REI’s anniversary sale is slashing prices on some of the best Garmin watches

Here at The Verge, our deal writers spend a lot of time covering the latest discounts at Amazon, Best Buy, and other retailers that happen to sell the tech we cover. Admittedly, REI is often not one of them, but the company’s anniversary sale — which runs through May 27th — is a great chance to save not only on tents, glamping chairs, and subzero sleeping bags but also Garmin’s rugged lineup of sports watches.

For the next week or so, many of our favorite Garmin watches are on sale for up to 25 percent off, with Amazon and Garmin matching REI’s pricing in most instances. The second-gen Garmin Epix Pro Sapphire Edition, our favorite model for endurance athletes, is available from Amazon, REI, and Garmin starting at $799.99 ($200 off), which matches its lowest price to date. If you want a longer-lasting alternative, one equipped with practically every fitness feature Garmin offers, you can also pick up the Fenix 7S Pro Solar at Amazon, REI, and Garmin’s online storefront starting at $599.99 ($200 off). This multisport watch has many of the same features as the Epix Pro, only it sheds the OLED display to conserve battery life.

As an added bonus, Amazon, REI, and Garmin are all selling the Garmin inReach Mini 2 for $299.99 ($100 off), its lowest price to date. It’s not a high-end watch, but as someone who often carries the second-gen satellite communicator in the backcountry, I can tell you it’s a literal lifesaver. The handy subscription-based tool is great for texting and sharing your location with others while hiking, though its most vital feature is its ability to trigger SOS alerts in the event of an emergency. The fact you can use the rugged gadget to check the weather report and navigate back to your starting point just adds to its appeal.