Gear

Prime Day Deals on Outdoor Gear Actually Worth Buying

It's nearly impossible to sift through all the Amazon Prime Day outdoor gear deals to find the ones that are worth it. So we did it for you.

By: Laura Lancaster, Ashley Thess, Scott Einsmann

Updated on Oct 11, 2023 5:57 PM EDT

8 minute read

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Every Prime Day, there are thousands of pieces of gear that go up on sale. With so many different products and brands, it can be hard to know which are a steal, and which are just deeply discounted junk. At Outdoor Life, we pride ourselves on providing readers with product recommendations backed by real-life testing. The below gear isn’t just gear we’ve tested: It’s gear that we continue to use in our backcountry pursuits and as part of our home emergency kits.

Hunting

Binoculars

The Maven B.6 is one of our favorite binoculars of all time, and the B.2 is similar in quality, but different in magnification and objective diameter. These binos come in 9 and 11 power and 45 objectives.

Electric Hand Warmers

If you’re looking for a more sustainable hand Warmer than the disposables, check out the Ocoopa hand warmer (47% off), which was a top performer of Laura Lancaster’s test of the best hard warmers.

Camping

Solo Stove

Talk to Gear Editor Scott Einsmann and you’ll quickly find out what a big fan of Solo Stove he is. Or you can read about it here or here. Good news for you, the popular Ranger 2.0 is on sale for Prime Day.

Kids’ Sleeping Bags

The first step to camping or backpacking with a baby or a toddler is to go out and buy the Morrison Outdoors Little Mo or Big Mo. It’s what staff writer Laura Lancaster used for her kiddo when she was small (it’s her top pick for sleeping bags for kids as well as must-have piece of gear for backpacking with kids), and it’s the first piece of gear she recommends to families planning to take the littles out for the first time. Only catch? They are pretty pricey, which is why snagging them on sale for Prime Day is a smart idea.

Coffee Makers 

We tested both Stanley and AeroPress during out test of the Best Camping Coffee Makers. The French Press Travel Mug allows you to press fresh coffee on the go. Take your coffee and coffee maker with you in one convenient french press mug. The pour over set is fool-proof to use, even before you’ve had your morning coffee.

Camping Mattresses

One of the most comfortable camping mattresses I’ve used, as tested during our look at the best camping mattresses for couples, was the HEST. The only problem? This was is made from the most luxurious foam you can imagine, so it’s got a wicked packed size. If you’ve been looking to upgrade the build in your adventure rig, this is an excellent choice.

Hiking and Backpacking

Day Packs

Mystery Ranch makes some of the most comfortable backpacks out there, as OL discovered while testing the best hiking daypacks and the best backpacking backpacks. Their Coulee won our most comfortable award for hiking daypacks.

Satellite Messenger

Two top satellite messenger brand, Zoleo and Spot, have great sales for Amazon Prime Day. Assistant Editor Ashley Thess has used the Zoleo extensively, while Staff Writer Laura Lancaster carried the SPOT with her on 2014 Pacific Crest Trail hike. See our take on the best personal locator beacons and satellite messengers for more information.

Sunglasses

The best overall winners of our test of the Best Hiking Sunglasses are 24% off for Amazon’s 2023 Prime Big Deal Days sale. The Costa Caletas passed our extensive durability test, are made of recycled materials, and offered the best true color perception. And now you can get them for less.

Backpack Coolers

Icemule makes some top-rated backpack coolers, as confirmed in our test of the best backpack coolers. A bunch of their products are included in October’s Amazon Prime Day, including the Icemule Jaunt (25% off) and Icemule Pro (25% off).

Hiking Sandals

These have a roomy fit with plenty of toe splay and I love the lightweight feel when scrambling over rocks or trudging through deep sand. I backpack with these frequently in wet or sandy conditions, even 12 miles in a day. That’s why they won best overall in our test of The Best Hiking Sandals.

 The wide fit with a generous toe box also aids in stability. A cushioned midsole provides light arch support, and the fit is adjustable with a drawcord that you can tuck into the laces to keep out of the way. These won the best closed-toe award in our hiking sandals test. The rubber protects your toes from underwater rocks, roots, and more. 

Merrell Moab

We’ve tested Merrells on a number of occasions and have come away impressed. They are a great value, especially for beginner hikers and backpackers, have plenty of support, and scored well in our look at the best hiking shoes for wide feet. Only ding? They are known to fall apart faster than more premium hiking shoes and boots like Asolo. Savings vary by shoe size and color and are primarily available in men’s sizes.

2 Way Radios

The Motorola Talkabouts won our best budget award in The Best 2 Way Radios test. Our review of the Milo Communicators is coming soon, but the new technology on display at Outdoor Retailer’s 2023 Snow Show was impressive. These could be a game-changer for communicating handsfree with a group.

Insoles

The best insoles for hiking are on sale for Amazon Prime Big Deal Days 2023. In our test of hiking insoles, the Currex HikePro won the best lightweight award and the SOLE was named our best replacement insole.

Top Amazon Prime Day Deals on Emergency Preparedness

Solar Generators

Every Prime Day there are great deals on solar generators and portable powerstations. Staff writer Laura Lancaster tested these extensively for her story on the best solar generators. Here’s what she recommends for this Amazon Prime Day.

Freeze-Dried Food

Our staff has eaten more than their share of freeze-dried food, including for our test of the best survival food and our test of the best backpacking food. Readywise won Assistant Editor Samantha Silverman’s pick for the best overall brand for survival food, while

Air Purifiers for Smoke

An air purifier for smoke is a great investment in your family’s health, whether you are concerned about wildfires, or smoke from a fireplace or gas stove. Laura Lancaster tested each of these for her stories on air purifiers for smoke to ensure they could get the PM 2.5 levels in your home back to safe levels. If you are looking for a purifier for your RV or a small cabin, then this value unit is a great choice that will have your air clean in no time.

Air Quality Monitor

As we move into the colder months, shutting up our windows and doors to preserve heat, indoor air quality can plummet. Laura Lancaster tested several of the best air quality monitors, evaluating each for easy it was to read and understand air quality on a minute to minute basis, as well as its overall aesthetic and energy consumption. One of her favorites, which includes a radon sensor for those with problematic basements, is included in this Amazon Prime Day.

Crank Radio

This emergency crank radio was our writer’s pick for portable units in their look at the best emergency radios, which could be a lifesaver if your car goes down unexpectedly off the grid. It’s 37% off right now for this October Amazon Prime Day.

Water Filtration

LifeStraw (and its many imitators) are reliable stalwarts of Amazon Prime Day. Staff writer Laura Lancaster tested these out in the field to see if they were a realistic way to drink water in both an emergency setting or while hiking. Based on her testing, we’re confident that this is the best value LifeStraw option out there:

Flashlight

Outdoor Life staff have tested dozens of flashlights for everyday, camping, rechargeable, and more. Here are one on deep discount this Amazon Prime Day that we recommend.

EDC

CJRB Pyrite Deal Expired

I’m currently testing over 30 EDC knives for a review, and the CJRB Pyrite is an early favorite in the under $100 category. Save $10 on the CJRB Pyrite. It’s now $40.

OLIGHT I3T Prime Day Deal: Save 26%

The Olight I3T is a AAA sized flashlight that kicks out 180 lumens on high and 5 lumens on low. It has a two way clip so you can clip to a pocket or a hat brim for hands free use. It’s size and profile is perfect for pocket carry and it’s bright enough for daily tasks. The beam is also optimized for general purpose use—wide and even. It comes in a range of finishes but just the black, tan, and blue versions are on sale for $15.

Read Next: Eight EDC Flashlights on Sale for Prime Big Deal Days

WUBEN X3 is 20% Off

This Kickstarter sensation is a really cool light and one of my favorites so far. It has red and white light settings, a very easy to use UI, LCD display, and it charges wirelessly. I’d recommend using the lock feature if you’re going to pocket carry it, or even if you have in a backpack. The rotating head and magnetic base are surprisingly handy features when using it for things like automotive projects.

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Laura Lancaster

Staff Writer

Lancaster is Outdoor Life’s gear staff writer where she focuses on in-depth testing of backpacking and camping gear, with a particular interest in lightweight and ultralight gear. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and daughter.

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Since 1898, OL has been a leading authority in testing and reviewing hunting gear, fishing tackle, guns and shooting equipment, and much more. We have more than a century-long history of evaluating products, and we’re now bringing that expertise to online reviews. Our editors are experienced outdoorsmen and women, and most importantly, we’re trained journalists. We prioritize field testing and objective data when reviewing products. We conduct interviews with gear manufacturers and engineers as well as outdoor experts so that our readers have an understanding of how and why a product works—or doesn’t.

 

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