REI marks down Patagonia up to 50%

Patagonia deals are already live at REI, and that’s the whole story here. Not “wait for the big sale” live — actually on-site, buy-it-now live. The timing matters because REI’s Anniversary Sale doesn’t start until May 15, 2026, but the retailer is already showing Patagonia markdowns across clothing and outerwear. If you were assuming the best move was to wait for the event banner to flip on, turns out that’s not always true. ### What changed before the sale even started? REI’s Anniversary Sale page says the savings start May 15, but it also points shoppers to “great deals right now.” At the same time, REI’s Patagonia sale and clearance pages are already populated with discounted items. So the news is less about a surprise one-day drop and more about an early-release pattern — the sale has a formal start date, but Patagonia markdowns are already in the system. (rei.com) ### How big are the discounts really? They’re meaningful, but they’re not one clean storewide percentage. REI’s current Patagonia clothing deals include a women’s Nano Puff Insulated Jacket listed at $113.83 versus $229, a men’s Down Sweater at $138.83 versus $289, and a men’s Better Sweater Fleece Jacket at $78.83 versus $169. Those examples land around 50% off or just under, which is why the “up to 50%” framing holds up — but only for selected colors, sizes, and styles. (rei.com) ### Is this just jackets? No — but jackets are the clearest proof point because the pricing is easy to see. REI’s Patagonia deals pages span broader clothing categories, and the general Patagonia sale page is live as a dedicated clearance hub rather than a couple of random one-off markdowns. Basically, this looks like a category-wide cleanup ahead of the bigger Anniversary Sale traffic spike. (rei.com) ### Why does the May 15 date still matter? Because the official Anniversary Sale is still the main event. REI says the 2026 Anniversary Sale runs May 15 through May 25, and its promo language centers on savings of up to 25% during the event. That means two things can be true at once: the sale window is still important for broader brand promos and member offers, but some Patagonia items are already beating that headline percentage today. (rei.com) ### So should you wait or buy now? If you want a specific Patagonia piece, buying now makes sense. The catch is inventory. These markdowns are often tied to particular sizes or colors, and REI’s deal pages show price ranges on some products rather than one universal price. That usually means the deepest discount sits on the least common variant — kind of like airline fares where the cheap seat exists, but not in every row. (rei.com) ### What’s the practical read on this? Treat the Anniversary Sale as a second chance, not the opening whistle. The Patagonia discounts are already here, and the best ones may not get better on May 15. If the item you want is discounted now, the smarter move is probably to grab it before the sale brings more shoppers to the same inventory. ### Bottom line (rei.com) This isn’t a rumor or a preview list. REI is already selling discounted Patagonia gear before the official Anniversary Sale begins, and some of those markdowns are deeper than the event’s advertised 25% ceiling. For Patagonia specifically, the early window may be the real deal window. (rei.com)