GoKawiilThe Tundra Haul is our top-pick cooler. It's expensive and big, but Yeti's rotomolded cooler is the undisputed king for a simple reason—it keeps your stuff cold longer. The Tundra Haul is built like a tank, with 3-inch-thick insulated walls, a heavy aluminum arm, and puncture-proof, one-piece wheels. Fill this thing up and you'll need a second person to lift it in and out of your trunk (or truck, in my case). I've managed to get five days of cold out of it in the insane humidity of Florida in the spring.
Deals on Rain Jackets and Outdoor Apparel
Courtesy of REI
The Rainier is our favorite budget rain jacket, especially when it's on sale. This particular deal, while limited in color options, is the lowest price I've seen in 5 years of covering REI sales. Unlike most rain jackets in this price range, the Rainier uses high-quality three-layer, seam-taped, laminate waterproofing that's non-fluorinated (meaning no PFAS). It has some other features rare in budget rain jackets, like pit zips or venting, a weatherproof center zip, and an adjustable, stowable hood.
I have the 2024 version of this jacket and it has served me well. The taped seams and welded construction keep wind and moisture at bay, and the side zip vents run all the way from the hem to the bicep, offering great ventilation when you're moving (they're also handy for getting at stuff in the pockets of your mid layers).
The best deal here is the women's version of this classic rain jacket, which is nearly half off in some colors and sizes. The AR (for “all-round”) is the beefiest of Arc'teryx's Beta jackets. The combination of 40-denier fabric (with 80D reinforced areas) and Gore-Tex Pro 3L membrane make this not just highly waterproof, but very durable as well. When I know it's going to rain, this is the jacket I bring.
Photograph: REI
One of my favorite bargain three-season puffer jackets, the REI 650 down jacket, is a cheap, packable option for cold summits or stargazing on chilly nights. The stitched-through baffles mean this one isn't as warm as some jackets, and it is more susceptible to wind. But at this price, it's worth buying. The vest is also on sale for $50 ($50 off).
This is a steal on REI's warmest puffer jacket for kids. My son lived in this jacket all winter and despite getting plenty dirty (you can machine wash and tumble dry it), it's never let us down. The 650 fill power down matches the adult jacket above, but feels more generously stuffed and therefore warmer (REI does not list a fill weight for the Snowballer).
The Ghost Whisperer Down Jacket is my top pick for a backpacking puffer jacket. It weighs just 6.7 ounces for a men's medium (7.3 ounces for the men's large I tested), packs down to a tiny little thing (stuffing into its own pocket), and the 1,000-fill-power goose down offers one of the best warmth-to-weight ratios on the market. Unfortunately, the men's version is not on sale right now.
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