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Summer is approaching quickly, and Backcountry’s Memorial Day Sale—which runs through Monday, May 26 (Memorial Day)—is a prime opportunity to save on top-rated outdoor gear. From backpacking tents and sleep systems to duffel bags, rain shells, and stoves, it’s a great chance to score big-ticket items at a sizable discount. Below we outline our favorite discounted items at the sale, many of which we’ve tested and used extensively on our own adventures. Of note: The deals will be rolling out throughout the month of May. Our recommendations below are listed in order of start date, with most discounts already in effect.
Editor’s note: This article has been sponsored by Backcountry, but the picks and descriptions below were made independently and based on our experiences with and opinions of the products.
Shop the 2025 Backcountry Memorial Day Sale
Our Favorite Memorial Day Sale Deals
Big Agnes Copper Spur UL4 Backpacking Tent
Big Agnes’ Copper Spur is legendary in the backpacking tent market, deftly balancing weight, interior space, and features. The four-person capacity is discounted considerably during the Backcountry sale (it’s also offered in 1P, 2P, and 3P versions) and combines a generous 57 square feet of floor space, solid headroom with pre-bent poles and steep walls, and two doors and vestibules. Big Agnes paid attention to the smaller details, too, including features like substantial zippers, a thoughtful organization layout, color-coded grommets, and easy adjustments to get a proper pitch. The dual vestibules also convert to awnings with a pair of trekking poles, which is a nice inclusion for rest days spent hanging around camp. Finally, while not a featherweight at 5 pounds 11 ounces all in, the Copper Spur UL4 is much lighter than most four-person tents and entirely manageable to haul into the backcountry—especially if you divvy up the components.
See the Big Agnes Copper Spur UL4
Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Insulated Sleeping Pad
For side sleepers and those who move around a lot during the night, Sea to Summit’s Ether Light XT Insulated gets our resounding endorsement. With a healthy 4 inches of cushioning off the ground, the Ether is the thickest sleeping pad to make our best-of list this season. Impressively, it still manages to check in at a very reasonable weight (1 lb. 1.3 oz. for the Regular size), and the 3.2 R-value makes it fully 3-season-ready (we’ve had no issue taking the pad down to around the mid 20s Fahrenheit). Other noteworthy features include Sea to Summit’s distinctive Air Sprung Cells that offer good support and a dual pump/stuff sack for quick and easy inflation. Added up, the Ether is a luxurious pad that’s purpose-built for keeping you comfortable no matter the sleeping surface.
See the Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Insulated
MSR PocketRocket Deluxe Stove Kit
The MSR PocketRocket has been our go-to backpacking stove for years thanks to its reliable performance at a remarkably low weight. The Deluxe Stove kit includes the stove plus a 1.2-liter aluminum pot, a 28-ounce bowl, a pot lifter, and an isobutane/propane fuel canister. The whole kit nests together nicely and is very space-efficient in a pack, making it a great option for those just getting started. All in all, the PocketRocket is dependable enough that most backpackers won’t need another stove, and the add-ons included with the Deluxe kit are high-quality and very practical.
See the MSR PocketRocket Deluxe Kit
Mountain Hardwear Men’s Ghost Whisperer Hoody
Ultralight without feeling ultra-compromised, the Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer is one of the lightest fully featured down jackets on the market. Despite hitting a sub-11-ounce weight (for the men’s hoody model), Mountain Hardwear managed to retain pockets and adjustments at the hood and hem—not to mention impressive warmth. When you don’t need it, the jacket packs down very small and is easy to carry on just about any trip (including climbing adventures, when the carabiner loop on the stuff pocket comes in handy). Mountain Hardwear even included synthetic insulation at the cuffs to prevent them from wetting out. Offered in a nice selection of classy colorways, the Ghost Whisperer is an iconic piece that performs well in the backcountry and looks good in the process.
See the Men's MH Ghost Whisperer Hoody
Big Agnes Big Six Armchair
With an emphasis on support thanks to a high back and wide, cradle-like seat, Big Agnes’ Big Six Armchair is a comfortable place to be whether you’re camping, tailgating, or enjoying a summer cookout. Overall, it’s a high-quality chair that’s built to last with a light but strong aluminum frame and a thick Robic nylon/ripstop polyester seat. Additionally, the shock-corded design makes set-up quick (the color-coded frame helps) and allows the chair to pack down reasonably small. At 3 pounds 14 ounces (4 lb. 2 oz. in its stuff sack), it’s too heavy and bulky to haul into the woods, but this Big Six is well made, easy to unpack and stow away, and offers a solid dose of comfort and support for lounging around camp or hanging out by the campfire.
See the Big Agnes Big Six Armchair
Osprey Sojourn Shuttle 100L Wheeled Duffel
While Osprey is best known for their backpacks and daypacks, they make some seriously capable travel gear, too. The Sojourn Shuttle Wheeled Duffel has been a staff favorite for years for its ability to swallow an entire vacation’s worth of clothing and gear with ease. Unlike cheaper options that tend to fall over when full and upright, the Sojourn Shuttle maintains its stability nicely, and the oversized wheels are great at soaking up bumps on surfaces like cobblestone and gravel. The Sojourn Shuttle also boasts Osprey’s functional StraightJacket compression system, which is easy to cinch down to streamline your load and features padded sidewalls for protecting sensitive cargo. All the other features are equally well executed, from the easy-to-operate telescoping handle (which unlocks by squeezing the top and bottom together) to the lower compartment for separating wet or dirty clothing. For a step down in price and capacity, the 80-liter Sojourn Rolling Gear Bag is also on sale.
See the Osprey Sojourn Shuttle 100L
Marmot Men’s PreCip Eco Pro Rain Jacket
In the world of rain jackets, Marmot just seems to get it, delivering good fit and performance at reasonable prices. The PreCip Eco is their leading entry-level offering, and the Pro version here kicks performance up a notch with a 3-layer build (the standard PreCip Eco is 2.5L). This translates to improved breathability and reduced bulk, making it the better choice for bringing along on weight- and space-conscious backpacking trips. You also get useful backcountry features like pit zips and hipbelt-friendly hand pockets, along with an adjustable hood that provides full coverage when the skies open up. For the price, there’s not much more you can ask for from a rain shell.
See the Men's Marmot PreCip Eco Pro
Petzl Actik Core Headlamp (On Sale Starting 5/21)
Petzl’s Actik Core has been situated at the top of our headlamp rankings for years thanks to its competitive mix of value, performance, and versatility. The 600-lumen max setting lights up far-off sections of trail, while the standard 100-lumen mode gets the job done for most slow-paced navigation and is gentle on battery life with a 7-hour burn time. But the main selling point for us is the battery compatibility: You get the option between Petzl’s rechargeable lithium-ion Core battery or three AAAs, which is truly the best of both worlds for front- and backcountry use. We’ve hiked, backpacked, climbed, and run with the Actik Core more times than we can count, and it continues to be a reliable performer—and the headlamp we reach for most often.
See the Petzl Actik Core Headlamp
