A new season is bringing a fresh feel to the air and, with it, new reasons to get outdoors. Whether your travels take you to the trail, forest, or a foreign city, there’s so much to explore. We're dreaming about evening campfires, trips to the apple orchard, and spending time with friends and family, wherever they are. That’s why we’ve partnered with REI to pull together the perfect outdoor essentials for enjoying cooler fall days and nights.
No matter if you’re tailgating at your alma mater’s football game, hiking to see the leaves as they change, or aiming to keep dry in a fall shower, we’ve got the travel essentials that will help you get the most out of your vacation. REI has the outdoor essentials you need for the perfect road trip or a beautiful hike through the woods—whatever you think makes for an awesome autumn adventure.
You can pick up all this fall gear and more at REI as part of their Labor Day Sale and Clearance, which runs from Aug. 26 to Sept. 5. REI Co-op members can save up to 75% on select outdoor essentials, and everyone can save up to 50% on gear to get ready for fall fun.
- Osprey Kestrel 38
- Gregory Nano 18 H2O Hydration Pack
- OXO Outdoor Campgrounds French Press
- Kammok Roo Single UL Ultralight Camping Hammock
- Therm-a-Rest Compressible Pillow
- Thule Compression Cube
- Darn Tough Light Hiker Quarter Lightweight Hiking Sock
- The North Face Antora Rain Hoodie
- REI Co-op Silk Long Underwear Bottoms
- Columbia Women’s Global Adventure Packable Hat II
- Tifosi Veloce Fototec Photochromic Sunglasses
- KUHL Engineered Hoody
Fall can be beautiful, but it can also be rainy, and Mother Nature is unpredictable. Just because the forecast wasn’t calling for showers in the morning doesn’t mean you won’t be getting drenched on your hike in the afternoon. That’s why we dig the protective rain cover. Plus, the Kestrel is an adaptable travel backpack: you can slide in an external reservoir sleeve to stay hydrated on a hot hike and slip in a sleeping bag to camp under the stars. Attachment points and loops will hold just about any travel essential, from hiking poles to a carabiner, too.
The included hydration bladder holds 3 liters of water, so you’ll have a drink wherever you roam, or pull it out for more space for fall essentials. There are plenty of pockets for organization, as well. The top one zips closed and has a key clip; there’s one on the side where you can stash small travel essentials and maybe some sunscreen; and a mesh pocket on the other side will fit a bottle in case you need more hydration or want to sip something other than water along the way.
It’s also easy to use—add coffee and hot water, then stir. Then comes the most difficult part: the four-minute wait. The smooth and rich taste will be worth it when you enjoy it in the crisp fall air, whether outside your Rotterdam Airbnb or your own backyard.
It’s available for REI Co-op Members only. However, along with the ability to purchase great products like this, members get free standard shipping, discounts on gear, rentals, trips, and events, and the opportunity to buy and trade in used equipment!
Of course, a hammock is just a piece of fabric that looks pretty on the ground without a set of ultralight hammock straps to hang it from the nearest tree or pole. When you’re picking up your new hammock, grab the Kammok Python 10 UL Hammock Straps, too! They compress easily to slot nicely into your pack. They can support up to 300 pounds, despite their small size, and come with their own included carrying case. Even though repacking the hammock and stowing away the straps can take some practice, we think it’s worth it for the relaxing feeling you’ll get when you fall into your Kammok Roo.
The recycled polyester cover is luxuriously soft and filled with supportive foam. Therm-a-Rest uses foam upcycled from the production of sleeping mats, so you can feel good about the environment while loving your nap. The cinch cord helps you dial in the firmness and support to find the right fit for your head, whether you’re sleeping against a window, an armrest, or a travel partner. It’s machine washable and comes in a variety of patterns and colorways to suit any taste. When you’re ready to get up and explore some more, this travel essential packs down into itself for easy traveling. Although it may not pack as flat as an air pillow, sometimes it's worth sacrificing a little packability for the extra comfort.
The Thule Compression Cube set will last through many trips to come, thanks to the 100D ripstop nylon. It’s water repellent, too—a fall essential to keep your gear dry! The set includes a medium and a small cube (4 liters and 10-by-7 inches). They each have paracord-like zipper pulls to make it easy to close them after you’ve packed them full of all the T-shirts, base layers, and socks you’ll need for your trip. We also like that they’re semi-transparent, so it’s easy to remember which cube you used for your favorite shirt. And the grab handles make it easy to pull them out of your backpack when you want to wear it.
When you pack these outdoor essentials on your travels, you’ll look for reasons to wear them. Don them to stroll the streets of Berlin while heading to the beer garden for Oktoberfest. The comfy cushioning means we can look forward to the journey as much as the destination. Go ahead, tackle that hay bale maze, climb that apple tree, and tramp through that pumpkin patch—Darn Tough guarantees their socks for life, so you won’t worry about snags along the way. They may be the last socks you buy, although if you’re like us, you’ll love them so much you pick up a pair in every color and style. Snowboot season is just around the corner, after all, and then marathon training in the spring—you'll need socks for everything!
You can feel good about picking up this fall essential since it contains recycled fabrics. While it doesn’t pack in on itself, it’s still a great option to find room for in your carry-on bag, since you never know when the weather will turn this season.
At the waist, there’s a wide, comfortable elastic band, and the ribbed cuffs keep the pants in place around your ankles. The seamless sides prevent them from rubbing against whatever you layer over them, be they sweats, technical pants, or jeans. And since they’re silk, they’re so lightweight that you’ll never know you’re wearing an extra layer—except that you won't be freezing.
The Columbia Women’s Global Adventure Packable Hat II is a travel essential ready for any adventure you need to pack for—it’s right there in the name. The Omni-Shade fabric provides UPF 30 protection against the sun’s rays and bounces back from being jostled around your pack in transit. It comes in two sizes to get the perfect fit, and the adjustable chin strap will keep it in place no matter how hard the wind blows.
Whether you’re hitting the beach one last time or luck into one of those late fall days that still feel like summer, this is an excellent outdoor essential to protect your face from the sun.
The lenses automatically adjust to the lighting conditions, just like your computer screen, and they’re virtually shatterproof, thanks to the polycarbonate material Tifosi uses. It’s 20 times more impact resistant than glass and a third of the weight, so these are lightweight outdoor essentials. If bright lights bother you at night, you can swap the lenses out for others that will cut the glare, though they’re not included. Wherever you bring these, the wraparound nature will protect your eyes from the glare of the sun without fogging up, so you’ll be ready for the day’s adventures.
You won’t need to pack extra gloves with this hoodie, either. It’s got thumb loops to keep your hands warmer, though it’s a great extra layer of protection to act as a glove liner when the temperature drops. We like that this is a fall essential we’ll wear throughout the year: it’s thin enough to sport under a thicker sweater, a vest, or jacket to warm up without the bulk, though it looks great solo, as well.
So there you have it, outdoor essentials to help you enjoy your fall trip, whether to a forested campground or your own backyard. Check out REI’s Labor Day Sale and Clearance to save on these and hundreds of other fall essentials so you can make the most of the season.