Discovering the Best Memorial Day Sales: A Guide to WIRED-Recommended Deals

Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer for many, a time for reflection, outdoor activities, and, perhaps most notably for shoppers, significant sales events. Navigating the sheer volume of discounts available during this period can feel overwhelming. Retailers across the board slash prices on everything from seasonal goods to big-ticket electronics and home essentials, making it a prime opportunity to make those long-contemplated purchases or stock up on necessities.

However, not all deals are created equal. The true value lies in finding substantial discounts on high-quality products that genuinely improve your life or offer lasting utility. This is where expert recommendations become invaluable. The WIRED Reviews team dedicates itself to testing and evaluating products rigorously, identifying those that meet high standards of performance, design, and value. For Memorial Day, they've curated a list of top deals on items they've personally vetted and would confidently recommend to friends and family.

This guide delves into some of the most compelling Memorial Day sales highlighted by WIRED, covering a diverse range of categories from cutting-edge technology to comfortable home goods and practical everyday items. We'll explore why these specific products earned praise from the reviewers and detail the discounts available, helping you make informed decisions and snag some truly worthwhile savings this holiday weekend.

WIRED Featured Deals: Quick Look

Before diving into the detailed categories, here's a snapshot of some standout deals:

• Dashcam: Nextbase 622GW Dashcam for $300 ($100 off)
• Summer Comforter: Buffy Breeze Comforter (Queen) for $200 ($50 off)
• Washable Area Rugs: Ruggable Sale: 20 Percent Off Sitewide—Use Code MEMDAY
• Compact Bluetooth Speaker: Sony SRS-XB100 Bluetooth Speaker for $38 ($22 off)
• Food Recycler: Mill Food Recycler for $874 ($126 off)

Top Tech Deals for Memorial Day

Memorial Day sales often feature significant price drops on electronics, making it an opportune time to upgrade your gadgets or invest in new tech. WIRED's picks in this category focus on devices that blend performance, utility, and value, now enhanced by holiday discounts.

Nextbase 622GW Dashcam: Your Co-Pilot for Peace of Mind

In an age where road safety and accountability are increasingly important, a reliable dashcam is a valuable tool. The Nextbase 622GW stands out as WIRED's top pick in the dashcam category. This Memorial Day, the base model, which focuses on capturing the front view, is available for $300, a significant $100 reduction from its usual price. While other configurations exist, this deal on the core unit is particularly compelling.

What makes the 622GW a favorite? Its ability to record in crisp 4K resolution at 30 frames per second ensures that crucial details like license plates and surrounding vehicles are clearly captured. This clarity is maintained even in challenging conditions, thanks to solid night vision capabilities and effective image stabilization. Mounting the camera is straightforward, integrating seamlessly into your vehicle's setup.

Beyond basic recording, the Nextbase 622GW offers smart features that enhance its utility. The companion app provides Alexa-based voice control for hands-free operation and allows for easy video review. For added safety, a subscription-based SOS alert system can automatically notify emergency services in the event of a serious accident. While a rear-view module is available separately, the core 622GW unit on sale provides excellent front-facing coverage, making this Memorial Day discount a great entry point into owning a top-tier dashcam.

Sonos Roam 2 and Move 2: Portable Sound That Impresses

Sonos is synonymous with high-quality audio, and their portable speakers bring that reputation on the go. Both the compact Sonos Roam 2 and the larger Sonos Move 2 are featured in Memorial Day sales, offering excellent sound for various needs.

The Sonos Roam 2, earning a WIRED Recommends rating of 9/10, is highlighted as the best smart Bluetooth speaker. Its appeal lies in its portability and surprising audio performance for its size. Roughly the dimensions of a 16-ounce beer can, it's incredibly easy to carry around. It's built to withstand the elements, featuring dust and water resistance, making it perfect for outdoor adventures or poolside listening. With 10 hours of battery life and convenient USB-C charging, it's designed for life on the move. Despite its small footprint, the Roam 2 delivers fantastic sound quality, a hallmark of the Sonos brand. At $134 ($45 off), it's hard to beat the combination of features, sound, and portability at this price point.

If you need more power and a larger soundstage, the Sonos Move 2 is also discounted, down to $336 ($113 off). While pricier, the Move 2 offers a more robust audio experience suitable for larger spaces or gatherings, maintaining the portability and smart features expected from Sonos.

Sony SRS-XB100: The Ultra-Compact Audio Companion

For those seeking maximum portability without sacrificing decent sound, the Sony SRS-XB100 Bluetooth Speaker is another WIRED-approved option on sale. Priced at just $38 ($22 off), this tiny speaker is designed to go everywhere with you.

Standing just under 4 inches tall, the SRS-XB100 features a built-in strap, making it easy to attach to a backpack, hang from a bike, or simply place in a cupholder. Its dust and water resistance add to its go-anywhere appeal. Despite its diminutive size, it boasts an impressive 16-hour battery life, ensuring your music lasts through a full day out. For a wider soundstage, you can even pair two SRS-XB100 speakers together for stereo sound. Available in four discounted colors, this speaker is a fantastic value for portable, everyday audio.

Sony WH-1000XM5 Headphones: Still a Noise-Canceling Champion

Even with a newer model on the market, the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones remain a top recommendation from WIRED, earning a 9/10 rating. This Memorial Day, they are available for $298, a $100 discount that is frequently seen but consistently represents excellent value.

Despite their somewhat cumbersome name, these headphones excel in the areas that matter most: sound quality and noise cancellation. Sony is a leader in active noise cancellation technology, and the WH-1000XM5 effectively silences ambient distractions, making them ideal for commuting, travel, or simply finding peace in a noisy environment. The audio performance is rich and detailed, satisfying even discerning listeners.

Comfort is key for headphones worn for extended periods, and the WH-1000XM5 are lightweight and comfortable. Intuitive controls make managing playback and calls easy. While the WH-1000XM6 is now available, the WH-1000XM5 still offers class-leading performance at a more attractive price point, especially with this Memorial Day discount. If you're in the market for premium noise-canceling headphones, this deal is hard to pass up.

Glocusent Wearable Reading Light: Hands-Free Illumination

Sometimes the most useful gadgets are the simplest ones. The Glocusent Wearable Reading Light is a favorite among WIRED editors for its practicality, and it's even more affordable this Memorial Day at $21 ($9 off) when you apply the on-page coupon.

This innovative light is designed to wrap around your neck, providing focused, hands-free illumination exactly where you need it, whether you're reading in bed, working on a craft, or need extra light for a task. It offers versatility with three color temperatures (warm, cool, and natural) and six brightness settings, allowing you to customize the light to your preference and environment. The light is available in seven different colors to suit your style.

Battery life is impressive, lasting up to 80 hours on a single charge, meaning you won't constantly need to plug it in. Its lightweight and ergonomic design make it comfortable to wear for extended periods. For anyone who needs portable, directed light, this Glocusent reading light is a simple yet effective solution, and the Memorial Day price makes it an excellent budget-friendly tech deal.

Memorial Day Savings for Home and Kitchen

Memorial Day sales extend well beyond electronics, offering substantial discounts on items for your home and kitchen. This is a great time to refresh your living space, upgrade appliances, or try out new services that make home life easier. WIRED's selections in this category focus on comfort, convenience, and sustainability.

Buffy Breeze Comforter: Stay Cool and Cozy

Finding the right comforter can be a year-round quest, especially for those who tend to sleep warm but still crave the comfort of a blanket. The Buffy Breeze Comforter is a long-standing favorite of WIRED's editors, particularly praised for its suitability during warmer months. Made with silky, cooling eucalyptus fabric, it offers a breathable layer that prevents overheating, even when temperatures rise.

Despite its cooling properties, the Breeze isn't just a summer comforter. Its design makes it versatile enough to be part of a bedding system year-round; simply layer it with another blanket or duvet for added warmth in the winter. The combination of breathability and a cozy feel makes it a comfortable choice for a wide range of sleepers. This Memorial Day, the Queen size is available for $200, a $50 discount, making it an excellent time to invest in this highly recommended bedding essential.

Quince Bedding Bundles: Affordable Luxury for Your Bedroom

Quince has made a name for itself by offering high-quality goods at more accessible price points, and their bedding is no exception. WIRED frequently recommends Quince products, including their down comforter, budget bamboo sheets, and affordable linen sheets. This Memorial Day, Quince is offering up to 25 percent off their bedding bundles, providing a fantastic opportunity to refresh your entire bedroom setup.

Whether you prefer the crisp feel of percale, the sustainable comfort of bamboo, the classic warmth of down, or the relaxed elegance of linen, Quince has bundle options available. These bundles allow you to save money by purchasing sheets, duvet covers, and other bedding components together. If you've been considering upgrading your bedding but have been deterred by the cost, the Quince Memorial Day sale on bundles is the perfect chance to acquire high-quality, editor-approved bedding at a reduced price.

Hydroviv Filtered Showerhead: Cleaner Water for Better Showers

The quality of your water can significantly impact your daily life, including your shower experience. WIRED recommends the Hydroviv Filtered Showerhead for its effectiveness in removing common contaminants like chlorine from water. This Memorial Day, it's available for $153, a $47 discount.

Beyond chlorine removal, Hydroviv highlights that its filters are “bacteriostatic,” designed to inhibit the growth of bacteria within the filter itself, adding an extra layer of assurance about water quality. While the filter requires replacement every six months at a cost of $75, Hydroviv offers a subscription option that brings the initial price of the showerhead and the first filter down to $115, mitigating the ongoing expense somewhat. If you're concerned about the quality of your shower water and its potential impact on your skin and hair, this Memorial Day deal on the Hydroviv showerhead is a practical investment in your home wellness.

Purple Carrot Meal Kit: Explore Vegan Cooking

Meal kit services offer convenience and the chance to try new recipes, and Memorial Day often brings promotions for new subscribers. Purple Carrot, a vegan meal kit service, is offering one of the best discounts seen recently: 50 percent off your first box plus free shipping.

WIRED gave Purple Carrot an 8/10 rating, praising its adventurous recipes and novel use of ingredients. While the recipes can sometimes be time-consuming, they are a rewarding experience for intermediate-to-advanced home chefs looking to explore plant-based cooking. Purple Carrot offers flexibility, allowing subscribers to choose between fresh meal kits and premade meals, swap choices easily, and pause or cancel their plan without hassle. If you're curious about vegan cooking or looking for a meal kit service that pushes culinary boundaries, this Memorial Day discount makes it an ideal time to give Purple Carrot a try.

Ruggable Washable Rugs: Style Meets Practicality

Rugs add warmth, color, and texture to a room, but keeping them clean, especially in high-traffic areas or homes with pets and children, can be a challenge. Ruggable solves this problem with its innovative washable rugs, and this Memorial Day, you can save 20 percent sitewide using code MEMDAY.

WIRED considers Ruggable rugs among the best available, specifically for their unique two-layer system. A cushioned rug pad is topped with a lightweight, patterned cover that attaches via Velcro. This cover can be easily detached and tossed into a standard washing machine, making cleaning spills, dirt, and pet accidents simple. The rugs are also stain- and water-resistant, adding to their durability and ease of maintenance.

The detachable cover system also offers the flexibility to easily swap out rug designs without needing to replace the entire rug and pad. With a wide variety of styles, patterns, and sizes available, the Ruggable sale is an excellent opportunity to update your home decor with practical, easy-to-clean rugs. While some Ruggable items might see smaller discounts on Amazon, the 20 percent sitewide offer directly from Ruggable is the most comprehensive saving this Memorial Day.

Mill Food Recycler: A Modern Approach to Food Waste

Managing food waste is a growing concern for environmentally conscious households. Traditional composting isn't feasible for everyone, especially those without outdoor space or gardening needs. The Mill Food Recycler offers a high-tech alternative, and though it's a significant investment, this Memorial Day sale brings it down to $874 ($126 off), a rare discount for this product.

Rated 6/10 by WIRED, the Mill Food Recycler is recommended in their guide to home composters for its large capacity and unique mail-back program. Instead of creating compost for a garden, the Mill system dries and grinds food scraps into a fine, odorless powder that can be mailed back to the company for recycling into animal feed. This makes it an excellent option for those who want to divert food waste from landfills but don't have a use for traditional compost.

The Mill unit is designed to be user-friendly, with an accompanying app that simplifies the process. The bin typically only needs to be emptied about once a month, making it a convenient solution for busy households. While the price remains high even with the discount, the Memorial Day sale makes this innovative food waste solution slightly more accessible for those committed to reducing their environmental footprint.

Other Notable Memorial Day Deals

Beyond the major categories of tech and home goods, Memorial Day sales often include discounts on a variety of other products. Here are a couple more WIRED-recommended items worth considering during the holiday weekend.

R+Co Hair Products: Salon Quality Savings

WIRED editors frequently feature R+Co products in their guides to hair care, recommending them for everything from heat protection to dry shampoo and hair masks. This Memorial Day, Dermstore is offering 20 percent off R+Co hair products with code SUN.

R+Co is known for its stylish packaging and pleasant fragrances, but more importantly, for the performance of its products. The On a Cloud Baobob Oil Repair Masque, for example, is highlighted as hydrating without being heavy, making it suitable even for warmer weather when hair can become oilier. While stock may fluctuate on popular items like the dry shampoo paste, this sitewide discount at Dermstore is an excellent opportunity to stock up on or try out high-quality hair care products recommended by experts.

LifeStraw Peak Series Personal Water Filter: Essential for Outdoors and Emergencies

For hikers, campers, travelers, or anyone preparing for emergencies, access to clean drinking water is paramount. The LifeStraw Peak Series Personal Water Filter is a simple, effective tool for purifying water on the go, and this Memorial Day, it's available for $18 ($7 off), matching its price from last year's Cyber Monday.

This compact straw filter is designed to remove bacteria, microplastics, parasites, sand, and silt from contaminated water sources, making questionable water safe to drink. Its lightweight and durable construction make it easy to carry on any adventure. A key feature of the Peak Series is its adaptability; it can be used as a straw to drink directly from a water source or attached to a standard water bottle for easier use.

With an unlimited shelf life and the capacity to filter over 1,000 gallons of water, the LifeStraw Peak Series is not only valuable for outdoor recreation but also a popular component of emergency preparedness kits. The Memorial Day discount makes this essential piece of gear even more accessible.

Tips for Shopping Memorial Day Sales

To make the most of the Memorial Day sales weekend, keep these tips in mind:

• Shop Early: Popular items, especially those with significant discounts and WIRED's seal of approval, can sell out quickly. Start browsing and buying as soon as sales go live.
• Compare Prices: While the deals highlighted here are strong, it's always wise to do a quick comparison across different retailers if possible, although the provided links represent the best deals found by WIRED.
• Check Return Policies: Understand the return policy for sale items before purchasing, just in case the product doesn't meet your expectations.
• Focus on Needs and Wants: Memorial Day sales are a great time for both practical purchases and treating yourself. Consider what you actually need or have been saving up for.
• Look for Coupon Codes: Some sales, like the Ruggable and Dermstore discounts mentioned, require a specific code at checkout. Don't forget to apply it!

Conclusion

Memorial Day sales offer a fantastic opportunity to acquire high-quality products at reduced prices. By focusing on recommendations from trusted sources like WIRED, you can cut through the noise and find deals that are genuinely worthwhile. From essential tech like dashcams and headphones to home comforts like cooling comforters and washable rugs, and even practical items like water filters and hair care, there are significant savings to be had on products that have been tested and approved by experts.

Whether you're preparing for summer road trips, enhancing your home environment, exploring new culinary horizons, or simply investing in reliable gear, the Memorial Day sales highlighted by WIRED provide a roadmap to smart shopping this holiday weekend. Happy saving!