When Does Camping Gear Go on Sale (And More Saving Tips)

For those who like to shop, you know it's all about finding the right gear deals at the right time. The trick is being able to watch for sales and know when those sales happen. If you're asking "when do tents go on clearance?" or are just looking for camping sales, I'll let you in on some secrets when camping gear goes on sale and some tips for finding cheap gear.

When does camping gear on sale? Camping gear goes on sale at the end of the season. Summer gear will go on sale around September and winter gear will go on sale around March. During this time, many merchants discount items to make room for new inventory. Black Friday and Cyber Monday also offer huge discounts.

The Best Time to Shop for Camping Gear

The best time to shop for discounted camping gear is when the season ends. This is to make room for new inventory for the next season, especially brick and mortar stores like REI and EMS. However, there are a few other times of the year when you can expect even bigger savings...

At the End of the Season

Summer items like tents, shorts, etc, typically go on sale when the season is over, usually around September (see when camping seasons starts and ends). As for winter camping gear like snowshoes, boots, and jackets, these items are usually on sale around March.

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Black Friday And Cyber Monday

Black Friday and Cyber Monday (and beyond) is another time you may want to wait for too. You'll want to shop online during this time so you can easily compare deals between merchants.

I contacted Backcountry for when they have their best deals and this is what they had to say:

Generally, the biggest sales are around Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but I would also take a look at our clearance site, www.steepandcheap.com for the best sales year-round! 

Backcountry Customer Support

At the End of the Year

A lot of times you will find stores that have sales during holidays and at the end of the year. Stores like EMS, REI, and BackCountry all have year-end clearance sales up to 50% off.

Here is one example of an end of year sale going on with REI:

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Subscribe to Mailing Lists to Stay Informed

Lots of merchants often have sales throughout the year, especially places like Bass Pro Shops & Cabella’s. The best way to be in the know about these sales is to subscribe to their mailing list. These emails might eventually get a little annoying, but hey, you can always unsubscribe and it will save you a lot of money on new gear.

Finding Coupons

If you're buying something online, you should always look for coupons. There are a few ways to find coupons online:

1. Honey App - Honey is an app that automatically applies coupons when you are shopping, even when you think there aren't any! You can download it for your phone or install it as a chrome extension on your desktop.
2. Ask - You might be surprised what kinds of discounts are available if you just ask. Places like EMS provide 10% discounts on new items for members of Veterans Advantage.
3. Find coupon pages - Many sites have coupon and sales pages that list all the discounts you can get. Not sure how to find their coupon page? I've gathered a list for you below.

Coupon pages:

• REI
• EMS
• Backcountry
• MooseJaw
• Cabelas
• Campmor

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More Tips on How to Find Camping Gear on the Cheap (And Even Free)

Well, they don't call us 'gear junkies' for now reason. Those who love hiking and camping often love gear, which doesn't make our wallets happy (see my guide to hiking on a budget). I'll share some tips I've learned on how to find cheap camping gear, and even how to get outdoor gear for free.

1. Shop Discount Stores

Aside from discount stores like Backcountry, other sites like SteepAndCheap offer flash sales on gear that can be as much as 80% off. Thrift stores can be great for clothing especially.

2. Use Craigslist and Local MarketPlaces

You'll need to keep an eye out on these, but lots of people are selling used gear in great condition on places like Craigslist, Facebook MarketPlace, Facebook Gear Exchange Groups, Ebay, and more. Sometimes you can even find free camping gear in the free section of Craigslist.

3. Ask About Used Gear and Returned Items

Box stores sometimes resell used and returned items that are in good shape. They might not always be immediately obvious so make sure you ask.

In Conway NH, International Mountain Equipment has a downstairs consignment shop with lots of great gear. They make sure everything is in good shape and working properly.

Do you have more tips for shopping for discounted camping gear? Let us know by leaving a comment!

The Two Big Camping Gear Sale Windows

The outdoor retail calendar has two genuine sale windows every year, plus a handful of smaller promo moments. Plan your big gear buys around these:

• Late August — "end of summer" clearance. Retailers discount summer gear (tents, sleeping bags, backpacks) 20–40% to clear warehouse space. Best window of the year for buying a summer backpacking tent.
• Late December / early January — "end of year" clearance. Retailers push out winter gear and any remaining summer inventory. 30–50% off closeout items. Best time to buy a winter sleeping bag.
• Memorial Day weekend. Early-summer sales, typically 15–25% off. More marketing hype than real discounts, but a decent time to grab accessories.
• Labor Day weekend. Overlap with end-of-summer. Solid prices on tents, camp furniture, and coolers.
• Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Best for small-ticket gear (headlamps, water bottles, trekking poles). Tent and sleeping bag discounts are less aggressive than August clearance.
• Amazon Prime Day (July). Hit or miss — better for outdoor brands that sell direct on Amazon (Coleman, CORE, Teton Sports) than premium brands.

When Specific Gear Categories Go on Sale

Different gear follows different discount calendars. Rough guide:

• Tents: deepest discounts late August (three-season tents) and February (four-season tents).
• Sleeping bags: late December for winter bags, September for summer bags.
• Backpacks: late August clearance is the best window, followed by February for new-model rollouts.
• Boots and shoes: January–February, as spring styles arrive. REI's twice-yearly "Anniversary Sale" (May) and "Member Sale" (November) are reliable footwear discount windows.
• Stoves and cookware: Black Friday through Cyber Monday. Camp kitchens don't seasonally clear the way sleeping gear does.
• Apparel: September for summer layers, February for winter shells. Outlet stores run 40–60% clearance year-round on last season's colours.
• Headlamps, knives, water filters: Prime Day and Black Friday for the deepest cuts.

Membership and Rebate Stacking

The actual savings often come from combining a sale with a membership or rewards program:

• REI Co-op membership ($30 lifetime) returns 10% of most purchases as an annual dividend. Stacking the dividend with the semi-annual member sale can hit 35% off.
• Backcountry.com Gearheads get free ground shipping and sneak-peek sale access.
• Moosejaw Rewards return 10% of purchases as store credit. Good for frequent small-ticket buyers.
• Manufacturer rebates. Thermarest, MSR and Black Diamond periodically run $25–$100 mail-in rebates during spring new-model rollouts.
• Outdoor industry Pro Deals (ExpertVoice, Promotive). Available to guides, park staff, SAR volunteers and some outdoor nonprofits. Prices 30–60% below retail year-round.

Where to Buy Used and Save More

If you're willing to go used, you can usually beat new-on-sale pricing by another 30%:

• REI Re/Supply. REI's used-gear arm. Returns and trade-ins graded and resold. Reliable quality.
• Geartrade. Outdoor-specific consignment. Bigger selection but variable condition.
• Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist. Local pickup, cash deals. Best for bulky items (tents, coolers, kayaks).
• Gear swaps. Local outdoor clubs run annual swap meets — watch for "Colorado Mountain Club Gear Swap," "Mazamas Gear Swap," etc.
• Hiker boxes on long trails. Free gear left behind by thru-hikers. Works only if you're already near the trail.

Our hiking on a budget guide has the full breakdown of where to find used gear reliably.

Buying Hacks That Beat Every Sale

• Buy last season's colour. Same tent, same pack, same bag — in last year's colourway, 30–40% cheaper year-round.
• Buy outlets rather than flagships. REI Outlet, Backcountry Steep and Cheap, Sierra Trading Post. Same brands, closeout pricing.
• Sign up for price-drop alerts. Slickdeals, Honey, and Camelcamelcamel track prices on specific items and notify you when they fall.
• Buy fewer, better items. A $300 tent that lasts 20 years is cheaper per trip than replacing a $100 tent every 3.
• Wait one season. Whatever you think you need, wait a season and you'll either realise you don't need it or find it on sale.

Camping Gear Sale FAQ

When is the absolute cheapest time to buy camping gear?

Late August for summer gear, late December for winter gear. Those are the two moments when retailers are clearing inventory to make room for the next season's product.

Is Black Friday the best time to buy a tent?

Not really — August clearance is better. Black Friday tent deals are usually 15–25% off MSRP; August often hits 40%+.

Does REI have better sales than Amazon?

For mid-range and premium brands, yes — REI's member sales beat Amazon on most technical gear. For mass-market brands (Coleman, Ozark Trail), Amazon is cheaper.

Can I return used camping gear?

REI accepts returns within one year of purchase if you're a member, even on used gear. Most other retailers require unused condition with tags attached. Always check the return policy before buying a $300 sleeping bag.

Should I buy camping gear new or used for my first trip?

Buy sleeping bags, pads, and stoves new for hygiene reasons. Everything else — tents, packs, cookware, headlamps — you can safely buy used and save 40–60%.