Few content creators have a zest for life quite like outdoor influencers. Whether they’re a weekend warrior or someone who has left it all behind to live life without boundaries, these creators bring the adventurous spirit needed to execute unforgettable campaigns.
No matter your niche, chances are you can find an outdoor influencer to help breathe some fresh air into your marketing strategy. Here’s a breakdown of what content works best for outdoor influencers, some of our favorite follows, and examples of brands pushing boundaries with high-performing creators.
What is an outdoor influencer?
Outdoor influencers can be any online content creator who uses their influence on blogs or social media to encourage people to visit outdoor destinations, purchase outdoor gear and products, or support outdoor causes.
These creators make the perfect partners for any brand or organization that wants to tap into an engaged audience to bring awareness to their products or services. Many outdoor influencers also specialize in video and photography, making them invaluable resources for showcasing what they use to support and maintain their active lifestyles.
What content works best for collaborations with outdoor influencers?
Camping
@cbeehill Okay this is not a Kelty ad I just love their gear ? Stay tuned for part 2!
Brands that want to showcase how their products can make for the perfect camping experience should look no further than outdoor influencers. Whether you want to show how to camp in style or survive the elements on a more intense adventure, these creators are the perfect fit to demonstrate everything your gear has to offer.
Extreme/outdoor sports
@jadedarmawangsa ♬ Surf – Trees and Lucy
From adrenaline junkies to casual joggers, online communities exist for every sport under the sun. People just getting their feet wet with a new hobby often gravitate toward these niche creators to get a better idea of what products are out there and which will be the best fit for their specific goals.
Hunting and fishing
@officialfishboss Fishing gear at icast2022 part 32 #fishinggear #icast2022 #fishingtiktoks #fishingtools #fishingmarketing #fishingtiktoker #fishinginfluencer #fishingcontentcreator ♬ original sound – Fish Boss ?Fishing Videos??
When it comes to hunting and fishing, there can be an overwhelming amount of gear and accessories to choose from, depending on what you’re going after. And with so many experts showing off their techniques on social media, brands have a golden opportunity to showcase the effectiveness of their products in a real-life scenario.
Outdoor cooking and bushcraft
@beeswild_life Go-to vegan backpacking meals that i prepare with my @jetboil_ ? ?? #backpackingmeals #veganbackpacking #vegan #outdoors #backpackinggear #hikertok #jetboil #granolagirl #campkitchen ♬ original sound – Bee
Now that you’ve caught your dinner, you’ll probably be looking for the best way to cook it. Outdoor and bushcraft influencers are some of the most resourceful creators on social media and can masterfully demonstrate the easiest (and tastiest) way to prepare a meal outdoors.
Not to worry—you can still get in some outdoor cooking content if hunting and fishing don’t quite align with your brand’s mission and values. Plenty of vegan and vegetarian creators out there can cook up mouthwatering meatless dishes and showcase the products needed to get it done.
Conservation
@margreen_s Honestly, this is exactly that reason that brought me into conservation #wildlife #earthday #naturedocumentary #placestovisit #animalsoftiktok ♬ Originalton – 15.05.22?
Outdoor influencers all share a passion for nature. And as a result, many of them are dedicated conservationists committed to preserving mother nature for generations to come. Brands with similar values should consider partnering with these creators to spread awareness and generate momentum for causes that matter the most to them.
Van life
Foster Huntington created the first #vanlife post in 2011 and has inspired countless others to ditch a more traditional lifestyle and live out of their vehicles. Because van life essentially involves converting wheels into a tiny home, plenty of home goods brands can find success partnering with these creators. Van life influencers are also a great fit for sustainable companies providing products that help promote green living and a lower
Top outdoor creators to follow on social media right now
Instagram outdoor influencers
Robbie Maddison
Robbie is an Australian motocrosser and daredevil known for his gravity-defying stunts. He won a gold medal at the 2004 X Games and broke two motocross world records in 2005. Whether it’s sea, land, or sky, Robbie is determined to keep the adrenaline on full blast.
You can also catch his wild rides on YouTube.
Tyrhee Moore
Tyrhee is a mountaineer, outdoor education advocate, and photographer. As the founder of Soul Trak Outdoors, Tyrhee is on a mission to facilitate community, recreation, service, and leadership for people of color in nature.
You can learn more about Tyrhee’s passion for promoting an active outdoor lifestyle at SoulTrak.com.
Survival Lilly
Lilly is an Australian survivalist and bushcrafter. She specializes in Stone Age and modern-day survival and teaches others how to prep for long-term survival activities. Although there is a lot to learn from Lilly’s videos, you’d be best off not trying to replicate her more extreme adventures without the proper training.
You can get more of Lilly’s survival tips on YouTube and Facebook.
Tanille Ballard
Tanille is an avid hiker documenting her adventures with her 5-year-old daughter Chloe. Tanille’s content is perfect for anyone looking for inspiration to explore everything the southwest United States has to offer.
Be sure to check out Chloe’s Instagram account (run by Tanille) for more stunning adventure content.
Amber Fay
Amber traverses the California landscape in search of the perfect hiking routes. The digital nomad shares tips for balancing adventure with work and school while her husky, Dakota, and cat, Atlas, supply regular doses of cuteness.
TikTok outdoor influencers
Ryan Purvis
@ryannpurvis Can anyone relate?? #hiking #camping #nature #backpacking #merrellcrew @merrell ♬ original sound – ryan purvis
Ryan is an avid outdoorsman documenting all of his adventures hiking, backpacking, and camping. Known for his goofy sense of humor and soothing sounds from the trail, Ryan has often been called “the Bob Ross of hiking.”
You can check out more of his content on Instagram and YouTube.
Renee and Tim
@thruhikers #Walk to #CANOE transition! We’ve completed 60% of the Pacific Northwest Circuit. #thrupaddle #adventure #columbiariver ♬ Early Hours – Ikson
Renee and Tim adventure by foot, bike, canoe, or any other non-motorized transport they can come up with. They recently thru-hiked the 3,000-mile Continental Divide Trail from the Mexican border in New Mexico to the Canadian border in Montana.
You can also (try to) keep up with Renee and Tim on Instagram, YouTube, and their blog.
Anggeventure
@anggeventure Little Miss West coast is the best coast? #bigsur #californiadreaming #nature #littlemiss ♬ ac vhscoven on Instagram – mia
Angela is a California native who shares her hiking adventures and backpacking tips. As a self-proclaimed “weekend warrior,” Angela is the perfect inspiration for anyone who only has a couple of days at a time to get out and experience nature to the fullest.
You can catch more of Angela’s weekend getaways on Instagram and her blog.
Ucan Outdoors
@ucanoutdoors Some people just aren’t ready for your awesomeness and that’s okay! #viral ♬ Intro – The xx
Scott Tatum, better known as “Ucan Outdoors,” is a nomad, hiker, and solo travel expert who supplies his followers with plenty of motivation and self-care tips. Scott’s channel is the perfect place for anyone who needs an excuse to live wild and be happy.
Check out more of Scott’s adventures and motivational content on YouTube and Instagram.
Antony Newton
@antygravity @insta360_official #insta360onex2 ♬ I’m Good (Blue) – David Guetta & Bebe Rexha
Antony is a professional adrenaline junkie with more than 1,300 base jumps under his belt. In 2020, Antony made headlines when he and his thrill-seeking buddies leaped with broomsticks from a peak in the Swiss Alps in a Harry Potter-inspired Quidditch stunt.
You can get more of Antony’s high-octane content on Instagram and Facebook.
YouTube outdoor influencers
WildBeare
Claire is a mother, hiker, nature lover, photographer, and all-around “outdoorsy” person. She uses nature as a source of healing and encourages her followers to come along on her journey to inner peace.
You can find more from Claire on Instagram, Facebook, and her blog.
Wargeh Bushcraft
Wargeh’s bushcraft videos cover winter-wild camping, fishing, off-grid cabin building, primitive technology, and anything else one might need to survive in the wilderness. His videos don’t include any wild effects or music—just mother nature and her sounds.
You can get more from Wargeh on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
Kelly Hays Hikes
Kelly’s handle says it all. The young explorer loves long-distance hiking, traveling the country in her van, and experiencing everything that the great outdoors has to offer.
You can also stay up to date on what Kelly is up to on Instagram and TikTok.
Graces Adventures
Grace is a solo traveler from the U.K. If you’ve ever considered giving solo traveling a shot, Grace’s channel is the perfect place to get some tips and advice on how to build confidence and enjoy every minute of it.
You can get more tips from Grace on Instagram, Facebook, and her blog.
Drew LooknFishy
Drew and his family hit the road in 2007 and never looked back. Since then, Drew has been sharing tips with his followers on how to live off the grid and chase the “experience” rather than the “possession.”
You can learn more about Drew and his family’s alternative lifestyle on Instagram and Facebook.
Van life influencers
Jannelle Eliana
Jannelle started her channel to document her life traveling in a 1995 GMC Vandura Explorer with her pet snake, Alfredo. But the bubbly creator’s main goal is to inspire her followers to get out and do what makes them happy.
You can also keep up with Jannelle and Alfredo’s adventures on YouTube.
Sydney Ferbrache
@divineontheroad Replying to @adriannelindsay *Cue the “too many people are moving here already! Don’t tell them!” comments* #vanlife #fyp ♬ original sound – Sydney Ferbrache
Sydney has been “living her best life” on the road for the last four years. As a solo woman living full-time in a 2017 Ford Transit, Sydney shares advice with her followers on van conversions, van life logistics, and earning a remote income.
You can get more #vanlife content from Sydney on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and her blog.
REGRETLYSS
Lyss is an Oregon native who has been living the “bus life” for the last five years. Her YouTube channel serves as an online diary documenting her journey to finding herself through nature.
You can learn more about Lyss’ story on Instagram.
Happy Homebodies
@happyhomebodies Lighting the place up with my #jackery #jackerypartner link in bio ?⚡️ #jackerysolarway #jackerypower #jackery1000pro ♬ Pure Imagination – Kathleen
Francesca and Nicholas turned an old school bus into their ultimate dream home. Now, the “homebodies” travel the country with their three four-legged companions, documenting every step of the way.
You can find more from the Happy Homebodies on Instagram.
Examples of brands that partner with outdoor influencers
Red Bull
Red Bull partners with athletes from more than 70 countries, participating in just about any sport you can imagine. Part of what makes the brand so successful is that it understands social media viewers aren’t interested in traditional forms of advertising. With that in mind, you’ll rarely find a post directly promoting its energy drink. Instead, Red Bull focuses on engaging content that tells the story of its athletes and what makes them the best.
REI
In 2015, REI disrupted the traditional Black Friday promotional blueprint with its #OptOutside campaign, which encouraged consumers to get outdoors or really do anything other than crowd retail stores looking for holiday deals.
To drive its point home, REI “blacked out” its homepage with a message encouraging visitors to #OptOutside. It also launched a geo-targeted Facebook campaign that located several trailheads nearest the visitor’s location, as well as a microsite inviting Black Friday ex-pats to upload photos of their outdoor adventures. The promotion has generated more than 18 million pieces of user-generated content and netted countless positive news stories for the brand.
Today, REI partners with creators from all walks of life who can help prove that living a life of adventure can be accessible for everyone, not just the avid outdoorsman.
The North Face
The North Face recently partnered with drag queen and environmentalist Pattie Gonia for the Summer of Pride to “celebrate you and all the beautiful ways you get outside.” The tour featured stops in Oregon, Ohio, Colorado, and California for a series of events designed to bring attention to the LGBTQ+ community in the outdoors. Along the way, The North Face donated $100,000 to Brave Trails—an organization inspiring LGBTQ+ youth to discover a sense of belonging outside.
Key takeaway: Leverage outdoor influencers to forge your path to brand love.
Outdoor influencers have an uncanny ability to push boundaries and drive positive returns for the brands they know and love. Whether your goal is to relate to your audience, inspire them, or both, partnering with those who align with your mission and values gives you a leg up on the competition by leveraging some of the most engaging creators on social media.
