hello sunshine, and goodbye to freezing temps. Now that spring is in full swing, you can finally start filling your weekends with outdoor activities. And the deals we’ve rounded up below can help! We’ve found great discounts on electric bikes, outdoor gear, and Bluetooth speakers to help banish cabin fever.
Be sure to check out our Earth Day Deals roundup, too, for ways to save on eco-friendly gear (some deals may have expired).
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Outdoor Deals
Propella 7-Speed Ebike
Photograph: Propella
The Propella 7-Speed Ebike (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is already the best affordable ebike we’ve tested—especially for those who are new to the category. It’s also lightweight, easy to ride, and goes pretty fast at about 18 miles per hour. It’s made up of quality components, too, including Shimano disc brakes and a Samsung battery. Fair warning: Since it ships direct-to-consumer, finding local repair options might be tough.
Do you find most ebikes too big? The Propella Mini might be what you’re looking for. WIRED reviews editor Adrienne So says it’s “a little bike that feels big.” Despite its tiny stature, the 250-watt motor was capable of carrying her up fairly steep hills with ease. Range, on the other hand, isn’t the greatest, but it’s lightweight enough (33 pounds) that riding it home without electric assistance isn’t too exhausting.
Rad Power Bikes makes some of our favorite affordable ebikes too. We like them so much that we wrote a separate story on discounts on the RadRunner 2 and the RadRover 6 Plus. These deals run through May 8.
The Lifa Merino Seamless Top has a two-layer construction: an outer layer of 100 percent merino wool and a synthetic interior. To prevent overheating, there are mesh panels under the arms and on the body. It’s light and thin, so we recommend pairing it with an extra layer when it’s really chilly outside. This top is an honorable mention in our Best Base Layers guide.
VaporSwiftra 4 Liter Women’s Race Vest
Photograph: Nathan
You can only stuff so much into a fanny pack before going on a run. But Nathan’s VaporSwiftra Vest lets you carry up to 4 liters’ worth. As noted in our Best Running Gear guide, we were comfortably able to fit a water bladder, gloves, packable jacket, and hat without feeling weighed down.
North Face Flight Vectiv Women’s Trail Running Shoes for $150 ($49 off)
Trail runner? The Vectiv trail running shoe has carbon-fiber plates to help improve mile times. It’s tough to prove whether these shoes will vastly shorten your run time, but WIRED editor Adrienne So says she managed to cut her trail mile repeats by 20 to 60 seconds. They’re pricier than our other favorites, but this deal helps with that.
Only a few colors are on sale. This base layer is versatile. Made of merino wool and nylon, you can wear it in both 30-degree-Fahrenheit temperatures as a base layer or as a stand-alone on hot days without feeling uncomfortable. It has flat seams under the arms, thumbholes on each cuff, and offset shoulder seams.
Instead of wearing a long sleeve shirt in hot weather, REI’s sun sleeves are a great alternative to protecting your arms from the sun. The top fabric is UPF 50+ (which blocks 98 percent of the sun’s rays), and the bottom consists of a breathable mesh to keep you cool. They’re also super comfortable with grips on the upper sleeves (to keep ’em from sliding down).
Earbuds and Bluetooth Speaker Deals
JBL Clip 4
Photograph: JBL
Want a portable and compact speaker? JBL’s Clip 4 is the way to go. This is also the lowest price we’ve tracked for it, even if it is a small discount. It’s small and waterproof, making it easy to take with you anywhere. It comes with a carabiner clip, so you can attach it to your pack or bike. The Clip 4 also comes with controls for volume, playback, Bluetooth, and power.
Bang & Olufsen’s little speaker is expensive, and we’ve seen it reach an even lower price in the past. But it’s one of the best-sounding speakers out there for its size. The sleek design (complete with a leather strap) makes for a stylish addition to your desk, nightstand, or even your wrist. With an IP67 rating, you can also feel comfortable taking it with you outdoors.
The Wonderboom 2 has dipped to a lower price before. Still, if you’re planning on throwing pool parties as the weather warms up, this speaker will satisfy. It floats! And you won’t have to worry about water damage thanks to the IP67 rating. The cherry on top? The 100-foot Bluetooth range. You’ll also get 13 hours of battery life (three more than its predecessor) and powerful sound.
If you just want the convenience of wireless earbuds without having to spend an arm and a leg, then get Amazon’s second-gen Echo Buds (8/10, WIRED Recommends). We covered this deal a few weeks ago, but it’s still at its lowest price ever—they’re practically a steal at $50. These earbuds pack features like noise-canceling tech, wireless charging, and Alexa support. Yes, that means you can ask Alexa anything at any time, wherever you are.
Sony WF-1000XM4
Photograph: Sony
We don’t suggest Sony’s WF-1000XM4 (7/10, WIRED Recommends) for those with smaller ears, but we do rank these as the best noise-canceling buds in our Best Wireless Headphones roundup. Thanks to a combination of Sony’s exceptional processing, microphones, and foam ear tips (that block out almost all sound from your environment), these buds provide a wonderful listening experience.
These don’t go on sale often, and this is the biggest discount we’ve seen so far. They’re still pricey, but you get two dedicated drivers, dedicated amps, and AptX Adaptive support for 24-bit streaming. You’ll only get about four hours of battery life with noise canceling on. But they’re the best-sounding and best-looking earbuds out there.
For earbuds that can take a beating during your workouts, consider the Jabra Elite 4 Active (9/10, WIRED Recommends). These buds are also at the lowest price we’ve seen (though it’s a small discount). They have a comfortable and ergonomic fit, reliable mics, a durable IP57 rating, and great noise cancellation. They lack wireless charging, but you can expect seven hours of battery life—three more than with the AirPods Pro.
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