REI Co-op Holiday Warm Up Sale: 2023 Outdoor Gear Guide

The holiday season is in full swing, and REI’s Holiday Warm Up Sale—which runs from Friday, Dec. 8 to Monday, Dec. 18—is a prime opportunity to save on top-rated gear for the outdoor lovers in your life. From winter jackets to camping blankets and accessories like gloves, socks, and neck gaiters, it’s a great chance to score cold-weather necessities at a sizable discount. Of note: This sale is particularly heavy on REI-brand discounts, including steep savings on their in-house snow and winter jacket collections, baselayers, and ski accessories, among others. Below we outline the dates and details of REI's holiday sale, our favorite discounted items, and how to shop both in store and online. 

This article has been sponsored by REI, but the picks and descriptions below were made independently and based on our experiences with and opinions of the products.

Dates and Details: December 8-18, 2023

From Dec. 8 through 18, you can shop in store or online at REI.com and save up to 50% on products from top brands like Smartwool, Merrell, Sea to Summit, Rumpl, and more. As we mentioned above, there are also several notable deals on REI’s in-house collection, including sizable discounts on outerwear, baselayers, and accessories like hats, gloves, and mittens. Below we outline some of our top picks for on-sale gear, from winter and ski jackets to insulation, winter boots, camp shoes, and more.

Our Favorite Holiday Warm Up Deals

REI Men’s Powderbound and Women’s Powderbound Jacket: 40% Off

Ski jackets can get very expensive, but that doesn’t mean you need to spend big to get a quality product. For resort skiers looking for a warm and well-built jacket, the REI Co-op Powderbound is a nice choice. For just under $200 (and around $120 during the sale), you get a waterproof build with 80-gram synthetic insulation around the core (with lighter 60g in the sleeves), great organization both inside and out, and useful features like a powder skirt and pit zips. We also like the simple design and minimalist branding, which means that the Powderbound can be worn both for skiing and everyday winter use. To complete your kit, the Powderbound Insulated Snow Pants and Bib Snow Pants are also 40% off. And for resort skiers looking for a more breathable and streamlined option with upgraded waterproofing, check out REI’s uninsulated First Chair GTX Jacket, which is discounted from $319 to around $190.
See the Men's REI Powderbound Jacket  See the Women's REI Powderbound Jacket

Smartwool Men’s Classic Thermal and Women’s Classic Thermal 1/4 Zip: 30% Off

Smartwool has been the industry leader in baselayers for years, and merino wool is the most sought-after material for the job. Made with 100% merino (many baselayers are blends or synthetics), the Classic Thermal 1/4 Zip is the whole package: It’s warm, super soft against the skin, resists moisture, and doesn’t hold stink like polyester alternatives. All in all, it’s a great baselayer for skiing and other winter sports, and it's classy enough to wear après and around town, too. Based on the popularity of the Smartwool Classic Thermal, it’s also offered in a standard crew top and hoody (also 30% off during the sale), but we appreciate the ability to lower the zip and regulate heat when active. And for those who prefer to earn their turns, Smartwool's Intraknit Thermal (also 30% off) is purpose-built for keeping you comfortable when working up a sweat in cool to cold weather.
See the Men's Classic Thermal 1/4 Zip  See the Women's Classic Thermal 1/4 Zip

REI Men’s Stormhenge and Women’s Stormhenge Down Hybrid Jacket: 30% Off

A quality winter jacket is one of the best investments you can make this time of year, and REI’s own Stormhenge Down Hybrid stands out as an excellent all-around value. For an approachable $279 full MSRP and around $196 during the sale, you get reliable weather protection via a 2-layer waterproof shell and fully sealed seams, high-quality 850-fill down insulation with synthetic fill in moisture-prone areas, and even pit zips for dumping heat while on the move. Other technical features include a three-way adjustable hood that can accommodate a snow or climbing helmet, hipbelt-compatible hand pockets, and a lofty draft tube at the collar to seal in warmth. All told, it’s a highly versatile and well-built design that transitions nicely between outdoor and around-town use—it can even pull double duty as a backup ski jacket or summer mountaineering piece. It's also sold in parka-length versions for men and women that are discounted from $299 to around $210 through Dec. 18.
See the Men's Stormhenge Down Hybrid  See the Women's Stormhenge Down Hybrid

Merrell Men’s Thermo Chill Mid and Women’s Thermo Chill Mid Boots: 25% Off

For hikers who want to continue getting out in the winter months, a pair of winter hiking boots can make a world of difference on the trail. Merrell specializes in hiking footwear, so it comes as little surprise that their Thermo Chill Mid is our favorite winter-ready design of the year. Like many of our favorite hikers, the Thermo Chill is reasonably light and nimble underfoot, and all of the materials—from the sturdy leather upper to the soft-touch interior and grippy outsole—have a quality look and feel. In terms of warmth, we’ve found the 200-gram fill to be a great match for temperatures ranging from the mid teens to low 30s Fahrenheit, and the roomy toe box pairs well with heavyweight socks (something a surprising number of boots don’t allow). All told, it’s a capable choice for everything from long winter walks to hikes and snowshoeing.
See the Men's Merrell Thermo Chill Mid  See the Women's Merrell Thermo Chill Mid

REI Co-op Flash 22 Pack: 30% Off

REI Co-op’s Flash line of daypacks has been a mainstay among hikers, travelers, and those on a budget for years, and the latest Flash 22 is more competitive than ever. Simplicity wins out here: The Flash is frameless by design, meaning it lacks the rigidity of other daypacks and manages to keep weight extremely low at just 14 ounces (even less if you take out the back pad, hipbelt, and sternum strap). It also packs down small for stuffing into a larger backpack or duffel during travel and offers enough capacity and support for all-day outings on the trail (provided you pack relatively light). Perhaps most importantly, the Flash costs just $60 ($42 during the sale) and is well built overall, including the use of recycled and bluesign-approved materials. Taken together, it’s an impressively versatile design at a hard-to-beat price. Of note: The smaller and lighter Flash 18 is also discounted during the sale, from $40 to around $28.
See the REI Co-op Flash 22

Rumpl Original Puffy National Park Blanket: 25% Off

A good sleeping bag is a prerequisite for spending the night outdoors, but a camping blanket can help you stay comfortable before it’s time to turn in. Rumpl’s Original Puffy Blanket is our favorite overall design this year, combining functional warmth for three-season use with a tear-resistant outer shell and durable water-repellent (DWR) coating to shed light moisture. The features are nicely sorted, too, including a “Cape Clip” that allows you to secure the blanket around your shoulders to go hands-free, and corner loops to anchor it down in wind. And we love the extensive selection of national park-inspired designs, from vibrant desert scenes across the Southwest to towering peaks in the Tetons. Whether you’re tailgating, camping, or just curling up with a good book, the Original Puffy will keep you cozy while looking good in the process. Of note: Only the National Park collection is discounted during REI's Holiday Warm Up Sale, but Rumpl offers the blanket in several other fun patterns and colorways.
See the Rumpl Original Puffy National Park Blanket

REI Co-op Guide Insulated Gloves: 40% Off

A premium pair of ski gloves can run you upwards of $150, but REI’s Guide Insulated Gloves get the job done in moderate temps for a fraction of the cost. Like many of our favorites, the Guide features supple leather on the palm, a soft and breathable softshell fabric on the back of the hand, and a nice dose of insulation—in this case, synthetic fill and a plush shearling fleece lining—to keep your hands cozy and warm. Other highlights include ribbed cuffs that slide easily under jacket sleeves, a small suede patch for wiping your nose, and a classy look that belies the $50 price tag (they’re around $30 on sale). All told, the Guide Gloves are a sleek and thoughtfully designed option for everything from mild-weather skiing to outdoor chores like shoveling or chopping wood. They’re also available in a mitten style for the same price.
See the REI Co-op Guide Insulated Gloves

Balega Hidden Comfort Socks: 25% Off

Hiking socks are tasked with keeping your feet comfortable and dry while on the move, which isn’t always an easy feat. Balega’s Hidden Comfort Socks pull it off nicely: The minimalist design pairs great with low-profile hiking shoes or trail runners (there isn’t enough clearance for ankle-height shoes or boots) and offers a healthy dose of padding underfoot. Importantly, while many medium-cushioned socks run too warm during hot summer months, the Hidden Comfort’s synthetic Drynamix build wicks moisture and ventilates well (it also offers enough impact resistance for high-mileage days or while backpacking). All in all, these socks are very comfortable, breathable, and hold up well over the long term.
See the Balega Hidden Comfort Socks

REI Co-op Men’s 650 Down Jacket and Women’s 650 Down Jacket: 30% Off

A quality down jacket is a staple in any outdoor enthusiast’s closet, but quality down insulation typically doesn’t come cheap. This is what sets REI’s 650 Down Jacket apart from the rest of the market: For a very approachable $129 (and around $91 during the sale), the 650 Down Jacket is reasonably light at 10.9 ounces (for the men's version), provides solid warmth with 4.2 ounces of mid-range 650-fill-power down, and includes practical features like interior drop-in pockets (plus zippered hand pockets), a durable ripstop shell, and a hem drawcord for sealing in warmth. Added up, the 650 Down Jacket offers seriously good bang for your buck with great versatility for daily use, travel, light adventuring, and as a midlayer for resort skiing. We’ve included the non-hooded version of the jacket here, but it’s also available in hoody ($149) and vest ($100) variations, along with a handful of kids’ designs—all of which are discounted through Dec. 18.
See the Men's REI 650 Down Jacket  See the Women's REI 650 Down Jacket

Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Insulated: 30% Off

Sea to Summit is a strong player in the sleeping pad space, and their Ether Light XT is a longtime favorite for side sleepers and those who move around a lot during the night. With a whopping 4 inches of cushioning (most competitors are 3.5 in. thick or less), the Ether does a great job isolating you from the ground while weighing in at just over a pound. Other notable features include Sea to Summit’s distinctive and supportive Air Sprung Cells, a 3.2 R-value that should suffice for most summer and shoulder-season backpacking trips (it worked for us on nights in the mid 20s Fahrenheit), and a dual pump/stuff sack for quick and painless inflation. Taken together, the Ether is one of the most luxurious pads on the market and a solid value at around $140 during the Holiday Warm Up Sale. For winter camping, Sea to Summit also offers the Ether Light XT Extreme (discounted from $219 to around $154), which adds Thermolite insulation to achieve an R-value of 6.2.
See the Seat To Summit Ether Light XT Insulated

REI Men’s XeroDry GTX and Women’s XeroDry GTX Jacket: 40% Off

REI continues to expand and improve their in-house outerwear collection, and we really like what they came up with in the XeroDry GTX. As its name suggests, the XeroDry employs proven Gore-Tex waterproofing in a 2-layer build that helps keep weight and packed size in check. It also boasts useful features like two hand pockets and a chest pocket, adjustable cuffs, and a secure hood with multiple drawcords for dialing in fit. Finally, we applaud REI for the wide selection of colors and sizes, including tall for men and XS to 3X for women. All in all, performance handily exceeds the jacket’s $179 MSRP, and the $108 sale price is a downright steal.
See the Men's REI XeroDry  See the Women's REI XeroDry

Flylow Gear Men’s Baker Bib and Women’s Foxy Bib: 20% Off

Among the many—and growing—ski bib options on the market, the Flylow Gear Baker (and women's Foxy) is a true standout. Starting with protection, the 3-layer Intuitive shell and ultra-thick construction translate to excellent reliability in wet and rowdy conditions, and Flylow paid attention to the smaller details like Cordura reinforcements at the knees and cuffs and a plethora of pockets secured by water-resistant zippers. Many will also appreciate the massive side vents (one of which extends to the top of the bib for bathroom breaks) and zippered openings along the inner thigh, which allow you to dump heat on spring days or during occasional bootpacks into the sidecountry. Added up, it’s a highly protective, durable, and good-looking design for avid resort skiers. Flylow also offers an insulated version for the same price, as well as the more breathable Baker Perm that’s well suited for touring (all are 20% off).
See the Men's Flylow Gear Baker  See the Women's Flylow Gear Foxy

REI Co-op Camp Dreamer Slip-Ons: 30% Off

A comfy pair of slippers is a must for the fall and winter months, and REI pulls the formula off nicely with their Camp Dreamer Slip-Ons. Comfort is excellent thanks to the shoes’ smooth lining and plush TrailBed insoles. The finer details are well sorted, too: The outsole is tough and decently grippy, the drawcord at the front is a nice touch for dialing in fit depending on your sock choice, and the slippers are easy to get on and off with just enough material at the back to keep your foot in place. All in all, it’s a cozy and long-lasting design at a great price, and we love the down puffy-like upper that looks the part both around the house and outdoors (it’s an equally great camp shoe). If you prefer a little more ankle coverage, the mid-height Camp Dreamer Booties are also 30% off.
See the REI Camp Dreamer Slip-Ons

Other Details on the REI Co-op Holiday Warm Up Sale

There are a few ways to buy during REI’s Holiday Warm Up Sale. If you live near a brick-and-mortar REI, you can shop in store. This is a great way to try on gear and clothing in person and make sure you’re getting the right fit. If an item is not in stock at your store, a sales representative can place the order for you online—you’ll have the option of picking it up in store or having it shipped to your home address. Alternatively, those who prefer to shop at home can make purchases on REI.com. Shipping is free on orders over $50 (members get free shipping regardless of the total), and you also have the option of sending your order to your local store for free pickup. Regardless of how you choose to shop, all items are covered by REI’s 100% Satisfaction Guarantee and can be returned either by mail or in store within one year of purchase for members (non-members have a 90-day return window).
Shop the REI Co-op Holiday Warm Up Sale