Black Friday Gear, Tested and Approved by Our Gear Guy
He's tested them, and now they're very on sale
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Standing in line to score deals on Black Friday is unnecessary. You should use the precious day off after Thanksgiving to be outside—but you can still get great discounts. I pored through lists of gear that will be on sale this Black Friday and Cyber Monday to pick products I’ve tested and given my stamp of approval. Spend a few minutes perusing said sales, buy what you will, then go shred. It’s the best of both worlds.
Rad Power Bikes Radwagon Bike
Deal: $200 off
Offer Dates: Live now; while supplies last
Summer 2019 was the best I’ve had in my life because of how much free time I spent with my two-year-old daughter. That was in large part due to the Rad Power Bikes Radwagon ($1,499)—with a Thule Yepp Nexxt child seat on the back for Jojo—which made our daily town adventures both easier and more fun. On the bike, rides to swim class and play dates were as enjoyable as the activities themselves (for both of us) and allowed us to significantly cut back on time in the car. At 73 pounds unloaded, it’s a heavy bike. But it does offer both a throttle and five pedal-assist options (heaven help you if you run out of battery), and it is significantly cheaper than many other e-bikes. The cost will be even more reasonable with $200 off on Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
CamelBak 12-Ounce Hot Cap
Deal: 25 percent off at CamelBak.com with coupon code HOLIDAY25
Offer dates: November 26 through December 2
The CamelBak 12-Ounce Hot Cap ($16) took second place in a stacked field in my best camping mug test this summer. It tied for first in usability, thanks to its simple open and close mechanism (a twisting spoke on the top that made singlehanded operation both easy and effective) as well as a deep curve at the lip that delivered coffee in perfectly portioned sips. And, of course, it kept my joe piping hot.
Hoka One One Clifton
Deal: Buy one Clifton 1, 4, 5, or 5 Knit for $100, or two for $90 each at HokaOneOne.com
Offer Dates: November 28 through December 2
I got the Clifton 5 Knit ($135) for my wife for Christmas last year. She genuinely grew to love running in these 7.6-ounce maximally cushioned shoes (she’s running her first half marathon in April), and the knit upper makes them cute enough that she wears them for everyday use. She wore them five to six days a week last year and eventually ran them into the ground. They’ve been replaced with a new pair, which she uses just as often. I suggest picking up two pairs at this price.
Klean Kanteen Wide Mouth Water Bottle
Deal: 25 percent off site wide
Offer Dates: November 22 through November 28
Here’s the TLDR version of why I think Klean Kanteen’s 27-ounce water bottle ($21) is an excellent purchase at full price: I blasted it with a shotgun and was still able to use it. I also hit it off a cliff with a golf club and dropped it from a variety of more banal places in a water bottle stress test. It’s not all about toughness, though. The simple cap is easy to use, and the wide mouth swallows ice for camp cocktails. That opening also makes it easier to clean after your trip is finished.
Icemule Classic Cooler
Deal: 25 percent off
Offer Dates: November 15 through December 3
While the Icemule Classic ($70) doesn’t have the same technical chops as the soft cooler backpacks from Hydroflask and Yeti, this hearty insulated roll top holds a special place in my heart. It took second in a summer cooler backpack test, and I have one specifically to serve as a beverage dispenser on raft trips. The exterior is made from bomber plastic, and the Classic’s lack of rigidity melds nicely with a pile of drybags on the floor of my boat. While the ice retention is average, it once delivered an achingly cold Pabst Blue Ribbon at the takeout after a long day on the North Fork Smith River (I’d packed it the night before), which is why I still trust it for weekend trips.