The outdoor adventure market is booming. With a projected growth of 5.67% annually, the camping gear market alone is set to reach US$60.81 billion by 2029.
So why don’t you capitalize on this trend and partner with top outdoor brands to earn significant commissions.
We’ve done some research and collected 23 leading outdoor affiliate programs in this article. Keep reading and consider the pros and cons of each brand to find your perfect match program.
TL;DR
Are you looking to monetize your love for the outdoors? Let’s review the top outdoor affiliate programs below and choose the best fit for you.
- DOD Outdoors (Commission: 11%, Cookie: 60 days)
- Backcountry (Commission: 4-12%, Cookie: 30 days)
- Outdoor Gear Exchange (Commission: 6%, Cookie: 30 days)
- Patagonia (Commission: 8%, Cookie: 60 days)
- Marmot (Commission: 8%, Cookie: 10 days)
- Hyperlite Mountain Gear (Commission: 10%, Cookie: 30 days)
- Cabela’s (Commission: 5%, Cookie: 14 days)
- Osprey (Commission: 8%, Cookie: 30 days)
- EVO (Commission: 5%, Cookie: 30 days)
- RVShare (Commission: 4-7%, Cookie: 30 days)
UpPromote offers a comprehensive affiliate solution for brands launching affiliate programs. With an intuitive interface, easy-to-follow instructions, and dedicated 24/7 support, your affiliate program will run seamlessly from day one.
115,000+ users worldwide have used UpPromote to start affiliate marketing. Now is your turn.
23 Top Outdoor Affiliate Marketing Programs
Running out of time? Take a look at the summary table of top picks for outdoor gear affiliate programs.
| The best affiliate programs | Program name |
| Affiliate program with the highest commission rates | Cotopaxi, Columbia Sportswear, Campmor (14%) |
| Affiliate program with the longest cookie duration | DOD Outdoors, Patagonia (60 days) |
| Affiliate program with the most payment methods | Backcountry, Marmot |
| Affiliate program with the most promotional materials | Backcountry (banners, text links, product data feed, monthly newsletter) |
1. DOD Outdoors
DOD Outdoors designs outdoor gear with a minimalist style inspired by Japanese designs. Their innovative products are suitable for camping, hiking, and various adventurous outdoor activities.
You can join the DOD Outdoors affiliate program by filling out the application form on Avantlink. DOD Outdoors pays up to 11% commission on all sales made via your affiliate link.
The 60-day cookie duration begins once buyers click on your link, giving you two months to earn commissions. Avantlink will track every referral and pay you on a monthly basis via Tipalti.
|
2. Backcountry
Backcountry helps their clients choose the right outfit for outdoor activities in all terrains. They offer a wide range of items for activities such as camping, hiking, climbing, skiing, snowboarding, and more.
The Backcountry affiliate program offers a commission rate from 4% to 12%, depending on the order’s volume. The cookie duration lasts for 30 days, allowing you to get a credited commission in a month from the customer’s first click.
You can choose from a collection of eye-catching banners and text links to put on your marketing channels. Plus, you can also access Backcountry’s product data feed to select the top product to promote. Backcountry will also share updates and tips via their newsletter to help boost your sales.
|
3. Outdoor Gear Exchange
Outdoor Gear Exchange sells both new launches and reused gear from famous brands. They also offer repair services for expensive and high-quality gear, such as bikes, boots, skis, and more.
After joining their affiliate program, you can earn a commission rate of 6% on each successful sale. With an average order value of up to $130, you may earn around $8 per successful order.
The cookie duration lasts for 30 days, which means you’ll get credit for orders from your followers during this time frame.
Affiliates can leverage available text links and banners to gain more people’s attraction. You can also find a suitable item from their product data feed to refer to your target audience.
|
4. FlasKap
FlasKap produces technology-driven drinkables like water bottles and tumbles. Their innovative designs allow users to customize their drinks with supplements, flavorings, or spirits.
Managed through UpPromote, their affiliate and ambassador program offers a 5% commission per qualified sale, with experienced affiliates earning up to 20%. You will get credit for any purchases within a 30-day cookie window. Commissions are paid via PayPal or bank transfer.
Affiliates are required to submit their marketing ideas and explain how their content aligns with FlasKap’s brand. In addition, you can add your high-profile social media accounts to improve the chances of approval.
|
5. Patagonia
Patagonia is an American outdoor clothing company known for its high-quality, durable, and environment-friendly products. Consumers can find clothing, footwear, and accessories designed for climbing, surfing, skiing, and hiking.
Patagonia runs their affiliate program through Impact, so first need to sign up for the platform. The commission rate for each successful sale is up to 8%. You can earn your approved commission if the customer purchases through your link in less than a 60-day cookie window.
You can utilize their attractive banners and text ads in creating content to drive more engagement to your site.
Plus, you have full access to their product feed to get detailed information on any products. If you have any questions, you can reach out to their affiliate manager for assistance.
|
6. Marmot
Marmot is a top-quality brand of lightweight gear for heavy outdoor activities. Their tents, sleeping bags, backpacks, and jackets can withstand harsh weather conditions.
Marmot pays up to 8% commission across sales for affiliates who join their affiliate program. However, their products are only shipped in the US so being US affiliates would be an advantage.
Since the cookie lasts for 10 days, you can only earn a commission on purchases made within this period.
Marmot allows you to use their logo in creating content to gain more trust from your followers. Moreover, you can put their graphics and banners on various marketing channels to capture more attention.
|
7. Hyperlite Mountain Gear
Hyperlite Mountain Gear has gained a reputation in the outdoor gear niche with their special backpacks. Their lightweight backpacks can withstand harsh conditions over long-distance hiking and backpacking trips.
You can join the Hyperlite Mountain Gear affiliate program and enjoy a commission rate of 10% for each successful order. With an average order value of $350, you’ll earn up to $35 on every sale. Plus, the program offers a 10-day cookie duration, starting from customers’ first click on your link.
Hyperlite Mountain Gear provides every support you need for your promotion. You can freely ask their dedicated affiliate manager for any advice or tips on boosting marketing efforts.
|
8. Cabela’s
Cabela’s is a popular outdoor retailer with over 50 catalogs of high-quality outdoor equipment. Buyers can find gear for forest adventures, such as hunting, shooting, camping, and more.
The only way to join Cabela’s affiliate program is applying via Impact Radius, their affiliate network partner.
You will earn a 5% commission rate for every sale via your affiliate link or banners. The cookie duration lasts only 14 days, which means you have 2 weeks from the customer’s first click to earn an approved commission.
Cabela’s greatly supports their affiliates with pre-written content, banners and text links. You will also receive monthly newsletters about new launches and upcoming promotions to put on your campaigns.
|
9. Osprey
Osprey designs durable travel backpacks with adjustable features for every outdoor activity. Their signature backpacks are lightweight, with large storage for long hikes or journeys.
Managed through Impact, the Osprey affiliate program offers affiliates an 8% commission rate for every sale. Plus, the average order value is up to $150+, allowing you to earn $12 for each order.
The cookie duration is 30 days, meaning you can earn commissions on purchases made within a month of the customer’s first click.
Osprey creates promotions and sales on every seasonal collection. You can use these deals to encourage more audiences to purchase through your link. Moreover, you can ask the Affiliate Management for help or tips on promoting Osprey products.
|
10. EVO
EVO sells high-quality and safe products for winter outdoor activities. Their extensive collection includes various items for action sports like skiing, snowboarding, skateboarding, surfing, and more.
When joining the EVO affiliate program, you will earn a commission rate of 5% for every product sale generated through your affiliate link. The cookie duration lastsfor 30 days from the first click of the customers.
You should make use of their regular promotions and sales to drive more conversions for your channels. Plus, you can access their product data feed to find suitable products and start promoting. EVO also encourages affiliates to create effective content with their provided graphics and links.
|
11. RVShare
RVShare is a peer-to-peer RV rental marketplace that connects RV owners with travelers looking to rent RVs for their vacations. They also offer a wide range of vehicles, including motorhomes, travel trailers, campervans, and more.
The RVShare affiliate program offers affiliates a 4% commission rate on each completed stay after check-in. If you introduce a new RV listed on their website, you can earn $7 for every successful listing.
The average booking value at RVShare is up to $900, so you can earn up to $63 on every new booking. The cookie duration counts from the customer’s first click and lasts 30 days for you to earn a commission.
As part of their affiliate program, you can use any banners or text links from RVShare on your promotional site. You will also have access to their product feed to choose potential products for your audience.
|
12. Bass Pro Shop
- Commission rate: 5%
- Cookie duration: 14 days
Bass Pro Shop is a trusted resource for quality gear in outdoor activities such as fishing, hunting, and more. They help more than 200 million people having a better experience in outdoor activities annually.
13. Mountain Equipment Company
- Commission rate: 6%
- Cookie duration: 14 days
Mountain Equipment Company (MEC) is a famous Canadian supplier of professional gear for outdoor journeys. Their equipment supports a wide range of sports, including camping, snowsports, watersports, and more.
14. RTIC
- Commission rate: 1.5-5%
- Cookie duration: 30 days
At RTIC, they pioneer in putting innovation and technology in outdoor gear for a safety adventure. Their famous collection includes hydration, coolers, hard cases, and more.
15. Public Lands
- Commission rate: 6%
- Cookie duration: 15 days
Public Lands designs outdoor gear for beginners and experienced adventurers. The brand is an alternative option to some top brands in the industry with a more affordable price.
16. Cotopaxi
- Commission rate: 14%
- Cookie duration: 30 days
Cotopaxi creates colorful sustainable outdoor gear for everyday activities and extreme exploration. Their products are mainly made from recycled materials and leftover deadstock.
17. Columbia Sportswear
- Commission rate: 14%
- Cookie duration: 30 days
Columbia Sportswear is among the largest winter sports gear brands, with nearly 100 years of experience. As a top provider of outdoor apparel, their products are high-quality and comfortable for everyone.
18. Campmor
- Commission rate: 14%
- Cookie duration: 30 days
Campmor’s products become partners for most people in preparing necessary items for camping and hiking. Their product line varies from tents, sleeping bags, and clothes to footwear.
19. Black Diamond
- Commission rate: 7%
- Cookie duration: 30 days
Black Diamond’s hardware gear can improve users’ performance in climbing and skiing. They create powerful gear for athletes and professional adventurers in demanding environments.
20. OutdoorMaster
- Commission rate: 7%
- Cookie duration: 30 days
OutdoorMaster stands out as an affordable supplier of winter action sports gear for all climbers. They produce products with anti-fog and UV protection features to support users even in snowstorms.
21. YETI
- Commission rate: 5%
- Cookie duration: 30 days
YETI develops rugged outdoor gear for outdoor activities in harsh conditions. Their product line is famous for high-performance coolers, drinkware, bags, and more.
22. Scheels
- Commission rate: 2-5%
- Cookie duration: 7 days
Scheels is a trusted retailer for finding famous outdoor gear and apparel brands. Consumers can find any necessary item for their hunting, fishing, and camping trips.
23. Tentsile
- Commission rate: 5%
- Cookie duration: Not mentioned
Tentsile develops exclusive tree tents and hammock-style shelters for safer forest adventures. Their innovative designs allow you to sleep suspended between trees, bringing a unique and elevated camping experience.
A Complete Guide: How to Create a Successful Affiliate Program for Outdoor Brands on Shopify
The outdoor gear market is booming. The global market for outdoor equipment was valued at over $61 billion in 2025 and is projected to keep climbing.
More people are getting outside, and they’re looking for authentic gear they can trust.
But here’s the key: outdoor customers are researchers. They don’t just click on an ad and buy a tent.
They read reviews, watch videos, and seek out advice from experienced adventurers they trust.
So, how do you connect your brand with those trusted voices?
You can build partnerships with them through affiliate marketing.
Think of it as your performance-based marketing team. You give your partner a unique link to your products.
When one of their followers buys something through that link, you pay them a small commission.
This guide will show you exactly how to build your own successful Shopify affiliate program for your outdoor brand.
Choose the Right Management Solution
As a busy store owner, the last thing you need is another full-time job. But that’s what managing an affiliate program manually can feel like.
The biggest problem isn’t just the messy tracking; it’s the constant, time-consuming management that pulls you away from growing your business.
You have to track every click, answer every email from partners asking, “How am I doing?”, and manually calculate every single payout. This chaos doesn’t just waste your time; it also damages your affiliate relationships.
When the tracking is not clear, your best partners start to worry. They wonder if they are getting paid for all their sales.
It’s impossible to build trust, and it makes your program look unprofessional.
This is where an all-in-one Shopify affiliate app like UpPromote changes everything.
It acts as your automated program manager, handling all the chaotic parts for you.
The app watches every link and every sale in real time, so the tracking is always fair and accurate.
Besides, you can manage everything from one simple place.
You can see your top performers, learn what’s working, and reward your best partners in just a few clicks. It saves you countless hours and makes your program look professional from day one.
UpPromote also helps you motivate affiliates to bring more referrals to your store.
With a free plan, you can get started and launch your program at zero.
Design a Competitive and Attractive Program
Your offer is what convinces high-quality partners to join. It needs to be competitive, clear, and fair.
Create a Winning Commission Structure
Your commission rate is one of the most important signals you send to potential partners.
A great rate gets them excited, while a poor one makes them look elsewhere.
After researching over 120 outdoor brands on Shopify, we’ve gathered insights to help you choose the best commission rate for your affiliate program.
For apparel and footwear, you should aim high with a 10-14% commission. This market is very crowded.
Your partners have endless brands they can promote. A strong commission ensures they will work hard to feature your gear first. It makes the effort worth their time.
This is exactly what Columbia Sportswear does. Their standout rate of up to 14% is a smart move to attract the best promoters.
When it comes to expensive technical gear, like tents or high-end backpacks, the sweet spot is 7-11%.
With these high-ticket items, the affiliate’s motivation isn’t the percentage rate itself, but the final cash payout.
Because the product is so expensive, even a smaller commission percentage translates into a large and exciting reward.
That single, large commission is a powerful incentive that makes promoting your high-end gear very worthwhile for them.
For example, on a $600 camping tent, an 8% commission earns the partner a $48 payout.
Finally, if your products already have huge brand recognition, a lower rate of 3-5% is fine. You can pay less because the product almost sells itself.
Your brand’s name does most of the work for you. Your partner’s main job is just to give people a helpful link when they are ready to buy.
Imagine you sell popular coolers that everyone already wants.
A 5% commission works well here. Your partners know that lots of people who click their link will buy from a famous brand.
So, while they earn less money on each sale, they will make many more sales overall.
For them, lots of small, easy sales add up quickly. It’s a simple way for them to earn a steady paycheck.
Set a Cookie Duration That Attracts the Best Partners
Your cookie duration is a key incentive that many store owners overlook. It’s the amount of time an affiliate has to get credit for a sale after someone clicks their link.
A short window can feel unfair to partners, especially when customers need time to research.
A longer window shows that you value your affiliates’ work and respect the customer’s journey.
High-Consideration Technical Gear: 30-60 Days
Customers think carefully before buying an expensive tent or a technical backpack.
They will read reviews and compare options over several weeks.
A longer cookie window ensures the affiliate who started this journey gets the credit they deserve.
This is why Patagonia offers a generous 60-day cookie. They know their customers are thoughtful, and they value the partners who introduce them.
General Outdoor Gear and Apparel: 30 Days
This is the sweet spot for the bulk of the market, including jackets, hiking boots, and daypacks.
Many of our top Shopify outdoor merchants feel the same way. They confirm that a 30-day cookie is the industry standard that professional affiliates expect.
It ensures your affiliate partner is fairly rewarded for sending you that customer, even if the final purchase happens weeks after the first click
High-Volume or Lower-Consideration Items: 7-14 Days
Imagine you sell a popular line of branded water bottles or headlamps. These are often impulse buys, and the customer journey is very short.
For these quick sales, a shorter 7-14 day window is fine. Your affiliates understand that these sales happen fast, so a long cookie window isn’t necessary.
Recruit and Onboard Your Affiliates
Now it’s time to find the right people to represent your brand. Focus on authenticity over just audience size.
Identify Your Ideal Affiliates
Now it’s time to find the right people to represent your brand. Your goal is to find authentic partners, not just people with a large follower count.
You can start with the gear review experts. These are the bloggers and YouTubers who test products in the real world.
Imagine you sell a new waterproof jacket. A gear reviewer will do more than just post a photo.
They will take it on a long mountain hike. They might film a video in the rain to prove it works. Then they will write a long post comparing it to other jackets.
You can find these people on Google. Just search for “best hiking gear reviews” to see who is testing gear like yours.
To give you a head start, we’ve found a few highly respected reviewers. You can check them out to see if they might be a good fit for your brand:
- Joe Robinet (1.54M subscribers)
- Dan Becker (482K subscribers)
- Steve Wallis (1.96M subscribers)
Steve Wallis’s YouTube profile
Next, look for leaders in niche outdoor groups. These are the trusted voices in a specific community, like rock climbing or fly fishing.
For example, a well-known climber could share tips from their latest adventure.
They might post a photo from a mountaintop and write, “Here are three things that made today’s challenging climb possible.”
They’ll share tips on safety and technique, and when listing the essential gear, they can naturally mention your brand’s climbing harness.
You can find these experts in focused Facebook Groups, on Reddit forums, or on Instagram.
When you search, get specific. Don’t just look for #hiking. Look for hashtags like #thruhike, #ultralighthiking, or #campvibes. For fishing, you can try #flyfishingjunkie or #troutbum.
Finally, your most powerful promoters are often your own happy customers. They won’t write a long, technical review.
Instead, a customer might just post a photo from their camping trip on Instagram.
They can tag your brand and write about how much they love their new sleeping bag. This is pure, trustworthy content from a real person.
Effective Recruitment Strategies
Once you know who you’re looking for, you need a plan to bring them on board. A great approach uses both active outreach and a professional, easy-to-find application page.
1. Direct Outreach
Don’t wait for the perfect partners to find you – go out and invite them. A personal message shows you value their work and have put in the effort to learn about them.
For bloggers and YouTubers, a professional email is the best approach. It looks serious and gives you space to share details. Here is a simple template you can use:
Subject: Partnership with [Your Brand]?
Hi [Creator’s Name],
I’m a huge fan of your work on [Their Blog or YouTube Channel], especially your recent review of the [Product Name]. Your in-depth testing is exactly what our audience looks for.
I’m the founder of [Your Brand], and we make [your product type] for serious outdoor enthusiasts.
We’d love to partner with you. We offer a [X]% commission and a [Y]-day cookie. If you’re interested, you can learn more and apply here: [Link to your affiliate page]
Thanks,
[Your Name]
For social media influencers, a quick direct message (DM) is a great way to start a chat. Your only goal is to get a friendly reply.
You can send a message like this:
Hey [Influencer’s Name]! Love your recent post on [Their Channel]. The photos are incredible!
We’re the team behind [Your Brand] and think your followers would really connect with our gear.
Would you be open to hearing a bit more about our affiliate program? No pressure at all!
2. A Branded Affiliate Signup Form
Your affiliate signup form is your program’s front door. It should be easy to find, look professional, and make a great first impression.
This is where a Shopify app like UpPromote is incredibly helpful.
With UpPromote, you can create different signup pages for your different programs.
You can also change how the pages look and what they say. You can easily add a section to list the Benefits of your program. You can also add an FAQ to answer common questions.
This makes your program look professional. It gives your partners all the info they need right away.
You should also add a few key questions to your form. This will help you screen for the best partners.
Here are a few good questions to ask:
- What is your primary website or social media profile?
- How do you plan to promote our products?
- Why is our brand a good fit for your audience?
These simple questions tell you everything you need to know.
You can check their content quality, understand if they have a real promotional strategy, and see if they truly understand your Shopify brand.
Equip Your Affiliates with Promotional Materials
Your job isn’t over once your partners sign up. A “set it and forget it” approach won’t work.
You need to give them the tools they need to succeed, as the easier you make it for them to promote you, the more they will.
Let’s begin with the most important thing you can provide: high-quality marketing materials.
Your partners need good photos and videos of your gear being used. This helps them show what your backpack looks like on a real trail.
UpPromote’s Media Gallery makes this simple. It works like a central library for all your best content.
If you launch a new tent, you can add photos of it in the mountains. Your partners can then log in and get what they need.
You should also give them a good offer to share with their audience. A unique discount code is a powerful tool. It gives people a special reason to buy now.
But as your affiliate program grows, manually creating a personalized coupon for every new partner becomes impossible to keep up with.
This is where UpPromote solves that problem for you. It automatically creates a unique coupon for every new affiliate.
You can set up a coupon name format using the affiliate’s name, first name, random letters, or even let them choose their own code.
For example, you could set a rule to use their first name and add a Suffix of “10”. That way, a new partner named Sarah would instantly get a code like “SARAH10” the moment she joins.
Keep Your Affiliates Engaged and Motivated
A great commission gets good partners to sign up. But how do you make sure they keep selling your ebook month after month?
Adding a few extra rewards can make a big difference.
You can give your partners a bonus when they reach a special milestone, like a certain number of referrals, total sales, or total commission.
UpPromote can help you set up a bonus in just a few minutes. For example, you could offer a $50 bonus every time a partner sells $1,000 of gear in a month.
Another great motivator is to send free gear to your best affiliates.
Real reviews are key for outdoor brands on Shopify, and your partners can’t make great content if they don’t have the actual product.
The Gifts feature in UpPromote makes this easy.
The app lets you send gifts to all partners at once or to specific affiliates.
Furthermore, you can create a gift package with a selection of different products. Then, you can set the exact number of items your partner is allowed to choose from that list.
For example, you can make a gift package with the jacket in three colors and a matching hat. Then, send this offer to your top 5 partners and let them choose any 2 items from the package.
Conclusion
Creating an affiliate program is one of the most powerful things you can do for your Shopify outdoor brand. It’s more than a sales tactic; it’s a way to build a community of genuine advocates who will help you grow authentically.
By setting clear goals, choosing the right tools, offering a competitive commission, and recruiting passionate partners, you can build a low-risk, high-reward marketing engine. Start today, and empower a team of trusted voices to carry your brand to new heights.
FAQs
1) What is an Outdoor Affiliate Program?
It’s a partnership where you earn a commission for referring sales of outdoor products (camping, hiking, fishing, hunting*, overlanding, cycling, climbing, apparel, etc.) via trackable links, codes, or QR.
2) What’s the cookie window?
Typical windows range 7–60 days. Outdoor gear with longer research cycles often uses 30–45 days.
3) Which affiliate app or software should I choose for an outdoor brand?
Look for: coupon + link tracking, first-/last-click rules, multi-channel attribution, SKU/category exclusions, tiered commissions, store credit payouts, automated approvals, fraud controls, and self-serve asset portals. If you’re on Shopify, pick an app with native coupons and PayPal/Bank payouts baked in.
4) Can we run different commissions by product category?
Yes. Outdoor catalogs vary in margin. Set category/SKU overrides (e.g., 4% on high-ticket e-bikes, 10% on apparel, 12% on house-brand accessories).
5) Do we need unique links and personal codes for each affiliate?
Yes. Many outdoor purchases happen via spoken recommendations on-trail or in videos; personal codes capture offline/QR traffic that links miss.
Ellie Tran, a seasoned SEO content writer with three years of experience in the eCommerce world. Being a part of the UpPromote team, Ellie wants to assist Shopify merchants in achieving success through useful content & actionable insights. Ellie's commitment to learning never stops; she's always eager to gain more knowledge about SEO and content marketing to create valuable content for users. When she's not working on content, Ellie enjoys baking and exploring new places.
