Garage Grown Gear Black Friday Cyber Week Sale 2023
the best deals on gear from Cottage brands and Ultralight and Lightweight Gear
As ultralight backpackers, we believe cottage-grown brands are important to the hiking culture. That’s why we’re so thrilled for Garage Grown Gear’s Black Friday Sale featuring Small Businesses that specialize in ultralight and lightweight gear.
We spent more than 10 hours scanning what's on sale to highlight the ultralight gear items we recommend and the sales worth your time.
Sale goes from November 21st-November 27th.
See all our favorite sale items on our Deals Page, updated daily.
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Enlightened Equipment Torrid
Cyber Week Deal: 20% off all Enlightened Equipment
Weight: 8.4 oz (men’s medium), 7.56 oz (women’s medium)
When Naomi was planning her Iceland traverse, she knew that the weather was going to be the biggest challenge – rain, snow, wind, cold.
She needed an insulation layer that would stay warm when wet, had breathability, and would also pack down small because she had a lot to carry and not much space in her pack. The Enlightened Equipment Torrid was exactly what she needed.
The Torrid has synthetic insulation – Climashield APEX, to be exact – that was developed specifically for this use case. Climashield claims that it's the "most thermally efficient continuous filament insulation on the market" and her experience in Iceland is a testament to this claim.
There were multiple days in Iceland when a brutal headwind did not stop. She and her hiking partners formed a peloton – taking turns in front – in order to keep going. It was also raining and snowing in the mid 30s. She wore the Torrid all day, underneath her rain shell, and it kept her warm and dry, for multiple days in a row. She was thrilled with her decision to bring the Torrid.
And, the women's jacket is under 8 ounces – with a hood and two zippered hand warmer pockets. After all she put it through in Iceland, it shows no signs of wear whatsoever. No snags, no tears, no shifting of insulation due to pack straps.
2. CNOC Vecto
Cyber Week Deal: 12% off all CNOC Outdoors
Weight: 2.8 oz (28 mm threading), 3.1 oz (42 mm threading)
CNOC Outdoors Vecto water containers are our favorite collapsible water container in our Arizona Trail Gear List. These durable water containers make filtering water easy because they thread with both Sawyer Squeeze and Katadyn BeFree water filters, two top picks in our Best Water Filters story.
The Vecto 2L is our favorite, but the deal also applies to the 3L version for when you need bigger water carries.
The CNOCs are stronger and more reliable than other water bags we’ve carried. They’re made of TPU (which stands for thermoplastic polyurethane) that isn’t as easily delaminated or punctured as most plastics.
When you don’t need full water capacity, the CNOCs compress down to a little more than the size of an unfilled Ziplock bag. The wide mouth makes it easy to fill from natural water sources, even when creeks are trickling at low angles or low flow.
A backcountry bidet is one of senior editor Amanda Jameson's favorite gear items from the PCT. She writes about it in our guide to our Favorite PCT Gear. She explains how it works: "A gentle squeeze provides a pressurized jet to help you clean up after you've dug your cathole (for feces) or used the tree-based facilities (for urine)."
The Cucoclean is a new ultralight gear item that was a Kickstarter success. At 0.42 oz, it fits onto most water bottles with a universal bottle insert. It sends out an impressive stream of water. And it even comes in lots of fun color options.
Hikers are obsessed. If you aren't sure about bidets, this sale is a good time to find out for yourself.
4. Enlightened Equipment Revelation Quilt
Cyber Week Deal: 20% off all Enlightened Equipment
Weight: 19.18 oz (20F)
This is a rare chance to get the 19.18 oz quilt at a discount.
One of the most common quilts among thru-hikers, the Revelation is one of the potential winners in our upcoming Best Sleeping Quilts story, a quilt is an ultralight upgrade that can save you 1/3 or more of the weight of a sleeping bag.
Sale applies to 10F, 20F, 30F, and 40F bags.
5. Kula Pee Cloth
Cyber Week Deal: 15% off any design
Weight: 0.5 oz
Replace TP with this quick-drying, pack-friendly, antimicrobial cloth.
If you use toilet paper at home after peeing, staying hygienic, dry, and comfortable can be difficult when outdoors, far from established facilities. The Kula Cloth is essentially the best version of reusable toilet paper possible.
That’s why you’ll find it in our Eco-Friendly Gear Swaps guide. We even know folks who use their Kula Cloth at home.
We love supporting Kula because they’re a women-owned outdoor brand.
One side is highly absorbent and antimicrobial. The other side has fun designs. The 'Double snap' allows cloth to hang from your pack while folded in half (so it doesn't touch your pack or get dirty on the trail). It even has reflective thread so you can find it by headlamp at night.
We love the Kula Cloth so much it’s in our Best Gifts for Hikers, Best Gifts for Skiers, and Best Gifts for Campers guide. It’s also in our Stocking Stuffers for Outdoors Lovers guide.
6. Unpaste Tooth Paste Tabs
Cyber Week Deal: 15% off any flavor
Weight: 1.5 oz (packet of 125)
I recently switched to Tooth Paste Tabs and they have changed my backpacking dental hygiene for the better! Before tabs, I tried backpacking with toothpaste, tooth powder, and drops of Dr. Bronners. I like that with toothpaste tabs, I know exactly how much toothpaste I have left. It takes up less space, and it's easier to resupply myself with toothpaste on thru-hikes. I'm guessing since there's no moisture in there that they weigh less per use, too. They don't have that big plastic single-use tube, either.
Toothpaste tabs look like pills and you bite into them to get it started, which was a little weird at first, but over the course of a thru-hike, I came to look forward to it. I'm a convert and will be picking some up for myself during this sale!
7. Rawlogy Eco Cork Massage Ball
Cyber Week Deal: 20% off all Rawlogy
Weight: 1.0 oz (mini), 1.4 oz (classic)
We're big fans of the Rawlogy Eco Cork massage ball, which we write about a trail self-care hack in our How to take care of your feet while hiking article. This lightweight ball has similar density to heavy massage balls recommended by physical therapists, giving backpacker the roll-out benefits without the weight.
We like the Rawlogy so much it's in our Best Gifts for Hikers guide and Best Gifts for Runners guide.
It's in our Backpacking Essential Accessories Gear List and you'll find it listed among the gear we carried on the Camino and the Backbone Trail. They're great for home use, too and make great gifts.
The Bogler is an ultralight trowel used to dig holes for going #2 in the woods.
At 0.48 oz, the Bogler is longer, lighter, and easier to use than other poop trowels on the market. That’s why you’ll see it on our sub-8 pound Ultralight PCT Gear List.
All outdoors people have to dig catholes to deal with poop—whether you hike, bike, camp, climb, or backpack.
The Bogler is light enough you won't think twice about doing the Leave No Trace thing and properly disposing of human waste. The Bogler potty trowel is also a great present to anyone who spends time outdoors.
There's a few models of ultralight trowels on the market (the Deuce #2 being the most well known). The Bogler builds on the design of ultralight potty trowels in a few ways. First, it's lighter. Next, it's got a protective plastic end cap that feels better than metal against your palm when digging. Lastly, it has holes in the handle so you can attach a guyline to use as a tent stake or deadman anchor.
Whether the backpacker in your life already has a potty trowel and would be thrilled to receive a lighter one or they're getting into backpacking and need their first trowel, the Bogler is a sub-$20 gift that is great for some jokes and will be appreciated.
9. FlipFuel Fuel Transfer Device
Cyber Week Deal: 20% off
Weight: 1.5 oz
If you’re like us, you have a lot of halfie fuel canisters—not enough to last a longer backpacking trip but still with a good amount in there.
The FlipFuel is a new device that helps you transfer fuel from one fuel canister to another.
The FlipFuel is a safe and easy way to consolidate fuel canisters to get a full fuel canister again.
Liz played around with a FlipFuel a few weeks ago at a trail angel’s house on the Arizona Trail. Hiker boxes always have half-filled fuel cans that other hikers leave behind. The FlipFuel means that you can transfer the halfies into one full fuel can. It’s a hiker box miracle!
10. garage grown gear-brand Sit Pads
Weight: 1 oz
Backpackers often sit in the dirt and it sucks. Whether for breaks, or to cook and eat dinner, sitting on the bug and thorn-covered ground is part of backpacking. Enter the sit pad: a lightweight, small, and affordable gift that insulates them from the cold, wet ground.
At 1 oz, this is well worth its weight!
Backpackers who carry foam sleeping pads will sometimes use them as sit pads. But full size foam pads have become less popular with lightweight inflatable sleeping pads on the market. Plus, foam pads are harder to take out of a pack on a whim. Sit pads ride on top of your pack for easy access whenever a backpacker stops to rest.
Garage Grown Gear's housebrand sit pads are less than half the price of competitors and come in 5 colors. They make a great gift and solve a problem every backpacker has.
11. Trail Pouch Hartford Gear Company
Cyber Week Deal: 10% off any size
Weight: 0.2 - 0.3 oz
Hartford Gear Company is a women-owned brand that sews their own ultralight gear pouches. These waterproof and abrasion resistant pouches are great for backpackers to store electronics, a first aid kit, toiletries, or use as a wallet.
We love supporting Hartford Gear Company because they’re a women-owned outdoor brand.
It features a water resistant zipper and tape-sealed seams. Made with a heavy duty Dyneema fabric that is much sturdier than a ziplock, it's sturdy but also transparent, so you can remember what is inside. As one reviewer says, "I wanted to upgrade my hiker wallet from a ziplock bag covered with duct tape." If that sounds like a backpacker you know, this would be a perfect gift.
12. Nitecore 10000 Gen 2 Powerbank
Cyber Week Deal: 12% off all Nitecore
Weight: 5.29 oz
These days, almost every backpacker carries a phone to take photos, look at maps, use navigation apps, and use in case of emergency.
A Nitecore 10000 is 40% lighter than other power banks so they can keep their phone charged on multi-day trips. It has a Dual USB/USB-C dual QC output port that allows you to fast charge two devices as well as a slow-charging mode for more delicate electronics like a Smartwatch or wireless earbuds. It has a battery indicator and is IPX5 rated water resistant. Best yet, the Nitecore 10000 is a backpacking gift that's useful for everyday life. I use mine when traveling for business (not every airport has outlets), outings into the city.
13. Nitecore NU25 400 Lumen
Cyber Week Deal: 12% off all Nitecore
Weight: 1.98 (NU25), 1.59 oz (NU UL)
The ultralight winner in our Best Headlamps guide, the Nitecore NU25 weighs less than 1 oz, yet has some of the best battery life, distance, brightness, and waterproofness of any headlamp. And at $40 new, it's a bargain, even when not on sale.
14. Toaks Titanium 750 mL Pot
Cyber Week Deal: 15% off all size cook pots
Weight: 3.0 oz, 3.5 oz (with lid)
Cookware is a classic holiday gift, and backpacking and camping cookware is a perfect gift for backpackers in your life (yourself included!). The Toaks 750 mL is the overall winner in our Best Backpacking Cookware Pots guide.
We're big fans of the Lunar Solo tent, the Best Solo Tent winner in our Best Backpacking Tents guide and our Best Bikepacking Tents guide. We like it so much, we wrote an in-depth, long-term review about its many features.
16. Flextail Tiny Pump
Cyber Week Deal: 15% off
Weight: 3.38 oz
If you've ever been in camp, blowing up an inflatable sleeping pad, and thought, "I wish electronic pumps were lighter," your wish has been granted. The 3.38 oz Flextail Tiny Pump is an air pump, vacuum pump, and camping lantern ideal for inflatable sleeping pads and backpacking pillows.
