REI Co-op Trailmade Budget Backpacking Gear: What Is Worth Buying

Introduction

REI Co-op began in 1938 as a group of friends looking for better prices on mountaineering equipment. More than 85 years later it is the largest consumer-owned co-op in the United States, with over 23 million active members. The Trailmade collection is the co-op’s affordable backpacking line, built so the pieces work together: a two-person tent, a 20° synthetic sleeping bag, a self-inflating pad, a 60L pack, and a short list of clothing.

The pitch is straightforward. Everything matches, everything sits at a moderate price, and nothing requires a specialist retailer. The catch is weight. Loaded for a single overnight trip, the Trailmade kit came in at just over 36 pounds, and the bulk of the gear was the reason.

This guide walks through each piece, what it does well, what it gives up, and which items are worth a place in a budget backpacking kit.

How We Evaluated the Trailmade Line

Three things mattered most: warmth and comfort for a three-season overnight, packed weight and bulk, and cost measured both per item and as a bundle. Trailmade is sold as a system, so the price of a complete setup matters as much as the price of any single piece.

Conditions were cool and windy, with overnight temperatures in the high 30s Fahrenheit and a steady breeze. That is mild enough to be comfortable for most three-season gear and cold enough to expose anything that does not hold heat.

Because weight is the compromise budget gear almost always makes, every item was also judged on whether something lighter exists at a similar price. That question decided which pieces made the short list.

The Trailmade Backpacking Bundle

The bundle packages the three largest items: the Trailmade 20° sleeping bag, the Trailmade sleeping pad, and the Trailmade 2 tent with a footprint. It costs $380, while the same pieces bought separately come to $385, so the saving is small but real. Everything arrives in one storage bag.

It is a starting point rather than a finished kit. Shelter and sleep are covered, but a pack, a stove, a pot, and the rest of a trip’s essentials are not included.

Trailmade 20° Sleeping Bag

The Trailmade 20° is a mummy-style synthetic bag. The regular length weighs about 3 lb 4 oz and costs $100 on its own. REI rates it with a 31°F comfort rating and a 21°F lower limit.

There is a small zipper pocket near the top and a soft, cozy hood. There is no draft collar, so the hood needs to be cinched snugly around the face to keep warm air in, and that cinching is what made the difference on a night in the high 30s.

For a synthetic bag it compresses reasonably well and delivers three seasons of warmth. It is the piece from this collection that belongs on a short list of ideal budget backpacking gear.

Trailmade Sleeping Pad Performance and Weight

The self-inflating pad costs about $80 and has an R-value of 5.5, which is unusually high for a budget pad and warm enough for genuinely cold conditions. Separate inflate and deflate valves mean the pad can be opened at camp and left to fill on its own.

Comfort is the strength here. The pad is thick and cushy, and an afternoon nap on it turned out to be the most comfortable of the trip. It feels like a much more expensive pad when you lie down on it.

The trade-off is weight and packed size. At 2 lb 7 oz it is heavy, and it is bulky enough that it had to ride strapped to the outside of the pack rather than inside it.

Trailmade 2 Tent Spaciousness and Setup

The Trailmade 2 costs $200 and has a minimum trail weight of 4 lb 4 oz. Two poles cross at the sides of the tent, which keeps pitching quick and simple, and small vents at the top improve airflow. Split between two people, the weight becomes far more manageable.

The budget compromises show up inside: two interior pockets, and pole geometry that intrudes slightly on the living space. In exchange, the tent feels durable and it is genuinely roomy, spacious enough to leave the doors open and take in the view. REI also makes a one-person version for $180, which costs less and weighs less.

Trailmade 60L Pack Organization and Weight

At $180, the Trailmade 60L is the least expensive backpacking pack REI makes. It is designed to pair with the rest of the line, and the capacity is a sensible match for budget gear, which is bulkier than the expensive equivalents.

Organization is where it earns its place: two hip belt pockets, two water bottle pockets, a top lid, and a large stuff pocket. Under the lid there is a printed diagram showing how to pack and adjust the pack, plus a QR card for more detail.

The trade-off is padding. The back panel, shoulder straps, and hip belt are heavily cushioned, which makes the pack comfortable but clunky and adds weight. With a full overnight load the pack weighed just over 36 pounds, with the sleeping pad strapped to the outside.

Trailmade Apparel and Layers

The clothing side of the collection is small and affordable, and it is where the line’s value is easiest to see. Every piece here fit well and did exactly what it was asked to do.

Trailmade Fleece

The Trailmade fleece costs $60 and is cozy, with a weight and style in line with other budget fleeces. It works well as an active midlayer on cool mornings and as a warm layer around camp.

Trailmade Rain Jacket

At $70, the Trailmade rain jacket is notably light, which makes it easy to justify carrying even when the forecast is uncertain. A light shell that packs down small is a real advantage on trips where rain is possible but not guaranteed.

REI Co-op 650 Down Jacket

The 650 Down Jacket is a long-running REI piece and costs $130 at full price. It has no hood, and on a cold, windy evening that omission was noticeable, so a hat or a hooded layer is worth adding alongside it. There are also other budget insulated jackets that some hikers will prefer for a cozier feel around the neck and head.

Trailmade Pants

The Trailmade pants cost $70 and come in a wider range of sizes than many budget hiking pants, which makes a good fit easier to find. They stayed comfortable on the climb and around camp.

Sahara T-Shirt

The Sahara T-Shirt costs $35 and is one of the most popular hiking t-shirts in the United States. It lasts a long time, it is comfortable, and it works well for hikers who normally avoid hiking in a t-shirt.

Overall Buying Advice

The Trailmade bundle and the Trailmade 60L pack together come to $560. That covers shelter, sleep, and carrying, but not a stove, a pot, or footwear. REI does not build budget versions of everything in house, so those categories have to come from other brands.

Because the line sits at the higher end of affordable, it is worth waiting for a sale. The bundle has appeared on REI’s resupply listings for more than $100 off, which changes the value calculation considerably.

If one piece is worth buying at full price, it is the Trailmade 20° sleeping bag. It was warm, cozy, and easy to live with, and at $100 it feels like a bag that should cost more. The tent and the pad are both good products, but both are heavy, and both have lighter options available elsewhere for less money. The pack is comfortable and very well organized, though its padding adds weight that a lighter pack would avoid.

Conclusion

The Trailmade collection is high-quality gear. The sleeping pad was comfortable and warm, the tent was spacious and easy to set up, the sleeping bag was the standout of the line, and the clothing fit well and did its job.

The real question is what “budget” means here. At $100 to $200 per item, Trailmade sits at the more expensive end of affordable backpacking gear, and the weight reflects the price. The sleeping bag is the piece to buy with confidence, the bundle and the pack are strong buys at a discount, and the pad and the tent are the two items where lighter, less expensive alternatives are worth a look first.