Amazon Prime Day 2022: Early Prime Day Deals to Shop Now, and Everything Else You Need to Know

It’s that time of year again: deal-seeking shoppers are getting ready to open their wallets for Amazon Prime Day 2022. Whether you’ve got a wish list ready or aren’t familiar with the retail giant’s Black Friday-like deals, we’ve put together a quick run-down of everything you need to know ahead of the big day(s)—and shared a few top-selling items from last year to consider adding to your travel gear haul.

Already in the know? Jump straight to the early Prime Day deals you can purchase right now.

This article has been updated with new information since its original publish date.

What is Prime Day?

In case you’ve been blissfully unaware of the shopping holiday mayhem that is Amazon Prime Day, let’s get you up to speed: Amazon Prime Day is an annual 48-hour event that typically happens once a year, in which Amazon discounts thousands of products across every single category. Tech and home sales tend to be the most popular—and amount to the biggest savings—but you can also score deals on clothing and shoes, luggage, beauty products, outdoor gear, and family essentials.

When is Amazon Prime Day in 2022?

This year, Amazon Prime Day is on July 12 and 13—a Tuesday and Wednesday.

Do I have to be a member to participate?

Yes, you do have to be an Amazon Prime member to take advantage of these deals. Membership costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year (college students get a discounted rate), but you can sign up for a free 30-day trial here to try it out without committing to a full year. If you do keep your Prime account, you’ll have access to same-day, one-day, and two-day shipping on millions of products, two-hour grocery delivery via Whole Foods, Prime’s Try Before You Buy program, and more.

What sales can I expect?

Throughout the 48-hour sale, you’ll find a few types of deals: Lightening Deals, which only runs for a few hours; Deals of the Day, which run for one specific day; and Best Deals, which are likely to extend beyond the two-day sale. In-demand products from Apple, Sony, iRobot, and more are likely to sell out, though, so if you see something you really want on sale, don’t hesitate to add it to your cart.

Are there any early Prime Day deals?

There sure are! Here are a few Traveler-recommended items that are already on sale:

Below, we’ve rounded up some of the most-purchased products our readers bought last year through our recommendations. As you can see, luggage, tech essentials—especially over-the-ear headphones—and travel accessories are among the top items.

How do I sort through the deals day of?

Check back here once the sale begins—we’ll be sharing guides to the best luggage deals, shoe deals, outdoor deals, and even the best competitor deals from other retailers to make wading through the pool of discounts less daunting. 

And if there are products you know you want to purchase, add them into a list when you’re signed into your account so you can easily check to see if they’re discounted once the sale begins. For more inspiration, check out fellow Traveler readers’ favorite Amazon items here.