The Best Run Gear From REI's Big 2025 Anniversary Sale

With Memorial Day on the horizon—and the sales that inexplicably accompany a three-day holiday to honor those who died in service to their country—the only thing more American than saving money on things during an otherwise solemn occasion is jumping to the front of the line to do it. It’s with that timely coincidence and tradition in mind that REI is hosting its annual “Anniversary Day” sale the weekend before Memorial Day.

REI’s Anniversary Day is an opportunity to wade through literally thousands of outdoor sale items (trust me, I did it) to find a few diamonds of needs in a sea of wants; the good news is that the editors of Outside Run have already put in the hard work by extracting 11 of our favorite items from over 6,000 things that don’t quite apply to runners.

Read on to see what we’ve handpicked from the mountain of gear on sale this weekend:

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The 11 Best Running Deals from REI’s Big Anniversary Sale

La Sportiva Prodigio Trail Shoes ($155) $116—25% off

Buy Women’s Now $155 Buy Men’s Now $116

Weights: 9.6 oz. (men’s 9)
Heel-Toe Offset: 8mm; 34mm (heel), 28mm (forefoot)

Though it’s over a year old now and has been updated with the Prodigio Pro, the editors were still fans of the original La Sportiva Prodigio trail shoes for their cushioning and road shoe feel (in a good way): “It was clear that it wasn’t as burly and protective as some mountain running shoes,” said Brian Metzler in his 2024 review, “but it also felt quite a bit more agile and invigorating, both on the dynamic movements necessary for slower ascents on technical terrain and the cat-like turning and maneuvering required on high-speed descents on dirt and rock terrain.” Metzler listed the reasonable price as a major upside with this pair, and now on sale, they’re considered a steal.

Garmin Fenix 8 ($1,000-1,200) $800-1,000—$200 off

Buy fenix 8 AMOLED Sapphire Now $900-1,000

Buy fenix 8 Solar Sapphire Now $900-1,000

Buy fenix 8 AMOLED Now $800-900

When I reviewed the entirely capable Garmin Fenix 8 last September, there was a lot to like: Decent battery life, offline maps, a very pretty AMOLED screen, a built-in flashlight, and a very cool offline voice command/mic/speaker system. My only complaint was the staggering cost of buy in to get all of those things. With this sale price, Garmin comes back down to earth in an everything-plus-the-kitchen-sink smartwatch that’s still not cheap, but also not overpriced. Now’s the time to grab the most feature-forward smartwatch for less than the price of a laptop.

Black Diamond Distance Carbon FLZ Running Poles ($220) $165—25% off

Buy Now $165

Weight: 312-368 g

Much like the Garmin Fenix 8 above, Black Diamond’s Distance Carbon FLZ poles are one of those amazing things to have if you can afford them. I’ve beaten the absolute c**p out of my Carbon FLZs on some of the most severe, “make a mistake here and goodbye” trails in Southern California, and I probably wouldn’t trust my ankles and legs (and life) with anything else. They’re crazy light, they break down quickly and easily, and the FLZ pair has 15mm of adjustability—useful for ascents vs. descents, setting a bivy, and more. And if you’re still feeling queasy about spending $165 for running poles, REI also has the non-carbon, non-adjustable Distance Z version on sale for $112.

Brooks Plunge 3.0 Sports Bra ($45) $41—30% off

Buy Now $31

It’s (medium) supportive, it’s breathable, and it’s cute. What else could you want in a sports bra? Lightweight materials and strategic mesh paneling in the center and under the arms allow for airflow and add some pizzaz to this weekday staple. Wear it with a shirt or without.

– Abby Levene

Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 Road Shoes ($170) $127—25% off

Buy Women’s Now $127 Buy Men’s Now $127

Weights: 7.2 oz. (women’s 8), 8.2 oz. (men’s 9)
Heel-Toe Offset: 8mm; 36mm (heel), 28mm (forefoot)

Saucony’s Endorphin Speed 4 has been a favorite staple since mid 2024 for filling the niche of a snappy-but-stable trainer that feels like a supershoe, but doesn’t feel too much like a supershoe: “The Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 is for those who want a bouncy but stable daily trainer that can also act as a tempo or speed work shoe,” Mallory Arnold wrote in her review last fall. “It’s a versatile everyday trainer that does everything you ask of it pretty well, but I’d recommend this as a companion workout shoe, rather than your sole ‘old faithful’ shoe. If you’re a new runner and not yet ready for an aggressive race shoe, this might be one to ease you into that kind of ride.” Grab a pair now at a “new runner” price.

Janji Multipass Sling Bag ($56) $42—25% off

Buy Now $42

We’ve been huge fans of Janji’s Multipass and Multipass Mini sling bags for a few years now, as they don’t require as much “commitment” (read: back sweat) as a hydration vest/pack, but you can still carry a smartphone, a layer (or two), your keys, and even a water bottle in the larger version without much movement. The non-Mini sits at the top of the heap because it has a secondary cross strap that prevents bouncing when the load gets bigger, and we’ve been able to stuff nearly as much in this fanny pack/crossbody combo as we have in a small running backpack, while still being able to flip the pack around midrun to grab gear—something you can’t do in a hydration vest/pack.

Janji Multi Shorts ($84-78) $63-58—25% off

Buy Women’s Now $63-58 Buy Men’s Now $60

Janji’s Multi Shorts come in a few different lengths per gender, but both versions have a great low-profile liner that has been chafe-free in our tests over literally hundreds of miles. The waist has a very novel system for storage with enough space for a small smartphone in the back and nutrition/keys along the sides. They’re definitely on the lighter weight side, so think of the Multi shorts as a great mid-summer go-to.

Smartwool Active Ultralite T-Shirt ($65) $49—25% off

Buy Women’s Now $49 Buy Men’s Now $49

If you’re someone who sweats a lot (raises hand) and has a tendency to be not-so-good at airing out your running shirt right away, Merino wool is a crucial choice. Smartwool’s superlight Merino wool technical tee is a good choice for runs in warmer temperatures (or as a baselayer when temps dip), and because of the composition of the fibers, it won’t stink up the joint after a few years of use. We’ve even used these soft-to-the-touch tees for casual wear in a pinch, as they son’t scream “running shirt.”

Altra FWD VIA Road Shoes ($160) $120—25% off

Buy Women’s Now $120 Buy Men’s Now $120

Weights: 8.3 oz. (women’s 8), 9.5 oz. (men’s 9)
Heel-Toe Offset: 4mm; 37mm (heel), 33mm (forefoot)

Altra has made a name for itself for two very unique reasons: zero-drop stack height and a wide toe box. For years if you wanted to feel that great, wide toe-splay that Altra fans always brag about but struggled with a zero-drop shoe, you didn’t have any options. Fortunately Altra “widened the tent”—as they say—when they released a new line of 4mm-drop shoes that still boast all of Altra’s midsole tech and wide toe splay. This means you can give Altras a try without fear of no drop, and the FWD VIA is a good entryway into this world—especially at this price.

Garmin InReach Mini 2 ($400) $300—$100 off

Buy Now $300

Weight: 100 g

If you’re a trail runner who gets out of cell range (or a runner who also likes to hike out of cell range), you really need to get your hands on an InReach-type device. Typically Garmin has been on the higher end of satellite communicators, but at 25% off for its lightest, nearly full-functioned version, it’s tough to argue over price if it can save you in an emergency. And even if it doesn’t end up saving your life, we love the ability to share location data and message for your loved ones’ peace of mind. Even if this isn’t something you need, it’s a great gift for someone who might.

Smartwool Performance Run Targeted Cushion Low Ankle Socks ($19) $14—25% off

Buy Women’s Now $14 Buy Men’s Now $14

I’ll be the first to admit that I have a soft spot for Merino wool socks (see above note about being a heavy sweater + stinky), but nearly $20 for a pair of socks can be a tough pill to swallow. Fortunately Smartwool’s classic mid-cushion low ankle socks are on sale for a more pallatable $14 per pair, so you can actually get more than one. We love these socks for both running and for casual, so buy a pair for each use case.