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Released in spring of 2025, the Mountain House Cheesy Beef Enchilada Bowl is a backpacking meal that offers another form of Mexican food for dinner while backpacking, in addition to the excellent Adobo Rice & Chicken meal that Mountain House released a few years prior (our review).

The new Mountain House Cheesy Beef Enchilada meal boasts 660 calories (on the high side for Mountain House pouches) and is suitable for a gluten free diet. The meal is based around beef, corn tortillas (an interesting ingredient in a freeze-dried meal), cheese, an enchilada sauce, rice, black beans, and corn. This meal requires 1.5 cups of boiling water and a longer (for Mountain House meals) 15 minutes of rehydration time. Once the meal has rehydrated, you’re looking at a rather soupy, rather monotone consistency. However, this is a meal that despite first impressions really brings the flavor.
Meal Impressions
Upon diving into the meal, at least taste wise, you do really get the fully enchilada experience here. Spicy at first but tolerable by most palates, and with a smoky note dominating throughout the course of the meal, Mountain House has really brought the enchilada flavor to this meal – in fact flavor wise it’s a perfect match. And in case you haven’t inferred by now, as long as you like enchiladas the flavor is very good, great in fact.

That said, a few things do seem to keep this meal from achieving perfection. Consistency wise it seems as though some improvement could be made – while the meal does firm up a bit the end consistency is more like a hearty dip, and to be honest if you had a bag of corn chips and a pouch or two of this meal you might even be able to throw a party.
Additionally, it surprised me that while beef is the first ingredient, it’s not all that detectable. I feel that larger chunks of beef may have been a good addition here. The corn tortilla flavor is there as the second ingredient, but again any texture isn’t assertive. Aside from providing a separate bag of tortillas strips or chips inside the pouch to finish the meal with however, it is hard to imagine what else Mountain House could have done here.

Rice is present in the meal and it was appreciated that it’s not the number one ingredient, as many backpacking dinner meals can turn into a nightly monotonous routine of rice, with…you name it. Perhaps extra black beans and / or corn (present in this meal but in smaller quantities) may have also helped with texture. Lastly, for a cheesy enchilada the cheese is noticeable, but it’s hard to have too much cheese for a cheesy enchilada meal. Overall it’s hard to complain with this meal however.
Conclusion
In the future, I think I’ll probably add some additional cheese and finish with some corn chips to add some crunch when it comes to this meal and call it good. The base is certainly there and overall, this meal has one of the best flavor profiles in the Mountain House lineup that will likely be a welcome addition to my food bag on upcoming trips as long as the meal is offered.
You can find the new Mountain House Cheesy Beef Enchilada meal here at Amazon.com as well as here at Mountain House.
Editor's Note: This meal review originally appeared in Issue 58 of TrailGroove Magazine. You can read the original article here.

Applied as a coating to many backpacking and hiking fabrics, PU (polyurethane) is a coating that adds a waterproofing layer to fabric, but also reduces tear strength. As the coating is applied to the face of the fabric it’s prone to wear over time, and most PU coatings will offer only moderate waterproofing when new, moving towards water resistance over years of use.

This grid-stop fabric has a very light PU coating on the inside (used for a backpack in this case) to add some level of waterproofing.
Polyurethane Pros & Cons
Coatings are often applied so thin that you can barely tell they’re even there. While newer PEU (polyether urethane) coatings offer additional durability, PU coatings are best treated with care in regards to abrasion, along with proper storage techniques at home, along with allowing gear to fully dry before it’s packed up and stored.
However, unlike silicone treated fabrics PU coatings allow for seam taping. Thus, many tents and waterproof stuff sacks for example, may have a PU coating on the inside to allow for seam taping while providing additional waterproofing, requiring no seam sealing by the end user at home.
Editor's Note: This Jargon installment originally appeared in Issue 58 of TrailGroove Magazine. You can read the original article here.

Trekking poles may be the most appreciated not required backpacking gear item you can come up with. Don’t take them and your legs do all the work, but you save weight and gear complexity. Take them and your upper body gets involved in the hike, and stability is added on rougher terrain with additional points of contact. Unlike your shelter or sleeping bag, trekking poles are without a doubt, not required for the trail. However, if you do take them, your knees will likely only thank you later.

Trekking poles can be useful in many backpacking situations and across the seasons.
Trekking Pole Use Pros and Cons
Another great thing about trekking poles is their dual-use capability. Many ultralight tents on the market are designed specifically to utilize your trekking poles for setup in lieu of dedicated tent poles. This saves weight if you’re already a trekking pole user. That said, even traditional tents or tents that don’t utilize trekking poles for setup can benefit from the extra support that trekking poles can offer.

By incorporating trekking poles on additional guy-out points you can create a more wind and weather-worthy tent. Instead of running a long guyline straight to the ground, run it to your trekking pole, then to the ground. This gets the guyline at a 90 degree angle to the fabric facet and results in a more effective guyout point. For this use, I do like to utilize a trekking pole cup to make things easier and cleaner.
Trekking Pole Materials
Most trekking poles will be made from either aluminum or carbon fiber and the pros and cons of those two materials for any other application typically apply. Carbon fiber poles like the Gossamer Gear LT5s will typically be lighter, but require more care and will break instead of bend as with aluminum. Carbon absorbs more shock than aluminum. As someone who appreciates lighter weights and shock absorption carbon is my preference here.

If your trekking poles will face rougher usage, such as in a mountaineering type scenario or for winter use in snow, aluminum and going with a heavier / stronger trekking pole would be a good choice. With some care and large snow baskets however, I have had success using carbon poles in deep snow.
Grips
Foam or cork are the traditional materials here and you will want to go with your own personal preference in this regard. For me, I’ll take a foam grip over “agglomerated cork”, which is a material made from bits and pieces of natural cork glued together. I do prefer a natural-colored foam grip if I can get it (which typically looks like cork) to reduce the chances of sweaty hands causing dark dyes to stain my hands by the end of the day in the backcountry where handwashing isn’t quite as easy as at home.

An open cell foam works well to absorb sweat during the day and has just enough give for comfort – but you’ll want to look for a rather dense foam. Cork however, is a traditional choice. Cork or foam no matter, note that backcountry critters seem to be especially attracted to chewing on trekking pole grips, as I’ve unfortunately experienced. Keep your poles in a safe spot when not in use!
Collapsible vs. Non-Collapsible Trekking Poles & Locking Mechanisms
To be completely honest, I have no preference in regards to closing mechanisms on trekking poles, so long as they work. I primarily look at material, grip, weight, price, and then make sure the pole extends enough for my height while collapsing short enough for easy transport. In general you will find me using twist-lock trekking poles – 2 section poles collapse plenty for me to get them in the vehicle and as any lock is a potential point of failure, I’ll take a 2 section pole over a 3 section if I can get it – it’s also one less thing to adjust. Poles may collapse via either a telescoping construction or by way of a shock corded sections that fit together, the latter of which may be preferred if you prefer more of a rapid deployment from stowed.

Flick lock / flip lock / quick lock / clasp lock poles utilizing some type of lever lock closure are the other option and are generally less problematic than twist-lock poles and are usually found on trekking poles that are in the slightly heavier lightweight category, rather than the most ultralight. I have had some issues / annoyances using twist-lock poles in the past: if you don’t tighten them enough they can slip when you apply heavier force, and from time to time I have them fail to engage (the lock just won’t tighten and just spins and spins). The first problem is easily fixed – tighten the poles more, and with the second I’ve been able to remedy in the field, albeit with some fiddling at times. This all depends on the way the locks are manufactured of course. Test at home first.
No matter what material or closing mechanism you decide to go with, make sure your trekking poles extend far enough for your height. Ideally, you’ll want your elbows at about a 90 degree angle on flat ground when holding the pole, but you may prefer more or less from this starting point. At home if you don’t have trekking poles currently, you can hold anything from a longer garden stake to a section of PVC pipe – whatever you have on hand – and if you don’t have a helper, use a mirror and a tape to obtain the measurement that works best and is most comfortable to you.

Perpetually puzzling to me, at 6’ 2”, many and most ultralight trekking poles on the market are not long enough when fully extended for me – the Mountainsmith Andesite is an exception. You want to avoid pushing adjustable trekking poles beyond their maximum extension point as this will likely lead to breakage the first time you put substantial weight on the trekking pole, such as during a stream crossing.
Of course, if transport is not a concern and you do not need to an adjustable trekking pole for your shelter / you don’t like to adjust your poles for uphills and downhills (many people like to shorten up for the uphills and extend for the long descents), a non-adjustable trekking pole can be an option and will save some weight along with potential failure points. As I do like to use poles with my shelter, I prefer to adjust length on occasion, and sometimes I just like to stash my trekking pole on my pack and like easy car transport, a 2-piece trekking pole has been the best choice and compromise for me. Note that some non-adjustable trekking poles do have multiple hand positions to help with the hills.
Straps vs. No Straps & Accessories
It’s a bit hard to believe, but after all this time I really have no preference for straps, and I buy based on other factors than this. Sometimes I use them – sometimes I don’t. The straps are nice to distribute weight and for more of a connection to the trekking pole when used properly, and are great for retaining the pole when you need to use your hands. They do however add a bit of weight and add a little complexity. Many times you’ll find me not using the straps and if I need to use my hands, I take a break and lean the poles against a tree, etc. – the straps being there and not being used doesn’t bother me. Other times, I use the straps with the weight distributed under the wrist (not just as a “keeper”). Long story short – sometimes I use them and sometimes I don’t, but they stay on my trekking poles.

One item I am more opinionated about are trekking pole tips – and a rubber boot / rubber trekking pole tip stays on my trekking poles at all times, during all seasons, as long as I’m not encountering ice, which is the only thing I find the stock metal tips good for. These rubber tips leave less of a trace on the trail and on rock and are dramatically less noisy while absorbing a little more shock. All pros and few cons. The only con would be in mud – they can come off and the last thing we want to be doing is leaving any gear behind.
Thus, I try to avoid mud when possible (example, aim for the rock or log rather than the deep mud) and keep an eye on the tips through any unavoidable muddy sections to make sure they don’t come off. Or more likely, I will simply briefly carry them through these sections. You may need to experiment with different offerings for the best fit. During winter, these do get removed for me since I use my same trekking poles across the seasons. However, this wouldn’t be an issue if you have ultralight 3-season poles combined with a heavy duty aluminum winter pole, or if you’re not a 4-season hiker – and in these cases you could consider a more permanent attachment of the rubber tips / boots.

In regards to baskets, as previously mentioned for snow, the larger the basket the better and these can usually be screwed right on. While debatable, for 3 season use I do like one of the small faux snow baskets typically included with trekking poles – they help in unexpected mud and keep your poles from going too far down between talus blocks, help prevent or limit some rock strikes on carbon poles, and perhaps most critically make stowing poles on the back of my pack easier.
Weight and Price
The lightest carbon trekking poles on the market will likely weigh in around 4-5 ounces each, but as previously stated many of these are not suitable for taller users. A more average range among lightweight poles will see you looking at poles that are around 7-8 ounces or so, like the REI Co-op Flash Carbon Poles. I would without a doubt suggest looking for a set that weighs in under a pound for both at the most, lightweight is not only nice to reduce your total weight carried on the trail but keep in mind this is an item you’ll be swinging forward thousands of times a day. Going as light as possible while still staying in the budget and meeting your durability requirements is the key here. In regards to price it’s safe to cap spend for a pair at just under $200, and many great choices can be had for less.
Conclusion
Trekking poles, or at least one pole, are something that every backpacker should probably have on hand to at least consider taking along on their next trip. For me, I prefer to almost always hike with just one which is a good compromise and a choice that both helps my knees and stability but also reduces the fiddle-factor by half when it’s time to grab a snack or a photo opportunity arises (quite frequently for me) on the trail. However, if the trip is particularly long with a lot of food to carry, or it’s a desert trip with a heavy water carry, you’ll find me using two.

Personal preference varies and you may prefer two poles on anything from a quick day hike to longer backpacking trips. All said, trekking poles – a fancy version of the traditional hiking staff that’s been used for just about forever, adds some complexity and is another thing to keep track of on the trail, but as any trip concludes with the trailhead back in sight again your knees will likely only thank you.

You can find a full selection of trekking poles here at REI.com.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in Issue 58 of TrailGroove Magazine. You can read the original article here with additional photos.

Finding a great backpacking sleeping pad is the next logical step in getting your backpacking gear all set once you’ve decided on the big 3 (tent, sleeping bag, backpack). The sleeping pad rounds out what’s known as the big 4 in backpacking – and this list makes up some of the most important gear you’ll carry, both in regards to its importance on the trail, and includes the most expensive and usually heaviest items where the most weight can be saved.

In this guide, we’ll look at the best backpacking sleeping pads that you can find on the market today. Note that in this guide, we’ll list the specs for the regular size if possible (generally 72x20 inches) and list the r-value as well – the higher the value the warmer the pad.
Best Summer & Ultralight Backpacking Sleeping Pads
For those that are looking to focus on a summer season specific sleeping pad and / or are looking for an ultralight solution for warmer seasons, there are a few standout choices on the market that weigh less than a pound.
First, if you’re a backpacker just looking for set and forget type reliability and if you’re the type of sleeper that can find comfort in just about any flat place, the venerable closed cell foam sleeping pad could work, and will save some cash as well. The Therm-a-Rest Z Lite SOL (14 ounces, $60, 2.0 r-value), is a folding foam pad that makes packing easier (but as a foam pad, still bulky). This pad is a little light on the r-value, but would be sufficient for summer trips with moderate lows well above freezing.

The NEMO Switchback folding pad (15 ounces, $60, 2.0 r-value) is a competing option in this regard and worth equal consideration. For more, see our review of the NEMO Switchback. These foam pads are also great as a sit pad outside the tent and on breaks during the hiking day.
Most backpackers will want more sleeping comfort than a foam pad can offer however. For the lightest of the ultralight insulated inflatable sleeping pads, look no further than to the NEMO Tensor Elite (9 ounces, $230, 2.4 r-value). This new for 2025 pad will offer warmth for summer trips above freezing for most people and offers inflatable comfort, albeit in a mummy shape – this pad is all about saving weight. It should be noted that this pad utilizes 10 denier shell fabrics; extra care will need to be exercised.
NEMO also offers their Tensor Trail Ultralight (14 ounces, $180, 2.8 r-value) that doesn’t quite have the warmth to weight of some of their other pads that we’ll discuss later, but this pad is a bit lighter and makes this category.

The NEMO valve system allows for easy inflation, deflation, and fine-tuning of comfort level.
Exped has offered some of our favorite sleeping pads over the years, and in this category they offer their 1R and 3R pads, with both coming in either mummy or rectangular designs. The Exped Ultra 1R mummy sleeping pad (11 ounces, $120, 1.3 r-value) isn’t insulated, and with this low of an r-value this will only be suitable for the warmest of summer trips. The rectangular version hits the scales a couple ounces heavier.

Ever since the Synmat series, Exped has offered value and all-around sleeping pad performance.
To me, the Exped Ultra 3R insulated pad (13 ounces, 2.9 r-value, $140) is a much more interesting pad. I’ve taken predecessors of this pad down to freezing or just a bit below, and lower than that combined with a thin ultralight foam pad (1/8" CCF foam). Again, Exped makes a rectangular 3R as well, but at a pound we are perhaps delving into the category to follow.

However for me the leader in this category would be the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT (13 ounces, $210, 4.5 r-value) and this is an interesting pad because it’s also a leader in our next category as well. This pad has the ultralight weight that puts it in this category, and with the 4.5 r-value you likely won’t need to worry about warmth on summer trips. Looking for an ultralight pad for fast and light summer trips but that also packs warmth for the shoulder seasons? It’s a tall task to beat this pad for that type of use case.
Summary: Best Summer & Ultralight Backpacking Sleeping Pads
Therm-a-Rest Z Lite SOL
NEMO Switchback
NEMO Tensor Elite
NEMO Tensor Trail Ultralight
Exped Ultra 1R
Exped Ultra 3R
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT
Best 3-Season and All-Around Sleeping Pads
This is your all-around, bread and butter sleeping pad category. While weights may not be the most ultralight due to the needed increase of r-value for 3-season and shoulder season temperatures, recent advances in sleeping pad technology (it all started with the original Therm-a-Rest NeoAir) have allowed for some very intriguing options to hit the market. Weights here are generally around a pound or just a little more, with insulation that should be good to freezing or a bit below.

Choices in this category can be quickly narrowed down to just a few options. The best options include the NEMO Tensor All Season sleeping pad (around $200, 1lb) which is an excellent choice for 3-season use where warmth is appreciated, but it still might get chilly to below freezing at night with a possible cold snap taking things down to the 20s or below, or for cold sleepers any time of the year. With a 5.4 r-value and a rectangular sleeping shape, this pad has a warmth to weight to sleeping and packing space ratio that would have seemed impossible a decade ago. The NEMO Tensor All Season is my pick as the top overall sleeping pad currently on the market.

For those looking to save more weight, the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT ($210, 13 ounces in the regular mummy, 4.5 r-value) again gets the weight down to an even more ultralight level with sufficient warmth for 3-season trips, and will save some space in the tent and pack if needed. This pad is also available in a rectangular shape – the NeoAir NXT MAX, which would be my choice if going with the NeoAir in this category, for the additional comfort. While the NeoAir line comes with an inflation bag that works well, it’s unfortunately not adequate to utilize as a dry sack for gear, as can be found in the Exped Schnozzel. That said it is included, and any inflatable pad these days should come with some type of inflation bag / solution.

Inflation bag included with NEMO sleeping pads
The great thing about these two pads is that they are light enough to be very justifiable for summer trips, have the warmth needed for shoulder season use, and can even be used for winter backpacking if you add in a foam pad to your system to boost the total r-value.
It must be noted that new for 2026, Exped will be releasing their Ultra 6.5R sleeping pad line (16 ounces, $200) which takes their venerable synthetically-insulated sleeping pads and also adds in reflective foil to boost warmth. These pads are not released yet, however this line looks to be very interesting for those that want to sleep warm and are looking for a lightweight, but perhaps not ultralight, sleeping pad. While at a 6.9 r-value this line will work in the next section as well, the weight specs do put this line in the all-around category.
Summary: Best 3-Season and All-Around Sleeping Pads
NEMO Tensor All Season
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir NXT MAX
Exped Ultra 6.5R Line (Pending)
Best Winter Backpacking Sleeping Pads
If you’re looking for a dedicated winter backpacking sleeping pad however, pads from NEMO and Therm-a-Rest again rise to the top. The NEMO Tensor Extreme Conditions Ultralight Insulated sleeping pad (18 ounces, $250, 8.5 r-value) isn’t the most lightweight in length of name but offers a very impressive weight to r-value specification and comes in multiple shapes and sizes.
The NeoAir XTherm NXT sleeping pad (16 ounces, $240, 7.3 r-value in the regular mummy) from Therm-a-Rest is available in either a weight saving mummy shape (previous link) or in their XTherm MAX version in a larger, more comfortable rectangular version.

These pads are very impressive on the spec sheet and in regards to warmth to weight ratio, achieving a warmth to weight to bulk combo that would have seemed impossible to achieve a couple decades ago. However, I prefer to use my all-around 3-season type sleeping pads combined with foam pads (Therm-a-Rest RidgeRest, etc.) for winter backpacking. The r-values add up, and the foam pad offers some redundancy in extremely cold conditions.
As mentioned in the previous section, another pad to look at will be the Exped Ultra 6.5R line. At a 6.9 r-value this line could be used in winter conditions but at 16 ounces for the standard size would work for your 3-season trips, as well.
Summary: Best Winter Backpacking Sleeping Pads
Tensor Extreme Conditions UL Insulated
NeoAir XTherm NXT
XTherm MAX
Add-on Closed Cell Foam Pads
Exped Ultra 6.5R (Pending)
Most Comfortable Backpacking Sleeping Pads & Best Wide / Long Options
When comfort is the most important consideration (although keep in mind no matter how cushy, you won’t be comfortable if you’re cold), the Therma-a-Rest NeoLoft sleeping pad ($240) will be hard to beat. This larger air mattress has nearly 5” of height, but is still reasonably backpackable at 25 ounces. With a 4.7 r-value this pad should still keep you warm in 3-season type conditions. If you’re backpacking in, but will then be setting up a basecamp for a few days, this pad might be up your alley.
For me however, I don’t quite need to go up to NeoLoft level to find comfort on the trail and thus can save a bit of weight. I like to look for a pad long enough so my feet don’t hang off the end, and wide enough that as a toss and turn side-sleeper I don’t have to worry about falling off the side. The previously mentioned NEMO Tensor All Season sleeping pad – but in the long wide version, or the NeoAir XLite NXT MAX (in the large) are leading backpacking sleeping pad comfort contenders here. 25” wide pads are appreciated in this regard, along with a pad that is slightly longer than your height combined with a good backpacking pillow.

A good backpacking pillow setup, combined with the right size sleeping pad (NEMO Tensor series shown) will go a long way towards a comfortable night on the trail.
Note that any inflatable sleeping pad will be made warmer and more comfortable if you add a closed cell foam pad underneath. If you’re only using an air pad, you’ll usually want to inflate fairly firmly for more warmth, but if using a foam pad under it you can deflate the pad to a softer firmness while still having sufficient warmth in typical conditions. And, if you toss and turn at night – instead of bottoming out the pad on hard ground, even a thin foam pad will add a surprising amount of cushion for your hips.
It should also be noted that while a very niche item, if you’re looking for a 2 person backpacking sleeping pad the Exped Ultra 3R Duo (29-41 ounces, $250, 2.9 r-value) is an intriguing choice with separate inflation chambers for each person and in Exped fashion, is a compelling choice across the board.
Summary: Most Comfortable Backpacking Sleeping Pads
Therma-a-Rest NeoLoft
NEMO Tensor All Season (in larger sizes)
NeoAir XLite NXT MAX (size large)
Add-on Closed Cell Foam Pads
Exped Ultra 3R Duo (for two)
Best Budget Backpacking Sleeping Pads
If the latest greatest technology and spreadsheet leaders aren’t your thing, more budget-oriented sleeping pads in the $150 or less range are without a doubt quite workable. A venerable choice has been the Exped line – this line has a great valve system, vertical baffles that I find help keep you on the pad, and larger outer baffles to keep you centered. The Exped Ultra 3R insulated sleeping pad (16 ounces, $140, 2.9 r-value) is my choice in this category. This pad is warm enough for 3-season backpacking, can be used as part of a system with additional foam pads in winter, and won’t break the bank. The Ultra line from Exped and their predecessor from Exped (Synmat series) have been part of my backpacking gear repertoire for years, as they offer a nice blend of warmth, weight, comfort, ease of use, and price.

If price however is of paramount importance, look to the Therm-a-Rest RidgeRest, the Therm-a-Rest Z Lite SOL, or the NEMO Switchback. These foam pads will not be the most comfortable, and depending on the sleeper may only be barely better than nothing in the comfort department, but they do add 3-season warmth and will get the job done for around $60 or less. That said, for deals on usually more expensive inflatable pads from time to time, it’s worth checking at the REI Co-op Outlet.
Summary: Best Budget Backpacking Sleeping Pads
Exped Ultra 3R
Therm-a-Rest RidgeRest
Therm-a-Rest Z Lite SOL
NEMO Switchback
REI Co-op Outlet Sleeping Pads
In Conclusion
Finding the right sleeping pad is important on the trail, both for warmth and for comfort. To some extent this all goes hand in hand – while comfort is more than just warmth, you can’t be comfortable no matter how cushy the sleeping pad if you’re cold. When I look for a sleeping pad I look for the lightest weight sleeping pad that will keep me comfortable and warm on backpacking trips, and one that is also sufficiently durable while meeting the budget while also being easy to use.
You can find a complete selection of backpacking sleeping pads mentioned in this article along with additional choices here at REI Co-op. For more on sleeping pads take a look at our article: Choosing the Best Backpacking Sleeping Pad. For more on the “Big 3” of backpacking gear, see our articles: Best Backpacking Tents by Application and Budget and Best Backpacking Sleeping Bags, as well as our Best Backpacking Backpacks Guide.

The arrival of spring brings a lot of things for the outdoor enthusiast to get excited about, including longer days, warm temperatures, and melting snow for those of us in the north. However one additional perk that spring brings is the annual REI Member Reward (previously known as the REI Dividend) release. For REI members, this is the time of the year when REI Co-op members receive their rewards from REI purchases you made during the 2025 season.

Gear-up with the help of REI Member Rewards
When are Rewards Applied?
I've been an REI Co-op member for about 25 years – I originally signed up to get an REI Dividend when purchasing a higher-priced jacket, where the dividend back ended up being more than the price of the REI Membership itself (at the time). Each year it seems the rewards are applied a bit earlier in the season.
While March is the official timeline here, frequently and if you check, you might just find your member rewards sitting in your account early in the month or even in late February these days. REI Co-op also offers an annual member sale in March, and by using your reward combined with discounts during the sale, you can often pick up some nice gear at a nice discount and perhaps with no money out of pocket.
While it's not quite January (which is when I usually start getting ancy for the season ahead and start contemplating what I'll use my REI Reward towards), the March or so release on the membership reward is usually good timing for hiking season and REI Membership sales.
How to Check Your REI Reward / Dividend Balance
Your rewards are first applied to your online REI account. However, you can also easily check your REI Membership balance here (from time to time at the previous link, you may be able to check your balance without logging in). Additional notices will arrive later by snail mail provided that you made at least $10 in purchases the previous year, unless it was your first year as a member. Note that your reward does expire. You typically have almost 2 years to use your balance. For example, for rewards that will be applied in spring of 2026, you'll have until January 3rd, 2028 to use your balance. Use it or lose it!

REI Rewards arrive just in time for spring.
How Much is the REI Reward?
REI members typically receive 10% back on eligible purchases. This is on full-priced REI purchases only, REI Outlet and sale items don't apply here and you won't get a reward back on sales tax, either. Additionally, some services like classes, gear rentals, REI gift card purchases, garage sales, or an REI Adventure Trip for example, are not eligible or are only eligible at a reduced amount. More details on all the fine print here. Throughout the calendar year, you'll accrue these rewards; the total will then be applied to your account the following year.
For example, in 2026 all the rewards you accumulated during the 2025 calendar year will be applied to your account. Thus, is it really a 2025 or a 2026 member reward? It's a bit open to interpretation. Note that while you won't earn rewards if you're buying gift cards, you do earn rewards back when you shop using a gift card towards an REI purchase.
While your purchases on clearance items, used gear, or REI Adventure Travel won't accrue rewards, once you're signed up for a membership you'll start to earn rewards from your very first purchase on new gear purchased at full price at REI.
Other Ways to Earn Towards your REI Co-op Member Reward
If you're interested and choose to sign up for the REI Co-op Mastercard in combination with your REI Membership, you can also find ways to add a boost to your total REI Rewards when Co-op member reward season rolls around. If you are looking for another credit card, the REI Co-op Mastercard gives Co-op members additional rewards on purchases at REI, on additional services at REI, and even on purchases outside REI.
These rewards are all combined with your normal purchases at REI throughout the year and added to your total REI Rewards. While we are not looking to broaden our horizons here at TrailGroove into the financial advice sector, the REI Co-op Mastercard does offer the potential to raise up your total REI Rewards, even on groceries.

When you purchase gear at REI, you can earn rewards towards next year's purchases with a one-time membership fee.
How to Use Your Rewards
Rewards are applied to your account and can be used at REI.com and in the REI app at checkout, just make sure you check the box to redeem your balance before finalizing your purchase. At an REI store, you can ask an associate to apply your balance at the register. In the days of old, you could also request your balance as a check later in the season, but REI Co-op no longer offers this option. I always used my balance before they became paper check-eligible, anyway.
Even if you're all set on gear, I find replacing old socks and stocking up on some freeze-dried meals for the backpacking season ahead is always a slam-dunk no-brainer type of purchase. While you won't be earning a Co-op Member Reward for REI Outlet purchases, you can certainly use already-earned REI Rewards towards gear when you shop REI Outlet discounted gear.

REI Rewards are applied in March and are (for the most part) based on the total amount you spent on full-priced items during the previous calendar year.
How to Become an REI Member
While this has gone up a bit in recent years, an REI Co-op Membership is just a one-time $30 charge for life. Once signed up you'll be eligible for member rewards and member sales. As long as you plan on shopping at REI more than once it's likely worth the sign up cost – you can become a member here. After your one-time membership fee you'll be assigned a unique member number associated with your lifetime membership.
The longer you've had your REI Co-op Membership the lower your member number will be. Whether you shop online or in REI stores, make sure you're purchases on outdoor gear are associated with your REI Membership number either by logging in at checkout or by relaying your REI Membership number to an associate at an REI store. Overall REI offers a great rewards program and it's hard for me to imagine being an outdoor enthusiast without being a member.

Members may also receive early access to new gear, special pricing, & more deals from time to time.
In Conclusion
Provided that you've accrued a balance in your account, REI Reward season typically arrives at just the right time to get ready with new gear for the spring and summer hiking season ahead. Whether it's a new sleeping bag or just a new pair of socks, having a little credit sitting in your REI Membership account combined with the sales that REI offers during this season, can go a long way towards getting your outdoor gear set and your spring hiking off to a great start.
Head over to REI.com to learn more about their membership benefits and you can check your balance here.