HikerDeals' Best-of-the-Best Outdoor Gear Deals:
- Sierra Trading Post: Extra 15% Off Fishing, hunting & Work Gear
- Moosejaw: 10% off with coupon code MOOSE, extra 10% off sale items with code SUPERSALE
- Sierra Trading Post: Extra 10% Off Boots, Shoes, Gear, and Workout Apparel + January Coupon 10% Off $100+ Orders
HikerDeals Bargain, Deal, and Sale Archive for January, 2007
$113 – Patagonia Specter Pullover Waterproof Jacket
6.5 ounces. The Patagonia Specter pullover shell is one of the lightest fully waterproof/breathable jackets on the market.
The Specter jacket is also one of the most breathable jackets on the market because it’s made from Patagonia’s H2No Storm membrane and with stitch-free, “welded” seams that don’t require any non-breathable seam tape. Great features include waterproof-coated zippers, helmet-compatible hood, and a zipper offset at the chin. The one big negative is the half zipper – making the jacket an ultralight but somewhat inconvenient pullover.
$19.95 – Black Diamond NightRay LED Headlamp (While Supplies Last)
A Steep and Cheap-class deal from Backcountry.com today (I think both sites are run by the same people anyway). The Black Diamond NightRay LED headlamp is marked down 50%, from $39.95 to $19.95 – starting today, 1/25/2007, and ending when current supplies are out. Hopefully supplies will last a while because the Backcoutry webstore says they have quite a few in stock, right now: “Quantity on hand: 946″.
Update, Feb. 6, 2007: Per our reader’s comment, the headlamp price is up to $27.95 (even with 505 of them still in stock). That price is still a 30% discount, but so much for the super-low price “promise”
The NightRay headlamp follows in Black Diamond’s tradition of making excellent headlamps. It’s light at 4.2 ounces, but the 5 LEDs and high-intensity should replace bigger and heavier traditional bulb headlamps instead of keeping this LED lamp just as a backup or ultralight. The 5 LEDs get 60 hours of burn time from 3 AAA batteries in a back-of-head battery-pack, giving the lamp good balance and better comfort than ultralight headlamps. The center LED is also focused with a separate lens to keep its light beam narrow and working for a longer distance than non-lensed LED headlamps.
$75 – Patagonia Men’s R2 Fleece Jacket on Sale
Patagonia improved the venerable R2 fleece fabric this year. The new R2 jacket is lighter, only 14.5 ounces, and with the new fleece knit it’s both more wind resistant & more compressible than before (when it earned an editor’s choice award from Backpacker magazine).
Now it’s on sale in all sizes, S – XXL, at Patagonia.com for 50% off. That’s just $75 for this jacket with Patagonia-quality and THE lifetime warranty.
Also available from Patagonia.com for $75 in Blaze Orange color in sizes S – XXL.
$73 – Patagonia Men’s R1.5 Fleece Jacket on Sale
The R1.5 fleece from Patagonia was one of the best ever made – until Patagonia improved it this year. The new R1.5 fleece varies its knit across the body without any added seams. This R1.5 jacket is now lighter and more flexible than before, plus the glued-in zippers reduce stitching and maintain flexibility. Built-for-comfort Patagonia didn’t leave out handwarmer pockets or the offset chin zipper.
If you’re a size Small or Medium score the R1.5 jacket for 50% off, just $73, at Patagonia.com.
What Waterproof Gear Ratings Mean
Ever wondered what those labels “5K waterproof rating” or “20,000mm waterproof coating” mean?
It turns out that even Gore Tex and similar waterproof membranes can soak through eventually. Those fabrics are typically rated to 20,000mm (or 20K, it’s the same thing). That means they can withstand at least 20,000 millimeters (about 66 feet) of rain over 24 hours. I did say “at least”, but a few hours under a high pressure hose could eventually soak through even the best membranes. The 5K or 5,000mm ratings mean the fabric can withstand 16-17 feet of rain over 24 hours.
Thanks to Backcountry Bob over at Backcountry.com for the explanation. Check out Bob’s article “What’s the deal with these waterproof ratings?” for a more detailed description than I wrote.
Performance “Inertial Resistance” Trainer, Good Resistance & Great Road Feel
“Inertial resistance.” Big words, but it’s makes for one of the best cycling trainers I’ve ever tried. That’s the Performance Travel Trac I-Force and the resistance unit doesn’t use a magnetis or fluid brake. Whatever it does use has a great road feel and a huge range of resistance – lots of easy to moderate levels all the way up to sprinter-class high-levels. Plus, the roller uses some sort of rubber or elastomer material, so there’s less slipping and a lot less tire wear than with most cycling trainers.
If you’re near a Performance retail store give it a try in the shop. If not pick it up the I-Force trainer online for 18% off, just $269.99.
43% Off – Spyder Overlock Func Long Sleeve Base-Layer Top
Not just long underwear anymore, base-layers are what keep everyone dry and warm on the slopes and looking (and smelling – unlike old-school polyester long underwear -) less-than-objectionable when wandering around the on-slope lodge at lunch or the bars at the base. Spyder did base layers right with this Overlock Func long sleeve top. It’s light, longer in the back to stay tucked in, and has no seams on the top of the shoulders so your out-of-bounds pack or Camelback straps won’t rub things raw. Plus, it’s 43% off, just $45, at Sierra Trading Post now.
10% Off Pet Toys & Essentials at CheapPetStore.com
It was only a matter of time before smaller pet shops went online to compete with the big warehouse stores. If you have a pet check out Cheap Pet Store for low prices and a better variety of those quirky, “pet parent” gifts for some of those rediculously pet-centric friends. Plus enter coupon code CCP1 at checkout for 10% off your entire CheapPetStore.com order.
Sierra Designs Women’s Down Sleeping Bags, 30% Off
Need to stay warm during late fall or early winter camping trips? Take a look at the Sierra Designs Mist down sleeping bag. The Mist is filled with 800-fill power down and rated to 0° F (sorry non-US readers, that’s about -18° C). But, this a a top=of-the line sleeping bag and the shell is made form Sierra Designs’ waterproof, breathable DriZone fabric. It may not be enough to get rid of the bivy sack, but it will keep the down dry no matter how much condensation drips from the tent or how much snow blows in an open tent door. This bag qualifies for free shipping from Backcountry.com.
Not warm enough? If you need to stay warm in deep-winter camping, try the Sierra Designs Electra down sleeping bag. It’s rated to -20° (about -29° C) and built with the same 800-fill power down and DriZone shell fabric as the Mist – this is a serious winter bag. Also qualifies for free shipping from Backcountry.com.
Free Shipping Coupon at Sierra Trading Post
The January coupon for Sierra Trading Post is out. Click through any of the links in this post and get free shipping on all orders of $85 and up (coupon valid until 2/8/2007).
It’s not the greatest discount ever, but it’s probably the same as about 10-15% off any $100-200 order – and with all the discounts, and the fact that I don’t want to go out and hunt for parking at a mall, I tend to shop at Sierra Trading Post whether they have a coupon out or not.
Amazon.com Customer Service Phone Number
The toll-free phone number for Amazon’s customer service phone number
1-800-201-7575
My experience with their customer service rep’s has been good. They can’t pull miracles out of thin air, like making packages with “guaranteed delivery” that are four weeks late appear on my doorstep, but they are friendly and don’t seem to be reading from a script like at most other customer service centers.