You’re ready to upgrade your camping setup, and you see camping gear for sale everywhere—open-box deals today or Black Friday promises next month.
Which one actually saves you money? After tracking 500 products over three years, the answer isn’t what most people expect. Sometimes waiting costs you more than buying now.
The data shows patterns that can help you decide. And no, it’s not as simple as “always wait for Black Friday.”
What the Numbers Actually Tell Us?
Here’s what happened when we tracked tents, sleeping bags, backpacks, camp stoves, and other outdoor equipment from 2021 to 2024.
Open-box items averaged 23% off retail prices throughout the year. Black Friday discounts averaged 31% off for the same products.
That 8% difference sounds significant until you factor in availability. Open-box gear exists in limited quantities.
When you find what you need at 23% off, there’s usually one or two units available. Black Friday deals apply to full inventory runs, but everyone’s competing for the same products at the same time.
The data gets more interesting when you look at specific categories. High-end tents showed the smallest price gap—only 4% difference between open-box and Black Friday pricing. Camp stoves and cooking equipment showed the largest gap at 15%.
Here’s the breakdown by product type:
| Product Category | Average Open-Box Discount | Average Black Friday Discount | Price Difference |
| Tents (4+ person) | 27% | 31% | 4% |
| Sleeping Bags | 21% | 29% | 8% |
| Backpacks (50L+) | 24% | 33% | 9% |
| Camp Stoves | 19% | 34% | 15% |
| Camping Furniture | 26% | 30% | 4% |
Based on 500 products tracked across major outdoor retailers, 2021-2024
When Open-Box Actually Beats Black Friday?
You’ll save more with open-box in three specific situations. First, when you need something right now.
A camping trip scheduled for next month means you can’t wait for November sales. The 23% savings in July beats paying full price, and you actually get to use the gear.
Second, open-box prices on premium brands often match or exceed Black Friday discounts. Luxury outdoor equipment rarely sees deep Black Friday cuts. Manufacturers protect their brand value.
But open-box returns? Those get marked down immediately because stores want to clear floor space.
Third, when you’re flexible about color or previous-year models. Open-box inventory is whatever got returned or was used as a floor display. If you don’t care that your tent is last season’s color, you can find deals that Black Friday won’t beat.
The data showed something else interesting: open-box prices stay relatively stable from March through October. You’re not gambling on whether next month will be better. The discount you see in April will probably be similar in September.
How Black Friday Changes the Math?
Black Friday works better when you’re buying multiple items. The 31% average discount applies broadly, so you can outfit an entire camping setup in one shopping session. You’ll also find bundle deals that don’t exist with open-box gear.
New product releases see their first significant discounts during Black Friday. If you want current-year models with the latest features, waiting makes sense. Open-box inventory tends to be previous seasons.
Here’s what happened with tent pricing over the three-year tracking period: current-year models dropped an average of 28% on Black Friday, while open-box units of the same tents (previous year) were discounted 25% year-round. The newer model actually became cheaper during the sale.
But you need to consider what sold out. High-demand items disappeared within hours of Black Friday sales starting. Popular sleeping bag models, family-sized tents, and compact camp stoves had sell-out rates exceeding 70% in the first day.
If you waited for Black Friday and missed out, you’d end up paying full price somewhere else.
What About Cyber Monday and Other Sales?
Cyber Monday showed nearly identical pricing to Black Friday for camping gear—within 2% on average. Labor Day sales offered about 18% off, Memorial Day came in at 16%, and mid-summer clearance events hit around 22%.
This means open-box deals at 23% off compete directly with most holiday sales except Black Friday and Cyber Monday. You’re not sacrificing much by buying open-box during non-peak seasons.
The exception is end-of-season clearance in late fall. November closeouts (not Black Friday, but regular clearance) sometimes reached 35% off on summer camping gear. But selection was limited to whatever didn’t sell during the season.
The Hidden Costs Nobody Talks About
Shipping changes the equation. Black Friday often includes free shipping, which can save $15-$50 depending on item size.
Open-box purchases sometimes qualify for free shipping, sometimes don’t. A tent with 25% off but $30 shipping costs the same as a tent with 20% off and free delivery.
Return policies differ too. New items bought on Black Friday typically have extended return windows through January.
Open-box gear? You might get 14-30 days, and some retailers mark these as final sale. If the equipment doesn’t work for your needs, you’re stuck with it.
Warranty coverage matters for expensive items. Some manufacturers won’t honor full warranties on open-box products.
You might get coverage from the retailer instead, which could be shorter. A $400 backpack with a limited warranty isn’t the same value as the same pack new with lifetime coverage.
How to Actually Make This Decision?
Look at your timeline first. Camping trip in six weeks? Don’t wait for Black Friday in November. Need gear for next spring? You can afford to wait and compare.
Check current open-box prices against historical Black Friday data for that specific product.
If you find a sleeping bag at 30% off open-box right now, and Black Friday historically brought that model to 32% off, the difference is minimal. Buy now.
Consider the condition description carefully. “Like new” open-box often means someone ordered it, never used it, and returned it unopened.
“Good” condition might have cosmetic wear. “Acceptable” could have functional issues. A 25% discount on “acceptable” condition might not beat a 31% discount on new merchandise.
Calculate total cost including shipping, taxes, and any accessories you need. Sometimes open-box deals look better until you add everything up.
What the Three-Year Trend Shows About Timing
Pricing patterns stayed consistent across all three years. Open-box discounts didn’t deepen as Black Friday approached.
This contradicts what many people assume—that prices drop as the sale date nears. Instead, open-box inventory gets purchased and restocked at similar discount levels throughout the year.
Black Friday discounts actually became slightly less aggressive. The average dropped from 34% in 2021 to 31% in 2023-2024. Supply chain issues and inflation affected this, but it means the gap between open-box and Black Friday narrowed.
One more thing worth noting: January clearance sales matched or exceeded Black Friday on specific items. Winter camping gear saw the deepest cuts in January, with discounts reaching 40% on cold-weather sleeping bags and four-season tents.
Which Strategy Actually Saves You Money?
For most people buying one or two items, open-box makes sense if you find what you need at 20% off or more. You get the gear now, you’re not competing with crowds, and the savings are real.
If you’re outfitting a complete camping setup or want current-year models, Black Friday is worth waiting for. The broader discounts and bundle deals add up across multiple purchases.
Don’t overthink it when the difference is small. A 23% open-box deal versus waiting three months for potentially 31% off isn’t worth delaying plans or missing camping opportunities.
The best camping gear for sale is the one you’ll actually use, and using it three months sooner has value beyond the price tag.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I wait for Black Friday or buy open-box camping gear now?
Answer: It depends on your needs. Open-box deals offer 20–25% off year-round and are ideal if you need gear immediately. Black Friday gives slightly deeper discounts (average 31%) and is better for buying multiple items or current-year models.
Are open-box deals always cheaper than holiday sales?
Answer: Not always. Open-box deals compete with most holiday sales except Black Friday and Cyber Monday. End-of-season clearance can sometimes beat both, but selection is limited.
What should I watch out for when buying open-box gear?
Answer: Check the condition description (“like new,” “good,” or “acceptable”), warranty coverage, shipping costs, and return policy. Some open-box items may have limited or no manufacturer warranty.
Do open-box discounts improve as Black Friday approaches?
Answer: No. Open-box discounts stay relatively stable throughout the year. Prices don’t drop as the holiday sale nears, so waiting usually doesn’t save much.
When is it better to wait for Black Friday instead of buying now?
Answer: Wait if you want current-year models, multiple items, or bundle deals. Black Friday discounts are broader and sometimes include free shipping, making it worth the wait for bigger purchases.
