Labor Day Survival Gear and Prepping Sales

September 3, 2023

Summer is ebbing away, but that means my favorite season (fall) is getting closer, and that end-of-season sales are upon us. The summer-ending sales that line up with Labor Day are great because you can usually find discounted outdoor gear, which always comes in handy for survival and prepping.

Some back-to-school sales are still underway as well, which can help with prepping supplies.

Labor Day hits Monday, September 1st this year, but the deals have already begun and some (but not all) last through the end of the week.

Contents (Jump to a Section)

This post has been updated for 2025 Labor Day sales. Additional deals will be updated on September 1st when we are allowed to share them as they go live. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Disclosure»

International Knife Day Deals

Knives are always on sale this time of year because of “International Knife Day” on August 24th, first established in the 1800s.

Some of our favorite knives on sale include:

Kizer Nice Guy D2 Folding Knife – $29 (was $39)
Cold Steel Drop Forged Hunter Fixed Blade – $40 (was $60)
Cold Steel SRK 6″ Fixed Blade – $42 (was $70) – [Budget pick from our fixed survival knife review] – Slightly more budget-friendly right now.
Boker Kalashnikov Auto – $55 (was $85) – This knife may not be legal where you live, so check automatic knife laws first (BladeHQ will show you when you put in your zip for purchase).
Spyderco Para 3 CPM-M4 Folding Knife – $145 (was $200) – Use code DIBS to get a free Gerber fixed blade at checkout, too.

With plenty of brands, blade types, and steels on sale, you’ll probably find something you’re going to like. Some knife accessories are on sale, too:

Sharpal 6-in-1 Pocket Sharpener – $10 (was $16)

Survival Backpack Deals

Backpacks go on sale this time of year to attract customers returning to campus or the office. While many of those backpacks aren’t the best options for survival bug out bags, a few stand out.

Heeta 5L Dry Bag – $10 (was $15)
Eberlestock Apprentice EDC Backpack – $49 (was $99)
Teton 75L Hiker Backpack – $70 (was $85)
Osprey Proxima EDC Pack – $75 (was $100)
Eberlestock Bandit EDC Backpack – $104 (was $149)
5.11 COVRT 24 41L Backpack – $105 (was $140) – [Top pick from our best gray man backpack review]
5.11 RUSH 72 2.0 55L Backpack – $142 (was $190) – [Top pick from our bug out bag backpack review]
Osprey Rook 65L Backpack – $150 (was $200)

You’ll also see some deals as backpacking packs are closed out for the end of summer.

Outdoor Survival Deals

5/16″ Ferro Rod + Striker – $5 (was $11)
Coleman Camp Axe – $8 (was $10)
Waterproof Arc Lighter 2-Pack – $10 (was $14) – [Top pick from our best survival lighter review]
Lifestraw Peak Water Filter – $19 (was $25)
Waterdrop Gravity Filter – $32 (was $42) – [Top pick from our survival water filter review]
Grayl GeoPress Filter Water Bottle – $80 (was $100)
Grayl UltraPress Filter Water Bottle – $180 (was $200) – [Filter pick from our best survival water bottle review]

Labor Day Flashlight Deals

Lights are seeing big sales for the end of summer. Our favorites include:

Energizer LED Headlamp – $9 (was $15)
Victoper LED Flashlight 2-Pack – $10 (was $19)
Energizer Paw Patrol Flashlight 2-Pack – $13 (was $15) – Great for the kids’ nightstand or kids’ bug-out bags.
Olight imini 2 EDC Flashlight – $14 (was $20)
Olight I3T EOS EDC Flashlight – $16 (was $20)
Wuben E7 Mini Magnet Light – $24 (was $30) – Incredibly powerful for its tiny size with dual LEDs that total 1800 lumens.
Sofirn SC31T 2000-Lumen Flashlight – $32 (was $40)

Safety, Security & Protection

Security makes sense now that kids are back in school, extracurriculars are back, and people are spending more time out of their homes. And, personal safety should always be a priority.

X-Sense Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Combo Alarm – $29 (was $39)
Blink Outdoor 4 Security Camera 2-Pack – $90 (was $180) – [Top pick from our security camera review] Be sure to pick up a cheap USB drive to make it a hybrid system to avoid the monthly subscription costs.
Arlo Wired Floodlight Camera – $100 (was $150)
Mira CM-6M Gas Mask – $221 (was $276) – [Top pick from our gas mask review]

Firearms & Ammo Deals

We’re far from a gun site, but firearms can be an important part of a preparedness plan for a wide range of situations.

Tokarev Bullpup 12 Gauge Shotgun – Add to cart to see Price (was $360)
Ruger 10/22 Rifle with Scope and Case – $300 (was $450)
Glock G19 Gen 5 – $539 (was $647) – The standard bearer at a solid price with no fees or shipping.

Ammo at some low prices:

CCI Blazer 22LR 1500-round bucket – $117 (was $156) – Only $0.08/round.
BPS 9mm 300-round range bundle – $59 (was $79) – Only $0.19/round.

Accessories worth checking out:

Walker’s Slim Earmuffs – $21 (was $30) – The same passive earmuffs I wear are at a huge discount.
Vortex Strikefire II Red Dot – $100 (was $250)
Holosun 407 Reflex Sight – $180 (was $300)

Miscellaneous Tactical Gear

Tactical-focused survival gear can also be found in several places on sale. We’re not sure of the connection with Labor Day to feature this gear, but we can’t deny the steep discounts.

Kepeak Tactical Pen – $9 (was $13)
Mechanix Wear Tactical Gloves – $24 (was $32) – [From our survival gloves review].

Other Labor Day Deals

Even more Labor Day deals are running this year, with plenty of emergency food suppliers jumping into the fray before National Preparedness Month gets underway.

Augason Farms Buy 2, Get 1 Free #10 Cans – Some of the cans are already on sale, so this offer is already selling out quickly. The promotion works best if you get the third discounted can (which applies to the cheapest selected) as the same #10 can as the other two you pick.
Mountain House Just In Case 3-Day Food Supply – $69 (was $98) – Part of the Red Cross sale.
Mountain House Classic Bucket – $94 (was $134)

The Final Word

We hope everyone had an awesome summer and was able to spend some time with family and friends. There are plenty of great Labor Day prepper deals this year, and we hope that by making this list, your shopping will go smoothly so you can get back to enjoying what you love.

With the start of Preptember, we should see even more survival gear deals and discounts on prepping supplies soon.

If you are looking for more deals or gift ideas, check out our gift guides and free Kindle book list:

See more of our expert-written guides, resources, and reviews in your search results – add TruePrepper as a preferred source.

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