HikerDeals' Best-of-the-Best Outdoor Gear Deals:
HikerDeals Bargain, Deal, and Sale Archive for July, 2007
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
It’s 1 pound, 6 ounces and sports Primaloft insulation that drys quick and keeps insulating when wet and at $95.37, the Scorpio sleeping bag from The North Face is a great bag for hot, potentially rainy summer camping trips. The temp rating of 40-degrees (that’s Fahrenheit, or 4° C for those Canadian & Euro-campers who occasionally turn up here) is plenty warm for two-season use in most of the country and the bag is a lot lighter than the traditional hot-summer fall back of a fleece blanket.
Even better the Scorpio bag has free shipping and no sales tax outside of Utah from BackcountryOutlet.com.
Posted July 31st, 2007 - Trackback Link - No Comments »
The Transition shirt from Mountain Hardware is the lightest softshell possible with modern fabrics. At only 10 ounces it provides full body protection from wind and light rain and even has a feathered lining that’s soft enough to wear without another shirt underneath – perfect for hiking in hot, humid, and rainy conditions. Cut is slightly baggy due to the material, though the fabric’s stretch and quarter-zip allow a snugger fit than previous versions.
Currently just $47.96 at Sierra Trading Post, only available in size Small and Medium.
Posted July 31st, 2007 - Trackback Link - No Comments »
With just a shell of Windstopper fabric and a light liner this Mountain Hardware Transition vest is only 6 ounces but worth so much more in warmth when summer weather turns cold in the mountains or on windy & misty runs. Great for turning away wind and light rain Transition gear is far more breathable than a shell and made with a trimmer fit to cut weight an work well as a layering piece. Currently 48% off at Sierra Trading Post.
Posted July 31st, 2007 - Trackback Link - No Comments »
On one of my first backpacking trips I brought a fork and spoon, but no knife. That oversight wasn’t a big deal though since most of our spreadable foods were packed in refillable squeeze tubes, like these. Peanut butter, honey, even downsizing the sunscreen (in case you were convinced to buy that quart-size “bargain” bottle) are all good uses for these tubes. One caution though, don’t sit on them, just because they’re leak-free doesn’t mean they won’t pop and leave a stinky, bear-attracting mess all over your hiking partner’s pants.
Even better they’re only $1.20 for two at Sierra Trading Post right now.
Posted July 31st, 2007 - Trackback Link - No Comments »
The best thing I’ve found to de-funk hydration system bladders, like Camelbaks, is to drop in a several denture cleaning tablets. Even name-brand Efferdent is cheaper and more effective than the cleaning tabs sold by most camping gear shops.
Remember to open the hose valve or to not to seal the bladder completely, since the bubbles from the tablets could burst the bladder otherwise.
Now that your Camelbak bladder is clean keep the funk from coming back with tip #1.
Posted July 29th, 2007 - Trackback Link - 2 Comments »
Waterproof, lightweight, and on sale. It doesn’t get much better than that in waterproof, breathable shells – but the Prophecy shell from The North Face is also well-designed and durable. At just 10.4 ounces it’s surprising that this shell still sports a fully adjustable hood, pit-zips (!!! – and I like pit-zips so much better than the chest pocket vents that are common on ultralight gear lately), and both chest pockets and a sleeve pocket that’s perfect for lip balm or an iPod. At just $109.99 I’m even more surprised that The North Face kept the price on this shell so low.
The full warranty and quality from The North Face and both free shipping & no sales tax outside of WA from Altrec make this shell a deal compared to generic shop-brands at similar prices. Also, still available in Blue, Black, and Orange in all sizes S – XL.
Posted July 29th, 2007 - Trackback Link - No Comments »
For years The North Face was known for expedition tents; sturdy, bright yellow, and (necessarily) heavy 4-season tents that could stand up to just about anything. After several seasons of experimenting they’ve got a 3-season backpacking winner. The Heron 23 by TNF is an ultralight 4 pound, 13 ounce shelter perfect for 3-season backpacking. The single door and vestibule keep the weight down. And although 28 square-foot floor plan is a bit short for anyone over 6’6″ the poles connect with an aluminum hub-system to create near-vertical walls and a lot more room to move around inside.
At $219.99 The North Face’s Heron 23 is a bargain for a tent this light and backed by a lifetime The North Face warranty. Icing on the cake is the free shipping and no sales tax outside of WA state from Altrec.com.
Posted July 29th, 2007 - Trackback Link - No Comments »
Made from Polartec Power Shield and with “welded” seams the Apex softshell jacket from The North Face is a great piece of gear. I don’t own one yet, but the 40% off at Backcountry Outlet is making me think about getting one – even though the price is still about $180.
Like all softshells it’s wind and water resistant, but it’s also lightweight and slightly insulated. Normally I’m a fan of softshells with nothing thicker than the windproof membrane, but those don’t quite cut it when you’re not really moving around in the cold and typically using some type of membrane they also don’t seem to fit much better than the hardshell jackets they’re supposed to replace. The North Face got it right with the Apex, it’s cut trim (I wouldn’t recommend it if your waistline is bigger than your chest measurement) and is REALLY flexible. Not only is the Power Shield fabric great, but the sonic welding on the seams actually fely like they worked – more flexible and lighter than stitching.
Posted July 27th, 2007 - Trackback Link - No Comments »
A slim, front-loading daypack the Inner Limits by Patagonia is a great overnight pack in the summer and has ski and snowboard-carrying straps for winter use. The stretch-woven harness is Patagonia’s most comfortable and this Inner Limits backpack is also outfitted with a hydration bladder pocket and a removable foam backpad.
Normally $148.95, the pack is just $74.97 at Altrec.com who also offer free shipping on all orders of $45 or more and no sales tax to orders shipped outside of Washington state.
Posted July 24th, 2007 - Trackback Link - No Comments »
A big 40% off this Khumbu synthetic-fill sleeping bag makes for a summer camping bargain from Backcountry Outlet. The Thermolite Extra insulation isn’t the lightest or most-compressible synthetic fill on the market. It’s still survivable though, as the bag’s weight of 3lbs. 6oz. is only about a half-pound heavier than similar long bags and the money saved can go toward a good sleeping pad or a camping chair for non-backpackers. Nonetheless, the shingled construction is higher-end and will prevent cold spots well, plus the bag is still much smaller and lighter than many of the ~$40 bags from Target or WalMart.
The $88 is an even bigger bargain since BackcountryOutlet.com also has free shipping and no sales tax outside of Utah.
Posted July 23rd, 2007 - Trackback Link - No Comments »
Eastbay has a huge selection of trail running shoes, workout gear, and wicking shirts for hot summer hikes. Even hotter is this 30% off coupon, good on just about all the sporting goods at the shop. To get the discount enter coupon code: LKS17A3C at checkout. Hurry though, the coupon expires in a week, on July 27, 2007.
Excludes some brands, including Under Armour and Nike Shox.
Posted July 20th, 2007 - Trackback Link - No Comments »
Performance Bike has a ton of cycling gear and pretty good prices on it all the time too. Right now you can get 10% off everything, free shipping, and 10% store credit back.
To put the deal together: join the Performance Buyer’s Club
to get 10% store credit and 2nd day shipping upgrades … yes, it’s $25 for the membership so it may not be worth it if you’re not going to buy at least $250 worth of stuff. Then use coupon code 6001776 for 10% off and all orders of $75 or more ship for free.
Posted July 19th, 2007 - Trackback Link - No Comments »
Even if the only thing you’ve had in your CamelBak or hydration system bladder is water it can still get a little funky. Empty it and store in the freezer to prevent weird tastes and funk from growing.
Even with only a bit of leftover water in it, when a bladder sits in the closet half-empty for weeks at a time the weird tastes from water fountains and backcountry water can seep into it. When things are frozen nothing can grow or seep into the bladder material.
Posted July 19th, 2007 - Trackback Link - 1 Comment »
Adventure packs are great for Eurail travel and athletic trips based out of a hotel (instead of a tent). Half backpack and half luggage, the backpack straps and hipbelt are well-padded but can be covered by a zip-off cover or completely removed. Many convertible backpacks like these two Victorinox Adventure models also feature detachable daypacks for really sporty daytrips and pull-out rain covers to keep that dry-clean-only outfit from getting soggy.
Both the 4200 and 3200 cubic-inch models are on clearance at Sierra Trading Post:
Save an extra $10: the next link applies a 10% off coupon at checkout, but your order must be $100 or more: 10% off $100+ Sierra Trading Post
Posted July 18th, 2007 - Trackback Link - No Comments »