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(Photo: Courtesy of REI)
Labor Day marks the traditional end of summer, but for most of us, the summer adventures can keep rolling all the way through September. And if you live somewhere that does actually cool off already, well, lucky you, it’s time for fall exploration to get underway. Regardless of the weather where you live, you need the right gear to get the job done, from late summer camping in the high alpine to beach days, lake days, park days, and everything in between. One of our favorite outfitters for all adventures is REI, and from today through Labor Day (September 1), they’re having one of the biggest sales of the year, the REI Labor Day Sale.
The sale has thousands of items marked down, including camping gear, hiking gear, running shoes and apparel, cycling gear, and more. No matter where the next few months (or years) are taking you, REI has some sweet gear marked down up to 30 percent (and in a few cases, even more). Read on for our top picks or head to REI right now to shop the whole sale yourself.

A high-quality sleeping pad can make or break your camping trip, and REI’s Labor Day Sale abounds with comfy, pressure-reliving options. Our recommendation? This four-inch thick pad from Exped, which comes recommended for side sleepers and could even be used for house guests in a pinch.

Altra’s status as a under-the-radar shoe brand is slowly coming to an end—in large part due to the popularity of their low-drop, wide-toe-box designs. The Torin 8 is a cushioned, reliable road-running shoe that only came out in February 2025, making this 25% discount a major Labor Day deal (especially considering there are still a ton of sizes and colors available).

Even the most thoroughly researched and strategically packed cars sometimes need a little extra space, whether you’re car camping for a weekend with the kids or moving cross-country in your Honda CR-V. This roof box expands your car’s storage by 18 cubic feet, enough room to fit the most annoyingly-shaped gear in your life (like skis and snowboards). There’s even a lock for added security.

Garmin’s sports watches are among the best, and the Venu 3S caught our eye thanks to its decidedly non-athletic look. If you’ve long been on the hunt for a running watch that doesn’t look quite so sporty, the Venu 3S has a chic, neutral strap with gold accents that’s as at home on the track as it is at the office. Plus, it has up to 10 days of battery life and a brightly colored display that effortlessly tracks all of your health and fitness stats.

The best camping chairs are like your favorite lip balm: You want to own multiple so you can keep one in every car, bag, or garage. We love the REI Co-Op Flexlite Air Chair because it weighs in at a featherlight one pound, and it quickly folds up into a storage back that’s smaller than your go-to Nalgene bottle. (And yes, at this price, we recommend buying two.)

One of the best insulated layers out there, the Atom is a go-to for us here at Outside. It’s water-repellent, wind-resistant shell staves off the weather, while the Coreloft 60 synthetic insulation keeps us warm on alpine hikes or cool fall evenings around the campfire.

We used cheap, plastic gallon jugs of water for years while car camping, but the Dometic Go Hydration Jug helped us see the light and eliminate one more instance of single-use plastic from our lives. This version holds 11 liters of water, which has proved to be enough for a family of four on a weekend camping trip. Pair it with their Rechargeable Water Faucet (also on sale) for a truly civilized hydration experience.

One of Keen’s most popular sneakers, the Jasper Zionic is a great shoe for hiking or just wearing around town. The grippy soles keep your feet firmly planted even on a tricky approach and the tongue-to-toe lacing gives you complete control over the fit. Plus, they just look dang good. (Head here for women’s sizing.)

Gaze at the stars in laid-back comfort in the Moonlight chair from Nemo. The chair weighs in at just 18 ounces, making it backpacking-friendly, and the high-quality materials, like Dyneema and aluminum, will last a lifetime.

Whether your fall car camping schedule is already set or you’re coordinating parking lot tailgates at the home team’s stadium, this 20L cooler will be your new best friend. This soft-sided cooler packs a big punch, keeping 18 cans of your beverage of choice cold for over 72 hrs.

We’re kind of obsessed with how comfy this collapsible loveseat is—not a sentence we often say regarding camp chairs under $100. Stash it in your trunk for sports games or camping; the two oversized pockets easily fit both your phone and a drink.

When it comes to sleeping outside, the most important piece of equipment in your quiver might be the sleeping pad. This one is insulated, boosting warmth while lowering weight, resulting in a solid 3-season R-value of 4.8. The regular size only weighs a pound, but you can also step up to the double wide version, which will cost you a bit of weight but packs on the comfort.

Ideal for car camping but light enough for backcountry missions, the 3-person Mineral King tent is a great pick. The stable shelter has two vestibules, easy-to-access doors, and internal gear storage. Plus, it comes with a footprint for camping on wet or otherwise uncomfortable ground.

We’ve already professed our love for this hiking “super shoe,” so we were quite frankly shocked to see it included in REI’s Labor Day Sale—especially at a 30% discount. Fair warning: Only a few sizes remain in one colorway, so act fast if you’ve been itching to try these high-tech hiking shoes.

The perfect size for anything from overnight backpacking trips in the woods to far-flung journeys abroad, the Osprey Rook 50 will have your back. The pack has a zippered sleeping bag compartment with a floating divider, a sleeve for a water bladder, an integrated rain cover, and padded straps that will let you comfortably take on any distance.

Klean Kanteen has been at the forefront of drinkware tech for years now, and the wine tumbler is a great example. The cup is durable, has an easy-to-grip finish, and is dishwasher safe.

When it comes to water bottles, it’s hard to beat Hydro Flask. The wide-mouth vacuum bottle is one of their most popular items, and the extremely easy-to-use flex straw cap tops it off, resulting in a bottle you’ll want to take with you anywhere and everywhere. It can keep drinks cold for a whopping 24 hours, and can fit a filter if you are taking it into the backcountry.