Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

Trekking: The Manual’s guide to finding discounted gear

Man isn’t meant to stay indoors — our weekly “Trekking” column can attest to that. It’s a column dedicated to the adventurer inside of all of us, the one pining to ditch the office humdrum for a seven-week jaunt in the Grand Tetons, or fiending to catch some waves someplace other than the North Shore. One day we may highlight a new ultra-light camping stove or minimalist water filter, and the next you may find us getting wrapped up in a set of Norquayco’s handmade canoe paddles. Life doesn’t just happen inside the workplace and home, so get outside and live it.

Quality outdoor gear is an investment, whether it be in your health or your happiness. Sure, you could spend years amassing a ragtag collection of budget-based outdoor apparel and goods — from bottom-of-the-line synthetic sleeping bags to behemoth camping stoves that weigh more than your entire pack — but there’s no guarantee the equipment will stand the test of time or even withstand the duration of your next summer trek through the woods. Thankfully, you rarely have to pay full price for premium gear so long as you maintain an open mind when it comes to the logo stitched on the front. There’s a myriad of online retailers specifically dedicated to selling quality outdoor gear at discounted rates, sometimes at up to 50 or 80-percent off the initial retail price for a limited time. Below our a few of our favorites, whether you’re in need of a 60-liter, Black Diamond backpack or a Arc’Teryx down hoody. After all, we all know a good bargain is hard to pass up when you see it.

Recommended Videos

clymb_logo-02blkLaunched in Portland, Ore., in 2009 by a seasoned team of industry insiders and outdoor enthusiasts, the Clymb has quickly become the premiere site for acquiring outdoor goods of all nature. The company buys its products outright from big-name brands such as Columbia and Alps Mountaineering, only to then resell the goods at discounted rate to consumers. The site’s offerings include everything from cycling and climbing to tents and snowboards, much of which is steeply discounted at more than 40-percent off. Sales typically last 72 hours, or until supplies last, and the site even offers select vacation packages to round out your next adventure. Nonetheless, it’s about the gear — not that five-day, luxury trip to the humid coast of Guatemala for $849.

Essential buys featured on the Clymb: Danner boots and Topo Designs day packs.

logo-geartradeGear Trade is essentially the Craigslist of outdoor gear. The site rarely features new products, but instead, allows sellers to post their used wears online at a discounted rate. Nearly every product posting on the site features an accompanying set of images — some more so professional than others — along with a seller rating directly based directly on his or her previous interactions with other users. Moreover, the site features a slew of pages with products discounted as low as $5, allowing you to pick up up a couple stuff sacks or an extra carabiner for next to nothing. The site is owned and operated by Backpacking.com as well, and though all sales are final, Gear Trade holds the money in between transactions so you never pay for an item that was misrepresented online.

Essential buys featured on Gear Trade: Black Pine Sports six-man tents and vintage lanterns.

tumblr_static_hb2San Francisco-based Huckberry isn’t as concerned with technical gear as it is the atmosphere and apparel surrounding it. The notable site features a melange of American-made products, from Woolrich footwear to Stone River knives, many of which the site features at the top for quick access. In addition to lifestyle accessories such as wallets and watches, the site offers an abundance of high-quality outdoor gear, letting you save big on fishing gear from renowned manufacturers and more off-the-beaten path equipment. Huckberry may not offer steep discounts on big-name brands, but as evident from recent interview with founders Andy Forch and Richard Greiner, the company showcases a remarkable appreciation for its customers. Case in point: the Explorer Grants.

Essential buys featured on Huckberry: Polar 1-man tent and Tenkar Rod Co lures.

Sierra PostWith more than 25 years of retail experience, Sierra Trading Post has become a mainstay in the discount realm. Although the company offers deals on a variety of goods, from luggage to electronics, its the site’s robust selection of outdoor apparel and goods that easily earns it spot on our list. Sierra Trading Post provides deals from renowned brands such as Keen and Burton, with a bevy of other notable manufacturers thrown in the mix for good measure. You can easily score a sleeping bag or pair of climbing shoes for up to 70-percent off, but it’s the site’s clearance section that truly shines. Where else can you find waterproof camo pants and pristine, semi-dry diving suit for less than $300 with free shipping? Nowhere, that’s where.

Essential buys featured on Sierra Trading Post: North Face trunks and SmartWool socks.

3343807The outdoor offerings on Steep & Cheap may not be the most unique or discounted on the Web, but there’s a good deal to be said for phenomenal customer service and a crackshot return policy. Though the site’s homepage always highlights a current deal, one that lasts a mere 10 minutes or until it sells out, there’s also an assortment of deals lining the various sections featured elsewhere on the site. For instance, you can quickly browse a handful of climbing gear based on the brand and your desired size, or merely peruse the site’s seasonal clearance options if you’re not looking for anything in particular. Just don’t forget to check back often for that aforementioned steal, or better yet, sign up for Steep & Cheap’s daily newsletter.

Essential buys featured on Steep & Cheap: La Sportiva climbing shoes and Icebreaker baselayers.

Brandon Widder
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Brandon Widder is a journalist and a staff writer for the Manual and its brother site, Digital Trends, where he covers tech…
Cold for 8 days, light to carry, and modular: Dometic’s new cooler changes the game
This modular cooling system might just be your solution for a hot summer
Dometic Recon Cooler

Cold, refreshing drinks are perfect during those hot summer adventures, but it can be challenging to find a great cooler system to bring with you, especially on a multi-day journey. Dometic, an outdoor tech company, has just introduced Recon, a stackable, modular cooling system designed to stay cold for up to eight days.

One of the most exciting aspects of Recon is its compact design. “We’ve all wrestled with coolers that don’t stack or fit. Recon fixes that,” says Josh Militello, President of Segment Mobile Cooling Solutions at Dometic. “It’s cold storage that packs tighter, stacks cleaner, and moves easier. No wasted space. No extras. Just a system built for how people actually roll.”

Read more
Why Spokane is one of the Pacific Northwest’s most underrated outdoor destinations
Spokane is high luxury, but it's interconnected with the outdoors
View from the Numerica Sky Ride in Spokane

I've lived in Washington State for a couple of years now, but I'm still unpacking all of the great places to stay and visit. There's so much to do in the Evergreen state, and during my recent stay in Spokane, I can definitely say that there are a lot of high-end luxury experiences too. From high-end hotels like the Davenport Collection and eateries to some of the best wines in the state, you might be surprised to learn that Spokane is actually a top destination for nature lovers, too. Here's everything you need to know about the wilder side of Spokane and why you should consider coming here during your next vacation.
Outdoorsy things to do in downtown Spokane

This city is a particularly unique place because the town was built around the Spokane River. This is a gorgeous ribbon of blue that's full of waterfalls, eddies, and streams that wind their way through the city. The best place to see this is in downtown Spokane, specifically at the famous Riverfront Park.

Read more
Looking for adventure and culture? This city is the best in the world for urban hiking
Here's the world's #1 city for outdoor lovers
Rio de Janeiro

As an outdoor enthusiast, one of the top things I look for in a travel destination is proximity to the outdoors. I'm certainly not averse to pitching tents, but sometimes it's nice to mix in a bit of urban excitement to my travels. Sports Shoes, a UK running retail brand, just completed a study that analyzed the top urban areas for hikers on break. My personal favorite hiker-friendly city is Seattle, which squeaked in at number 12. The number one spot goes to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.

The winner was decided through two primary variables: the number of hikes in the area and the average rating and reviews of those hikes. This was averaged out into a hikeability score out of 100, and the only one to get a perfect score was Rio de Janeiro. With a total of 334 hikes averaging a rating of 4.8 stars, this city is officially the world's number one urban area for hikers.
Top hikes in Rio de Janeiro

Read more