My fellow Americans (scroll down to the deals if that's not you),
Usually I send out this newsletter when there are a lot of great travel clothing and gear sales going on, which there are right now. But your need to buy has taken on a historically unusual urgency: the prices might double in the next few months.
Double? Yes a doubling in prices seems unthinkable, but it could be even worse. With the angry orange one lashing out at friends and foes alike around the globe, almost no country is exempt from a tariff of 10 to 25%.
But do you know who produces most of your electronics and travel/outdoor gear?
China
Take a look through your closet or your box of camping gear and see how many of the items have a "Made in China" tag on them. If they weren't assembled there, chances are the fabric or raw materials came from there, even if the product says "Made in the USA." In case you haven't heard, a whole lot of items from that country are going to get taxed at 145% if the current suicidal tendencies continue.
This will hurt U.S. companies as much or more than it hurts Chinese ones (they are often state-supported) and you the consumer will bear the pain. It's not hyperbole to say that many of the outdoor gear brands you know and love won't be able to take this hit. If the prices double, consumers will simply stop buying. No sales, no company.
If you have a favorite pair of shoes or clothing, you'd better stock up now. If you're in the market for new luggage, don't wait until this summer to get it.
You may think the big brand names will be around forever, but I've seen many of my favorites disappear or get bought then knee-capped over the years, like Cushe and ExOfficio. Others like Craghoppers pulled out of the U.S. market. Steripen is a shell of its old self after getting bought out by a competitor, which is going to happen a lot in this tariff war.
So if you're American, look at the sale events below as not just a chance to pick up what you need this spring, but to pick up what you need until the next election. Few expect this chaos to wane anytime soon, so better safe than sorry, especially at a steep discount now before a doubling in price in a few months!
Stock up on discounted outdoor clothing and travel gear
Backcountry.com has a big spring clearance sale going on through the 27th, with up to 40% off a wide range of items.
Academy Sports is running several simultaneous sales. Follow this link for 30% off a bunch of shoes and clothing, but there are deeper discounts on previously marked down categories.
Shoebacca always has the biggest selection of discounted footwear, plus they offer free shipping and returns. They've got hundreds of items at up to 60% off right now.
Osprey has 118 of their items marked down now on their website, including a lot of guaranteed-for-life backpacks and travel accessories. Plus free shipping for orders over $50.
Columbia Sportswear is having a "Whatever the Weather" sale with 20-40% off 2,600+ items, plus I think you can stack another discount on top by using code SPRINGDEALS.
You don't have to go to the mall to find deals from Brookstone. Follow this link to get up to 60% off gadgets you didn't know you needed.
If you prefer to do your shopping at Amazon, there's always something on sale you probably need (and if it's from China, it'll soon be out of stock). Check sales on outdoor gear here.
How about experiences instead of more stuff? Head to Groupon to find fun things to do with your friends or loved one for half price in your area, including spa days and attractions.
I hope you find this useful in saving money on what you need for your outdoor adventures and travels. Feel free to pass this on to anyone who likes to get a great gear deal.
Tim Leffel
Editor of Perceptive Travel and the Cheapest Destinations Blog.
P.S. - Product of the Month:
That photo at the top is me in Tbilisi in a merino wool base layer from Ibex, a fleece sweater shirt from Toad & Co, and sunglasses from Adidas Outdoor. See my recent post on Toad & Co here. |
