Outdoor Gear Clearance: When REI, Columbia, and Patagonia Discount Deepest
Outdoor gear is one of the highest-margin retail categories — and one of the deepest-clearance ones once items go out of season. REI, Columbia, Patagonia, Backcountry, and Sierra each run their own clearance system, and timing your purchases around them saves 40–60% on equipment that performs identically to current-season retail.
The seasonal cycle
Almost every outdoor brand follows the same calendar:
- Winter gear (insulated jackets, snow pants, boots): retail Sep–Feb, peak clearance March–April
- Spring/summer gear (rain shells, hiking shoes, tents): retail March–Aug, peak clearance Sep–Oct
- Camping/backpacking (sleeping bags, packs): peak clearance late August and again in January
- Climbing gear (harnesses, ropes, shoes): rolling clearance year-round; deepest in September and February
Buy out-of-season and you save the most. A $400 winter jacket in April routinely lands at $160. The same jacket in November is $340 minimum.
REI
REI Garage Sale (Outlet)
REI's clearance arm sells last-season inventory, returns, and lightly-used gear at 25–60% off retail. The catch: previously a members-only physical event, now online at rei.com/outlet year-round, plus periodic physical Garage Sale events at most stores (typically twice a year — March and August).
Co-op members ($30 lifetime fee) get exclusive 20% off coupons every quarter, stackable on Outlet items. The membership pays for itself on a single $150 outlet purchase.
Anniversary Sale (May)
REI's annual sale runs the last two weeks of May. 20–30% off non-sale gear and additional cuts on already-sale gear. Best window of the year for current-season Patagonia, Arc'teryx, and Black Diamond at REI.
Columbia
Direct site clearance
Columbia.com runs an aggressive "Sale" section year-round. Outgoing season jackets and pants hit 50–70% off within two months of new releases. The brand is more aggressive on direct-channel discounts than premium competitors.
Greater Rewards program
Free membership earns 5% back on every purchase plus members-only sales. Stack the rewards with the seasonal clearance and net price-after-rewards on a typical $200 jacket lands around $60–$80.
Patagonia
Patagonia is the most clearance-resistant brand in outdoor
Patagonia rarely runs deep clearance — it's part of their brand strategy. When they do, it's through:
- Patagonia Web Specials — last-season inventory at 30–50% off, restocked monthly. Limited inventory but the savings are real.
- Worn Wear — used/repaired Patagonia gear sold at 40–60% off retail. Stock rotates constantly; bookmark wornwear.patagonia.com.
- Retail clearance at REI — REI Outlet often has Patagonia at 30–40% off when Patagonia.com is still selling the same item at full price. Cross-reference before buying direct.
Backcountry
Steep & Cheap
Backcountry's flash-sale arm at steepandcheap.com runs rotating 4-hour deals on outdoor gear at 50–70% off. The selection is unpredictable but the prices are some of the deepest in the category — particularly for high-end brands (Arc'teryx, Norrøna, Outdoor Research).
Black Friday / Memorial Day windows
Backcountry.com runs broad 30–40% off sitewide sales at Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Black Friday/Cyber Monday, and a "New Year's Clearance" in early January. Stack a 30% off code on already-clearance gear for the biggest savings.
Sierra
Sierra (formerly Sierra Trading Post, owned by TJX) is the deepest-discount outdoor retailer in the US. Lifetime markdowns on overstock and discontinued brand-name gear, often 50–70% off MSRP year-round. Selection rotates frequently. Worth a monthly check if there's a Sierra near you or for online shipping.
Combo strategy
The best outdoor-gear buyer routine:
- March / April — buy next winter's jacket and snow pants at 50–60% off retail
- September / October — buy next summer's tent, rain shell, hiking shoes at the same discount
- Year-round — check REI Outlet, Sierra, and Steep & Cheap for ongoing rotating deals
- Memorial Day & Black Friday — stack sitewide promo codes on Backcountry and Columbia for current-season gear
Stack this with a once-per-quarter REI 20%-off member coupon and you can outfit an entire backpacking setup for half what it costs at retail.
Related: REI Garage Sale deep dive, seasonal clearance calendar by month, and when major retailers restock clearance.