REI kicks off Anniversary Sale with discounts on 6,000 products

REI’s annual Anniversary Sale began with a familiar pitch and a practical test for shoppers: the company said more than 6,000 products were discounted, but the best values were the ones that matched a real summer need, not just a temporary markdown.

For 11 days, through May 25, REI said everyone could save 25% on REI Co-op brand clothing and gear, with up to 25% off selected outdoor brands. Members got another layer of savings, including 20% off one full-price item and one REI Outlet item with code ANNIV26. The sale page also featured discounts on camp gear, hiking shoes, electronics, climbing, running, bikes and other outdoor categories, with steep markdowns visible on items such as HOKA running shoes, Patagonia outerwear, Garmin electronics and REI Co-op apparel.

The value question is less about the size of the sale banner than about timing. If a camping trip is already on the calendar, the sale makes sense for basics such as a tent, sleeping pad or stove, because those are the purchases most likely to be used immediately and compared against regular retail prices. Summer travel gear and warm-weather layers also fit the moment, especially when the discount applies to items that would otherwise be bought at full price later in the season.

The clearest yardstick is REI’s own member-reward structure. The co-op says its annual Co-op Member Reward is typically 10% on eligible purchases, though that level is not guaranteed. That means a 25% sale price, or a 20% coupon on a full-price item, can be materially better than waiting for the usual reward on a purchase that is already on the shopping list. For items that are not urgent, the smarter move is to compare the Anniversary Sale price with the value of waiting, especially on categories that routinely see seasonal markdowns after peak demand passes.

REI has long used the Anniversary Sale to reinforce its membership model. The co-op said it reached 25 million lifetime members in 2024, and it said members received $200 million in annual Co-op Member Rewards in 2026 based on eligible 2025 purchases. Founded in Seattle in 1938 by Lloyd Anderson and Mary Anderson, REI has turned the sale into both a retail event and a reminder that the best savings often go to members who already know what they need.