REI vs Backcountry camping deals

Outdoor Empire posted a YouTube video on May 16 comparing 2026 camping and hiking deals at REI and Backcountry during overlapping seasonal promotions. The video, titled “Best Camping Gear Deals: REI Anniversary Sale vs Backcountry Memorial Day,” said the channel had reviewed sale ads and retailer websites to identify discounts across tents, sleep systems and camp kitchen gear. REI said in a May 8 newsroom post that its Anniversary Sale runs from May 15 through May 25. Backcountry’s Memorial Day sale page was live as of May 17 and advertised discounts across camp gear, footwear and apparel. ### Which sale windows are overlapping right now? REI said its Anniversary Sale covers 11 days from May 15 to May 25 and includes more than 6,000 products. The co-op said shoppers can save 25% on REI Co-op brand clothing and gear, with additional markdowns on selected national brands and member-only offers. (youtube.com) Backcountry’s Memorial Day sale page did not show a single end date in the page text returned by search, but it was active on May 17 and promoted “Camp on sale” offers of up to 40% off tents, sleep systems and other gear. A separate Backcountry promotions page also listed current discounts and said some offers apply automatically in cart while others may require a code. (rei.com) ### What did the YouTube video actually compare? Outdoor Empire’s May 16 upload described itself as a search for “the best camping gear and hiking gear deals” at both retailers. The video page said the creator had “perused the ads and the websites” and highlighted 37 products. The product links visible on the video page pointed to items including REI Co-op sleeping gear, Jetboil stoves, Gregory storage, OXO camp cookware, NEMO sleeping pads, Kelty sleeping bags and Fjallraven apparel. (backcountry.com) That mix matched the category-by-category framing in the video description, which centered on camping gear, hiking gear and side-by-side price checking rather than a single retailer roundup. (youtube.com) ### Where did REI put its biggest named discounts? REI’s newsroom post named several headline promotions tied to major outdoor brands. The co-op said shoppers could get 20% off all NEMO camp and sleeping gear, 25% off all Big Agnes tents, sleeping bags and sleeping gear, 25% off all KEEN footwear, 25% off all Smartwool clothing and socks, and 25% off all Black Diamond gear and shoes, excluding cams. (youtube.com) During opening weekend, REI said everyone could save 40% on the REI Co-op Magma 30 Sleeping Bag and the REI Co-op Half Dome 2 Tent with Footprint in earthen gray. From May 18 through May 25, REI said its co-op gear would be 25% off. Members also get 20% off one full-price item and 20% off one REI Outlet item during the sale window, according to the company. (rei.com) ### What is Backcountry emphasizing in its Memorial Day promotion? Backcountry’s Memorial Day sale page highlighted broad category discounts rather than a single event catalog. The retailer advertised up to 40% off camp gear and climb gear, extra 20% off select clearance items, and additional promotions on sandals and travel gear. Specific items displayed on the page included the Exped MegaMat Duo at 25% off, the NEMO Tensor All-Season Sleeping Pad at 25% off, the Big Agnes Rapide SL Insulated Sleeping Pad at 25% off, and selected Patagonia and The North Face apparel at discounts of up to 40%. (rei.com) The sale page also showed brand filters including Patagonia, The North Face, Mountain Hardwear, Black Diamond, Outdoor Research, Osprey, Big Agnes and Marmot. (backcountry.com) ### Why are shoppers being pushed to compare by category instead of by retailer? The May 16 video itself framed the moment as a head-to-head search for the “best deals” across two simultaneous promotions, not as an endorsement of one store across the board. The visible product list mixed sleep systems, apparel, cookware and accessories, suggesting the creator expected shoppers to switch between retailers depending on the item. (backcountry.com) REI and Backcountry are also discounting overlapping brands at the same time. REI named NEMO, Big Agnes, Smartwool, Black Diamond and Outdoor Research in its sale announcement, while Backcountry’s Memorial Day page showed NEMO, Big Agnes, Patagonia, The North Face and Outdoor Research among featured brands. May 25 is the published end date for REI’s Anniversary Sale, according to the company’s newsroom post. (youtube.com) Backcountry’s Memorial Day sale and promotions pages remained live on May 17, and the Outdoor Empire comparison video published on May 16 remains available on YouTube for shoppers checking item-by-item pricing. (rei.com)