American hunters spend around $13 billion each year on hunting equipment and associated ancillary gear – Hard-earned dollars for items such as firearms, optics, bows, trail cameras, and other such equipment. Not only that, amid all the spending, hunters are also often brand-loyal for life. What about the other day to day hunting and outdoor companion-gear? The novelty items offered by many of these companies that simply promote the hunting lifestyle? You know, the caps, shirts, hoodies, and decals that we see coast to coast.
A lifestyle brand is a company whose products and image are based on a specific lifestyle – one its customers aspire to. There are a thousand notable ones; Nike for the athlete, Ariat for the cowboy, O’Neil for the surfer, Ralph Lauren for the affluent leasurist. Here’s a few for you; Realtree, Mossy Oak, and Browning. – all prominent lifestyle brands for the hunter and outdoorsman. Ones you’re no doubt very familiar with. Sure, they offer true hunting gear such as field camo and firearms, but they also help hunters and outdoorsmen express a way of life.
I don’t know about you, but for me, deer season only lasts so long. Though there are other forms of hunting (not to mention fishing) to do in the offseason, many of us hardcore hunters struggle with bridging the gap. But wearing a t-shirt or cap donning the Browning Buckmark or Bone Collector logo mentally puts us in the hunting and outdoor lifestyle – even when running errands, mowing the lawn, or hitting the lake. For the sportsman, they’re like comfortable shoes announcing membership in a select group.
It’s no accident that many outdoor hunting brands secondarily target other markets within the outdoor niche. Under Armor, for example, has stretched their lifestyle reach to encompass not only the athlete, but the hunter, and fisherman. Both Realtree and Mossy Oak offer camo designed for fishing, if not the fishing lifestyle. Here, one can either embrace their specific lifestyle (like fishing) or simply include it in their broader outdoor one. Either way, just like with any lifestyle, hunters and outdoorsmen know how to say it loud and proud.
At the end of the day, these brands bring to the forefront the fraternity of outdoorsmen we belong to. It’s a mindset we’re proud of and admire. Just as there are many mega-prominent outdoor brands, there is a multitude of other great outdoor brands of varying reach – all with catchy designs, logos, and slogans. Here is a list of 6 of them you should check out.
Catchin Deers
The Catchin’ Deers brand has caught on like wildfire. Founded by Mike Fisher, brother Bud, and friend Austin Castleman, the hunting-themed apparel line started in 2016. The name was born from a joke between the Fisher brothers and Casselman who, a few years back, asked them if they had “caught any deers” on their hunting trip. The rest is history. I have to admit, I’ve had several non-hunters ask me the same question over the years and Catchin’ Deers is no doubt an unforgettably humorous phrase. In addition to Catchin’ Deers’ signature caps, the company has added window decals, flannel clothing, and other novelty gear to the fold.
Catchin’ Deers now has an exclusive deal with Tractor Supply Company (around 1,200 stores nation-wide), a seemingly great fit for the lifestyle brand. Based largely on humor, Catchin Deers’ is a great social media destination as well.
Visit CatchinDeers.com for more information.
N1 Outdoors
If you’re a sportsman, you surely like to put an arrow in one or put a hook in one. The concept isn’t lost on the N1 Outdoors crew. They have cultivated the concept into the outdoor moments every sportsman enjoys.
The main tagline states “Where the moments happen, we’ll meet you there”. N1 Outdoors’ co-founders Josh Wells, Giles Canter, and Maston Boyd have built a brand that stands for everything outdoors. Based largely on family and faith, it offers a variety of sharp designs that celebrate hunting, fishing, and even noodling. N1 Outdoors is a close-knit company made up of a few family guys with kids. And they love to take them outdoors and teach them about not only hunting and fishing but life. “That’s how it got started, and we thought N1 was a great brand that we could use to incorporate hunting, fishing and outdoors all N1. That’s how we came up with the name”, said Wells. This lifestyle brand offers great novelty clothing and gear and their webpage serves as a useful portal for the sportsman – complete with helpful hunting and fishing tips, articles, and an interactive forum.
Visit N1Outdoors.com for more information.
Legendary Whitetails
Legendary Whitetails’ company slogan is “Celebrate the Hunt” and they believe in doing it all year; not just during the season. Since 1999, they have offered a great line of attractive hunting apparel and gear designed as much for the backwoods as the backyard. Ever since whitetail enthusiast Larry Huffman formed the company, it’s been a popular brand. Their logo of the turning buck head is truly unique and stood the test of time.
hough the company changed hands in 2019, Huffman’s vision to create “original deer gear” tailored specifically to hardcore whitetail hunters and their families is still a reality today. They offer a huge variety of hunting lifestyle gear and are known for their catchy logo, as well as cutting-edge t-shirts, polos, hoodies, and flannel garments. Legendary Whitetails truly captures our passion for hunting and connection to the outdoors. Easily the veteran of the list, this company is a true lifestyle brand for those who love to hunt, fish, and hang out with other outdoorsmen.
Visit LegendaryWhitetails.com for more information.
Bow Adx
This lifestyle brand offers apparel with two main thrusts – to establish a new and exclusive feel to archery apparel and support Christian works through sales of their products. BOWADX (pronounced bow addicts) shirts, caps, and other gear feature clever designs and narratives around archery and bowhunting, as well as Christian verses and sentiments. Established early in 2013, the husband-wife team of Chad and Melanie Davis continue to grow the BOWADX brand. Chad puts his artistic background to work on designs while Melanie handles all administrative duties including orders and maintaining the company website and blog. BOWADX offers a very healthy variety of catchy styles and designs to choose from.
Visit BowAdx.com for more information.
Hunt to Eat
Hunt to Eat apparel stands for many things such as hunting adventure, challenges, and camaraderie. But make no mistake, as the name suggests, it represents our love of hunting to harvest our own food. Inspired by the expression, “Will Hunt for Food”, this brand largely celebrates the pride and satisfaction that comes from hunting, reaping, and ultimately, preparing and eating wild game.
This brand started in 2013 when brother Janis and Mahting Putelis launched their first two designs. And they haven’t looked back. It just so happens that their designs are good-looking too. And don’t forget about conservation. The designs are intended to be productive conservation dialog starters. If fact, the Hunt to Eat brand not only supports, but actively works with the likes of Back Country Hunters and Anglers (BHA), Meateater, and the Wild Sheep Foundation. This one revels in every aspect of the hunting and outdoor process through attractive, comfortable apparel.
Visit hunttoeat.com for more information
Bow Life
This Florida-based lifestyle brand encompasses everything archery. Hunter and world champion archer, Levi Morgan and his wife Samantha (also an elite competitive archer) founded the company in 2006 and haven’t looked back. Teaming nicely with the Bow Live TV show, the gear embraces all forms of archery – traditional, compound bows, hunting, competing – you name it. As the Morgan’s see it, it’s much more than what you wear rather it’s wearing what you love to do. In my mind, that describes the role of a true lifestyle apparel brand.
All Bow Life® apparel is made in Florida, from the design to the ink. This allows for creativity and ensures quality gear. And like the others on our list, BOWADX offers many styles and designs to choose from. Guys and gals, if you love archery, you’re sure to find Bow Life designs that appeal to you. Championship archers, championship lifestyle gear.
Visit Bowlife.com for more information.
Keep in mind the hard work it takes to create and maintain a relevant outdoor lifestyle brand – and each of the above companies has the blood, sweat, and tears to prove it. Therefore, check them out. They will all certainly help you wear your love of the outdoors on your sleeve – literally.
