Best Outdoor Brands on Social Media

Due to the nature of the product, outdoor brands have always fostered an extremely engaging and interactive community on social media. Outdoor enthusiasts love to head to social to share their latest trek and more often than not, will be quick to share the types of products they’re using and tag brands accordingly. Many outdoor brands play into this and incorporate many of their followers' content into their social media marketing strategy. 

In this blog, we cover the outdoor brands that do social best through captivating storytelling, utilizing UGC and other adventurous tactics. 

Outdoor brands' products, services and strategies come to life on social media. Here are 15 of the most popular outdoor brands on social, with insight into feed aesthetics, the type of content they post and how their overall strategy on social media impacts their data and results. 

The following data was collected from January 1, 2024, to October 10, 2024. The overall average engagement rate for outdoor brands is 0.50%, while the overall follower growth rate is 95.07%.

1. Burton Snowboards (@burton)

• Engagement rate: 1.30%
• Follower growth rate: 0.05%
• Followers: 812K

Burton is one of the most popular brands in the world when it comes to winter sports, especially snowboarding. Unsurprisingly, the brand’s feed is a mix of bright, on-the-mountain action shots, exhilarating Instagram UGC and, of course, high-quality product photos. Each piece of content on Burton’s feed is complimentary to the one before and the one that will come after, creating a seamless, aesthetically pleasing experience for followers. 

Burton’s heavy focus on product knowledge and its ability to show its products in action make it a trustworthy expert in the space, which is why it has one of the highest engagement rates of the brands mentioned in this list. Burton doesn’t need to be too concerned about its smaller follower growth rate as it is a very established brand with extremely loyal customers. By listening to and interacting with those customers on Instagram, the brand can tune in to exactly what its followers want to see. 

2. Go RVing Canada (@gorvingcanada)

• Engagement rate: 0.63%
• Follower growth rate: 0.04%
• Followers: 28.7K

Go RVing Canada instantly transports its followers to destinations nationwide with its dynamic feed. With just a couple of scrolls, followers can see some of the most amazing sites Canada has to offer, whether it be deep in the woods, by the ocean or on the road. Themes of nature and greenery create a relaxing feed that users don’t want to leave behind. 

Though Go RVing Canada has a more modest follower count than some of the other brands on this list, the brand constantly tries new things to garner engagement. The brand has multiple segments they post about regularly, including RV Trip Guides for new locations, ‘Ask a Dealer’ videos to answer common questions and more. Go RVing also puts a twist on trending content using UGC and holds regular giveaways to increase follower growth rate. 

3. Hydro Flask (@hydroflask)

• Engagement rate: 0.60%
• Follower growth rate: 0%
• Followers: 643K

Hydroflask helped originate the trend of water bottles becoming must-have accessories. The brands' feed is full of vibrant colors and UGC from happy customers showing how they have customized their bottles. Weaved throughout its feed, Hydroflask also tastefully shares new products, upcoming shades and general product information that every Hydroflask owner should know. 

Hydroflask has a very dynamic strategy, utilizing trending topics and memes to secure a 0.60% engagement rate. The brand also shares quick snaps of celebrities like Charli XCX, Troye Sivan and Chappell Roan using its product. This garners a lot of attention and excitement from followers and fans of the specific celebrities alike, prompting them to want to get the same product as their favorite artist. 

4. 66°North (@66north)

• Engagement rate: 0.38%
• Follower growth rate: 0.17%
• Followers: 233K

66°North is a protective outerwear company that uses its Instagram feed to blend high fashion and function. The brand's aesthetic is very clean and outdoorsy, leaning towards professionally taken model shots over traditional UGC, like most other outdoor brands on this list. 66°North’s feed looks like something out of National Geographic, with a sprinkling of product shots to let the consumer know what the brand actually sells. 

66°North is a household name in outerwear, which is why the brand has gained well over 233K followers and continues to grow modestly every single day. With a 0.38% engagement rate, the brand's approach to Instagram is simple and classy — no fuss. Without all the noise that can otherwise distract audiences, they can focus on what's really important: the product. 

5. Smartwool (@smartwool)

• Engagement rate: 0.30%
• Follower growth rate: 2.11%
• Followers: 174K

Smartwool is a clothing brand that began as the first creator of Merino wool ski socks. Since then, the brand has expanded its range far beyond socks but still keeps them a very relevant part of its Instagram strategy. Smartwool’s feed is mainly made up of aesthetically pleasing, outdoorsy UGC — the brand understands that there’s no better way to showcase a product than through the people who use it daily. 

Smartwool understands the type of content that works best for its 174K followers: Reels. This type of content keeps followers and people stumbling across its profile engaged while informing them about the product’s usability. The brand also adds some professional product shots and Instagram giveaways into its strategy to keep things interesting and maintain its impressive follower growth rate of 2.11%. 

6. Filson (@filson1897)

• Engagement rate: 0.29%
• Follower growth rate: 0.42%
• Followers: 618K

Filson manufactures outdoor goods and lifestyle products. The brands’ essence is woodsy, moody and authentic. Every post of Filson’s account feels natural and showcases its products in action. With a mix of color and black and white content, the brand's feed feels effortless and full of adventure, ultimately leaving the user wanting more. 

With over 600K followers and a follower growth rate of 0.42%, Filson has crafted a strategy that clearly works. The brand prioritizes beautiful photography and video to show off its product, making its feed feel more like a personal account than a brand account. Filson also uses its account to share resources on exciting trailblazers, historic moments and more, outside of its product catalog to keep followers engaged. 

7. Patagonia (@patagonia)

• Engagement rate: 0.26%
• Follower growth rate: 0.03%
• Followers: 6.4M

Patagonia is one of the most recognizable outdoor brands in the world. The brand features colorful shots from all over the globe, focused less on the product and more on the story of the person wearing it. With a mix of stills, Instagram video and UGC, Patagonia’s feed is full of intriguing content that makes any user want to double-click to learn more. 

A big part of Patagonia’s social strategy that sets it apart from other outdoor brands is its commitment to causes like sustainability and climate change. The brand uses its platform largely to promote information and resources about these issues in conjunction with its product to its 6.4M followers. Though its account has a low follower growth rate, Patagonia still has an engagement rate of 0.26%, demonstrating that its followers like the content they post. 

8. Backcountry (@backcountry)

• Engagement rate: 0.23%
• Follower growth rate: 0.01%
• Followers: 921K

Backcountry is an outdoor and sporting goods company whose Instagram feed is packed with adventure and action. Most of Backcountry’s feed is dedicated to fast-paced Reels, either highlighting an exciting mountain bike ride or hopping onto the latest trending Reels sounds. The brand's feed is lush and full of unexpected twists and turns. 

With almost 1M followers, Backcountry has the bandwidth to test and try what different types of content work for the brand. With an engagement rate of 0.23%, the brand knows its audience likes to be entertained and informed rather than sold products outright. This strategy won’t work for all brands, but fits the brand ethos of Backcountry just right. 

9. The LifeStraw (@lifestraw)

• Engagement rate: 0.18%
• Follower growth rate: 0.23%
• Followers: 78.2K

Lifestraw is a water filter brand dedicated to equtiable access to safe water for all. Every purchase made from its product line gives one school child safe water for a year, and the brand’s social presence is mainly used to show how impactful that is. Lifestraw’s feed is colorful, optimistic and full of a mix of brilliant images and informative Reels. 

It is clear that Lifestraw's mission on social media is to promote awareness about safe drinking water to its almost 80K followers. This type of strategy is particularly impactful for this brand because it showcases how its product actually works, shows the user exactly where their money is going and shows them how they’re making a difference — a win-win for both parties. 

10. Outdoor Research (@outdoorresearch)

• Engagement rate: 0.18%
• Follower growth rate: 0.02%
• Followers: 494K

Outdoor Research creates trusted gear to help you thrive outside. The brand’s feed is almost entirely outside and shows a wide variety of outdoor activities, including mountain biking, snowboarding and hiking. The brand effortlessly integrates its products into its feed by choosing complimentary backgrounds and colors to help the product really pop. 

By showing the majority of its products in action through high-quality photoshoots or UGC, Outdoor Research creates a world on social media that users can see themselves in. With almost 500K followers, the brand leans into action and adventure as the driving force behind its strategy, garnering an average engagement rate of 0.18%. 

11. AllTrails (@alltrails)

• Engagement rate: 0.17%
• Follower growth rate: 0.13%
• Followers: 660K

AllTrails is an app that helps hikers find trails all over the world. The brands feed is bright, fun and full of useful tips, memes and UGC from hiking enthusiasts. In a single scroll, viewers are greeted with jaw-dropping views. AllTrails’ take on the latest Instagram trends and funny posts that are filed under its #TrailTalk series that covers humorous or relatable things hikers have said in a review of a trail. 

AllTrails has a unique approach to Instagram, as the brand doesn’t have a physical product to sell, but rather a service and experience. Because of this, the brand is highly focused on community building and uses fun prompts and park spotlights to get its 660K followers chatting in the comments. This type of content works generally well for AllTrails and leaves them with an average 0.17% engagement rate. 

12. The North Face (@thenorthface)

• Engagement rate: 0.13%
• Follower growth rate: 0.03%
• Followers: 5M

The North Face is another one of the most popular outdoor brands in the world. The brand’s feed is jam-packed with high-quality carousels and Reels focused more on telling a story and advocating for change than selling its products. The variation of static imagery and movement through video on The North Face’s feed takes followers on an adventure while also showing off its most popular products in action. 

The North Face has established itself as a leader in outdoor brands with over 5M followers. Although it has a smaller follower rate (likely due to the familiarity and popularity of the brand having already established a strong follower base), The North Face continues to keep followers engaged with its Summit Series, various collaborations and regular new product launches. 

13. Arc’teryx (@arcteryx)

• Engagement rate: 0.11%‍
• Follower growth rate: 0.58%‍
• Followers: 2M

Arc’teryx has been a heavyweight in the outerwear department for many years now. Its feed is classic and sleek, allowing its products to speak for themselves. The brand's minimalist aesthetic on social media lends well to static posts, carousels and Reels showcasing not only its products but also specific Arc’teryx athletes and their journeys. 

Arc’teryx’s strategy aims to bring followers back down to earth. Its 2M followers are meant to feel grounded by its simplistic feed, and with a follower growth rate of 0.58%, it’s clear that users feel inspired to join in. Arc’teryx’s dedication to simplicity and authenticity on its feed helps it stand out from other outdoor brands. 

14. Cabelas (@cabelas)

• Engagement rate: 0.11%
• Follower growth rate: 0.58%
• Followers: 1.3M

Cabela’s is the epitome of an outdoor brand, best known for its wide array of outdoor products and hunting gear. The brand’s feed is very representative of all of the types of products it sells, mostly concerning hunting and fishing. There is a healthy mix of static imagery, Reels and UGC used to show followers how Cabela’s customers use their products in everyday life. 

With over 1.3M followers, Cabela’s understands which content works for its strategy. It knows that organic shots or videos of the outdoors, forest and wildlife, for example, perform exceptionally well. The brand also regularly holds giveaways and poses questions to its followers to amp up its 0.58% follower growth rate and 0.11% engagement rate. 

15. KÜHL (@kuhl)

• Engagement rate: 0.11%
• Follower growth rate: 0.23%
• Followers: 226K

KÜHL is an outdoor clothing brand ‘born in the mountains’, and its Instagram feed reflects that. Heavily relying on UGC, the brand often posts beautiful shots from photographers and locations nationwide. Any product shots implemented into KÜHL’s feed feel natural and like they’re meant to be there — not an overt advertisement. 

KÜHL’s focus on mesmerizing photography takes its 226K followers on a constant journey, leaving them never knowing what to expect next. Adding this element of excitement to its social strategy is a smart move as it keeps followers who may just be stumbling across the brand and account for the first time, engaged. Though its engagement rate is on the lower side, KÜHL is still experiencing decent follower growth at 0.23%.

Outdoor brands need a social management tool that can go anywhere. Dash Hudson offers a suite of features that cover every base and help social media managers take their social media strategies to new heights. With link in bio solution LikeShop, outdoor brands can convert casual viewers and followers into customers with a few simple clicks.

‍Community and Social Listening features give brands insight into how its community reacts to content or what types of content they should post about. Campaigns help outdoor brands have every element of their campaign at their fingertips — no heavy manual work required. 

These and many other robust features prove that Dash Hudson is built with outdoor brand social media managers in mind so they can focus on what’s important: curating and creating incredible content.