Whether you’re horrified by the company’s labor practices or just aren’t interested in funding Jeff Bezos’ retirement, we totally understand not wanting to shop at Amazon during Prime Day (or any other time).
These days nearly every online retailer offers free shipping (albeit sometimes only over a certain purchase amount), and I do most of my shopping directly from the companies that actually make the things I’m buying. With that in mind, we’ve rounded up some deals from smaller retailers riding the Prime Day coattails.
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Outdoor Deals at MSR, REI, and Backcountry
MSR is having an end-of-year sale on gear that will most likely have new models arriving soon; REI, which famously closes for Black Friday, has quite a few deals going right now; and Backcountry has a flash sale that ends tonight.
Photograph: MSR
The Elixer is one of our favorite tents. It’s solidly built and made of quality materials—the 70D taffeta nylon floor has proved durable in my testing. There are three color-coded aluminum poles with corresponding color-coded clips, making it easy to set up. The side walls are steep thanks to the crossover pole, making the interior roomy, though the storage pockets up top are on the small side.
The Habitude is strong and light. Like all of MSR’s tents, the design is simple and the poles are color-coded. There’s plenty of floor space for sleeping pads and sleeping bags to keep two adults, two toddlers, and a large-ish dog warm at night. It also has storage pockets, places to hang lights, and a vestibule.
REI’s Half Dome tent series is probably the most popular backpacking tent around. I can’t tell you how many of these I’ve seen out on the trail. It’s reasonably priced (especially on sale), rugged, simple to set up, and offers generous living space for two with gear. The tent body is made of 40-denier ripstop nylon for durability at the base and on the floor, with 20-denier nylon mesh (both fabrics are Bluesign approved). It also comes with a footprint, which is a rarity these days. The three-person version is also on sale for $299 ($100 off)
Photograph: Scott Gilbertson; Getty Images
The Mystery Ranch Coulee 30 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is my favorite day hiking pack. It has an excellent suspension system that translates to a comfortable carry even with heavy loads. Mystery Ranch’s signature Y-shaped zippers make getting into the pack a snap and there are plenty of external pockets for organization. I also like that you can remove hip belt, which makes it easier to take on plane as a carry on.
This is the best kids’ sleeping pad, but like we said above about the kids’ sleeping bag, it’s really only an advantage for the under-4-feet crowd. Older kids can get by with an adult pad that will last them even when they outgrow the 60 inches of this one. The Kindercamp sports an R-value of 4.5, which makes it perfect for most car-camping trips (R 4.5 should be enough down to around 30 degrees Fahrenheit). The separate valves for inflation and deflation make it much easier for little kids to not get confused and help set up.
The Flash 22 is possibly the best value day pack on the market, especially on sale. I was surprised by how comfortable this thing is, despite the lightweight straps and minimal padding. It carries loads up to 15 pounds without straining the shoulders, and the side stash pockets are fabulously large—big enough for a Nalgene bottle or rain jacket.
Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
These well-loved Smartwool base layers are popular for a reason: They’re just the right weight for a base layer, feature heavy-duty seams (read: sturdier, longer lasting) that don’t rub, and sit off the shoulder for more comfort when wearing a pack. They’re also 100 percent merino wool, meaning they won’t smell and will thermoregulate to keep you comfortable in changing temperatures. Just buy one; you’ll thank us.
The 15-degree version of Mountain Hardware’s Bishop Pass is our favorite shoulder season (fall/spring) bag. In fact, I was just pulling mine out of storage last week. This 30-degree version isn’t as versatile, but at this price it’s well worth grabbing if you need a new summer bag for mountain hiking or a three-season bag in places where the shoulder seasons aren’t too cool. Its 650-fill down has a good warmth-to-weight ratio and it packs up tiny. I’ve found the DWR coating stands up well to tent wall moisture, and the full-length zipper means it can almost act like a quilt on those warmer nights.
Mattress and Topper Deals at Turmerry
Turmerry makes some of our favorite organic mattresses and toppers and the company is running a Prime Day sale of 15 percent off sitewide. Use the code PRIME to get the deal. All prices below are for queen sizes.
Photograph: Turmerry
This is our top pick for solid latex mattresses in our guide to organic mattresses. Solid natural latex mattresses can last for decades and strike a perfect balance between support and softness. Turmerry’s organic latex mattresses are three or four layers of natural foam that are zipped into an organic cotton cover. Each layer comes wrapped for shipping in a solid hunk of latex that feels like a cannonball. (Those layers are just light enough to be shipped by major carriers and for you to lug up the stairs.) Turmerry uses the Dunlop process to make latex, meaning it’s denser and more supportive than latex mattresses made using the Talalay process.
Want to rejuvenate your existing mattress? Add a topper. Turmerry’s natural latex mattress topper is one of the best value toppers you can get. This 2-inch model for $203 is a great deal. The cover is sold separately, which will drive up the price if you want one, but after a couple of months of testing, I’ve found that you really don’t need it. It’s worth noting that Turmerry’s organic mattress above includes the same five-zone topper that gets zipped into the cover with the other layers.
Camera Deals at Moment and Wandrd
Moment made its name with its add-on lenses for mobile devices, which turn your phone into a more serious camera. Moment is have a huge sale on all kinds of photo gear, here are our favorites along with some bags from Wandrd’s sitewide flash sale.
Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
The best everyday camera backpack in our testing, this 18-liter bag is stylish and doesn’t look like a camera bag. It has an easy-access side pocket, and you can unzip the front to grab additional lenses. There’s a zippered pocket on the front with some mesh pouches for batteries, cables, or SD cards, and the main compartment is roomy enough to hold your camera gear plus a jacket (or lunch).
Moment made its name with its add-on lenses for mobile devices, which turn your phone into a more serious camera. Using professional-grade optics, Moment lenses greatly expand your phone camera’s capabilities, in this case adding a wider view.
Moment says this anamorphic lens was inspired by J.J. Abrams’ films, giving you that bright, slightly blue-tinged flame when shooting into headlights, streetlights, or the Starship Enterprise as it lifts off. The 1.55x anamorphic lens is also on sale for the same price.
If you want to take better portraits with your phone, this is the lens to get. Some might argue that 58 mm is a little short for portraits, but I’ve always found this a nice length to work with, allowing for both traditional portraits when used closer to the subject, but also good for more environmental portraits if you back off a bit.
Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
Our favorite camera bag for weekend trips, Wandrd’s Transit is a 35-liter backpack that doesn’t look the part, which means not everyone looking at it will know you’re lugging around expensive camera equipment. This thing is big, too—you’ll have room for a spare set of clothes and other weekend essentials in addition to photo gear. The main compartment opens up like traditional carry-ons, and there are large zippered pouches, with a hidden water bottle pocket on one side. It’s also comfortable to carry. The discount is taken at checkout.
Wandrd’s Rogue sling comes in three sizes: 3, 6, and 9 liters, and they’re all on sale. The largest 9L model is our favorite. It’s our top pick for photo sling bags. It can be carried as a sling, messenger, or waist pack, and because the soft padding conforms to your back, it’s comfy to wear for long periods. The mix of 840-denier and 1680D ballistic nylon and water-resistant YKK zippers makes it feel like it’s worth twice its price. The discount is taken at checkout.
We think this is the perfect camera bag. For some people anyway. It’s a sturdy, well-built bag with lots of pockets and compartments to separate and organize your photo gear (it’s pronounced “provoke” by the way). The exterior waterproof tarpaulin and Robic 1680-denier ballistic nylon keep your gear safe and dry, and they’ve held up well in our extended testing. There’s plenty of room for everything you need to shoot video afield, including a tripod that secures in place with a buckle. There’s a laptop sleeve that will fit up to a 16-inch computer, plus another spot for a tablet, and there are lots of pockets and pouches to store smaller items.
Chair Deals at DWR and Human Scale
Design Within Reach is having a 20 percent off sale sitewide on some great office chairs. Human Scale is offering 15 percent off as well.
Photograph: Herman Miller
The Zeph is one of our favorites, but it’s definitely a minimalist chair, both in looks and function. The only adjustment is to raise the seat up or down. That’s it. Turns out, that’s OK! This lack of adjustability is intentional as the Zeph is shaped to mold around your body. It’s plenty comfortable and the seat pad is made of 50 percent recycled polyester yarn and generates zero fabric waste. (It’s also easy to remove and clean.)
Our top pick among luxury office chairs, it’s expensive, but worth it. The seat feels rigid at first but eventually becomes surprisingly pillowy, and the armrests stay firmly in place. It does a nice job of whisking heat away from your body, though not as well as all-mesh chairs. Unlike the Zeph, this is one of the most adjustable chairs around: You can pull out the seat, change the height and angle of the armrests, and tweak the Backfit adjustment to follow your spine’s natural curve.
If your WFH arrangement is tight on space and you don’t have room for a big, luxurious chair, get this small, luxurious chair instead. Measuring just 20 inches wide and 21 inches deep, the Path is one of our most compact picks (even more than the Zeph above). Its minimal design features tiny arms that don’t jut out. Even better, the fully configurable chair can be ordered with no arms at all, which makes it more manageable in tight spaces and also lowers the price.
Other Great Deals Around the Web
Photograph: The Tea Spot
The Tea Spot makes my favorite insulated brewer/mug, which is currently on sale for $24 (the discount shows up in your cart). The tea is great, too—consider some Morning Mojo or try a black or green tea sampler if you’re not sure what you like.
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