IPX4 rating for water resistance means that it can withstand water splashes from any direction, should your adventures take you to places a little wet and wild.

for $144 ($170)

As someone who’s spent way, way too much time testing and thinking about ski boot bags, I can assure you that Thule’s RoundTrip 80L Duffel is well worth the money — especially while it’s currently on sale. It sports a fleece-lined side pocket for your goggles and helmet, plus drain holes in the bottom to help with errant melted snow. The best part? At 80L, it’s large enough to stash away extra base layers, gloves, hats, and a shell or two, so you can keep your kit organized, rise early, and hit the road in a flash.

for $9 ($17)

At 46% off, this deal on Energizer’s 100-lumen headlamps offers serious bang for your buck. Many name-brand outdoor headlamps of similar brightness retail for two to three times the price of this two-pack, which comes with a set of the brand’s batteries, making them ready in an emergency without having to be charged. These basic lights are bright enough for use around the home or for car camping trips with the family, these headlamps are also equipped with a red LED setting to help preserve your night vision after hours.

for $54 ($100)

I have a CamelBak hydration backpack that’s still going strong after 15 years of use, and I recommend this durable brand to everyone I know. So I was thrilled when I saw that the company’s 9-liter Lobo pack was up to 46% off. Although you could use it for hiking or climbing, this tiny rucksack was designed with the avid cyclist in mind, offering a handy helmet carry, thin hip belt, and zippered pockets to keep you watered and organized on that dirt singletrack.

for $38 ($45)

With LifeStraw’s Go Series, you can filter harmful bacteria out of your wilderness water source without stopping to pump or use a frustrating squeeze bag. And at 19% off for certain colors, this is the lowest price we’ve seen on these handy 22-liter bottles in months. The bottle’s membrane microfilter is designed to last for up to 4,000 liters or about five years of daily use, according to the brand. In addition to eliminating disease-causing pests from your water, it also helps remove chlorine, odors, and organic chemical matter.

for $137 ($190)

We’re huge fans of Therm-a-rest’s NeoAir series, which offers an excellent warmth-to-weight ratio and comes with the brand’s. The Topo Luxe continues this ethos but with a camper’s utmost comfort in mind. As such, it’s a bit thicker and heavier than some of its NeoAir cousins. A 25-inch width and four inches of plush inflatable thickness will help give you a good night’s sleep, no matter where you pitch your tent. Plus, with an R-value of 3.7, it’s fit for three seasons of adventures.

for $550 ($1,068)

Sales on portable, outdoorsy electronics abound during this Amazon Prime Big Deal Days, but Anker’s SOLIX C1000 is a stand-out at 49% off. With six three-pronged, wall-style outlets, you can charge your whole crew’s electronics at the same time, or power your laptop while projecting an outdoor movie onto the side of your van. The is also on sale with a digital coupon, but we like this Prime Day bundle, which comes with a waterproof bag for when inclement weather inevitably strikes in the mountains.

for $66 ($165)

°­±đ±đČÔ’s Targhee Boots have reached legendary status in hiking circles with their ultra-grippy rubber lugs and stable heel. For this Amazon Prime Big Deal Days, you can save up to 60% on these bestselling boots. They’re a great pick for multi-day, overnight treks and day hiking sojourns, due to their awesome support and stability.

for $459 ($799)

At $459, the Jackery 1000 v2 Portable Power Station is 43% off and the lowest price it’s ever been on Amazon. Sure, it’s a great staple to have on hand if the power ever goes out in your neighborhood. But also, it’s an excellent piece of outdoor tech from a company we’ve noted before, one that lets you take mobile power with you, whether you’re on an off-the-grid trout fishing trip or a backcountry ski epic. The Jackery Explorer has regular-style wall plugs, plus USB-A and USB-C outlets, to keep everything you need fully charged. Weighing in at 23.8 pounds, it’s light enough to toss into your car trunk or van cabinets for a weekend in the woods.

for $95 ($170)

During this October Prime Day, you can score 44% off a robust, beefy cooler that’s similar to Yeti’s thick-walled, hard-shell marvels but at a fraction of the price. At $100 for the 24-liter version, it’s the lowest price we’ve seen since last December. Hit that football tailgate or leaf-peeping road trip with your favorite chilled snacks and bevies in style.

for $60 ($100)

Whether your travels take you to far-flung multi-day trails in Nepal or simply to your local climbing gym, Osprey’s 60-liter duffel is a roomy and functional pick to stash all your gear securely. A mesh water bottle pocket and zippered end pocket make it easy to grab smaller essentials, while a huge, zippered front panel allows for the storage of larger items. Oh, and did we mention it quickly transforms into a backpack for hands-free carry and is currently 40% off? It’s also backed by Osprey’s industry-famous.

for $18 ($26)

If you’re a fan of down-filled warmth, you know how pricey it can be to repair or replace your precious insulated apparel. Proper washing and care are essential to ensure that it lasts for many seasons in the wild. Down Wash.Direct allows you to wash down-stuffed gear in a safe and sustainable way while maintaining its water repellency. Meanwhile, Down Proof is a wash-in waterproofer that you can apply to your insulated items to add additional waterproofing protection.

for $50 ($100)

We’ve featured Columbia’s low-cost boots before, but its flagship model, the Newton Ridge, is up to 50% off right now. For just $50, you can get this ankle-height boot with a grippy rubber sole that’s backed by a one-year warranty. It’s the lowest price we’ve seen on these babies in years.

for $28 ($40)

Hydrating on the go isn’t always a graceful process if you’re packing a twist-top water bottle. That’s why we’re fans of this big gulp-style travel tumbler from Hydro Flask, which is cupholder-friendly and can tote 40 ounces of your favorite cold beverage when you’re on the road to the ski hill or your favorite national park. When it’s time to clean, simply disassemble the lid and toss the whole package (cup included) into the dishwasher.

The post The 16 Best October Prime Day Deals on Outdoor Gear appeared first on șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Online.

For about a year now, I’ve been a devoted thrifter. I estimate that about 75 percent of the clothing and household items I’ve purchased have been second-hand finds. My main motivation, of course, has been the environment. But I’ve also saved a ton of money along the way.

And maybe the biggest boon of this lifestyle shift is my new mindset. Before, if I wanted something and could afford it, I’d just buy it. I’d scoop things up because they were a good deal, even if I didn’t need them. (Hello, cute $5 Old Navy T-shirts in three different colors!) I thought nothing of plopping things in my Amazon cart and clicking that Buy Now button for the instant gratification of it all.

As a thrifter, my spending is on a slow burn. I realize that I don’t need that metal colander (to replace my old plastic one) in two business days. I can survive without it until I find one on the wonderfully crammed shelves of Goodwill. And I know I will, eventually. (In fact, I did, for $3.)

The “need it now” mindset is expensive and carbon intensive, what with all that packaging and shipping. It’s also mentally exhausting and stressful. Where do you think the term “shop til you drop” came from?

On the flip side, I’ve found that by slowing down my shopping habits, I start to see more sustainable opportunities everywhere. I fix things more often, rather than replace them. By waiting before I buy something, I realize that I can get by just fine without it. Or at least until I find it in a pre-loved condition.

And I’m not alone. The resale market, a.k.a. thrifting, is booming.

The Rise of Thrifting

According the ThredUp’s annual , the global market for secondhand stuff will reach $350 billion by 2028 and is going three times faster than the overall apparel market. The boom is driven by the surge of online marketplaces and the shopping habits of Gen Z and Millennials.Ìę Thrifting can take many forms: yard sales, estate sales, flea markets, Goodwill and Salvation Army stores, vintage shops, and online marketplaces like Poshmark, The RealReal, and ThredUp.

Options for outdoor gear also abound. Companies like Geartrade and Out&Back Outdoor will resell your old gear (for a small commission), and also offer great deals on pre-used stuff. Companies such as Patagonia, The North Face and Arc’teryx have their own and even brand-centric resale platforms. Remember classified ads in the back of the newspaper?

Embracing the resale market has a significant impact on the environment. Thrifting reduces waste, keeps items out of the landfill, slashes energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, and it cuts demand for “fast fashion.”

In no particular order, here are my favorite thrifting finds. Happy hunting!

1. Beautiful Bird Bath

Community “Buy Nothing” groups and local virtual yard sales can yield some great treasures. I wanted a pretty stone bird bath to entice hummingbirds to my yard, but new ones are upwards of 100 bucks. So I went on Facebook, found my local virtual yard sale, and made a post: “Seeking a cement bird bath, any condition.”

In a matter of days, someone from a few towns over DM’ed me saying I could have theirs for free. I picked it up, patched the cracks, and now it resides happily in my garden.

2. Heirloom Skillet

I’ve ditched all my nonstick cookware because it contains toxic forever chemicals and downsized my pot and pan collection. I realized that I didn’t need three different 8-inch skillets and five similarly sized sauce pans cluttering up my cabinets, even though I’m a dedicated home chef. Now I have just a couple of stainless steel pots, a big copper skillet, and a medium sized cast iron one. But I wanted a small one for single servings.

I scored a super high quality, “collectible,” 8-inch Griswold skillet at a flea market for $12. It needed a little love, but I was happy to oblige and now it’s as good as new. ( to revive and reseason cast iron.) The same skillet on eBay goes for over $100.

3. Go-To Hiking Boots

I’ve loved my Hoka Anacapa Mid GTX hiking boots for years. In fact, I’ve loved them to death and I needed to replace them. Thanks to a free Chrome extension called , I found an almost new pair on Poshmark for $47 (they sell for $195 new). When you search something on Google, Beni automatically scours more than 40 resale sites to find the exact product. I highly recommend downloading Beni.

4. Forever Garden Clogs

I’ve burned through several cheap plastic pairs over the years and wanted a permanent solution. Poshmark to the rescue again. My $30 bid for ever-so-gently used L.L.Bean Boot Rubber Mocs (new they go for $60) was accepted. This is likely the last pair of garden clogs I’ll ever buy.

5. My Favorite Jeans

Everyone knows old jeans are the best jeans. Old, thrifted jeans are even better. And not just because they’re the most comfy, but because new denim has . That’s why I was stoked to meet my favorite pair ever in a humble church basement thrift shop: vintage-y Levi’s, all soft and perfectly broken in, with cute rear pocket stitching. They set me back 8 bucks.

6. Preppy Madras Pants

When I was a kid, I was obsessed with the preppy look. (Does anyone remember ? It was my teenage fashion bible.) My drawers were filled with classic button down shirts and lots and lots of madras. When I found a pair of slightly obnoxious madras J. Crew clam diggers at a second-hand store, I was filled with nostalgia for feathered hair and mixed cassette tapes. They were a steal for $7.

7. Not Your Grandpa’s Overcoat

Even during my preppy high school days, I was a thrifter. I’m not sure whatever happened to that oversized brown tweed men’s overcoat I rocked to school each day back then, but I recently found a similar version for $12 in mint condition. Even though I’m more of a puffy jacket girl these days, this is my new cool weather go-to when I want to class things up a bit.

8. Kitschy Party Shirt

I’m always on the lookout for quirky-cool clothes for my sons. My ski-obsessed youngest loves this fun button down printed with vintage French resort ski posters. It’s 100 percent cotton, nice quality, and it was ours for a fiver. Mom for the win!

9. Birthday Guitar

My son is a strummer and a traveler, but the two don’t often mix. Sitting around a campfire not too long ago, he wished he had his six-string. I thought back to a long ago review of a packable Martin guitar I edited for BACKPACKER. Back home, I fired up Google and found one in great condition on GuitarCenter.com for $184 ($319 new).

Ìę11. Travel Art

The vast majority of art you find while thrifting is crappy–faded Norman Rockwell prints, sappy animal portraits, and Impressionist train wrecks. But once in a while, you find a real treasure. My favorite is a simple street scene that reminds me of my travels. Is it Spain, France,Ìę Italy, or Peru? Who cares? I wish I were there, and the frame alone is worth more than the $40 I paid for it.

10. Garden Helper

So many new tools are cheap and plasticky, while the old school stuff is often higher quality and made from metal and wood. I love trolling the quirky and aptly named Used Tool Store near me when I need a specific piece of equipment for a project, like a drill bit extender or a compost turner. That’s when I found a funky two-point garden fork with super-skinny tines that fluffs my compost perfectly. It set me back $10.

Kristin Hostetter is șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű’s sustainability columnist. She buys everything she can through thrifting and loves the thrill of the hunt.Ìę Follow her journeyÌęto live more sustainably byÌęÌęfor her twice-monthly newsletter.

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Labor Day celebrates the social and economic achievements of the American worker. As the informal end of summer, it also marks a transition for seasonal inventories of clothing and outdoors gear, so there are lots of Labor Day deals. Here’s how you can save money while supporting American workers, the American economy, and buying high-quality American products.

Updated September 2: It’s Labor Day. We’ve checked all the deals and prices in our list. Many of these deals will likely expire late tonight.

If you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This supports our mission to get more people active and outside. Learn more.

Mountain Safety Research produces all of the field water purification gear for the United States Army. That requires that the company maintain the most sophisticated water lab in the country, which it also uses to develop, test, and validate water filters for civilian consumers. The lab is so unique in its capability that other water filter brands actually contract out their own testing to MSR, while others include in their small print a if it’s to come out of their products as clean as they claim.

Unlike competitors, MSR also only produces filters that stop flowing water when they lose the ability to remove pathogens, so there’s no chance you’ll ever drink contaminated water if you use an MSR filter, which are all made right there in Seattle, under the same roof as that lab.

Our Pick: MSR Guardian Water Purifier

REI is including a bunch of MSR filters in this sale, all for 25 percent off. They’re all good, but a standout is the Guardian, a large filter capable of removing even chemicals and viruses from water, so is what you need if you’re planning a trip to the developing world.

Walk out of the water lab, through the water filter production line, and you’ll get to MSR’s stove factory. MSR is owned by the same parent company as Therm-a-Rest: Cascade Designs. All MSR stoves are made right there in Seattle, and every single one of them is subject to thorough testing by an actual American adult before they’re boxed and shipped to you. That doesn’t just mean they’ll work the first time you light one up, but also keep working even in cold weather, even at high elevations.

REI is offering 25 percent off all MSR liquid fuel stoves. Liquid fuels work much better than gas fuels in cold temperatures because you use a pump to create pressure within the canisters. Some models can also run on a variety of fuels, which makes them uniquely useful on international adventures where you may be unable to source fuel canisters.

Our Pick: MSR Whisperlite Universal Stove

The Whisperlite is the original liquid fuel backpacking stove, and still one of the highest performing options. It’s currently reduced from $200 to $150. Not bad for the last stove you’ll ever buy.

Probably the hardest thing to make in America right now is clothing. It’s incredibly difficult to compete on price with foreign sweatshops while complying with our country’s pay, benefits, safety, and ethical standards. It’s even harder to make technical clothing here because most fabric technologies are produced in those foreign sweatshops, and many of the brands that make those technologies only sell their wares in extremely large volumes.

It’s notable that NW Alpine has been making all its high-tech performance clothing in Oregon since Bill Amos founded the company in 2010. And while all of its fabrics aren’t American-sourced, its new range of Fortis base layers is. And those are 20 percent off until September 2.

Our Pick: NW Alpine Fortis Base Layers

The big innovation with Fortis is the incorporation of Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene fibers in its nylon-blend fabric. That means you get all the sweat-wicking properties of a lightweight base layer, but with a massive additional dose of abrasion resistance and longevity. They feel incredibly soft after a run through the washing machine and dryer, too.

Even though many tech fabrics are produced abroad, their underlying technologies are often developed in America. Forloh gets around the barrier to fabric technology access by hunting down the latest innovations while they’re still in the lab, signing exclusive rights to them for a few years, then working with American factories to develop the ability to use them.

The result is standout pieces that function in totally unique ways. The brand’s American-made rain gear? It has a higher moisture vapor transmission rate than anything else out there, plus a proprietary method for applying Durable Water Repellent coating that won’t wear off.

Forloh’s sale runs through September 3. Everything is 20 percent off.

Our Picks: ČčČÔ»ćÌę

(The 20% discount is shown at checkout.) Forloh’s down insulation pieces are extremely breathable. The pants they designed just for me are also extraordinarily durable.

Cascade Designs is still privately owned by the families of the former Boeing engineers who founded Therm-a-Rest in 1972. And all Therm-a-Rest sleeping pads are still made in Seattle. Making stuff there is what enables the company to offer its famous lifetime warranty, which is remarkable for products that must remain airtight, while being dragged up mountains, down rivers, and through the woods.

REI is offering 25 percent off across all Therm-a-Rest sleeping pads. They’re all good, but if I had to pick some to highlight they’d be the NeoAir XTherm NXT, which remains the standard for mountaineers who need a reliable, highly insulated pad.

Our Pick: Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm NXT Sleeping Pad

Born Outdoor Bedrolls Are 10% Off—with Code FALL10

I’ve been sleeping on a large Therm-a-Rest MondoKing 3D off and on this summer—inside a Born Outdoor Badger Bed 25 bedroll. It’s the brainchild of Army veteran Stuart Born, who wanted to create a more comfortable way to enjoy a night outdoors. The Badger Bed wraps an ultra-comfy sleeping pad inside a rugged shell, then uses that to house sheets and a down quilt, too.

The whole thing rolls up into a waterproof duffle bag, which is designed to be carried exposed on top of a 4×4 or in the bed of a pickup truck. That’s good, because these systems are massive. Unroll one, and you’ll find a water and a puncture-proof shell that wraps the pad on the bottom and sides. It also holds the quilt in place with toggles. Zip the water and wind-resistant-top sheet up, and you’ll be relatively protected from weather, while enjoying lots of room to roll around.

Our Pick: Badger Bed 25 Sierra Bedroll BundleÌę

Stuart and his family make Badger Beds just outside Boulder, Colorado, and they’re currently offering 10 percent off sitewide by entering the code FALL10 at checkout.

Bozeman, Montana-based GoFastCampers disrupted the camper space in 2017 when it brought to market the lightest, strongest, most affordable camper ever made. At the time it was the only camper that was safe to carry in the back of popular mid-size pickups like the Toyota Tacoma. And even on larger trucks, a GFC remains the only camper strong enough to stand up to washboard and wheeling. The company does all its manufacturing in Bozeman, offering full-time (with benefits) jobs that pay the highest starting salary of any manufacturer in the northern Rockies. And it only asks employees to work four-day weeks so they have time to use the free campers they receive as part of their compensation.

Early versions of the GFC proved incredibly popular, but the radically simple nature of the product caused some frustrations with parts like vents and latches. GFC listened to its customers and across its line of campers, bed caps, and rooftop tents earlier this year, while also reducing weight, increasing comfort, and adding even more strength. And now, it’s making those upgrades available to existing customers too, so they don’t have to buy a whole new camper to take advantage of improvements they asked for.

Parts like tent bodies, latches, lighting kits and more are at 10 to 20 percent discounts.

Our Pick: Complete Upgrade Camper Upgrade Bundles

The real savings can be found in , which are discounted as much as $914.

Having sweaty feet sucks. And the way to avoid that is by wearing merino wool socks. But unethical sweatshop labor and highly polluting international shipping suck even worse. Luckily, Darn Tough makes all its merino wool socks in Vermont.

REI is offering 25 percent off all Darn Tough socks through September 2nd. You can’t go wrong with any of them.

Our Pick: Darn Tough Crew Lightweight Socks

I’m a big fan of the mushrooms and pigs on the “truffle hog” casual sock pattern, which is reduced by $6 to $18 a pair.

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About ten years ago, I had a brilliant idea sure to revolutionize the outdoor industry. It was during an October camping trip at June Lake, near California’s Mammoth Mountain. We’d pitched our tents at an elevation of about 8,000 feet, looking down on the flickering lights from restaurants and rental companies along the lake’s curved shoreline. I was lying in my sleeping bag, thinking how I was just a little too cold for comfort but didn’t want to drop hundreds of dollars on a warmer one for my next trip. That’s when it hit me: what if there was a packable, travel-sized liner you could put inside your sleeping bag to add extra warmth when you need it?

The next day I gained cell service and internet access, which allowed me to quickly discoverÌęthat my grand idea, a sleeping bag liner, was already a product sold by many companies, from Sea to Summit to Klymit and Western Mountaineering. I promptly purchased a , and soon realized its potential usefulness went far beyond the campsite. Years later, other people have realized this, too, with non-camping companies rebranding them as “travel sheets” or “sleep sacks.” Bedding- and loungewear-maker Yala calls theirs the “Dreamsack,” advertising it as

Sleeping bag liners vary in thickness, from lightweight cotton to insulating wool. Regardless of material, they’re all designed to be compact, usually fitting into a stuff sack significantly smaller than a Nalgene water bottle. This makes them ideal for camping and backpacking, but versatile and lightweight enough to carry on nearly every other type of trip, too.

Sleeping Bag Liners Make Ideal Airplane Blankets

Regardless of trip length or destination, I always fly with a sleeping bag liner in my carry-on bag, as it has multiple uses on the plane.

Air travel is a gauntlet of discomfort, usually made worse by middle-of-the-night drops in cabin temperature. And nothing is worse than finally falling asleep, only to wake up when your cheap airplane blanket slides off your lap—or, worse, be roused awake when a flight attendant needs to check that your seatbelt is buckled. But unlike an airplane blanket, travel liners envelop your body, providing consistent warmth without slipping off of creating cold spots. It’s a cocoon of comfort, and much easier to keep on with a seatbelt buckled on top. And when air conditioning is turned up to arctic levels on planes (or buses, or ferries), a liner doubles as a versatile infinity scarf when you tie the drawstring to the footbox.

But if you already have a travel blanket that doesn’t suck, your sleeping bag liner can also double as a travel pillow. You can use it in its stuff sack, but it works better if you pull it out and ball it up, starting at the bottom. Once it’s mostly balled up, give it a twist, wrap the top of the liner around the bulk, and tighten the top drawstring. Boom—instant airplane pillow.

Use Your Sleeping Bag Liner at Hotels

As someone who enjoys traveling to new places to play outside, I sometimes get the pleasure of staying in eco-lodges. These fun experiences can come with unexpected roommates; I recall one eco-lodge owner in Costa Rica joking with us that there was “no extra cost for the bugs in your room.” I’m not bug-phobic exactly, but I sleep better knowing the ants crawlingÌęup the bedpost aren’t going to make their way up my legs, too. A lightweight sleeping bag liner won’t add much warmth if you slip into it under a bedsheet, but it makes an ideal portable barrier against these unwanted guests. It’s especially useful in higher-end hotels that consider mosquito nets unnecessary, because bugs don’t discriminate based on how many stars a hotel has. And for some travelers, knowing you’re sleeping tucked inside your own clean sheet may be the difference between experiencing those unique stays or sticking to the comfort of an urban chain hotel.

But that’s not the only use for a sleeping bag liner in a warm climate. I once took an overnight sleeper train through northern Vietnam, which was breathtaking but rural and rustic. I was noticeably more comfortable falling asleep than my fellow travelers thanks to the extra cockroach-defending layer of a liner. It’s also useful when camping or sleeping outside is just one part of a longer trip and I’m borrowing a rental sleeping bag or sheets that may have a year’s worth of strangers’ sweat in the fabric.

How to Buy a Sleeping Bag Liner

The key to making sure your sleeping bag liner is as versatile as possible is getting one that maintains the basic principle: it needs to be a full cocoon, not a flat sheet. I also recommend getting one with a cinch around the top, both for maximizing your protection and using it as a scarf or airplane pillow. Some even have water-resistant stuff sacks (like the or Sea-to-Summit ), so you can clip them to the outside of your carry-on bag.

If you’re buying a sleeping bag liner for heat regulation, you’ll probably want to opt for a wool or synthetic liner, rather than cotton. The fabrics are similar to those used in outdoor clothing, so the usual rules apply: look for a quick-drying fabric in case you start to sweat, and opt for one you can throw in the washing machine, not one that requires special care. Also note the shape, as a mummy-shaped liner is warmer but restricts your available sleeping positions.

Good options that won’t break the bank include the , the (my very first), or the . All are in the $50-to-$100 range and warm enough to add aÌę few degrees if you do actually use them in your sleeping bag.

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It’s the most wonderful time of the year…OK, Prime Day isn’t Christmas, but it’s a pretty great fake holiday if you’re a sucker for a good deal. And I am indeed that kind of sucker, especially when it comes to outdoor gear. So I stayed up late (most Prime Day deals were announced at midnight Pacific time this morning) and combed through the scores of products on deep discounts. Note: you have to be a to take advantage of the sale.

Here are some of the best outdoor Prime Day deals I found that you can get from now until the end of the day July 17.

Updated July 17: We’ve added six deals to the list, including the Skratch Labs Energy Chews, Tailwind Nutrition Recovery Chocolate powder, Vssl G25 Java Coffee Grinder,Ìę Adidas Men’s Terrex Free Hiker 2.0, Kelty Cosmic 0 Down Mummy Sleeping Bag, and the Osprey Poco Plus Child Carrier. We also checked all links and removed the Oru Kayak Lake and the Yeti Tundra 35 cooler.

If you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This supports our mission to get more people active and outside.ÌęLearn more.

Ready for a pro tip? Prime Day is a smart time to stock up on adventure snacks. High-quality trail treats like these Skratch Labs Energy Chews aren’t cheap, but they can have a decent shelf life, so it makes sense to load your larder now. More importantly, if you haven’t tried Skratch’s sour-sugar-dusted raspberry gumdrops, do yourself a favor and indulge. Not only do these athlete-approved, easy-to-digest energy chews contain an adventure-fueling formula of simple carbs, sugars, and sodium, but they’re downright delicious and taste mind-bogglingly like real raspberries.

Recovery Mix is Tailwind Nutrition’s delicious and nutritious aprùs adventure powder. Whether you’ve been hitting the gym, crushing singletrack, or battling a complicated climbing project, the drink mix is a perfect way to reset and replenish your body. Unlike many post-workout powders that are almost exclusively packed with protein, Tailwind’s formula also includes carbs and electrolytes for holistic recovery and rehydration. If you’re looking for a post-workout pick-me-up, check out the coffee flavor, which includes 80 milligrams of caffeine per serving. Otherwise, you can’t go wrong with chocolate.

How smooth is VSSL’s carabiner-topped, 30-gram-capacity G25 Java Manual Coffee Grinder? Smooth as the best cup of coffee you’ve ever had thanks to high-carbon stainless steel conical burrs and a dual-bearing design. VSSL outfitted the G25 with 50 grind settings, allowing you to fine-tune grind consistency to pair with your preferred method of coffee preparation. And while the sleek, two-toned colorway looks sharp in any home kitchen, the G25 is crafted from ultra-durable machined aluminum, making it ideal for car camping, road tripping, surf missions—you name it.

If you love the feel of a high-top hiker but hate the heft, check out Adidas’ now heavily discounted, lightweight Free Hiker 2.0. The hybrid hiker sports tech typical of Adidas’ Terrex line, including aggressively lugged, granite-gripping Continental rubber outsoles, rebound-enhancing midsoles, and a reliable, well-built heel cup. However, what sets the Free Hiker apart is an integrated sock-like gaiter that simultaneously keeps sand and scree from sneaking into the shoe, providing hikers with a touch of compression and more support. Plus, if you like a little street-style with your singletrack, these three stripes have your name on ‘em.

At four and a half pounds, the Kelty Cosmic 0 Down Sleeping Bag isn’t winning any awards for weight. In fact, we definitely don’t recommend this sleeping bag if you’re planning on putting in serious, or even moderate, mileage on the trail. But if you’re not counting grams and you’re counting dollars instead, this budget option from Kelty is virtually unbeatable. Kelty keeps the price low (and volume and weight high) by stuffing the 20D nylon mummy’s trapezoidal baffles with cost-effective 550-fill hydrophobic DriDown. Again, the result isn’t ultralight, but it is ultra-warm, ultra-comfy, and ultra-affordable.

Parent or packhorse? With Osprey’s Poco Plus Child Carrier, you can be both! Osprey’s backpacking DNA is evident as soon as you shoulder the Poco Plus. The toddler-toting pack comes equipped with a padded harness, aluminum-framed suspension, and ample ventilation for easy carrying, ensuring parents don’t tap out early on the trail. It also comfortably accommodates a petite passenger in the kiddie cockpit (replete with stirrups and a retractable sunshade), as well as plenty of toys, treats, and other essentials spread across 26 liters of ingeniously compartmentalized gear storage.

If you don’t have a Solo Stove yet, now is the time to pull the trigger. Their super popular Bonfire 2.0 is 30 percent off right now, knocking over $100 off the typical price. And this deal comes with the stand, which raises the fire pit off the ground, helping to increase the airflow while allowing you to use the stainless still fire pit on a deck. This is the same family-sized fire pit I have in my backyard and I’ve become completely addicted to the smokeless aspect of this product. Honestly, I have a hard time sitting around a regular fire after using the Bonfire for so long.

This is, hands down, the best water bottle I own. And I have a lot of bottles in my cabinets. It holds 40 ounces, has a wide-mouth opening, and keeps water cold for up to 24 hours. All of that is great, but I carry this bottle because it’s absolutely leak-proof and dishwasher safe, which means I don’t have to hand wash it every night. The pro-grade stainless steel lining also means you’re only tasting water—not leftover flavors from previous drinks. Buy it now for about $14 less than the sticker price.

Osprey makes some of my favorite packs, and their quality carries over to the Duro, a vest that’s built for running. A rear sleeve holds a 1.5-liter reservoir with a tube that routes around and secures to your chest so you can have hydration on the move, while the front vest panels are strategically designed with pockets that will hold all your snacks, phone, and keys. There’s even an attachment point for a trekking pole or ice axe if you’re getting really wild during your trail runs. I’ve done some long runs and races with this pack, and I love it. It’s 34 percent off right now.

You don’t always need the LifeStraw water filter, but when you do, you’ll be glad it’s in your pack. This personal water filter acts as a straw that removes 99.9999 percent of waterborne bacteria and parasites from creeks and ponds. It only weighs 1.6 ounces and a single LifeStraw will filter 1,000 gallons of water, so you can keep this in your pack and have peace of mind for years to come. It’s 50 percent off on Prime Day.

The Headout is an aggressive hiker designed to tackle difficult terrain, with an upper that blends breathable mesh with durable leather and °­±đ±đČÔ’s patented multi-directional lugged outsole that provides traction and stability when the trail gets rowdy. There’s a layer of squishy cushion that bounces back when you’re moving fast and the whole thing is waterproof, so feel free to tromp through those puddles. It’s a steal at 29 percent off for Prime Day.

Coleman makes some of the most iconic car camping stoves, and for this two-in-one Tabletop, they took their streamlined two-burner design and gave it a miniature grill. One side has a standard stove burner, and the other has a 130-inch grill. You can grill steaks and cook pasta on the same appliance at the same time. It offers 20,000 BTUs of cooking power spread between the two cook surfaces. The lid turns into a wind shield (flaps fold out from the side), and you can remove the grates from the grill and burner to wipe the system clean after the grill cools down. It’s 19 percent off, so if you need a car camping grill, hop to it.

It’s hard to remember life before CamelBaks, but I can tell you, it wasn’t great. You had to carry a lot of water bottles and stop pedaling to pull those bottles out of your pack. The Hydrobak takes CamelBak’s winning platform and reduces it to the essentials: This small pack holds a 50-ounce bladder and has a small pocket big enough for your essentials, making it perfect for a two-hour ride. It’s a minimalist design that’s perfect for cyclists who just want to stay hydrated without all of the frills.

Do you need an over-engineered coffee mug? If you’ve ever taken a sip of lukewarm coffee at 11 am from a standard mug, then you know the answer to that question is “yes.” The Rambler’s double-wall insulated design keeps 14 ounces of java hot for hours, and the lock-tight lid is a joy to sip from. I have a few. I love them, and they’re 30 percent off, so I might get a couple more.

If you haven’t dabbled in the “cot life” while car camping, do yourself a favor and make the leap. Getting off the ground and into a cot while sleeping in a tent makes the whole situation feel more civilized. Coleman’s Camping Cot is a queen sized bed with a plush air mattress topper for ultimate frontcountry comfort. There are even two side tables with cup holders. You’re basically glamping when you use this thing.

Okay, technically this isn’t a Prime Day deal. This is a “Limited Time” deal on Amazon, but right now the latest model of GoPro is $100, making it only slightly more expensive than the GoPro Hero11 that’s on sale for Prime Day. So I feel like it’s a no-brainer to go for the Hero12, which is their most advanced camera to date boasting new NDR 5.3K and 4K video and an upgraded video stabilization that makes video shot in even the shakiest situations look like it was shot on a gimbal. It has twice the run time than previous models and has Bluetooth audio support for headphones and microphones. It’s 25 percent off right now, taking $100 off the regular sticker price.

More Amazon Prime Day Deals from Our Sites:

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Update July 17, 2024: The deals below may still be available, but check out our recent Prime Day 2024 coverage below for the most up-to-date deals we recommend.

• Our 16 Favorite Prime Day Deals

Original article below:

OK, we all know Prime Day isn’t a real holiday. We don’t get the day off of work, and no greeting cards are circulated to celebrate Saint Prime or Amazon’s contribution to America’s history. But damn it if we don’t all love a good deal, and Prime Day is a good chance to pick up some quality outdoor gear for a discount ifÌęyou know what to look for. is from July 16-17, and you need to be a member to benefit from most of the sales, but you can snag some sweet deals now before the real event.

I’ve filtered through all the off-brand SUPs and questionably-made sun shirts and found half a dozen great products you can pick up right now for a steep discount.

If you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This supports our mission to get more people active and outside.ÌęLearn more.

Most of us don’t need expedition-worthy sleeping bags, and this 20-degree bag from Coleman is suitable enough for the majority of nights you’ll spend in the woods. At four pounds, you’re not going to stuff this bag into your backpack for a multi-day adventure, but it’s ideal for car camping, and it has a couple of features that I like: the sculpted hood (mummy-style) helps lock in body heat on really cold nights, and the separate foot zipper allows you to free your feet without ditching the whole bag. Coleman lists the MSRP at $129, so snag this sweet deal now before it’s too late.

This boat-friendly waterside comes at a steep discount right now (it typically sells for $80). I tested versions of this shoe in the past, and it performs very well—it has good traction, draining ports to shed water, and it dries pretty quick. But I like this shoe because it doesn’t look like a water shoe. You can wear it around town just as easily as on a boat. The breathable mesh upper is also given a stain-resistant treatment, so they’ll look good even after gutting that epic catch.

Summer means water, whether you’re hitting the beach, canoeing the Boundary Waters, or just dragging your kids on a tube behind a boat. Pelican makes some of the best protective cases on the market, and this five-liter dry bag is perfect for keeping your essentials safe from sand, dirt, and water. It’s big enough to hold your keys, wallet and a light layer, while the integrated clear phone pocket enables you to respond to texts or skip songs on your playlist without taking the device out of the bag. The IPX68 rating means it’s safe to be submerged under 1.5 meters of water for up to 30 minutes. The bag goes for $50 on Pelican’s website, so it’s an actual bargain during this sale.

My wife is always cold, so I keep the Argo in my truck at all times just in case we’re camping, or at one of our kids’ games and she needs an extra layer of puff to wrap around her. It’s filled with a thin layer of synthetic down and has a soft, brushed poly inside and a water-resistant poly on the exterior that can handle dew or a light sprinkle. If you’re camping and want to use the Argo for extra warmth, a draw cord at the bottom of the blanket allows you to cinch it around your feet, and it folds up into a compact, 14 by 5-inch square, so I can slide it under the back seat of my truck with no problem.

The AC Lite is $120 on the manufacturer’s website, so this isn’t as steep of a discount as some other gear on this list, but I’ve always liked Deuter’s packs, so I’ll take any discount I can get. Deuter designed this 24-liter AC Lite pack for long day hikes, using its super comfortable mesh back support system that maximizes airflow where the pack meets your body. I also appreciate the no-gimmick top-loader design, with a few added exterior gear loops for trekking poles. Pockets on the hip harness are ample enough for your phone, keys, and snacks. It comes with a detachable rain cover, too, for those rainy day hikes.

Hands down, Thule makes my favorite luggage. Whether it’s the laptop bag I carry on my shoulder or the roller suitcase I jam into the overhead bin, if I’m traveling, my gear is probably inside a Thule. The GoPack is a set of four 75-liter duffel bags, all made from durable 6000D Bluesign certified poly, each of which can be a backpack or traditional duffel. They’re large carry-alls that you can pre-load with specific items (ski gear in one, bike gear in another, et cetera), that offer easy access thanks to the wide-mouth entry and durable YKK zippers. $168 ain’t cheap, but consider that these same bags go for $280 on Thule’s website right now.

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Plenty of backpackers and campers, even those who will happily string up a hammock for some lazy afternoon hangs, offer a vehement “no thank you” when presented with the idea of spending the night in one. And not for no reason: eight hours trying to catch some shut-eye while wrapped up like a taco isn’t too many folks’ idea of a night well-spent. But these days, there are options for those who aren’t too keen on snoozing on the ground, either.

Enter lay-flat hammocks, whose clever designs offer a more familiar (i.e. flat) sleeping experience while still rocking you gently to sleep above the forest floor. Another tester and I tested several options while camping across the United States, from Michigian’s national forests to state parks in Texas. Below are the best lay-flat hammocks for nearly every type of adventure.

At a Glance

• Best for Car Camping:
• Best Comfort:
• Best for Day Hiking or Backpacking:
• Best Stability:

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Best for Car Camping

Tentsile Duo 2-Person Double Camping Hammock 3.0

Perhaps the most uniquely designed lay-flat hammock of the bunch, these triangular tree tents and hammocks from Tentsile kept me (and a buddy when testing a two-person model) as supported and horizontal as I could ever hope to be when suspended several feet above the ground. A variety of models that sleep one, two, or even three people have all the features you love in a tent, but with the added comfort of fewer pressure points: mesh netting with large zippered doors on camping models like the Safari, a rain fly, plenty of pockets, and even an optional ground conversion kit if you need to pitch it on terra firma.

We found the Duo hammock roomy and the base rigid enough to sit upright, play cards, or simply lounge, which made it an excellent option for rainy or sunny days, but more for camping than backpacking or hiking as it’s neither small nor light. One ding: Setup took quite a bit longer and required more straps than a traditional hammock since the triangle design had to be anchored to three trees instead of two, all of which had to be spaced apart just right. But once you get the hang of it: it’s magic.

Best Comfort

Haven Tent

If there’s an award for the coziest all-in-one hammock that feels the most like passing out in your own bed, but, you know, suspended in midair, it would go to the Haven. A zippered mosquito netting, durable rain fly, and plush insulated inflatable pad (complete with pump sack) make it one of the most comfortable and posh lay-flat hammocks.

There were plenty of pockets to stash items like books and headlamps and enough room for shorter campers to sit upright, which was nice. That said, the Haven is tippier than your average hammock, so getting situated when I first turned in required a bit of a balancing act (fortunately the mesh enclosure kept me from tumbling out altogether). Once you do, however, the experience feels like nodding off in a cozy cocoon. While the classic version is fairly narrow and better suited for slimmer campers, the XL and Safari versions provide ample space for larger campers. Bonus: with a few accessories, it can also be pitched on the ground if necessary.

Best for Day Hiking or Backpacking

Eno Skyloft Hammock

Eno knows hammocks. Including, apparently, lay-flat varieties. And this one offers a more supine sleeping position than most traditional hammocks thanks to collapsible spreader bars at the head and feet and an innovative trough design that helps you feel like you won’t flip out with one wrong move–though it did feel a bit tippy when trying to sit upright. On the upside, it’s incredibly quick to set up, so you’ll be snoozing in no time.

Technically, the SkyLoft is designed for leisurely hang sessions next to alpine lakes instead of overnights due to a lack of integrated mesh or built-in features like excessive amounts of storage (though there are two pockets). And it’s not supremely compatible with after-market bug nets, though there is a SkyLite version with integrated zippered mesh. That said, the tester certainly laid flatter than in more traditional hammocks and got an excellent night’s sleep. Bonus: the compact and easily portable package made it small enough to toss in a daypack for an afternoon hike.

Best Stability

Klymit Lay Flat Hammock

You might know Klymit for its wide range of inflatable sleeping pads, but the brand also offers a comfy and packable flat hammock. And while the tester’s butt did sink lower than their noggin in this model during testing, an extra wide spreader bar at the shoulders and dual adjustable straps at the feet kept them from being squeezed like an overripe apricot at their widest points, making for a more comfortable sleep setup.

The construction is streamlined and slightly more stable than other lay-flat hammocks thanks to no spreader bar at the feet, but still two points of contact. But if you plan to overnight in it on your next camping trip and want to be protected from the elements, you’ll have to bring supplemental gear like netting and a tarp.

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July 4th is one of my favorite holidays. Not because I’m ultra-patriotic, but because it’s the perfect time to lean into a summer adventure thanks to the warm weather, extra days off, and a nationwide invitation to celebrate. My family, friends, and I always go up to a piece of off-grid mountain property north of Santa Fe, New Mexico that sits along a trout stream and spend the long weekend camping, cooking, drinking, fishing, laughing, and slinging horseshoes.

Many of you will also head out to get some fresh air, escape the heat, and make a few memories and we have you covered with gear recommendations for your trip. As always, many of the biggest retailers are offering July 4th sales and we’ve combed through thousands of items to find a handful we’ve tested and love and that are discounted enough to make a real difference. Here’s our list.

If you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This supports our mission to get more people active and outside.ÌęLearn more.

We’re leading with a Yeti cooler because it’s time to get one if you haven’t already. Maybe you’ve shied away because they’re too expensive, or because they’re sort of a cliche at this point. But we’re here to say that the investment is actually worth it. Plop down the cash, minus a nice July 4th sale discount, and buy yourself a cooler that will last so long you can pass it on to your kids, and is so effective it will keep your food and beer cold all weekend without blinking. Bonus: Yeti just launched the Big Wave Blue colorway that is so cool it seems to have its own temperature-lowering effect.

I’ve tested a lot of rain jackets, and in my not-so-humble opinion, Outdoor Research makes the best ones, hands down. Thanks to smart material choices and amazing tailoring, their jackets are light, bombproof, look great, and function no matter what. All of that is true with the Helium, which weighs a scant six ounces, but is fully taped and won’t let a drop through, even in a monsoon downpour. It comes with nice features like elastic cuffs and an adjustable hood, and the Pertex Shield Diamond Fuse outer material—which is engineered to be extra abrasion resistant—keeps it durable. When you’re not using the Helium at your campsite or on a backpacking trip, it stows into its own chest pocket and packs down to the size of an apple.

Tent shopping can be maddening because there are so many damn choices. But if you want a great two-person, three-season tent, this is the one. Thanks to a rectangular footprint and 40 inches of headroom the Hubba Hubba 2 feels plenty big for two people and even a dog, while two vestibules under the fly are perfect for gear storage. The Hubba Hubba 2 isn’t the lightest tent on the market, but at three pounds, four ounces it’s still light enough for a backpack, and for that weight you get lots of durability. I’ve shared this tent with a frantic dog who never tore anything up, and also sat inside as the tent got pounded by summer rainstorms and easily shrugged them off.

Coleman made the two-burner camp stove famous and many brands have since taken the idea and run with it. I like Eureka’s version because each burner pumps out a generous 10,000 BTUs, enough to boil a big pot of water in just a few minutes. After thousands of presses, the automatic ignitor on mine still works great so I don’t have to worry about matches. And at just four inches thick, the stove packs down well into a camping box or pull-out kitchen. I’ve only had my version for five years, but I’m sure my family will be using it for at least 50 more.

When I first saw this 27.5-inch squareÌę I thought, “Why would anyone want such a small camping table?” If you’re car camping, why not bring something with more surface area? But then I took this table on a trip, along with a longer, rectangular folding table, and immediately realized its use. We used the bigger table for cooking and prep, and this smaller table became a much-used water station where we washed hands, did dishes, and refilled water bottles. By keeping the water away from the other table no one ever felt crowded, and it was nice to have all things wet sectioned off to a corner of the camp. I’ve found the table to be steady enough to hold 50 or more pounds of water, and it’s easy to set up, break down to the size of a small tent, and store away.

Home Depot makes this July 4th sale deal a mess to understand but here’s what you need to know. You’re buying two rechargeable batteries that will power any Ryobi products including drills and lawn mowers, and you get the fan for “free.” We love this bundle because it’s great to have the batteries for when you have a couple of hours of weed-eating to do, and the fan is great to have because it pumps a lot of air but doesn’t take up a lot of room. I’ve used the fan to keep my dogs cool when they ride in my camper shell, and it’s also been pulled out at camp when mid-day temps demanded a little extra moving air.

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Memorial Day weekend is here, which means summer has unofficially begun. Pools are opening, kids are getting out of school, and many of us are starting to plan our warm-weather adventures in earnest. Retail giant REI understands this, so they’ve slashed prices on a ton of gear. The REI Anniversary Sale is the retailer’s largest sale of the year, and ends Monday, May 27. Almost everything is discounted, from tents and bikes to socks and sunglasses. Trying to figure out exactly what you should buy can be a bit overwhelming. Don’t fret.

I’ve combed through the myriad of goods on sale this weekend and hand-picked several items that are my personal favorites. What follows is gear that I use often during my summer adventures, all of which is drastically reduced for one weekend only. It’s like you’re getting to shop at my personal garage sale, only these items don’t have burn holes from me sitting too close to campfires.

More deals for Memorial Day and REI’s annual sale:

• șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű‘s Memorial Day Gear and Deals

All gear in this guide was tested by multiple reviewers. If you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This supports our mission to get more people active and outside.ÌęLearn more.

I’ve lost count of the hours I’ve spent sitting in this chair while watching my kids play soccer baseball. It’s also a killer camp chair that’s incredibly light (1 pound and 11 ounces, to be exact) that I typically bring it on multi-day bike packing trips. It also packs down to about the size of a Nalgene bottle and straps neatly to the top of my handlebars. The ripstop seat stretches over poles that snap into place like tentpoles, making it easy to set up and break down, and I’ve found it to be a perfectly comfy perch for sitting by a river and admiring a sunset or toasting a s’more in a crackling fire.

I burn through crappy sunglasses, abusing them in the field and often leaving them behind on rocks or in bars. But that’s not an issue with these Smith Lowdown 2.0’s, because they’re so comfortable and the world looks so fantastic through their lenses, that I would never think about mistreating them. The hydrophilic nose pads are grippy even when I’m sweating my way through a ride or run, and the ChoromaPop lenses offer the sort of clarity and definition that you typically only get after a religious experience. Yes, they’re a little pricy, but they’re 20 percent off at REI right now.

Janji is known for making running attire with whimsical, somewhat flashy prints, but I like the understated nature of this single-color performance shirt, which is made from 100 percent recycled polyester and given an odor-resistant finish. They’ve named the shirt well, as it breathes like a champ during a hot run and dries quick enough after to leave it on for a beer at the trailhead. It’s so cheap right now you could buy two of them.

I have owned a lot of Nomadix Beach Towels in my life. They’re so light and packable, I just stash them in various places like my gym bag, truck, and bike tub just in case I need them. The Changing Poncho offers the same sort of utility as the Beach Towel, but in a wearable design made to keep you from getting charged with public nudity. Slip this lightweight poncho on and you can change at the trailhead or beach after your adventure, and nobody will know you’re secretly naked underneath. Genius.

It’s hot as hell during the summer in the Southern Appalachians, so I’m a big fan of “perforated shirt technology,”otherwise known as poking a bunch of tiny holes in a shirt so a cooling breeze can reach your skin. Pearl Izumi’s Canyon Tech Snap Jersey has that “bunch of holes” tech in a snap-button jersey style that’s sharp enough for post-ride beers. The anti-odor treatment to the mostly recycled poly material helps, too.

Vissla combines a trio of recycled poly, hemp, and cotton in the Wago board short, which has a soft, next-to-skin feel but also enough stretch so that they’re not constricting when I’m desperately trying to scramble up on a board while surfing. Not only do these board shorts look and feel good, but they have a pocket with a velcro closure and key loop, which means I can carry a small wedge of wax with me into the lineup. I also appreciate the longer inseam (18.5 inches) which helps disguise my chicken legs.

If I could have one wish fulfilled, it would be that every single camper could own a Jetboil Flash stove. This little thing literally changed the stove game when it was introduced years ago with its compact and efficient design that allows campers to boil water in about a minute while housing the fuel, stove and stand inside the cook pot. This is my go-to stove when I’m backpacking or bikepacking, and I bring it with me on car camping trips too for making coffee in the morning. To be perfectly honest, I keep a Flash in my truck at all times in case I need to make coffee at any point during the day.

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I love ski trips—the deep powder, exploring new terrain, making friends on the lift—but my favorite part of any ski trip might be sinking into a hot tub after said skiing. There’s nothing more relaxing than easing my tired body into a bubbling pool of 104-degree water, beer in hand, memories of powder stashes dancing through my head.

That moment is so sublime for me, in fact, that I toyed with purchasing my own spa to recreate the feeling at home. But I was hesitant to pull the trigger—mostly, I balked at the cost (do I really want to drop $5,000 on a bathtub for my backyard?), and I also heard the upkeep can be a nightmare. Would I use it enough to justify the cost and maintenance? And am I even a hot tub guy? “Hot tub guys” wear gold chains and have shag carpet in their basement. “Hot tub guys” always have a blender full of daiquiris on hand and say things like, “bathing suits are optional.” I’m not sure that I fit the mold.

Nevertheless, my wife convinced me to buy an inexpensive, inflatable hot tub as an experiment. If we liked the inflatable version, we’d fork over the cash for a “real” hot tub next fall. So, I spent $450 on a on Amazon during a Black Friday sale, and I’ve been using it for the last two months. Though the results of this experiment were mixed at first, I’m now currently looking for the perfect gold chain to go with the shag carpet I just installed.

Coleman SaluSpa AirJet

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How the SaluSpa AirJet Hot Tub Works

There are a lot of inflatable hot tubs on the market, but I went with the Coleman SaluSpa AirJet because of the price, size, and reputation. At under $500, it’s a fraction of the cost of a “real” hot tub, but it holds 200 gallons of water and fits two to four people. On top of all that, it has insanely good reviews, including a 4.5-star rating on Amazon with more than 10,000 comments.

Upon arrival, the tub itself was easy to set up. The heat pump doubles as an electric air pump, inflating the walls in just a few minutes. I filled the tub with a garden hose, screwed in the filter, and set the temperature to 102 degrees Fahrenheit. I let it warm up overnight, and by the morning it was fully heated.

The Coleman SaluSpa model is a fairly simple system, with an exterior pump that heats the water to up to 104 degrees. You can adjust the temperature and even set a timer days in advance so the tub will be hot when you want to jump in, but it’s a slow-working pump and it takes several hours to increase the temperature of the water significantly. Because of this, I now know to keep the tub set at 102 degrees (unless I know I’m not going to be able to soak for a few days, in which case I’ll drop it to 95).

That said, dialing in the chemicals was not so easy. I’ve never maintained a pool or spa before, so I had to learn on the job about things like alkalinity and PH balance. This is what a lot of hot tub owners complain about, and the upkeep should not be overlooked. You have to be vigilant. It took me the better part of a month to get the system dialed, during which time I barely used the thing because I couldn’t get the balance of chemicals right. That first month with this tub in my backyard, I was convinced it was a waste of money that was destined to become a mosquito breeding ground come summer. But over time, I figured out a steady rhythm of testing the chemical balance, replacing the filter, and keeping an even supply of bromine in the system. Now that I’ve figured out the secret recipe, I’ve changed my tune about the hot tub entirely: I love this thing.

Is the Energy Bill Worth It?

I know I’m supposed to cut my energy consumption at all costs because—you know, the environment—but having this hot tub is worth the extra energy expenditure because I use it significantly more than I expected. I thought I’d enjoy soaking in the tub after a day of skiing or mountain biking, but I find myself using it most often early in the morning. Starting the day with a cup of coffee while watching the sun rise from my inflatable backyard bathtub is absolutely wonderful. Now I fully understand the hot tub hype. Every morning I wake up and congratulate myself for making the purchase. I’ll cut energy use in some other aspect of my life—I’ll play less Xbox and charge my phone less, I swear—but the hot tub stays.

I got the smaller size on purpose, because I was concerned about energy consumption. You can plug this hot tub into a regular 120-volt socket, so you don’t need to add a 240-volt outlet like with a “real” hot tub.Ìę So far, I’ve seen a small bump in my monthly electric bill because of the addition (roughly $20 a month), but it’s nothing more significant than when my teenage kids leave every light on in the house for seven days straight.

The Downsides

Realistically, the inflatable hot tub experience isn’t exactly like soaking in a “real” hot tub. Inflatable hot tubs are the equivalent of above ground pools: They’re considered a little “less than,” bordering on trashy. But I had an above ground pool growing up, and it was way better than not having a pool at all, so I can handle the stigma. Besides, inflatables are hot right now. There are inflatable boats, coolers, Adirondack chairs—I even have an inflatable sleeping platform in the back of my truck. Viva the blow-up revolution!

Another ding: the marketing materials say the Coleman SaluSpa AirJet is big enough for two to four people, but it would have to be four really small people. It’s big enough for two adults that know each other really well and don’t mind body parts touching. My wife and I fit in there just fine, and there’s plenty of room for me to do my early morning stretches when I’m in there solo, but this is not a four-person tub. Beyond the demure size of the Coleman SaluSpa and the overall above ground pool stigma, I have to occasionally top off the air in the tub’s walls to keep them rigid. The lid in particular seems to leak air at a steady clip.

But the biggest difference between a “real” hot tub and this inflatable model is the jets. The Coleman SaluSpa boasts 120 jets, which create tons of bubbles that add ambiance, but they don’t offer the sort of massage that powerful jets in real hot tubs offer. They’re not strong enough or positioned in the right place to massage your lower back or any other body part. The bubbles are just there for show, and when you turn them on, they drop the water temperature by a couple of degrees within a few minutes. If the reason you would consider a hot tub is for the massage, the Coleman SaluSpa might not be the best option for you.

So, Is an Inflatable Hot Tub Worth it?

That said, I have no regrets buying this thing. If this inflatable experiment went well, my wife and I originally thought we would purchase a “real” hot tub next fall, but now I’m wondering if it’s even necessary to level up. Do I need to spend another $5,000 to get a slightly better experience? Maybe I’m not a hot tub guy after all. Maybe I’m just an inflatable hot tub guy.

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