REI Member Days Delivers Big Gear Deals

REI’s Member Days sprint ends Monday, and the Garmin Forerunner 165 Music is already at $249, a move that could push casual runners toward a budget-friendly GPS watch with offline music.

The core lure is simple: join the co-op for $30 a year, then use the promo code MEMBER26 to take 20% off one full-priced item or one REI Outlet item. The sale runs through March 23, and most deals are member-exclusive, which means non-members may miss out on the best prices unless they join—an incentive that’s as much about building loyalty as it is about moving inventory before spring adventures start, say industry observers.

The standout deal highlighted by the retailer and coverage is the Garmin Forerunner 165 Music, listed at $299.99 normally and discounted to $249.99 at retailers including Amazon, Best Buy, and REI. The 165 Music can store songs from Spotify and Amazon Music and tattoos itself into a price tier that appeals to runners who want music on the go but aren’t chasing the most feature-rich, premium watches. The trade-off, as noted in hands-on coverage, is a leaner feature set to lean into affordability and battery life rather than a full suite of high-end smartwatch extras. For buyers who already live in a Garmin ecosystem or who want offline music without dragging their phone on every run, it’s a compelling target.

The sale also spotlights the DJI Osmo Pocket 3, a compact stabilization camera with a 1-inch sensor, three built-in microphones, and a 2-inch rotatable display. It’s the kind of gadget that appeals to outdoorsy vloggers and travelers who want steadier video without carting a heavy rig. The Verge’s write-up frames the Pocket 3 as a strong option when a phone camera isn’t delivering the look you want, but the exact sale price isn’t spelled out in the excerpt, leaving some price visibility gaps for would-be buyers who want the hard numbers before they commit.

From a consumer perspective, this is a classic seasonally timed promo: an accessible price tier for a broad audience, paired with a loyalty program that nudges shoppers toward membership. The economics work like this: a $30 annual fee plus 20% off a full-priced item arguably makes the package attractive if you’re buying a single big-ticket item and you’re already eyeing one of the catalog’s midrange devices. If you’re shopping multiple items, the value accelerates, but you’ll want to confirm whether the 20% discount stacks with sale prices or is eligible only on full-priced items—details that can swing the real savings by a sizable margin.

Two practitioner takeaways stand out. First, plan your REI cart around the membership perk: the 20% off can be a meaningful boost on a $299 device if you’re buying it as a single splurge, but the break-even math matters. If you’re only buying sale-priced gear, the membership’s upside is smaller unless you’re leveraging the 20% on a separate, full-priced item beyond the discounted one. Second, beware inventory dynamics. Members often snap up popular items quickly, and stock can thin out as the deadline approaches, so early birds tend to win—especially for devices with growing demand like run-tracking watches or compact cameras.

Who should buy? If you’re planning a spring refresh—whether a Garmin running watch to fuel workouts or a pocket-friendly camera for weekend trips—this sale is worth a look, provided you’re comfortable joining REI and accepting the caveats about discount stacking. If you’re not ready to join or don’t need gear soon, it may make sense to wait for a broader holiday or post-holiday promo, when retailers typically clear remaining inventory without the loyalty barrier.

Verdict: Buy if you’re chasing a practical upgrade on a budget and you’re already in the market for an outdoor-friendly gadget. Wait or skip if you’re indifferent to membership or if you want deeper, multi-item savings before committing.

Sources

Here are 20 of our favorite outdoor deals from REI’s Member Days Sale