Life as a WIRED Gear writer comes with certain demands. Many of us do outdoor activities, such as climbing, running, skiing, camping, or biking. But these games are expensive, and you need special clothes to keep from freezing to death. That doesn’t include all the time we spend shuffling boxes and forcing our spouses to help us take out TVs and lug around presses and pizza ovens. It’s a hard life, but somebody
Do you also want people to look at you and think, “That person spends most of his time swinging kettlebells and watching videos of self-driving cars?” Because of Black Friday, you can. Here are the best deals on our favorite fashion finds that also keep us warm and dry while we’re out and about.
Featured Wired Deals
WIRED’s Gear team reviews products throughout the year and hand-picked these Black Friday deals. I’ve covered sales events like Prime Day and Black Friday for almost a decade, as have many of my colleagues. We’ll be updating this guide regularly throughout Black Friday and Cyber Monday by adding new deals, adjusting prices, and removing dead deals.
Deals on jackets
After the holidays, reviewer Scott Gilbertson will be writing his ode to waxed canvas, the OG weatherproofing. For now, we have his selection of the best men’s jacket, the waxed trucker you can see at Pedro Pascal. The Last of Us. It’s the only coat that will repel zombie blood from your flannel or hoodie, as you fight to save your loved ones.— Adrienne So
This is our favorite everyday rain jacket. The exterior is made of 100 percent rubberized PVC, filled with cotton and polyester lining for comfort. It has double-welded seams to keep water out, the hood is big enough to hold a large beanie or baseball cap, and has enough space to put a vest down underneath. We recommend it for those who live in rainy climates and dread re-sealing their rain jackets every season.
This is Adrienne So’s corduroy organizer running rain jacket. Even though it has a waterproof rating of 10.2K, the fabric is still stretchy, soft, and breathable, while the cut is straight and neat. EDITOR with the phone Adrienne So says she has worn it for several hours running in the rain and the water continues to bead in the service without leaking underneath. If it’s hot, you can also open the mesh pockets to take it out. We also like that it comes in bright colors (to stand out) and has bright details.
If you love hiking, look no further than the Arc’teryx Beta Jacket. Not only is it light and thin, but it also comes lined with a new PFAS-free Gore-Tex expanded polyethylene (ePE) membrane to keep out wind and rain while releasing sweat vapor. In addition to the ePE membrane, there is a soft fleece lining, a face cloth with recycled nylon, and a C0 DWR coating (which refers to the complete absence of harmful fluorocarbons. Arc’teryx is currently holding a 30 percent sale on its website.
We don’t recommend the Teca Fleece for sub-freezing temperatures, but it will do the trick if you live in an area where you can’t get away with skipping a puffer coat. It’s thin and breathable but still leaves room for extra layers. Meanwhile, flexible equipment will not make you feel stressed. The color blocking design adds a nice, retro touch too.
This is a great mid-weight coat that you can layer under a rain jacket or over a tank. Made from 100 percent merino wool, it’s dense but also soft. It will easily help to keep you warm when the temperature drops during the upcoming winter season. It also looks very sleek and comes in beautiful colors. Make sure you use the code “ADVENTURE INCLUDED” to see the discount at checkout.
Shirt Deals
This hoodie has a sporty look to it, but it’s not so tight that you can’t layer under it. In addition to the hood, it also has thumb loops and a long neck that can be tucked in. While it’s great for winter, it’s also great for other activities like biking or doing yard work when it’s cooler outside. Make sure you use the code “ADVENTURE INCLUDED” to see the discount at checkout.
I’ve been running miles every day to get away from my family (haha, just kidding, I love you!) and I realize I need more layers of merino wool if I’m not going to wash every day. This is our favorite base layer, with heavy-duty seams that won’t chafe when worn under a pack. I put this under the running jacket above on days below 30 degrees.
I realize I’m in a men’s dilemma here (we’ll let my husband deal with this later). But outdoor clothing company Filson is also running a huge Black Friday sale. While the company is famous for its waxed jackets, we’re also loving the indestructible hoodie, which is currently 40 percent off. Reviewer Chris Haslam says his from 2017 has survived dozens of camping and fishing trips without a hitch and while holding on to its shape.
If this hoodie looks strangely familiar, chances are you’ve seen it all over your TikTok For You page. Both the body and the ribs are made of more than 70 percent cotton, so it’s more breathable than polyester hoodies. But the highlight here is the fit, with an exaggerated crop, large sleeves, and a unique scuba hood big enough to swallow your whole head and zips over your face.
We recommend this hoodie for those who want a great fit with the structure. The Popflex Cloud has a nice weight to it but, as WIRED reviewer Nena Farrell puts it, “it doesn’t [her] you look like a marshmallow looking for a campfire.” The waist gathers nicely, while the drop shoulders and large hood pull over your body but still maintain its shape and structure. It looks great with leggings, well-fitting jeans, and comes in a bunch of great colors.
Panty deals
These are our go-to pants for those who are perpetually cold. They are perfect for a variety of cold weather activities but the soft, relaxed fit still looks fashionable. They’re made from recycled polyester, lined with Primaloft, come with an elasticated waist, and have drawstrings down the legs in case they’re too long for you. For a complete look, pair it with the matching Payette Pullover—also on sale for $142 ($47 off).
Outdoor activewear company Prana is currently having a huge Black Friday sale, and I’m thinking of buying another pair of these leggings (both reviewer Nena Farrell and I own these and they’re in our Mom Gift guide). I don’t have the patience or mental stability for yoga, but I wear these to finish my reps at the gym (do 25 pounds with one arm and cry afterwards). It’s hard to describe how soft and snug these leggings are—it’s almost like wearing nothing.— Adrienne So
These are titled “The Perfect Pant” in our Best Climbing Gear guide. Made of 100 percent organic cotton, they are hard wearing and feel very comfortable thanks to the elasticated waist and diamond-shaped crotch gusset. Pro tip: Women’s and men’s versions are the same, so if you’re a woman, buy men’s pants a size smaller.— Adrienne So
Deals on Underwear and Shoes
This is the best bra in our merino wool guide, and I like it enough that I’m excited about it. Branwyn is currently 25 percent breached across the board. It doesn’t make sense to wear everything natural in your sweaters, jeans, and jackets, while keeping potentially toxic dyes or chemicals in the clothes closest to your skin. These are sturdy enough to work as a swimsuit on hiking or camping trips where I just have to get drenched (sometimes by accident).
Everything at Rothy’s is 30 percent off, and the company also has a sale on Amazon. Rothys shoes are very unique—they are woven from recycled plastic water bottles. Not only do they keep plastic out of landfills, the shoes themselves are durable and washable. The company also has a recycling program so you can open up your worn out shoes and get a new pair. Reviewer Julian Chokkattu loves them! They are very comfortable!— Adrienne So
Barefoot shoes look great on you, and you, readers, seem to agree. I’m having a hard time accepting this fact because it’s so cold outside right now and most bare shoes are incredibly ugly. These Lems boots are waterproof, well-made, and don’t openly proclaim, “I’m exchanging blood with my 18-year-old son.” (I’m sorry. I’m kidding. Or am I?) We also love Xero shoes, which are currently 10-50 percent off across the board.— Adrienne So
These are the best hiking boots I have ever tested. They are so light and comfortable that in winter, I wear them as my everyday shoes. Zamberlan has a special last that fits my small feet and ankles better than heat-molded boots, and the company says its waterproofing lasts the life of the boot. My boots are not yet at the end of their useful life, but I intend to cross the river all winter in the rain, just to find out.— Adrienne So
Other Clothing Deals
Here are a few more deals we can’t let lie.
We have an upcoming guide to the best running shoes coming out after this holiday, but these shoes are here. I love the Altra’s wide toe box, which allows my foot to spread out, and the zero drop from heel to toe, which means my Achilles tendon flexes well and I don’t give myself tendinitis on my long runs. This is the company’s versatile road-to-trail option that I can wear to run on the trails, run in the woods, and then back home again.— Adrienne So
This is another running hoodie in our Best Hoodies guide. This is an all cotton hoodie with a looser weave than our other options.
Stance is holding 30 percent off sitewide with code CYBERWEEK. My goal is to only do laundry twice a week in the winter, so I’m thinking of getting another pack of socks for the workers. They are lightweight nylon and hold their shape very well, sweat well, and don’t wrinkle in my shoe.— Adrienne So
