Insane American consumerism hits its apex each year the day after Thanksgiving. “Black Friday,” this year on November 25th, is not totally lost on the outdoors world, especially online. If you’re not flocking to an area mega-mart at 3a.m. to SAVE HUGE BIG! and buy toys or other gift items, you might want to click and view a few online outdoors deals we’ve rounded up here. Your first stop, as any self-serving blog post will tell you, should be RIGHT HERE on this publication (don’t leave!), where wordpress.com runs a comprehensive store with thousands of items in stock . Still just snooping? This past week, we published two holiday gift guides — “Gifts for Obsessive Cyclists” and our “Holiday Guide: Camp and Canoe Gifts” — so look there for more than 25 curated goods. Or, for an ultimate curated, this-is-the-good-stuff!-type list look no further than GJ’s ‘Top 10’ Gear article , our annual best-of-the-best awards piece published this week.
But back to Black Friday and all its wonders. . . Beyond the GearJunkie sphere, dozens of shops online are going the Black Friday way with sales, free shipping, and other promotions. Zappos is touting “PRE–HOLIDAY MARKDOWNS!” with a sale on shoes and “discount clothing” for Black Friday. The retailer has posted a video and an explanation on “five reasons you shouldn’t shop at stores on Black Friday.” (Between the lines: Where you should shop is at Zappos online instead!) The company is selling boots, shoes, outerwear, pants, and other goods at cut discount rates this week.
Tahoe Mountain Sports has its “Black Friday and Cyber Monday” sale going on, and it is featuring Patagonia and other brands. (“Get up to 30 percent off. . . all weekend long starting on Black Friday and running through Cyber Monday!”) The retailer touts “taking up to 70 percent off” of its entire inventory, though you might have to dig to find what that exactly means.
Minnesota-based GoBros has a “buy 3 get 1 free” deal on all Thorlo and Experia socks (no code required, just a credit card ready for sock action). Or, use the GoBros coupon code “PRESALE” to take an additional 10 percent off all apparel and accessories like the Outdoor Research Yukon Cap (in chili/black, $35.89), Smartwool’s Reversible Training Beanie (black, $19.98), or, our favorite, the Mad Bomber DWR Supplex Bomber Hat With Grey Rabbit Trim Fur for $41.50.
Long-living online retailer Altrec has a “Guide to Giving” and the Summit Hut store is pimping its holiday gift guides , which feature buyable items “hand-picked by Summit Hut staff members [for] fantastic ideas for everyone on your list. . . .” Big boy Backcountry is flashing its Thanksgiving Sale , including mucho deals and free two-day shipping. REI , another biggie, gives free shipping on orders of $50 or more plus 30 percent off a few of its goods now until Nov. 28.
Need to gift a jacket? Massey’s (no, not Macy’s, Massey’s!) offers a promise that “Black Friday comes early” with its current Patagonia clothing and jackets sale . Rock Creek ups the percentage-off ante and switches brands, its Marmot sale now through this weekend granting up to 50 percent off the jacket/sleeping bag brand named after an alpine woodchuck.
Finally, Sierra Trading Post has a “beat the rush” pre-black Friday sale , including 25 percent off a ton of goods. And River Sports, keeping the hippies and kayakers happy, has a “$50 off Chaco sandals” sale, including — take your pick! — the Chaco Z/1 Kids Bachelor Blue sandal or Chaco Flip Ecotread , either one selling now for just $25 apiece!
OK, that’s a wrap. Let us know if you find other deals out there gear junkies. Merry Thanksgiving, Happy Black Friday, a Joyous Cyber Monday to you all, and now to all a good night.
—Stephen Regenold, editor of GearJunkie, is on Facebook and Twitter at @TheGearJunkie .
