/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25804895/rog_ally_x_bazzite_001.jpg "The Steam Deck has finally been surpassed — by a fork of Valve’s own experience")
Memorial Day sales are like other big sale events—huge, confusing, and often misleading. But there are some excellent discounts if you know how to find them (and since you’re reading this, clearly you know what you’re doing). We’re spending our long weekend sleuthing for discounts that are worth your time and money, with legitimate price drops and helpful context. Keep reading for good deals on gear tested and recommended by WIRED experts.
Don’t miss our roundups of the Best Mattress Deals and Best Outdoor Deals for more discounts.
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WIRED Featured Deals
Tech and Home Office Deals
The Hisense U8N (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is superbright. Sometimes too bright. (Luckily there’s a setting to help prevent automatic adjustment of the levels, which can reach more than 3,000 nits.) It has great contrast and deep black levels, plus excellent, vibrant colors thanks to the quantum dot technology. It also boasts a handy array of ports, a sleek pedestal stand, and an intuitive interface. This price is the best we’ve tracked.
This is the lowest price we’ve seen all year for our favorite streaming stick and the best Roku out of the company’s extensive lineup. I recently switched from Amazon’s Fire TV system to a Roku streaming device, and I’m annoyed I didn’t do it sooner. Roku has an excellent interface, an intuitive remote, and 350 free channels you can watch. (I recently rewatched all of How It’s Made for the millionth time.)
If you’re a huge fan of Amazon’s Prime Video content, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max might be a good streaming stick choice. It’s tailored heavily toward Amazon-owned media, such as Prime Video and Freevee, though you can still access other popular services like Netflix or Hulu. The device also works with smart home devices—like turning on your front porch lights so your food delivery driver can see what they’re doing.
This is our top Amazon Fire Tablet recommendation and it falls to this price regularly. But if you’re in the market, now’s a good time to buy. It has a faster processor than previous versions, plus an upgraded 1080p display. This price is for the 32-GB model, with the 64-GB version costing just a tad more. In any case, you can beef up the storage with a microSD card. Our Best Amazon Fire Tablets guide has additional recommendations.
The Steelcase Gesture is our top upgrade pick in our Best Office Chairs guide. It’s comfortable no matter how you’re sitting, and there’s a wide range of adjustments for further support and comfort. There are many different fabrics to choose from. These chairs are backed by a 12-year warranty.
I use the Mavix M7 regularly. It has held up well over years of use, but similarly to the X-Chair X2, be aware that the seat is bulky. The armrests and seat angles are adjustable, and the locking wheels keep you firmly in place during sweaty Hades II runs. I like the mesh construction as well, which stays cool and breathable all day. Check our Office Chairs guide for more picks.
Mavix and X-Chair are owned by the same company, hence the similar designs (and free Elemax, a massaging, heating, and cooling accessory). This chair used to be our top mesh pick, and it still holds up as an honorable mention in our buying guide. The chair is superbly comfortable—editor Julian Chokkattu likened it to lounging in a hammock—but your body will remain well supported. Nearly every aspect of the chair is adjustable. Just be aware that it’s pretty bulky. Your purchase includes a free Elemax unit ($129 value) that has heating, cooling, and massaging capabilities; we didn’t think it was worth it, so don’t let it factor into your decision.
I like Casely’s cute, protective phone cases. The company also makes cases for AirPods, suction-cup grips and screen protectors, and a few other accessories. One standout is the MagSafe-compatible Power Pod for $39 ($21 off). It’s a little power bank that can wirelessly charge compatible devices. We haven’t tested it, but the reviews are positive, and the color selection is huge. Our MagSafe Power Bank buying guide has additional recommendations.
Home and Outdoors Deals
Head on over to our list of the Best Outdoor Memorial Day Deals for additional discounts on WIRED-approved gear.
We think this is the best medium-capacity portable power station. It weighs 29 pounds, has a 1,520-watt-hour capacity, and has recessed handles for easier carrying. There are handy ports and buttons on the front, plus a wireless charging pad on top. Note that the battery itself takes a long time to charge—around 14 hours via AC charging, or around eight hours if you stack AC charging with a USB-C input. You can read more about it in our buying guide.
Right now, this backyard fire pit costs just $5 more than we saw during Black Friday and Cyber Monday last year. We tested and liked the larger Solo Stove Yukon (7/10, WIRED Review), which is also on sale for $400 ($100 off). The Bonfire is a smaller version that would work better in most backyards. It’s smokeless, burns wood quickly, is durable, and is easy to light. You’ll get a carrying case to lug it around (it weighs just over 23 pounds). There’s also a removable base plate included for easier cleanup.
This is our favorite sleeping bag for car camping. It’s made of recycled polyester, and its 20-degree rating means it’s good for three seasons. It has a hood, plus a full-length zipper so it can be converted into a quilt. There’s a second zipper for extra airflow. And if you have a sleeping buddy, you can zip two Siestas together. This deal is featured in our giant list of the Best Outdoor Memorial Day and REI Anniversary Sale Deals. Be sure to check that post out for more discounts.
WIRED associate reviews editor Adrienne So liked this kayak when she tested it a few years ago. It has a neat, origami-inspired folding design that packs into a compact, 41-pound package. If you don’t have the space to store a traditional kayak, you’ll have the space to store the Oru Haven. It can be used in single or tandem mode, and there are built-in rails for holding your various accessories, like fishing poles or coolers.
I love these giant warmers. They work just like Hot Hands, but are oversize, so they’re nice to place in the bottom of a heating pad or the inner pocket of a coat. They’re also 98 percent biodegradable—the warmer pouch needs to be thrown away, but the insides can be composted. They can take a little while to heat up compared to other hand warmers I’ve used, but they last longer.
WIRED reviewer and resident outdoorsman Scott Gilbertson raves about this growler in our Best Camping Stoves buying guide. The Ignik gas growler is better for the environment than those green disposable propane bottles you’ve been using. This Deluxe version comes with a padded, insulated sleeve as well as a carrying strap. These growlers are available in 3-, 5-, and 10-pound options.
The discount will show up automatically in your cart. I use this table nearly every time I go camping. It packs into a tiny lightweight package, and once assembled, it’s sturdy. There are built-in cupholders and the surface of the table dries quickly. Because it’s so lightweight, you’ll want to keep it weighted down on windy days, and the legs can be tricky to muscle into place during assembly. But I think it’s worth adding to your kit if you have the room to spare. This deal is part of a larger sale that gets you 25 percent off nearly everything at Helinox.
Photograph: Helix Sleep
This is a solid deal on our very favorite mattress. There are multiple firmness levels to choose from. The individually wrapped springs offer extra support in areas that you’ll need it, and the plush top layer keeps you cozy no matter how you like to sleep. Make sure to check out our dedicated roundup of the Best Memorial Day Mattress Deals for additional discounted options.
Brooklinen makes one of the best weighted blankets. It has a delightful, cozy texture and cleans up easily in the washing machine. The 12-pound blanket is available in a few colors to complement your home decor.
We recommend this silk pillowcase in our Best Bedsheets guide. It’s a small discount, but Sleep Number products tend to be pricey, and this one is worth the money. It’s lightweight and has a zipper enclosure to keep your pillow inside the case. This deal is part of a larger sale on Sleep Number bedding (up to 20 percent off), pillows (buy one, get one 50 percent off), and sheets (buy one, get one 50 percent off). I like these pricey TrueTemp sheets for regulating my body temperature.
This is a solid deal on an excellent carpet cleaner. It went viral a while back, and it’s worth the hype. It works well, is portable, and is small enough that you shouldn’t have too much trouble storing it. It does fluctuate in price around shopping holidays, but this price comes within $10 of what we saw during Black Friday last year.
We’ve recommended Rad Power ebikes a few times at WIRED, including in our Best Cheap Ebikes guide. The RadRover 6 Plus performs reliably, though it might be overkill if you want a commuter bike. If you frequently traverse rough terrain, those chunky tires keep you cruising. This deal is part of a larger Rad Power ebike sale. Check out our Best Ebikes and Best Electric Cargo Bikes guides for additional recommendations.
The Lectric XP 3.0 (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is heavy and bulky, and it has its quirks—for example, the key is at the bottom of the frame. But it offers a generally reliable, comfortable, and (relatively) affordable experience. This deal is a little confusing because technically, the ebike costs around $999. But the kicker is the free accessories included with your purchase. You get the long-range version of the bike with a bigger battery, a spare battery, a cargo package (a front rack, a small basket, and a large basket), and a comfort package, which includes a giant seat and a suspension seat post. You’ll have more range, more storage, and a more comfortable ride. Our Best Ebikes guide has more picks.
This bag is one of our favorite laptop totes. It’s made from superthin nylon stuffed with scrap yarn, a sustainable effort resulting in a unique color scheme. Verloop is offering 25 percent off sitewide with code SUMMER. We also recommend the company’s goods in our Recycled Clothing and Best Recycled Bags guides.
