What Are Outdoor Subscription Boxes?

Outdoor subscription boxes are monthly, bimonthly, or quarterly shipments of outdoor-friendly apparel, snacks, and gear. Some boxes offer curated selections of general items while others specialize in themes like camping, running, hiking, and more. Typically, subscription companies offer a certain number of full-size products each month or a limited retail value for each box.

How Much Do Outdoor Subscription Boxes Cost?

The cost of outdoor subscription boxes varies based on the theme of the box, as well as the quality and number of products. On average, though, outdoor subscription boxes cost between roughly $29 and $40 per monthly box, with quarterly boxes costing more—sometimes up to $200. Many outdoor subscription box companies offer free shipping, but some charge an additional fee, especially for addresses outside the continental United States.

What Types of Items Are Found in Outdoor Subscription Boxes?

Many outdoor subscription boxes focus on gear, like water bottles, backpacks, headlamps, carabiners, and other tools. Boxes also tend to include snacks that are convenient to enjoy outdoors and apparel, like socks, neck gaiters, and beanies. Subscriptions that are tailored to specific activities—such as running or cycling—and often include items that are geared toward athletes.

Does REI Have a Subscription Box?

REI does not offer subscription boxes, but instead, the company offers co-op memberships with exclusive products, events, and discounts on gear. Lifetime co-op memberships cost $30 one time with no subscription or renewal fees.

Home & Garden Home

The 3 Best Outdoor Subscription Boxes

Nomadik is the best overall outdoor subscription box

By

Kiah Treece

Updated March 3, 2023

Home & Garden

We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more.

If you're a fan of spending time outside, you'll be pleased to learn that you can have high-quality gear delivered to your doorstep for your next adventure. Whether you've been camping in a not-so-waterproof tent or discovered that the wrong pair of hiking boots make for an unpleasant experience, you've likely already learned that having the right gear makes all the difference. Thankfully, outdoor subscription boxes are here to bring you the best products with a better value than purchasing each item individually.

These boxes are hand-selected by experts with gear for a variety of outdoor activities, and many offer personalization options and themes for specific purposes. Depending on the box, you can choose from everything from snacks to gear, apparel, and activity-specific items. Plus, the variety of delivery options—from month-to-month to quarterly or annual—means you can choose the subscription that’s right for you. Here, we've rounded up the best outdoor subscription boxes to help you choose.

Best Outdoor Subscription Boxes of 2023

Best for Gear: Nomadik
Best for Camping: The Camp Life
Best for Runners: The RunnerBox

Best for Gear: Nomadik

Key Specs

Cost: $29.99 to $34.99 per box
Membership: Optional
Shipping: About $8.99 per shipment (varies based on state)

Why We Chose It

Nomadik is our top choice for outdoor gear because it offers subscribers premium, full-size products and the ability to personalize their selections.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Boxes are themed based on the season and the subscriber’s interests
Each box is guaranteed to include at least $60 worth of premium products
Products are always full-size and never include overstocks or closeouts

Cons

Charges additional shipping fees

Overview

As a gear-oriented outdoor subscription box, Nomadik provides subscribers with high-quality brands like Kylmit and GEAR AID. Shipments cost about $29.99 per box for an annual subscription and $34.99 for a month-to-month renewal. Each box is themed according to the season and contains at least $60 worth of full-size products.

Previous Nomadik boxes have contained items like hammocks, headlamps, binoculars, camp mugs, and tools. Subscribers have the opportunity to share their preferred outdoor activities so boxes are more likely to reflect their specific interests.

And, customers get to choose from three themes for their first welcome box: the Off the Grid Box, which includes a RapidPlus water filtration straw plus three other items; the On the Go Box, which includes Nectar polarized sunglasses in addition to the other items; and a rotating box that includes four items that change based on the season (for example, their winter one could include a beanie).

Best for Camping: The Camp Life

Key Specs

Cost: $44.95 to about $179.80 per box
Membership: Optional
Shipping: Free on orders over $45

Why We Chose It

We chose The Camp Life as our best option for camping because of its subscription options, positive product reviews, and responsive customer support team.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Boxes may include coupons in addition to full-size products
Low price point compared to other quarterly boxes
Free shipping on all boxes

Cons

Only offers quarterly subscription boxes

Overview

The Camp Life offers quarterly subscription boxes with products designed for RVers and camping enthusiasts. Boxes range from roughly $44.95 to about $179.80 and include between three and five full-size products. Like other subscription boxes on our list, each box is themed and subscribers enter their size preferences during the registration process.

Brands include LYNX, Combat Wipes, and Liquid IV. In addition to providing a large selection of high-quality products that subscribers love and actually use, reviews indicate that customer support is extremely helpful.

Best for Runners: The RunnerBox

Key Specs

Cost: $29 to $36 per box
Membership: Yes
Shipping: $3 per box

Why We Chose It

The RunnerBox’s wide selection of high-quality nutrition and sports accessories—in combination with excellent customer reviews—makes it our favorite outdoor subscription box for runners.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Each box contains 10 to 12 items
Excellent online reviews focus on the quality and variety of products
Also offers The RiderBox for cyclists and custom boxes

Cons

Shipping is an additional $3 per box
Does not ship outside the U.S.

Overview

The RunnerBox is a top-rated subscription box that caters to runners and also offers a box for cyclists—The RiderBox.

Products include a curated selection of seasonal items with a mix of sport-specific accessories and nutrition items like chews and hydration. The RunnerBox partners with a number of high-quality brands likeTosi Snack SuperBites, Protein Power Ball, and HOTSHOT Muscle Soreness and subscribers share that they love the ability to discover new products they would not otherwise have tried.

Boxes are shipped every two months and contain between 10 and 12 physical offices, as well as discounts for large or virtual items. Subscriptions range from about $29 per box for an annual subscription to roughly $36 per box for a one-time membership; a six-month membership is also available for $96 (or around $32 per box).

Final Verdict

Nomadik is our best overall choice for outdoor subscription boxes thanks to its personalization options, full-sized products, and affordable monthly price. This company provides subscribers with high-quality gear and the ability to choose the products that work best for them. Additionally, each box contains gear worth at least $50, so subscribers get a great value compared to purchasing items individually.

Compare the Best Outdoor Subscription Boxes

Company	Cost	Membership	Shipping
Nomadik Best Overall	$29.99 to $34.99 per box	Optional	About $8.99 per shipment (varies based on state)
The Camp Life Best for Camping	$44.95 to about $179.80 per box	Optional	Free on orders over $45
The RunnerBox Best for Runners	$29 to $36 per box	Yes	$3 per box

Guide to Choosing Outdoor Subscription Boxes

Subscription Terms

Some outdoor boxes can be ordered on a one-time basis, while others require subscriptions. Common subscription terms can be monthly, every three months, every six months, or annually. Most companies offer discounts on longer subscriptions, so users can prepay for a few months at a time and get a lower price overall.

Personalization

Not all outdoor subscription boxes offer personalization. If you're unsure whether you'll use every item in a box, it's best to subscribe to a company that allows you to change the items based on your personal desires.

Types of Gear

For outdoor enthusiasts that stick to a specific activity, themed outdoor subscription boxes offer the best value. Boxes may include items focused on camping, hiking, running, and more. To get the most out of your subscription, choose a company with gear and themes suited to your specific interests.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are Outdoor Subscription Boxes?

Outdoor subscription boxes are monthly, bimonthly, or quarterly shipments of outdoor-friendly apparel, snacks, and gear. Some boxes offer curated selections of general items while others specialize in themes like camping, running, hiking, and more. Typically, subscription companies offer a certain number of full-size products each month or a limited retail value for each box.
How Much Do Outdoor Subscription Boxes Cost?

The cost of outdoor subscription boxes varies based on the theme of the box, as well as the quality and number of products. On average, though, outdoor subscription boxes cost between roughly $29 and $40 per monthly box, with quarterly boxes costing more—sometimes up to $200. Many outdoor subscription box companies offer free shipping, but some charge an additional fee, especially for addresses outside the continental United States.
What Types of Items Are Found in Outdoor Subscription Boxes?

Many outdoor subscription boxes focus on gear, like water bottles, backpacks, headlamps, carabiners, and other tools. Boxes also tend to include snacks that are convenient to enjoy outdoors and apparel, like socks, neck gaiters, and beanies. Subscriptions that are tailored to specific activities—such as running or cycling—and often include items that are geared toward athletes.
Does REI Have a Subscription Box?

REI does not offer subscription boxes, but instead, the company offers co-op memberships with exclusive products, events, and discounts on gear. Lifetime co-op memberships cost $30 one time with no subscription or renewal fees.

Methodology

The best outdoor subscription boxes feature carefully curated, full-size products with a high retail value and competitive monthly cost. In addition to these benefits, we compared over 15 boxes to choose the best options for Treehugger readers based on factors like product quality, customer support, subscription options, customer reviews, and brand selection.