Maybe Santa had bad directions and didn’t make it to your place this year — or maybe you over-estimated your Nice List status. In either event, if that one thing you were hoping for under the tree failed to materialize, there’s hope. Our winter clearance sale has begun, with up to 50 percent off some pretty swell stuff. This is especially good news for you active outdoors types, for now is the time to upgrade.
Among the ways you can make that happen:
Osprey Aether AG 85 backpack
Perhaps you’ve been eager to discover the joys of winter backpacking. Perhaps that eagerness has been tempered by the extra amount of stuff you need for winter camping, stuff that couldn’t possibly fit into your 50-liter pack. Meet the Osprey Aether AG 85, with a whopping 85 liters of space it’s just the pack to accommodate your bulkier 20-degree bag, your four-season tent, the extra food, the extra layers and all the other extras you need to weather a winter trip. And since it’s an AG pack — the AG standing for “Anti-Gravity” — the cush suspension system will make your 40-pound winter load feel all the lighter. Best of all, the pack is now on sale for $169, down from its usual $330. Learn more and reserve yours here.
The North Face Furnace 20 sleeping bag
Dang. Now that you think about your winter camping dream you realize you don’t have a cold-weather bag, either. Well, now you do: The North Face Furnace 20, a 600-fill ProDown bag that’s water-resistant and will keep you warm down to 20 degrees. It’s a mummy bag, but a rather generous one, allowing for a bit of tossing and turning (which becomes more of an issue during those 12-hour nights). On sale now for the irresistibly low price of $90, down from $199 (which, on its own, is pretty darn reasonable for a 20-degree bag). Learn more and reserve yours here.
Nemo Rave/Disco 30 sleeping bag
Perhaps you just had a good chuckle at the prospect of sleeping out in 20-degree weather. But you still need a new bag, and comfort is paramount. Another great deal: the Nemo Rave (for women) Disco (for men). The bag is rated to 30 degrees, but even if that’s lower than you’re interested in going, the unique venting system lets you open a couple gills and release excess body heat. The bag’s key feature, though, is its spoon shape, which adds more room at the elbows and knees, and accommodates a more restless sleeper and those of us who spend most of the evening on our sides. $149, down from $259.95/$319.95 for the Rave, $259.95 for the Disco. Learn more and reserve your Rave here, Disco here.
Big Agnes Insulated Air Core Ultra Double sleeping pad
Let’s get back to those 12-hour, 20-degree nights in your tent. A warm sleeping bag is one thing. An insulated sleeping pad with ample cushion is yet another thing you’ll need if you plan to comfortably weather those long, cold nights in your tent. It blows up to a thickness of 3.5-inches, the larger outer chambers keep you from sliding off in the night, and it’s rated down to freezing (that’s just the pad, btw). The “Double” part indicates it’s for two people, and with a width of 50 inches (just over four feet), it’s up to the task — but could also be great for you restless singles who are constantly bouncing off your narrow pad during a long night. And at a sale price of just $99 (down from $199), it’s comparable in price to similar single-wides. Learn more and reserve yours here.
Trail shoes?
Need new trail shoes? Or an extra pair to help share the load of an active winter ahead?
Astral and Keen shoes are all 30 percent off. And we have a particularly great deal on the Salewa Ultra Train 2. Available in both men’s and women’s, this shoe is targeted to fast hikers and trail runners, but its firm sole and sticky Michelin grip make it a great option for a casual hiker, especially one whose New Year’s resolution is to up their game in 2020. Lightweight and sturdy — a combination that’s hard to find. On sale now for $69, down from $139. Learn more here.
A few more things
- That’s just a smattering of what we have on clearance. Stop by your local store to see what else we have that belongs in your gear closet.
- Interested in a particular piece of gear or clothing you see here or on our website? Click the links provided to see if it’s still available in your store.
- Interested in winter backpacking? Our GetBackpacking! program is running three, three-day winter trips this winter: The Appalachian Trail from Max Patch to Hot Springs Jan. 17-19; Merchants Millpond State Park, Feb. 7-9; The Neusiok Trail, March 6-8. Click the appropriate link for more information and to sign up.
- Interested in getting started as a hiker? Our GetHiking! Winter Series for Beginners consists of eight weekly Sunday afternoon hikes with distances progressing from just over a mile to just over 5 miles. The hikes are at different locations throughout the Triangle area, and begin on Jan. 5. For more information and to sign up, go here. If you’re an experienced hiker who has trouble motivating yourself to hike in the winter, we also have a program for you, with hikes ranging from 4.2 miles to 8.2 miles. Learn more and sign up here.