Get excited REI members – it’s coupon time! This weekend only (September 23-24th) REI members can get 20% off one full-price item using coupon code: SEPT23. Oh yeah, and if you’re not an REI member yet, don’t fret! You can pick up a lifetime membership for $30 and still get to use the 20% off coupon. Plus you’ll get to enjoy all the benefits of being a member, and receive a bonus card worth $30 toward a future REI purchase. Here’s how it works:
- Thru Sept 28, 2023, make a $50 purchase at REI
- And add a lifetime membership for a one-time $30 fee to your cart
- Then a bonus card will be emailed for use on a future purchase
Benefits of REI Membership
You can pick up a lifetime membership for $30 and still get to use the 20% off coupon. So, your lifetime membership will pretty much pay for itself with one big purchase. Here are some of the reasons all of us here at CleverHiker have been REI members for years:
- Knowledgeable & friendly staff – We always have an awesome experience with the sales and customer service staff. They’re friendly and helpful, and they really know their stuff!
- Save money – There are so many benefits to membership, but some of our favorites are access to 20% off coupons a few times a year, 10% dividend back on full-price purchases, access to the used gear Garage Sale, and discounts on REI Adventures and in-store classes.
- REI brand products are a great value – We generally find that REI brand products strike a great balance between quality and cost. The Magma line of sleeping bags and the Half Dome line of tents are some of our favorite products from their wide range of offerings.
- REI has an excellent return policy – Customer service reigns supreme here. REI gives you 365 days to return or exchange items and we love the ability to buy online and return in store.
- REI is getting into the ultralight game – We’re pretty stoked to see REI jumping into the ultralight arena. They’re now stocking their shelves with UL retailers, such as Hyperlite Mountain Gear, as well as upgrading many of their REI brand product lines to focus on fast and light gear.
Not Sure What to Use Your Coupon On?
Below are some of our favorite big-ticket items from our CleverHiker Gear Guides that would be great ways to use your 20% coupon.
UL3
The UL3 are some of Big Agnes’ best-sellers, and they’re among our all-time favorite backpacking tents. The ultralight freestanding design of the Copper Spur enables hikers to pitch almost anywhere, and it doesn’t sacrifice convenience, weather protection, or livability. The UL2 has enough space for two regular-width sleeping pads and some gear, while the UL3 is roomy enough for two wide pads and keeping all of your gear inside.
XTherm NXT
It’s no secret that we love the NeoAir line of sleeping pads from Therm-a-Rest. You can usually find us snoozing on the XTherm NXT for winter excursions when we need the most insulation. These pads make up the top 3 on our Best Sleeping Pads guide.
Altra Lone Peak 7 Trail Runners
Altra Lone Peaks have long been the flagship shoe of lightweight hikers due to their low weight, grippy outsole, and roomy fit. The 7th iteration of the LPs (men’s / women’s) just might be our favorite – they’re more durable, and they provide the ideal amount of space in the toebox. The Lone Peaks landed the number 1 spots on our Best Hiking Shoes for Men / Women and Best Trail Running Shoes for Men / Women lists.
Lowa Renegade Hiking Boots
The Lowa Renegade GTX Mid (women’s) is a wildly popular boot that offers nearly unmatched durability and foot protection for hikers who regularly tackle tough terrain with a heavier load. We often find that boots with this level of support can feel a bit restrictive, but after a short break-in period the Renegades are very comfortable. Check out the Renegades at the very top of our Best Hiking Boots for Men / Women lists.
REI Flash 22
We often find that a small, simple pack like the REI Flash 22 is all we really need for short day hikes with a lightweight load. The Flash series has been a hiking staple for many years because it’s affordable, has convenient pockets, and there’s enough structure to feel comfortable against your back on a day hike. The minimal, yet effective design of the Flash 22 earned it a top spot on our list of the Best Hiking Daypacks. This pack also comes in a more affordable Flash 18 model, but we prefer the Flash 22 because of its water bottle and top lid pockets.
REI Flash 55
The REI Flash 55 (men’s / women’s) backpacking pack is an affordable option for hikers looking to keep their pack weight down. This pack has a comfy hip belt, a supportive foam back panel, and a removable top lid. One of our favorite features of the Flash backpacking packs is what REI refers to as Packmod – the straps and pockets can be reconfigured into a whole bunch of combinations. The Flash 55 is a top pick on our list of the Best Backpacking Backpacks.
PrAna Halle Hiking Pants
PrAna makes a lot of great hiking pants with a reputation for comfort and durability, but our favorites are the Halle Pants for men and women. Both styles strike an excellent balance between trail-worthy performance and body-flattering fit. We’ve rocked the Stretch Zions and Halles for years, and both rank highly on our Best Hiking Pants for Men / Women lists.
Therm-a-Rest Compressible Pillow
The Therm-a-Rest Compressible Pillow is one of the most comfortable pillows we’ve ever taken backpacking or camping. It feels almost like the pillows we use at home, but it’s smaller and much more portable. It comes in several sizes: small, medium, large, and extra large. We prefer the small size to keep weight and bulk to a minimum for our backpacking trips. The Therm-a-Rest Compressible is a top pick on our Best Backpacking & Camping Pillows List.
Patagonia Torrenshell 3L Rain Jacket
The Patagonia Torrentshell 3L (men’s / women’s) is one of our all-time favorite rain jackets because it’s well-priced, durable, and has a great fit. Its laminated triple-layer construction is highly protective in sustained rain and the jacket still feels lightweight on your body. Because it’s so versatile and such an awesome value, the Torrentshell is the number one rain jacket we recommend for all-around use on our Best Rain Jackets list.
REI Rainer Rain Jacket
The REI Rainier Rain Jacket (men’s / women’s) is already a budget-friendly jacket, so it’s quite the steal with your 20% off coupon! We love it because it has all the bells and whistles (like pit zips and hem/hood adjustments), it’s lightweight, and it comes in a wide array of nice color choices. Pick up the Full-Zip Rainier Rain Pants (men’s / women’s) to complete the look and to feel like an unstoppable rain defying machine. The Rainier rain gear can be found on our lists of the Best Rain Jackets and Rain Pants.
REI Skyward Chair
The REI Skyward from our Best Camping Chairs list is a simple, affordable chair that’s great for sitting around a campfire, at the beach, or just about anywhere. It’s made of a highly breathable mesh with supportive webbing straps, so it’ll help keep you cooler and more comfortable on hot days and dry quickly if it gets wet in the rain.
REI Skyward Tent
The REI Skyward 4 is the latest iteration of our longtime favorite camping tent, the Grand Hut. We like the Skyward tent for its high-quality tent poles/fabrics, spacious interior, and ease of setup. It has near-vertical walls and a 6.5 foot peak height, so you can stand and move around freely. The vestibule off the front is handy, and we like that there’s an awning over the door for drip-free entry. The Skyward is a well-rounded tent with a sweet balance of simplicity and spaciousness which made it our number one pick on our Best Camping Tents list.
Sawyer Squeeze Water Filter
The Sawyer Squeeze has been a mainstay on our Best Backpacking Water Filters List for years. It’s incredibly lightweight at only 3 oz., very compact, and is quite affordable. While squeezing the bag can become tedious over time, we find the Sawyer Squeeze to be one of the more convenient water filters on the market – no pumping, no wait times.
Black Diamond Pursuit Trekking Poles
Black Diamond’s Pursuit trekking poles are some of the lightest all-aluminum, cork-handled trekking poles we’ve ever tested. This means you’re getting the best of all worlds – the comfort of cork, the durability of aluminum, and not much added weight over carbon fiber poles. The Pursuits landed the number 2 spot on our Best Trekking Poles list.
Helinox Chair Zero
The Helinox Chair Zero is one of the best luxury chair options on the market for backpacking since it gets you up off the ground. If you like to spend extra time resting, relaxing, and taking in the sights and sounds of camp, a full chair – like the Chair Zero – may be well-worth carrying for the comfort it provides. It’s also great for concerts, the beach, and other day trips. The Chair Zero earned a spot on our Best Backpacking Chairs and Best Camping Chairs lists.
MSR Pocket Rocket 2
The MSR Pocket Rocket 2 has been the top pick on our Best Backpacking Stoves list for years. This stove is lightweight, compact, durable, and it has great simmer control. The upgraded Pocket Rocket Deluxe has some extra features, like a push button ignitor and better performance in windy weather. Both are truly excellent backcountry stoves that come in handy kit versions as well.
Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer/2
The Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer/2 (men’s / women’s) is everything you need for fast and light adventures, and nothing you don’t. Its exceptional balance of warmth to weight is its key strength, and its sleek, layerable design is also a huge plus. The price is a bit steep, but the Ghost Whisperer is a top-of-the-line down jacket that’s well worth the cost for anyone who spends a lot of time outdoors. We named the Ghost Whisperer best ultralight jacket on our list of the Best Down Jackets.
Black Diamond Spot 400-R Headlamp
The Black Diamond Spot 400-R is an incredible value – it costs less, weighs less, and has a longer runtime than a lot of the leading rechargeable headlamp competition. It’s also fully waterproof instead of just water-resistant like most others. And the Spot-R gives you the option to use several different beam types at any brightness you choose between 6 and 400 lumens. Looking at all the features, it’s no wonder the Spot 400-R is our number one pick on our list of the Best Headlamps.
REI Siesta 20 Hooded Sleeping Bag
The two-person bag is one of our go-to sleeping bags for car camping because it’s roomy for sprawling, durable, and comes in at a great value price. The rectangular hood adds extra warmth on chilly nights and holds a full-size bed pillow securely in place. The Siesta is our top pick on our Best Camping Sleeping Bags list.
Camp Chef Everest Camping Stove
The Camp Chef Everest Stove is a must have for all you creative camp cooks who love whipping up gourmet camp meals. This thing is seriously powerful – each burner has a heat output of up to 20,000 BTU. By comparison, household stoves have an average output of 7,000 BTU. Needless to say, that’s a lot of fire power! The Everest also features a convenient igniter button and built in wind blockers to maintain efficiency. The Everest stove is our top pick on our Best Camping Stoves list.
More Information
We hope this guide helps you find the perfect gear for your needs. If you have more questions or a suggestion, we’d love to hear from you! Sign up for our newsletter to stay updated on our latest posts then visit our Facebook page and Instagram to join the community conversation. If you found this guide helpful, please share on social media and click the little heart button below to give us a digital high five!
