Celebrate Independence to Save all Summer long at Shep’s!
Find the Discount Dot on our merchandise tag to discover incredible deals on the brands and styles you love. EVERYTHING in our clothing, footwear and related accessories collection is included. New 2026 spring and summer clothing, footwear and related accessories like bags and hats on our main floor are 20% off. Fall and winter goods on our Sale Balcony are 50-70% off! (shhh… these deals are so good we can’t say more!)
Head to the campsite, trail, slopes, BBQ or office outfitted for comfort, performance and style with money left for fun!
Returns are not accepted for items discounted of 50% or more.
Since 1949, Shepherd & Schaller has been part of the rhythm of life in the Northwoods—helping generations step outside, slow down, and reconnect with what matters most. Founded by those who simply loved being outdoors, our store has always been shaped by that same spirit.
Set within our vintage shop, the experience reflects that history—warm, familiar, and rooted in a time when getting outside was simply part of everyday life. It’s a place that feels as much like a return as it does a beginning.
We believe the outdoors has a way of restoring perspective, strengthening connections, and bringing a quiet kind of joy that stays with you. Whether it’s a walk in the woods, a day on the water, or a season on the slopes, those moments are where memories are made.
Today, we continue that tradition by thoughtfully offering brands that share our values and respect for the outdoors—ensuring that no matter how you experience it, you feel comfortable, confident, and at home.
Seventy-seven years later, we remain committed to doing it right, in store and here at shepssports.com.
Seventy-seven years later, we remain committed to doing it right, in store and at shepssports.com.
Here are a few uniquely Shep’s opportunities to save while prepping for the outdoors:
Shep’s Last Call Loft Collection
The outdoor clothing, accessories and footwear brands you love are discounted 25-70% on our second floor year-round. The Loft features clothing and footwear for adults plus outerwear for kids. We source premium brand special buys that are featured only in our downtown Wausau, Wisconsin store. You’ll also find final-sale outdoor lifestyle items to curate your at-home chalet.
Events and promotions
Our social media keeps you up to date on seasonal and special events and discounts like these.
Some, like Dungeon Sale and Sidewalk Sale have made us a Northwoods institution.
Our famous annual in-store “Dungeon Sale” features used and new ski equipment for adults and kids. You can shop this selection year round (mostly.)
Thoughtfully Curated. Responsibly Chosen.
We prioritize value focused on performance over trends. Longevity over disposability.
Many of the brands we carry share our commitment to durable design, organic and recycled materials.
Comfort, confidence, and a little guidance along the way.
Whether you’re building your ski setup, refining your layering system, or preparing for the next season on trail or water, our role is simple:
Thoughtful help for wherever you’re headed.
Outfitted in a way that feels right for you.
We look forward to helping you prepare, hearing your stories and providing outstanding value and service. Call Monday-Saturday 10a-5p CST for friendly, expert support (715) 845-5432.
For generations, our Annual Tent & Sidewalk Sale has marked the heart of Summer at Shepherd & Schaller Sporting Goods.
It’s the event where seasoned outdoor enthusiasts, bargain hunters, first-time adventurer’s, and families enjoying the annual Chalkfest in downtown Wausau all gather together to discover incredible deals on the gear, clothing, footwear and other essentials they need for the season ahead.
June 26-28, 2026 promises to be one of our best yet!
Biggest Savings of the Season
For a limited time, you’ll find special sale pricing throughout the store, under the tent, and along the sidewalk. We’ll be clearing out select seasonal merchandise, closeouts, discontinued styles, and one-of-a-kind finds at prices you won’t see again this year. We’re talking 90% off racks, 70% off racks and no less than 50% off equipment and clothing brands we can’t mention.
Whether you’re preparing for camping trips, lake weekends, hiking adventures, family vacations, or simply updating your outdoor wardrobe, this is the perfect opportunity to save. Snow sports gear too, naturally.
What You’ll Find
Our Tent & Sidewalk Sale features jaw dropping savings on:
Outerwear for the whole family (including Obermeyer Outerwear at 70% off!)
Sportswear from favorites like Patagonia, Arcteryx, Pendleton, Kuhl, Marine Layer, Jetty, Roxy & Toad and Co. to name a few
Footwear including sandals, slippers, trail, hiking and snow boots 20-50% off
Camping gear, furniture and accessories up to 40% off
Water sports equipment and swimsuits 20-50% off
Bikes 30-40% off and cycling accessories at least 20% off
Summer fashion and homewares, seasonal gifts 20-70% off
Ski & Snowboard helmets, goggles & bags 30-60% off
Skis, Boards, Boots, Bindings, Poles at least 30% off
Clearance merchandise up to 70% off!
Socks by Darn Tough and Sockwell 25% off! (or Buy 3 Get 1 Free)
Inventory changes daily, and all items are available in limited quantities, so early shoppers often find the best selection.
Discover Unexpected Treasures
One of the things customers love most about the Tent & Sidewalk Sale is the hunt. Every year, unique items emerge from stockrooms, display areas, and discontinued inventories. You never know what you’ll discover—a favorite jacket at a remarkable price, a piece of gear you’ve been eyeing all season, something nostalgic or the perfect item for an upcoming adventure.
A Northwoods Tradition
Since 1949, Shepherd & Schaller Sporting Goods has been helping families make the most of life outdoors. Our Annual Tent & Sidewalk Sale is more than a shopping event—it’s a celebration of summer in Wisconsin and the outdoor lifestyle that brings our community together. Enjoy Wausau’s annual Chalkfest just steps from our front door on Saturday and Sunday
Bring a friend, browse the tent, explore the sidewalk displays, and enjoy the excitement of finding exceptional values throughout the store.
Join Us
The best deals won’t last long, and once they’re gone, they’re gone.
Make plans to visit our Annual Tent & Sidewalk Sale and discover why this summer tradition continues to be one of the most anticipated events of the season.
Can’t visit during the event? Shop clearance prices on select items at shepssports.com too
See you under the Tent and inside Shepherd & Schaller June 26-28, 2026!
When most people think of camping chairs, portable tables, and sleeping bags, they picture a campground tucked among the pines. But today’s camping gear is designed for much more than overnight adventures.
Lightweight, comfortable, and easy to transport, camping furniture and sleeping bags have become go-to companions for everything from local events to backyard gatherings. Here are some of the best places to put your outdoor gear to work—even when you’re not heading to a campsite. Shop our in-stock Nemo camp furniture here.
Concerts, Festivals, and Community Events
Summer is packed with outdoor concerts, farmers markets, festivals, and community celebrations. A comfortable camp chair can turn an evening on the lawn into a relaxing experience, while a lightweight blanket or sleeping bag can provide warmth when temperatures dip after sunset.
Whether you’re enjoying music at the park or watching fireworks with family, portable seating often becomes the most sought-after item at the event.
Backyard Gatherings
Who says camping gear has to leave home?
Camping chairs are perfect for backyard cookouts, bonfires, graduation parties, and family gatherings. Unlike traditional patio furniture, they can be moved wherever the conversation happens and stored away when not in use.
A sleeping bag can also be the secret ingredient for backyard sleepovers, stargazing nights, or impromptu movie nights under the stars.
Sporting Events and Tournaments
Parents, grandparents, and dedicated fans know that youth sports often involve long hours on the sidelines. Comfortable camping chairs, portable shade shelters, and small folding tables can make tournament weekends significantly more enjoyable.
For early morning games or chilly fall evenings, a sleeping bag can double as an oversized blanket to keep spectators warm and comfortable.
Cabin and Lake Life
In the Northwoods, camping furniture often becomes part of everyday lake living. Extra camp chairs around the fire pit, portable tables at the beach, and sleeping bags for overnight guests all come in handy throughout the season.
Because camping furniture is lightweight and easy to move, it’s ideal for gathering wherever the best view—or the best conversation—happens to be.
Tailgating and Game Days
Before the game begins, camping furniture helps create a comfortable gathering space for friends and family. Folding chairs, camp tables, and insulated accessories make tailgating more organized and enjoyable.
Sleeping bags can even provide extra warmth during late-season games when temperatures begin to drop.
Watching the Stars
One of the simplest pleasures of summer is lying under a clear night sky. A sleeping bag paired with a comfortable camp chair creates the perfect setup for stargazing, meteor showers, or simply enjoying a quiet evening outdoors.
No campsite reservation required.
Emergency Preparedness
Camping gear can also prove valuable when life doesn’t go according to plan. Sleeping bags, lanterns, and portable furniture can provide comfort during power outages, unexpected overnight guests, or emergency situations.
Having a few quality pieces on hand means you’re prepared for both adventures and surprises.
Road Trips and Day Trips
Camping furniture is perfect for spontaneous stops along the way. Whether you’re enjoying a scenic overlook, a picnic by the lake, or a roadside lunch, a comfortable chair can turn a quick stop into a memorable experience.
A sleeping bag stored in the vehicle provides warmth and comfort whenever plans change unexpectedly.
More Than Camping Gear
The best outdoor equipment isn’t limited to one purpose. Camping furniture and sleeping bags are designed to help people relax, gather, and enjoy time outdoors—whether that’s deep in the woods, at the ball field, around a backyard fire, or beside a Northwoods lake.
The next time you reach for your camping gear, don’t wait for a camping trip. Some of its best uses might be much closer to home.
Waking up well-rested can make all the difference in maximizing the next day’s adventures. Here’s a simplified guide to picking the right sleeping bag temperature rating for you and your plans.
Article by Nemo
WHY DO SLEEPING BAGS LIST SEVERAL TEMPERATURES?
The standardized testing used to assign temperature ratings to sleeping bags (the ISO Test) provides three temperature thresholds to help guide users, a COMFORT rating, a LIMIT rating, and an EXTREME rating. The names can be a bit misleading, but the reason for offering all three is because sleep comfort is a very personal preference, and whether you sleep warm or cold at night determines how much insulation you need in your bag.
Typically, sleeping bags for women have more insulation in them, making them roughly 10–15 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than similarly rated men’s bags based on the premise that the average woman sleeps colder than the average man. But many of us live to break the rules, so these stereotypes shouldn’t blindly determine your own comfort and safety. It’s best to know how the ratings work to ensure that you’re choosing the bag that best matches the mood of your hypothalamus at 3:00 a.m.
WHAT DOES EACH TEMPERATURE MEAN?
According to the ISO Test, the COMFORT rating is based on the air temperature at which the “average female” can sleep comfortably through the night (i.e. not curled up in a ball for warmth). The way we like to think of it is this: If you tend to sleep cold — you’re the blanket hog who’s always chilly — then you should pay closest attention to a bag’s COMFORT rating. That’s the lowest temperature at which your bag is likely to provide a cozy night’s sleep.
The LIMIT rating is based on the temperature at which the “average man” can maintain his thermal equilibrium in a curled-up position. Basically, according to the test, the “average man” won’t necessarily be comfortable at this temperature, but he can sleep without expending energy shivering and is not in danger of hypothermia (the dream scenario, right?!). A more general way of interpreting this data is to apply it to warm sleepers. If you’re a warm sleeper — the fewer layers, the better! — then the LIMIT temperature is likely most relevant for you. That’s the temperature at which your bag shouldn’t be too hot or too cold. (Be prepared to supplement your bag with extra layers if this is your first time testing it out!)
The EXTREME rating gives an idea of how cold the air could be before there’s serious risk of death from hypothermia in a matter of hours. Realistically, you want to avoid counting solely on the bag for survival at that temperature; extra layers, a fire, or sharing body warmth are likely necessary, as well.
No matter which temperature bag you choose, you should always properly prepare before a night sleeping outside. Check the weather before you go and leave a safe margin between expected nighttime lows and your bag’s rating.
HOW ARE THESE RATINGS DETERMINED?
Sleeping bags today are rated according to the International Organization for Standardization standard, using ISO 23537 (“the ISO Test” we reference above). The test involves placing a heavily instrumented electronic manikin, clad in long underwear, inside the sleeping bag in question, and positioning both on top of a foam sleeping pad. The temperature of the air is then cooled, and the amount of electrical energy needed to maintain the manikin’s initial temperature is measured. (If it takes a lot of energy input to keep the manikin toasty, then the bag isn’t very warm.)
Through rounds of experimentation, these results have been correlated to the real-world outcome and the test can help predict what kind of comfort a person can expect from the bag. Here’s where it gets tricky, though: All our internal heat-generating engines run a little differently. Some of us pile on the blankets at night and some of us sleep in our skivvies with the window open in February. Individual preference, metabolism, and age can all throw a wrench into the simple-sounding outline above.
We’ve done our best to translate the information into easier-to-understand guidelines, but it’s important to keep in mind that they’re not hard and fast rules. If you need further guidance in choosing your sleeping bag, Shepherd & Schaller’s experts are here to assist and Nemo’s Customer Service Team is happy to help too!
Wausau, Wisconsin — Shepherd & Schaller, a trusted name in outdoor apparel and gear since 1949, is proud to announce it is stocking L.L.Bean, the iconic outdoor brand founded in 1912 in Maine.
This partnership brings together two family-founded companies rooted in a deep respect for the outdoors and a belief in its power to positively impact the human condition. Both Shepherd & Schaller and L.L.Bean were established by avid outdoorsmen who built their businesses around a shared passion for helping people experience the outdoors more fully, comfortably, and confidently.
“For generations, both of our companies have believed that time spent outside is essential to a healthy, balanced life,” said Theresa Shepherd, VP Merchandising for Shepherd & Schaller. “We’re proud to bring L.L.Bean into our store as a natural extension of the values we’ve upheld for over 76 years.”
Founded in Wisconsin in 1949, Shepherd & Schaller has always been guided by a core set of values that closely align with those of L.L.Bean:
Respect
Service
Outdoor Heritage
Integrity
Perseverance
Safe & Healthy Living
The addition of L.L.Bean to Shepherd & Schaller’s curated assortment reflects a continued commitment to offering customers a wide range of trusted, high-quality outdoor brands. The retailer will carry L.L.Bean alongside industry leaders such as Patagonia and Arc’teryx, ensuring that customers with diverse needs, budgets, outdoor pursuits, and brand preferences can find the right gear locally, while enjoying shop-small service and expertise.
“Our customers are not one-size-fits-all,” Shepherd added. “Their passions, priorities, and price points vary—and our responsibility is to meet them where they are. Bringing in L.L.Bean strengthens our ability to offer meaningful choice without compromising on quality or values.”
The new L.L.Bean collection is now available in-store and at shepssports.com
