The 5 Best Times to Get Cheap Camping Gear – Seizing Opportunities to Get Better Gear for Less

The 5 Best Times to Get Cheap Camping Gear
The 5 Best Times to Get Cheap Camping Gear

Camping is a pricey hobby to start. There’s a ton of gear to buy, and it rarely comes cheap!

Most manufacturers sell last year’s surplus supply of gear at a discount in the offseason. Purchasing your summer camping gear in winter will get you the best deal, and buying your winter gear in summer has similar benefits. 

There are other times of the year when you’ll get a fantastic discount on camping gear, and I’ve researched them for you to provide the guide below.

When Is The Best Time To Buy Discounted Camping Gear? – The 5 Best Times to Get Cheap Camping Gear

If you ever want to buy anything at a discount, buy it off-season. This means you’re buying something that has recently gone out of season—for example, it’s like buying a heavy winter coat in the middle of July. It’ll cost less because fewer people are buying it.

The off-season tactic works for camping gear, too. You’ll find deals on things like the best blackout tents or best tarps for hammock camping.

But there are a few other times when you’ll want to hunt for bargains on camping goods.

Summer Offseason – The Best Times to Buy Camping Gear

Buying your summer camping gear in September and October is an excellent idea. You’ll be getting last season’s summer tents, sleeping bags, and more. 

Camping gear retailers are starting to sell their winter gear, but they’re not about to throw away their summer stuff. They’ll lose money doing that! Instead, they’ll discount it to try and sell it faster, making more room for them to stock the newly in-demand winter gear.

Take advantage of this natural yearly occurrence, because you’re sure to snag tons of high-quality summer camping goods when the offseason rolls around.

Winter Offseason – The Best Times to Buy Camping Gear

When buying winter gear, you want to apply the same tactics as above. Purchase your gear when winter things aren’t in season.

In most places, the winter offseason is in early spring, around March and April. This is when you’ll see summer stock start to go on sale, and winter stock will start showing up with some fantastic discounts. You’ll want to grab it while you can.

However, it’s not always early spring when the winter gear starts going on sale. It could be much earlier or later in the year depending on where you are.

For example, if you’re in Death Valley, then it’ll be warmer for much longer throughout the year. Winter gear from local stores might stop being in demand as early as February.

If you’re somewhere colder, then winter gear may stop being in demand when you hit May or June. 

Keep an eye on manufacturers’ websites to know when the gear is going on sale!

End Of Year Sales – The Best Times to Buy Camping Gear

End-of-year and holiday sales are common, so look out for discounts around December. You’re likely to get a very good deal, as retailers know that camping gear makes a wonderful Christmas gift for the right enthusiast.

These sales are also a common way to get rid of last year’s items to get new things in for the New Year.

You’re highly likely to find a great deal the day after Christmas, as retailers want to get rid of the stock that people didn’t purchase as holiday gifts. Getting a deal before New Year’s Eve is also common, as they’ll be trying hard to push the previous year’s stock onto people.

Black Friday/Cyber Monday – The Best Times to Buy Camping Gear

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are the Friday and Monday after Thanksgiving in the US. They’re two days where you’ll find deals on almost everything, from every retailer. These events started in the US, but now many countries in Europe do them, too.

If you’re going to get a discount at any point during the year, then you’re going to get one on one of these days! Some retailers have sales in the week leading up to Black Friday and the week following Cyber Monday.

Amazon Prime Day – The Best Times to Buy Camping Gear

Amazon Prime day usually happens around mid-July. It’s a period where Amazon Prime members can get great deals on a variety of items on Amazon, including camping goods.

Be sure to research the deal you’re getting before buying something at a “discount.” Sometimes Amazon will tell you that you’re getting a discount, but you’re not. Use a price history tracker to ensure you’re getting a good deal.

July is a great month to use your free trial of Amazon Prime!

What Kind of Discounts Should You Expect? – The 5 Best Times to Get Cheap Camping Gear

The offseason and various sales throughout the year will likely get you a 15–30% discount on camping gear from various retailers. However, Black Friday and Cyber Monday often bump these discounts to 50–70%!

You’ll find discounts differ between websites, though. Sometimes buying right from the manufacturer will get you the best deal. Other times, a third party offers a bigger discount. Amazon sometimes has better deals than manufacturers.

If you want the biggest discount possible, consider buying gear from a brand you don’t know. 

Big names like REI are tempting and trustworthy, but smaller brands have bigger discounts. They have to provide a larger discount to seem more enticing, as people are less likely to buy from an unknown brand.

Make sure you read reviews before buying from a brand you don’t know, though. Lesser-known doesn’t mean low quality, but it can mean low quality if you choose the wrong brand or product.

Amazon is a great place to find gear from lesser-known brands, and the reviews are right there. 

Read reviews carefully, though, as sometimes they’ll be from a previous version of the listing. I was once shopping for a pair of shoes on Amazon, but all the reviews for a particular pair were about a musical instrument.

Where Can You Buy Discounted Camping Gear? – The 5 Best Times to Get Cheap Camping Gear

If you’re looking for a brand recommendation, then I suggest looking at REI gear. In fact, REI has a deals section on its website.

Amazon is also a fantastic place for running discounts and promotions, and you can find gear from big names in the camping industry on there!

Other great manufacturers include Backcountry, Camping World, and Camp Saver.

Tips on Getting the Best Deals – The 5 Best Times to Get Cheap Camping Gear

There are ways to ensure you can get the best deal possible when you’re already getting a discount. Here are a few tips:

  • Ask: If you’re in person, ask about deals—sometimes they won’t tell you about deals until you ask
  • Research: Search for a product online before you buy it, and compare prices from different websites
  • Look for a manager: Try to talk to managers about deals when shopping in-person; lower-level workers might fear they’ll get in trouble by giving you a deal that’s too good
  • Shop at the end of the day: If shopping in person, go at the end of the day, as people will want to give you good deals to make their sales quotas
  • Package pricing: See if websites offer discounts while buying lots of things at once, or ask in person about package price deals

Conclusion – The 5 Best Times to Get Cheap Camping Gear

The 5 Best Times to Get Cheap Camping Gear
The Best Times Of Year to Buy Camping Gear

If you want a good deal, then wait to buy your summer gear in winter, your winter gear in summer, or all of your goods on Black Friday or similar.

Make sure you shop smart. Check different websites. One might have something for 50% off, but another will have it for 70% off. Do everything to get the best deal on the best gear you can!

Frequently Asked Questions – The 5 Best Times to Get Cheap Camping Gear

What are Some of the Best Camping Gear Brands that Amazon Offers? – FAQs

Here is a list of some of the best camping equipment brands available on Amazon:

  1. Coleman – Well-known for its long-lasting and reasonably priced tents, sleeping bags, and camp stoves.
  2. MSR – Makes high-quality backpacking equipment such as tents, stoves, and water filters.
  3. Osprey – Provides comfortable and long-lasting backpacks for hiking and camping excursions.
  4. Black Diamond – Well-known for producing dependable headlamps and other outdoor lighting products.
  5. Therm-a-Rest – Makes comfortable sleeping pads ideal for camping.
  6. Patagonia – Provides environmentally friendly outdoor clothing that is both fashionable and functional.
  7. Yeti – Known for its long-lasting coolers that can keep food and beverages cold for days.

These brands are all well-known among outdoor enthusiasts for producing high-quality products that are built to withstand the rigors of camping trips. These brands have you covered if you’re looking for a tent that can withstand heavy rain or a backpack that won’t wear out after just one trip.

Furthermore, many of these businesses prioritize sustainability in their manufacturing processes and materials, making them an excellent choice for environmentally conscious campers.

What are Some of the Best Stores to Find Discounted Camping Gear In-Person? – FAQs

Here are some of the best places to buy discounted camping gear in person, as well as why they are worth visiting:

  • REI Outlet – REI is a well-known outdoor retailer that sells high-quality equipment at reasonable prices. Their outlet store sells discounted previous-season items, returns, and overstocked inventory. Everything from tents to backpacks to sleeping bags can be found for a fraction of the original price.
  • Sierra Trading Post – This store offers a wide variety of outdoor gear at low prices, including camping equipment, clothing, and footwear. They have both an online store and physical locations throughout the United States.
  • Cabela’s Bargain Cave – Cabela’s is a well-known hunting, fishing, and camping retailer with a clearance section called the Bargain Cave. Everything from tents to cooking equipment is heavily discounted here.
  • Dick’s Sporting Goods Clearance Section – Dick’s Sporting Goods is a well-known sporting goods retailer that sells camping equipment at competitive prices. Their clearance section frequently contains heavily discounted items from previous seasons or overstocked inventory.
  • Walmart Outdoor Section – While Walmart may not be the first place that comes to mind when it comes to purchasing outdoor gear, its outdoor section frequently has great deals on camping equipment such as tents, sleeping bags, and camp chairs.

These stores all offer high-quality camping gear at low prices, making them excellent choices for budget-conscious campers looking for dependable equipment for their trips.

Why Does Camping Gear Go Out of Season? – FAQs

Camping equipment, like many other products, goes out of season as manufacturers update their product lines to keep up with changing trends and consumer demands. The needs of campers change as the seasons change. In the summer, for example, campers may be looking for lightweight tents with plenty of ventilation to keep cool in hot weather. During the winter, however, campers may be looking for heavier tents that can withstand snow and wind.

Furthermore, in order to remain competitive in the market, camping equipment manufacturers frequently release new products each year. These new products may have improved designs or materials over previous models. As a result, older models may become obsolete as newer and better alternatives become available.

Retailers, in addition to changes in consumer demand and product innovation, influence the seasonality of camping gear. At the end of a season, many retailers will clear out old inventory to make room for new products. This can result in steep discounts on out-of-season items.

Overall, camping gear goes out of season due to a combination of factors such as changes in consumer demand, manufacturer product innovation, and retailer inventory management. Consumers can find great deals on high-quality camping gear regardless of the season by staying aware of these factors and shopping strategically during sales and clearance events.

Ben Wann- Tent Camping Expert
AUTHOR

My name is Ben Wann, and I’m a lifelong tent camper and backpacker who jumps on every opportunity to get out and enjoy nature! I created this site to inspire others to get outside and to make the process easier for you.