Get a Head Start on These Early Prime Day Deals

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
• Backpacker‘s Favorite Deals
• Run‘s Favorite Deals
• Ski‘s Favorite Deals
• Triathlete‘s Favorite Deals
• Yoga Journal‘s Favorite 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 if you know what to look for. Prime Day 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.

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Coleman Big Bay Sleeping Bag for $78 ($52 off)

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.

Columbia PFG Castback shoe for $48 ($31 off)

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.

Pelican Marine Waterproof Dry Bag for $28 ($12 off)

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.

Therm-a-Rest Argo Blanket for $87 ($38 off)

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.

Deuter AC Lite day pack for $94 ($16 off)

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.

Thule GoPack Duffels for $168 ($112 off)

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.