We know it feels weird to spend money on ski gear when it’s 90 degrees outside and all you want to do is sit poolside. But if you can get past the seasonal disorientation, June is actually one of the best months to track down past-season winter gear because a lot of it is on sale. Here are seven of our favorite finds currently discounted at REI through June 23.
- Was: $199
- Now: $136.73
If you’ve watched any of “The Fifty” —which follows Cody Townsend as he attempts North America’s 50 most iconic backcountry ski lines—you’ll notice he almost always has a pair of large-lens glasses on. That’s because this style, which was first used by cyclists, blocks significantly more light and wind thanks to their wide and tall design. They’re great for the skintrack and also for the ski down. Smith makes many variations, but the Ruckus is a solid choice because they comes with two easy-to-swap high-definition lenses (one dark, one clear) and a bright but not overly-gaudy colorway.
- Was: $179
- Now: $122.73
It’s pretty uncharacteristic for us to lead a gear round-up with two pairs of sunglasses from the same brand. But we’re going to do it anyway because REI has also discounted the Lowdown 2s, which are our favorite pair of après and driving sunglasses. We love them because the rounded lenses look good on almost any face, and because they come with top-end features like grippy nose pads that keep them in place. Plus, the sunnies’ durable hinges, lenses, and frames will put up with falls,, trees, and hasty storage.
- Was: $31.95
- Now: $21.93
Many of the best snow days are wicked cold, so we love to keep one of these in our jacket pocket and rotate it between our gloves while riding the lift. Because it’s electrical, the HeatBank provides an almost immediate warmth that defrosts hands enough to keep them happy and ready for the next run. It also doubles as a charger, so backcountry skiers should invest, too, just in case you need to re-charge your phone or headlamp during an especially long day.
- Was: $279
- Now: $148.83
If you act fast you can nab one of these wildly popular jackets in the blue colorway at nearly 50 percent off. Stuffed with 60 grams of PrimaLoft Gold Insulation Eco that’s made from 100-percent post-consumer recycled content, the Nano Puff is nearly as warm as a down jacket, packs down just as well, but has the advantage of retaining its loft if it ever gets wet. We love it as a midlayer on cold lift days, but also often wear it to work because it looks great with jeans and a pair of boots.
- Was: $99
- Now: $48.83
We’ll be honest: these gloves take a minute to break in because they’re made from bomber materials like premium cowhide. But after skiing with them a handful of times, they’ll quickly become your favorite pair. They’re generously warm, nearly indestructible, and eventually become quite dexterous. We’ve been abusing them for years and they’re still kicking.
- Was: $57
- Now: $32.83
Sure, it’s convenient to pack a sandwich in your jacket and keep spinning laps through lunch. But once in a while, it’s nice to fill up one of these with something like minestrone soup, and sit on your tailgate for lunch. Sipping a hot, salty soup has brought us back to life more than once and helped us finish the afternoon strong. Also try: Packing miso soup in a smaller vessel for backcountry missions—an idea that we also stole from Townsend. It’s a nice treat to have something hot when you’re deep in the woods on a cold day.
- Was: $49.99
- Now: $36.73
Après in the parking lot is way easier when you have somewhere to put your drinks, food, and grill. We love this table because it packs down to the size of a car camping pad and can live in its stuff sack in the back of the car. Even if you have a truck with a tailgate, it’s nice to have a table that can be moved around and more easily accessed. It also makes a handy coffee table or hand washing station at camp.