The 30 Best Deals from REI’s Annual Winter Sale
REI Co-op 650 Down Jacket Women’s — Budget Pick
REI deal price: $77; street price: $129
What we like: Our budget pick for a no-frills, insulating women’s down jacket. Stylish and easy to layer under. Stitching sturdy enough to withstand at least a few seasons of wear. Warmer than other budget-friendly options.
Other things to know: Nylon taffeta shell isn’t as durable as ripstop. Wide baffles shed some down. DWR coating isn’t fully waterproof. Zippers occasionally get stuck. Has seen a price increase this year, but still a nice opportunity to get any color at a discount.
Read more: The Best Down Jacket
Smartwool Classic All-Season Merino Base Layer Long Sleeve – Men’s — Worth Considering
REI deal price: $68; street price: $90
What we like: A thermal base layer shirt worth considering for a wider size range. Lighter fabric than our top pick, with a similar knit of 87% merino wool spun around a nylon core. Offsets the shoulder stitching to keep it pack-friendly.
Other things to know: Our former pick for backpacking. It’s itchier than our top pick; it also omits thumb loops and costs a little more. Our testers did not like the fit of the matching bottoms for this top. Sizes S-XXL.
Read more: The Best Thermal Underwear
Smartwool Classic All-Season Merino Base Layer Long Sleeve – Women’s — Worth Considering
REI deal price: $68; street price: $90
What we like: A thermal underwear long sleeve shirt worth considering if you’re interested in the women’s version of the Ridge Merino Aspect top pick, but it doesn’t come in your size. Comfortable enough to wear all day. The cut is fitted, but not skintight. Offset shoulder seams don’t chafe under backpack straps. Versatile as an underlayer and also as a standalone shirt.
Other things to know: Our former pick for backpacking but it’s a little more itchy than our new pick and omits thumb loops. Fabric is 87% merino wool blended with nylon. Our testers did not like the fit of the matching bottoms for this top.
Read more: The Best Thermal Underwear
REI Co-op Merino 185 Long-Sleeve Base Layer Top – Women’s — Worth Considering
REI deal price: $56 (with store pickup or REI membership); street price: $80
What we like: A base layer top worth considering if you prioritize comfort and a casual, looser fit, or you want a shirt for cool-weather traveling. 100% merino wool fabric stays stink-free during multi-day travel. Shorter bottom hem looks good untucked. Wears like a long-sleeve cotton T-shirt.
Other things to know: Ideal if our our Minus33 pick isn’t available. No thumb holes. Sizes XS-XL and 1X-3X; fits on the “standard” or “regular” side. Ships free for REI members; non-members can opt for store pickup or add to an order over $60 to avoid shipping fees. While we’ve seen some deals for less, those deals are much more limited in size and color.
Read more: The Best Thermal Underwear
REI Co-op Merino 185 Long-Sleeve Base Layer Top – Men’s — Worth Considering
REI deal price: $56 (with store pickup or REI membership); street price: $80
What we like: A base layer top worth considering if you prioritize comfort and a casual, looser fit, or you want a shirt for cool-weather traveling. 100% merino wool fabric stays stink-free during multi-day travel. Shorter bottom hem looks good untucked. Wears like a long-sleeve cotton T-shirt.
Other things to know: Ideal if our our Minus33 pick isn’t available. No thumb holes. Sizes S-XXXL; fit leans to the “standard” or “regular” side. Ships free for REI members; non-members can opt for store pickup or add to an order over $60 to avoid shipping fees.
Read more: The Best Thermal Underwear
REI Co-op 650 Down Vest – Women’s — Budget Pick
REI deal price: $60 (with store pickup or REI membership, deal on black, berry, or teal); street price: $100
What we like: Our budget insulated vest pick. As warm as or warmer than all but our top pick, and half the price of our other picks. Stylish and well-constructed, with spacious outer pockets. Ideal for commuting, urban walks, and occasional outdoor adventures. Repels water well. Packable, durable and made with ethically-sourced down.
Other things to know: Zippers aren’t as sturdy as our top pick, and may get caught on the fabric. Free shipping for REI members; others can opt for store pickup or add to an order over $60. Deal on black, berry, and teal.
Read more: The Best Insulated Vest
Arc’teryx Thorium Hoody Women’s — Staff Pick
REI deal price: $350 (deal on green or pink); street price: $500
What we like: A standalone hooded down jacket staff pick. Warm and durable, and you can wear it without needing to layer. Doesn’t look overly puffy. Falls right at the hip, with a slightly fitted waist and gently curved hem. Synthetic insulation in cuffs, shoulders, and hood is ideal for rainy weather.
Other things to know: Can look droopy if you stuff the pockets. Shell material can get crinkly over the course of a season. Stuff sack compresses it down to roughly the size of a Chipotle burrito. Hood isn’t cute. Comes in sizes XXS-XXL.
Read more: This Down Jacket Has Kept Me Warm for 12 Winters. And It Comes With Free Repairs.
REI Co-op 650 Down Jacket Men’s — Budget Pick
REI deal price: $77; street price: $129
What we love: Our budget down jacket pick. A no-frills insulator. Warmer and more attractive fit than other low-cost options. 650-fill performs well in moderately cold climates. Easy to layer under. Should last for at least a few seasons. Packs down small.
Other things to know: Lacks the additional features of our other (pricier) picks. Not fully waterproof. Has seen a price increase this year, but still a nice opportunity to get any color at a discount.
Read more: The Best Down Jacket
REI Co-op 650 Down Vest – Men’s — Budget Pick
REI deal price: $60 (with store pickup or REI membership, deal on black, blue, and olive); street price: $100
What we like: Our budget pick for the best insulated vest. Ideal for commuting, urban walks, and the occasional outdoor adventure. Nearly as warm and well-constructed as our other picks. Great for adding a little extra warmth during day-to-day activities or layering during truly cold weather.
Other things to know: Doesn’t repel water well. Comes in three colors. Opt for store pickup to avoid shipping fees. Ships free with REI membership. Street price has risen over the last year.
Read more: The Best Insulated Vest
Mountain Hardwear Men’s Canyon Long Sleeve Shirt — Staff Pick
REI deal price: $53 (with store pickup or REI membership); street price: $70
What we like: A woodsy men’s UPF hiking shirt we like for staying protected in the sun. Has two pockets, venting, and buttons to keep rolled up sleeves in place. Slightly boxy, untucked cut makes it work off the trails, too.
Other things to know: No mistaking it for a linen shirt, but it’s better looking than other performance fabrics. Wrinkles easily. With store pickup or REI membership.
Read more: Sun-Protective Clothing Is a Reliable UV-Blocker. Here Are Some Options We Love.
Arc’teryx Thorium Hoody Men’s — Staff Pick
REI deal price: $350 (deal on teal, black is $50 more); street price: $500
What we like: A hooded down puffy jacket we like. Warm and durable without being overly puffy. Filled with 750-fill-power goose down, as well as synthetic down on the areas that tend to see the most rain in a downpour (cuffs, shoulders, hood), giving you the best of both worlds.
Other things to know: Warm enough to be worn without needing to layer in a cold New York winter. Can be squished down to a relatively compact size in its stuff sack. Material can look a little crinkly over the course of a season, and hood looks a little goofy, but these are minor complaints. Deal on teal; black is $50 more at REI and is also a decent deal. Sizing may be limited.
Read more: This Down Jacket Has Kept Me Warm for 12 Winters. And It Comes With Free Repairs.
