Amazon isn't the first place most of us go for outdoor gear, but the retail giant does stock a few good brands, and there are some deals right now during Prime Big Deal Days. Most of the good deals on outdoor gear right now, though, are at Backcountry and Public Lands, both of which are having sales. We've combed through the deals and picked the best ones based on all our testing. We only recommend the gear we actually like and use ourselves.
For more deals, check out our Absolute Best Prime Big Deal Days roundup and our Prime Day liveblog for the latest discounts.
Tent and Sleeping Deals
Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
This is a great deal on our favorite 3-person backpacking tent, though we also like the 2-person model, which is what's on sale here. Nemo's Dagger Osmo is roomy for the weight, with steep sidewalls and generous living space. I've found that the nylon-polyester blend (the Osmo fabric that gives the tent its name) really does stretch less and repels water more than nylon alone, without misting as much as pure silpoly. The result is a sturdy tent that I've used without issue in snow, despite technically having a three-season rating.
The Big Agnes Copper Spur series is our top pick for freestanding ultralight tents. This is a high-quality, well-designed tent that's lightweight, easy to set up, and roomy enough to be livable in the backcountry. The “awning” design (with trekking poles or sticks) is a nice extra, and the mix of 15D nylon and 20D ripstop, which feels fragile, has held up well over time. These are on sale because Big Agnes recently revamped the Copper Spur; these are last year's models (but they're still great!). The 3-person model and 4-person model are also on sale.
This is my go-to backpacking tent when my kids are with me. It's light enough that I can carry it myself (about 4 pounds for the 3-person model), and roomy enough at 40 square feet that I can squeeze three kids in there with me (or at least I used to be able to; unfortunately, it turns out young children continue to grow). The semi-freestanding design saves weight, but it does mean you'll have to stake out the foot end, and the fabrics are light (read: less durable) than the Nemo Dagger tents. But the model I have has held up well through several years of use.
This is the best deal I've ever seen on MSR's Groundhog stakes. They're the best tent upgrade you can make for $20. They're super strong. I've never had one bend or pull out on me, and for the strength, they're pretty light. I carry a mix of stakes when backpacking, including four of these, some carbon fiber pegs, and some shepherd hooks. That way, no matter what the terrain, I've got something that'll work.
Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
The “mummy” design of mummy bags is about optimizing for warmth, not comfort. But let's face it, most of us are not sleeping in situations where our survival is at stake. Therm-a-Rest has addressed this with what it calls W.A.R.M. fit, which stands for “with additional room for multiple” positions. Indeed, this bag is very roomy for a mummy design. I was able to draw my legs up when side-sleeping and spread out considerably more than with most bags. If you toss and turn through the nights and don't want a quilt, this would be my top pick.
The Zenbivy Bed (9/10, WIRED Recommends) is hands-down the most comfortable backcountry sleeping experience I've ever had—it doesn't get more comfortable than this. The Zenbivy isn't just a sleeping bag. It's a sheet, hood, and quilt-style bag that can be combined in various ways. This deal (and slightly cheaper versions alas) has been running all summer, and frankly, I'm surprised it hasn't sold out yet. Get one while you can.
I love my MegaMat, it is hands down the best sleeping experience I've had car camping (I have the auto version that fits in the back of your car). The MegaMat is pretty well equivalent to the MondoKing, our favorite of the well, mega sleeping pads. The MondoKing takes the top spot because it weighs less and packs down smaller, but personally, I like the MegaMat better because it has slightly better insulation. This deal is on the duo model, which is 72 inches long and 41 inches wide.
Backpack Deals
Photograph: Amazon
Confused about the best pack? Check out our guides to the Best Day Hiking Packs, Best Backpacks for Work, and Best Travel Luggage.
Once upon a time, in a galaxy far, far away, I traveled around Southeast Asia with an early version of this Osprey pack, living out of it for almost a year. It stood up well to the abuse of overland travel—more than once, I watched a bus driver tie it to the roof of a bus by cinching it down with a rope, pulling with all his weight right down the middle of my pack, like a cheese cutter. The Farpoint survived, and my gear inside did as well, thanks in part to the thickly padded sides, which provide considerable extra cushioning.
Mystery Ranch's Coulee backpacks are some of my favorites. The 30L is my dayhiking pack of choice, and this 50L is excellent for longer trips. It's not an ultralight pack by any means (it's 3 pounds and 12 ounces for a medium), but it can handle heavier loads (well north of 35 pounds in my testing) with ease. You get a nice stiff framesheet, a well-padded, curved waist belt, plush shoulder straps, and good back padding. It's also proved very durable over the years.
The Wingman is the best chest pocket add-on I've tested. It fits perfectly on my Coulee 30 and gives me a place to stash my binoculars, snacks, and other odds and ends I want at hand. The water bottle holder will even hold bear spray if you're in grizzly country. It works perfectly with Mystery Ranch packs, but the clips should work with just about any pack that has a little webbing on the shoulder straps.
Camping Deals
Photograph: Coleman
This is one of the best prices I've seen on this upgrade stove. Sure, the basic Coleman ($65) gets the job done, but the cast-iron burners of the Cascade are so much nicer and more durable. The griddle plate is also handy, perfect for cranking out pancakes. My only gripe is that I wish there were an option to get two griddles, as I find the grill not nearly as useful.
While I like the MSR PocketRocket Deluxe better, this is still a great IsoPro backpacking stove. It's lightweight (2.6 ounces), but has wide enough arms to support just about any one- or two-person pot. It's simple to use, even while wearing gloves, and it's efficient—at sea level (OK, technically 947 feet), it boiled 1 liter of water in 3 minutes, 47 seconds. You can even get it to simmer, though the flame radius is small, so fancier cooking isn't easy.
Perhaps best known for being an unwitting part of a sophisticated email scam, the Yeti Hopper M20 is also an excellent soft-sided cooler. You just didn't win one. You're going to have to buy it, and what better time than now, when it's on sale? This deal is only on a couple of colors, but so long as you're good with them, it's well worth it.
Outdoor Apparel Deals
Be sure to read our guides to the Best Puffer Jackets, Best Merino Wool, and Best Rain Jackets.
Photograph: Patagonia
Patagonia’s Nano Puff series has been a hit since it launched years ago. If you want a technical midlayer that you can also wear around town, this is the jacket to get. The fill is synthetic, but it's impressively warm and manages to stuff down almost like a down jacket.
The Cirrus Flex is a synthetic jacket with PrimaLoft Silver Luxe synthetic insulation. It's the slightly warmer version of the Cirrus Flex, a pick in our Best Puffer Jacket guide, though it lacks the stretch panels of the Flex. Size and color options are limited at this price, but if your size is available, this is a solid deal on a good jacket.
WIRED editor Adrienne so calls this the best blanket. She spreads it out in front of her tent so dust and twigs won't get inside. It's also great for picnics. It's washable and has a waterproof bottom, so you don't have to worry about wet grass soaking through, and it's heavy enough so that the corners don't flip up in the breeze. Hers has lasted almost five years.
Backyard Deals
Need a new grill? Fire pit? Outdoor stove? We got all that covered.
Photograph: Martin Cizmar
This is a good deal on the best smokeless fire pit you can buy. It's a nice combo of looks, portability, value, and utility. At 19.5 inches wide and 15 inches tall, it's small enough and light enough (25 pounds) to toss in the truck and lug to the beach, but big enough to gather a group of half a dozen friends around. This deal includes the stand, but if you don't need it, you can get just the fire pit for $265.
The Breeo X series firepit isn't portable, but if you’re going to make a regular habit of sitting around the firepit most evenings, this is the one you want. The fire bowl is 2 feet wide, so this pit is big enough to handle most precut firewood laid flat instead of vertically. The Breeo base is a square of aerated stainless steel sturdy enough to support the pit's weight without wobbling and inspires enough trust that we've put it on wooden decks without issue.
The Roadtrip 285 Portable is one of our top portable grill picks. With a triple set of burners and variable controls, you can sear veggies on one side while cooking meat more slowly on the other. There's a grease pan to catch drips while cooking, and it's removable for cleaning. You also get push-button ignition and 20,000 BTUs of propane grilling power.