Backcountry has the strongest off-season winter deals, while REI has useful savings on summer staples we know and trust.
Prime Day gets plenty of attention, but it is not always where the best kids gear deals show up. For the kind of gear Kitli covers, I look for more specific sales: trusted products, real markdowns, and items parents are likely to buy anyway.
Right now, the best deals I’m seeing are not on Amazon. Backcountry has deep off-season discounts on high-end kids winter gear, including Hestra gloves, Helly Hansen ski jackets and bibs, Patagonia and The North Face outer layers, and skis, and snowboards.
REI has more modest discounts on summer staples, but those savings still add up when you are buying multiple pieces for kids who are hard on clothing and always outgrowing something.
Why I’m Looking Beyond Prime Day
Prime Day can still produce good deals. But for the kids gear Kitli covers, the best savings are often more specific than a giant Amazon sale: trusted products, real markdowns, and gear parents were likely to buy anyway.
That’s why I’m looking at Backcountry and REI right now. Backcountry has the stronger off-season winter deals, with big discounts on premium kids ski gear. REI’s sale is more restrained, but it includes practical summer staples where smaller discounts can still add up fast.
SHOP BACKCOUNTRY SALE
SHOP REI SALE
Top 5 Deals I’d Shop First
If you only want the short version, start here. These are the deals I’d check first before digging through the full sale pages.
- Best everyday jacket deal: The North Face Thermoball Hooded Jacket – Kids
- Best ski pants deal: Helly Hansen Jr. Stella Bib Pants – Girls
- Best deal on mittens: Hestra Baby Zip Long Mitten – Toddlers
- Best summer camp staple: KEEN Newport H2 Sandals – Big Kids
- Best small purchase deal: Smartwool Hike Light Cushion Crew Sock – Kids
Backcountry: Best for Off-Season Winter Gear
The Backcountry sale is the one I’d shop most aggressively—not because anyone wants to think about ski jackets in June, but because this is exactly when the best kids winter gear deals tend to show up.
This is where I’d look for next season’s ski jacket, bibs, pants, gloves, mittens, skis, or snowboard gear. The discounts are meaningful enough to justify buying ahead, especially on premium pieces that will be much harder to stomach at full price once winter hits.
The only caveat is sizing, and trying to predict how big your kid will be in six months.
The North Face
ThermoBall Hooded Jacket – KidsWhat We Love
- • Lightweight warmth without heavy bulk
- • Synthetic insulation still works when damp
- • Removable hood adds versatility
- • Easy everyday jacket for school, errands, and shoulder-season outings
Worth Knowing
- • Not warm enough for deep cold
- • DWR finish is for light moisture, not sustained rain or wet snow
- • Shiny fabric finish may not appeal to every parent or kid
This is the kind of everyday winter layer that gets used constantly: school days, errands, playground stops, and shoulder season outings. It has real warmth without the bulk of a heavy parka, and the synthetic insulation makes it more useful than a basic fleece when the weather turns damp.
Helly Hansen
Jr Stellar Bib Pant – GirlsWhat We Love
- • High bib cut helps keep snow out after falls
- • Waterproof and windproof
- • Reinforced insteps and seat
- • Adjustable suspenders, waist, and extendable legs help stretch the fit
Worth Knowing
- • Bib pants makes bathroom breaks more complicated
- • Premium product that's more expensive than basic snow pants
- • Still needs basela for very cold ski days
These made the list because bib pants solve one of the most annoying problems in kids ski gear: snow sneaking into the back after a fall. The Jr Stellar Bibs are built for hard winter use, with waterproof, windproof construction, reinforced wear zones, and enough adjustment to give parents a real shot at getting more than one season out of them.
Hestra
Baby Zip Long MittWhat We Love
- • Very warm for cold-weather outings
- • Long cuff + zipper makes them much easier to get on
- • Reinforced palms and fingers improve durability
- • Water-resistant
- • Available in fun colors and prints
Worth Knowing
- • Expensive for baby mittens
Tiny hands get cold fast, and mittens are only useful if you can actually get them on. The long side zipper is the reason these stand out: it makes the mitten easier to open wide, pull over small hands, and secure over a jacket sleeve. Add warm synthetic insulation and a long cuff, and this is one of the best winter accesories for toddlers and younger kids.
What We Love
- • Very soft flex helps kids get into a balanced stance
- • Easy on/off with wide opening, zipper, and Velcro
- • Well-suited for true beginners
- • Reduces frustration for both kids and parents
Worth Knowing
- • Best for ages 3–6 and early-stage skiers
- • Limited support as speed and skill increase
- • Proper fit matters; avoid sizing up
The Fischer Two is made for the youngest skiers, with a lightweight shell, wide-opening design, and simple closure system that makes getting boots on and off much easier for both kids and parents. The softer flex is what sets it apart from the rest—it allows kids to bend their ankles more naturally, which helps with balance when first learning to stay upright on skis. One note: sizing is really important—kids’ boots that are too big or too small will ruin the experience, so it’s worth double-checking fit before buying.
Smith
Glide Jr.What We Love
- • MIPS adds rotational impact protection
- • Lightweight, low-profile design
- • Easy dial adjustment for quick, secure fit
- • Warm liner (often no beanie needed)
- • Good ventilation helps limit goggle fogging
- • Simple color options that kids can personalize
Worth Knowing
- • Vents are always open
- • Slim fit may not suit rounder heads or thicker layers under the helmet
The Smith Glide Jr. checks the important boxes: lightweight construction, a dial-adjust fit, warm liner, fixed vents, and Mips protection. It is a practical upgrade if your kid’s current helmet is due for replacement.
REI: Best for Practical Summer Staples
REI’s sale is not as dramatic as Backcountry’s off-season winter markdowns, but it is still useful. This is the sale I'd shop for the everyday summer gear kids burn through quickly, and especially for last-minute summer camp prep, when you realize a few days before drop-off that your kid outgrew their hiking shoes, needs another pair of quick-dry shorts, or a backup pair of sandals.
The discounts may not look huge on any single item, but they add up when you are replacing several pieces at once or buying for more than one kid.
What We Love
- • Closed toe protects against rocks, roots, bike pedals, and playground stumbles
- • Works for water play, light hikes, camp, and everyday summer use
- • Grippy rubber outsole handles wet and uneven surfaces
- • Secure bungee-and-strap closure
- • Machine washable
- • Durable enough for hand-me-down use
Worth Knowing
- • Heavier and bulkier than minimalist sandals
- • Takes longer to dry than lighter water shoes
- • Can hold odor if worn wet and not dried fully
- • Younger toddlers may need help getting them on
- • Runs warmer than open sandals
The Newport H2 is one of my favorite kids shoes for everyday summer use, from water shoes to playgrounds to bike rides and any other time you need proper, protective footwear. It has the open feel of a sandal, but with KEEN’s protected toe and a washable upper, which makes it more useful than a basic flip-flop or pool slide and more versatile than a regular shoe.
Smartwool
Kid’s Hike Light Cushion CrewWhat We Love
- • Merino wool manages moisture and temperature
- • Helps reduce blisters and odor
- • Comfortable for all-day wear
- • Backed by a two-year guarantee
Worth Knowing
- • Expensive for kids’ socks
These Smartwool hiking socks add light cushioning without too much bulk, and the merino blend helps with breathability and odor control. They are a small upgrade over basic cotton socks, but one that can make little feet feel a lot better on long days outside.
What We Love
- • Comfortable and easy for kids to use
- • Durable closed-toe design
- • Good grip for mixed use
- • Works across multiple activities
Worth Knowing
- • Heavier than lightweight sneakers
- • Bulkier fit than minimalist shoes
The Targhee 4 Low is a great pick for kids who need a real outdoor shoe but do not need the height of a full hiking boot. It has a roomy KEEN fit, no-tie bungee closure, waterproof protection, and enough traction for trails, wet grass, summer camp outings, and everyday outdoor wear. This is the shoe I’d look at for kids who are hard on sneakers but don't want boots.
What We Love
- • Lightweight, sneaker-like feel
- • Strong traction on dirt, rocks, and pedals
- • Comfortable out of the box
- • Versatile across hiking, biking, and everyday use
Worth Knowing
- • Waterproofing handles wet conditions, not full submersion
- • Toe area can wear faster with heavy use
- • Runs warm in hot weather
- • Standard laces aren’t kid-friendly (easy fix with elastic)
- • Limited sizes
The Moab Speed 2 Mid walks the line between a sneaker and a traditional hiking boot. It gives kids more coverage and waterproof protection like a hiking boot, but is still light and flexible like a regular sneaker. If your kid complains that hiking boots feel clunky, yet needs something more robust than a regular shoe, this might be for them.
What We Love
- • Forgiving flex that still allows progression
- • 3D Contour Base helps smooth out turn initiation
- • Suitable for all-mountain riding, including early park use
- • Wide size range
Worth Knowing
- • Not ideal for true beginners
- • Will be outgrown as riders get heavier or more aggressive
The Jones Youth Prodigy is a real all-mountain snowboard scaled for younger riders, with a friendly flex, directional twin shape, and shaping meant to make turns feel easier as kids skills progress. This is the kind of off-season deal that makes sense if your kid has outgrown their beginner board or is ready to upgrade from rental gear to their own equipment.
What I’m Skipping on Prime Day, At Least for Now
I’m still watching Prime Day, but I’m not building a giant Kitli roundup just because the sale exists. For the categories we cover, many of the early deals feel either too scattered, too lightly discounted, or not aligned with the products we would actually recommend to parents.
That could change. If a trusted helmet, hydration pack, outdoor shoe, snack, sunscreen, or piece of family adventure gear drops to a genuinely good price, I’ll call it out. But the bar is set higher than just “on sale.” A product has to be something we trust, the discount has to be meaningful, and the deal has to solve a real problem for parents.
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“If we wouldn't use it with our own families, we don't recommend it to yours.”
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