Trip Planning Tech & Gear Best Outdoor Subscription Boxes Discover new gear for your next adventure By Jessica Macdonald Published on 02/05/21 Share Pin Email Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you can learn more about our review process here. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links. Tripsavvy / Design by Amelia Manley Whether you’re a hiker, hunter, camper, or glamper, an outdoor subscription box is a great way to keep your passion alive while discovering new gear and techniques. Delivered to your door either monthly or quarterly, the best boxes are packed with quality items tailored to your specific interests and experience levels, giving you the excuse to spend even more time in the great outdoors. From boxes for fishermen to those designed specifically for women, here are the best outdoor subscription boxes on the market. The Rundown Best Overall: Timber Edge Outdoors Best for Campers: The Camp Life Best for Hikers: Hikewize Best for Survival Enthusiasts: Steel to Reel Club Best for Fishermen: Mystery Tackle Box Best for Women: Wild Woman Box Best for Kids: THiNK OUTSiDE Best for Giving Back: Cairn Best Overall: Timber Edge Outdoors Timber Edge Outdoors Sign Up Now Why We Chose It: We selected Timber Edge Outdoors as the best overall pick because it offers a wide selection of goods for all kinds of outdoorsmen and women, from hunters to hikers. What We Like High-quality items made in the United States Wide variety caters to all aspects of outdoor living Flexible subscription can be paused or canceled any time What We Don’t Like Only ships within the United States All boxes are non-refundable and non-exchangeable Hunters may find the box too generic Those that like all kinds of outdoor pursuits will love the Timber Edge Outdoors subscription box. Each one contains four to six high-quality items sourced from vendors located all over the United States. Reviewers state that most items are things that they would have struggled to find on their own, but are genuinely useful for outdoor living. Even better? Each box is inspired by the current season. Contents range from survival gear and hunting accessories to edible camp treats and clothing items. To ensure that the latter fit, you are asked for your shirt and glove size during the sign-up process. Boxes start from about $40 per month, ship around the seventh of each month, and renew automatically. Choose whether you want to receive yours monthly or every three months, or send it as a gift to someone else. Subscriptions can be paused or canceled at any time. Best for Campers: The Camp Life The Camp Life Sign Up Now Why We Chose It: The Camp Life stood out for because of its excellent reviews and high-quality items tailored to campers or glampers (including RV enthusiasts). What We Like Excellent customer service All items are carefully curated and of exceptional quality Gift boxes can be purchased on a once-off basis What We Don’t Like Only ships within the United States Boxes are only available quarterly More expensive than some competitors The Camp Life offers carefully curated subscription boxes for all kinds of campers. Prefer tents and keeping things simple? Choose the Outdoor Essentials box with three to five products for campers, hikers, and outdoors lovers. Like a bit of pampering in the wild? The Glampers & Campers box is compiled with RV campers in mind and includes five to seven more luxurious items. The boxes are priced at about $45 and $50 respectively with a minimum retail value of around $60 and $65. Both boxes are shipped quarterly between the first and fourth of the month, and you can choose to prepay for one, two, or four quarters. Subscriptions renew automatically unless you choose to send the box as a one-off gift, and you can cancel at any time. The Camp Life ships throughout the United States and includes free postage. Best for Hikers: Hikewize Hikewize Sign Up Now Why We Chose It: Hikewize stood out because of its detailed questionnaire that allows items to be tailored to your level of expertise and personal hiking style. What We Like Items curated according to your personal preferences Value of the box is at least double its price Ships worldwide from the United States What We Don’t Like Some reviewers report issues with shipping Boxes are only available quarterly Hiking Hound box is not offered as a subscription Hikewize is a quarterly subscription box designed specifically for hikers. Each one contains five-to-seven full-size products, including gear, clothing, trail snacks, and trail tips for different national parks. When signing up, you’ll be asked to fill out a questionnaire so that the team can select items according to your level of hiking experience, clothing size, favorite colors, and food allergies. Quarterly subscriptions renew automatically and cost about $55 per box with contents valued at between roughly $100 and $200. You can also save by paying annually for a discounted price of around $200. Your first box will ship within 10 business days and can be delivered anywhere in the world. Hikewize also offers a one-off box called Hiking Hound curated for those that love to explore the great outdoors with their dog. Best for Survival Enthusiasts: Steel to Reel Club Steel to Reel Club Sign Up Now Why We Chose It: We selected Steel to Reel Club because it offers expert-selected, name-brand products and a choice of four different subscriptions to suit all experience levels. What We Like Items hand-picked by survival experts and veterans All products are manufactured by trusted name brands Four plans to suit all budgets and levels of experience What We Don’t Like Only ships within the United States Survivor Elite box is not available on a monthly basis Pro and Elite plans are very expensive American-based and owned Steel to Reel Club offers four different subscription boxes for the survival enthusiast. Offerings include the Survivor, the Survivor Plus, the Survivor Pro (shipped monthly), and the Survivor Elite (shipped quarterly). Each box is packed with survival gear from trusted name brands, and each item is hand-selected by a team of experts and veterans with more than 10,000 hours of combined outdoor training. Boxes are valued at about 30% more than their price, and each month’s items are designed to complement each other for a more rounded, meaningful experience. Prices start from about $40 per month with discounts available if you choose to prepay for three or 12 months. Not sure if this is the right subscription for you? A money-back guarantee lets you try it and see. Best for Fishermen: Mystery Tackle Box Mystery Tackle Box Sign Up Now Why We Chose It: We chose the Mystery Tackle Box because of its excellent reviews and successful delivery of over 5 million boxes. What We Like Consistently great customer reviews Can tailor your box for targeting certain species Boxes are affordable and offer up to roughly 40% off retail prices What We Don’t Like Box contents are non-refundable and non-exchangeable Only ships to the United States and Canada Canadian customers cannot track shipments Widely recognized as one of the best fishing subscription boxes on the market, Mystery Tackle Box offers three plans: the Regular (about $20 per month), the Pro (around $30 per month), and the Elite (roughly $40 per month). All three boxes give you the opportunity to specify which species or type of fishing you prefer, with current choices including bass, panfish and trout, walleye, inshore saltwater, and ice fishing in season. You can change your selection at any time. All boxes include perfectly paired lures and tackle, limited edition gear, and a magazine filled with pro content. Every item is hand-selected by the Mystery Tackle Box specialists, all of whom are experienced tournament fishermen. Opt to prepay for three, six, or 12 months at a discounted price, and pause or cancel your subscription at any time. Want to gift a Mystery Tackle Box? Purchase a gift certificate to print out at home. Best for Women: Wild Woman Box Wild Woman Box Sign Up Now Why We Chose It: We chose Wild Woman Box as the winner of this category because of its five-star rating on Cratejoy.com, the diversity of its contents, and the fact that it ships worldwide. What We Like Ships internationally from the United States Items are carefully curated and of consistently high quality Each box includes an inspirational Wild Woman principle card What We Don’t Like No refunds or returns once the box has shipped International orders may incur additional Customs fees Boxes often sell out and can’t be ordered until the next month Although women will enjoy a subscription to any of the boxes on this list, the Wild Woman Box is curated especially with the female adventurer in mind. Intended to nurture and encourage every woman’s wild side, monthly boxes include gear, snacks, natural body products, and outdoor inspiration items ranging from Wild Woman bear logo stickers to a different themed principle card each month. Wild Woman Box has received rave reviews on subscription website Cratejoy.com, with present subscribers praising the constantly high quality of the contents. They also state that most items are useful in real-life situations (unlike many boxes for women which are packed with pretty fillers). Boxes ship on the fifth of each month and renew automatically on the 15th. Prices start at about $38 per month. Best for Kids: THiNK OUTSiDE THiNK OUTSiDE Sign Up Now Why We Chose It: We picked THiNK OUTSiDE because of its award-winning reputation and focus on education, empathy, and family bonding. What We Like Mom’s Choice and Parents’ Choice award winner Includes an educational booklet ideal for homeschooling Several different pricing plans available What We Don’t Like Only available in select countries Shipping outside the United States and Puerto Rico costs extra Discount for sibling boxes is relatively small Tired of your kids spending all their free time in front of the TV? THiNK OUTSiDE inspires them to head outside instead with three to five pieces of quality outdoor gear per box in addition to a more than a 28-page educational booklet, water-resistant resource cards, hands-on activity ideas, and challenges for the whole family. Each box revolves around a central theme from wildlife to navigation, stargazing, and shelter building. THiNK OUTSiDE is designed for kids ages 4 to 8 with parental participation or for ages 9 to 14 to explore independently. If you want boxes to arrive each month, choose to pay about $40 for a month-to-month subscription or roughly $34 per month for an annual subscription. You can also receive boxes quarterly for approximately $38 per month. Discounts apply for multiple boxes shipped to the same address, and shipping within the United States and Puerto Rico is free. Best for Giving Back: Cairn  Cairn Sign Up Now Why We Chose It: We chose Cairn because it’s one of the few outdoor subscription boxes to offer a way to give back to those less fortunate. What We Like One of the most affordable options on this list Can earn points by reviewing box contents Gear Up Give Back initiative supports Outdoors for All What We Don’t Like Food allergies cannot be catered to Shipping is only free within the United States Postage for returned boxes is at your expense Cairn subscription boxes are packed with full-sized outdoor products that have been expertly curated according to your specific interests. Items are selected from five categories: gear, apparel, food/energy, skincare, and emergency/medical. Choose to receive yours monthly (paying month-to-month for about $30 or upfront for six or 12 months), or splurge on the quarterly box known as Cairn Obsidian. Priced at around $250 per quarter, the latter includes bigger, more expensive items. We particularly like Cairn because of its commitment to giving back. The Gear Up Give Back initiative lets you request a bag in the mail to fill with your pre-loved outdoor gear. The items will be mended and sold by The Gear Fix, and net proceeds will be matched by Cairn and The Gear Fix and donated to non-profit Outdoors for All. The charity offers outdoor recreation for adults and kids with disabilities. Bottom Line The best outdoor subscription box depends on how you like to spend your time outside. If you’re looking for a general box for all kinds of adventures, Timber Edge Outdoors and Cairn are solid options. Campers, hikers, and survival enthusiasts should choose The Camp Life, Hikewize, and Steel to Reel Club subscriptions respectively, while Mystery Tackle Box is our top pick for fishermen. Wild Woman Box caters specifically to women, while THiNK OUTSiDE is our award-winning favorite for kids that can be used in conjunction with your homeschooling curriculum. Other well-reviewed options that we considered for this article but rejected as too niche include the Happy Glamper (for luxury campers) and the Postfly Box (for fly fishermen). What Is an Outdoor Subscription Box? Outdoor subscription boxes are mystery shipments filled with items that have been curated for those who enjoy nature and outdoor activities. They are shipped to your address on a regular basis, usually monthly or quarterly. But some, like The Camp Life, Hikewize, Steel to Reel Club’s Survivor Elite, and the Cairn Obsidian box are only available on a quarterly basis. Most renew automatically although you should have the option to cancel at any time. How Much Do Outdoor Subscription Boxes Cost? The cost of an outdoor subscription box varies considerably depending on which you choose. The cheapest monthly box listed in this article is the Mystery Tackle Box at about $20 per month, while the most expensive is Steel to Reel Club’s Survivor Pro at roughly $130 per month. Most companies offer discounts for prepaid plans. How We Chose the Best Outdoor Subscription Boxes We first narrowed down our selection to subscription boxes that are based in the United States. We then examined the value of the boxes, pricing, types of products featured in each box, and the demographics the services appealed to, in addition to reading media and independent user reviews for each box considered. Some, like Mountain Hunter and the Sportsman’s Box, we discounted because of a slew of recent dissatisfied customers. It was also important to us to be inclusive, which is why we featured categories especially for women and children, too. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Share Pin Email Tell us why! Submit Continue to 5 of 8 below.