Wildsam Field Guides
Wildsam Field Guides is an Austin-based American travel publisher founded in 2012 that produces curated print and digital field guides about U.S. cities, National Parks, regions, and road trips, selling through DTC e-commerce, 1,000+ retailers, and brand-sponsored editorial partnerships.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersAustin, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Wildsam Field Guides does
Wildsam Field Guides is an American travel media and publishing company founded in 2012 and based in Austin, Texas. The company produces curated print and digital field guides covering U.S. destinations including cities (e.g., Austin), National Parks (Olympic, Great Smoky Mountains), regions (Hudson Valley & Catskills, Western Carolina, Lake Michigan Coast, Northern Michigan), and themed road trips (Route 66, Wild Alaska, National Forests & Grasslands). Each guide compiles locally-sourced editorial content, expert recommendations, and curated itineraries designed for travelers seeking authentic, non-generic American travel experiences across road trip, outdoor, and cultural segments.
The core products are $24 print field guides sold through a direct-to-consumer e-commerce storefront at shop.wildsam.com and through wholesale distribution to more than 1,000 premium retailers across North America, including independent bookstores, gift shops, outfitters, and general stores. The company also publishes original editorial stories on wildsam.com, runs an email newsletter, distributes digital guides, and operates the annual Road Trip Awards editorial program. Wildsam does not operate a proprietary technology platform; its infrastructure consists of standard e-commerce and CMS tooling.
The business model combines three revenue streams: (1) one-time guide sales (print at $24 and digital) via DTC and wholesale, (2) branded content and sponsored editorial partnerships with consumer brands such as YETI, Lincoln Motor Co., and J. Crew, and (3) destination-sponsored content with state and regional tourism boards (Maine Office of Tourism, Tupelo Convention and Visitors Bureau) and a conservation partnership with the National Forest Foundation. Wildsam is privately held, has 1-10 employees, and shows no disclosed venture capital or private equity funding in the available data, suggesting a bootstrapped, founderially managed operation led by founder and editor-in-chief Taylor Bruce and brand director Tom Rendell.
Wildsam Field Guides firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Wildsam Field Guides
- Legal name
- Wildsam
- Website
- https://wildsam.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Wildsam Field Guides is an Austin-based American travel publisher founded in 2012 that produces curated print and digital field guides about U.S. cities, National Parks, regions, and road trips, selling through DTC e-commerce, 1,000+ retailers, and brand-sponsored editorial partnerships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Wildsam Field Guides industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Travel Publishing
- akta.pro primary industry
- Travel & Outdoors Magazines (MPAJAEAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Destination-Specific Custom Itinerary Specialists (THAKAOAN)
Keywords
Where Wildsam Field Guides is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Austin
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Wildsam Field Guides business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Physical Field Guides Sales: Sale of printed field guides covering destinations, National Parks, cities, and road trips. Guides are sold directly through the online shop and through wholesale distribution to over 1000 premium retailers across North America.
- Digital Guides: Digital versions of field guides available for purchase, providing a lower price point alternative to print products.
- Branded Content & Partnerships: Partnership and branded content opportunities for like-minded brands including YETI, Lincoln Motor Co., J. Crew. Wildsam creates sponsored editorial content and partnerships in print, digital, and real-life events.
- Wholesale Distribution: Wholesale sales to independent bookstores, gift shops, outfitters, and general stores across the United States. Product available at over 1000 premium retailers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Physical Field Guides - $24.00 |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Wildsam Field Guides product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Wildsam Field Guides publishes and sells print and digital travel field guides covering American towns, cities, National Parks, iconic regions, and road trips. Each guide features deeply researched editorial content sourced from local experts, historians, and residents, packaged as a $24 print book or digital guide. The company distributes through its own online shop at shop.wildsam.com and wholesale partnerships with more than 1,000 premium retailers across North America.
Product overview
Wildsam Field Guides is an American travel brand founded in 2012 that produces print and digital field guides about towns, cities, National Parks, regions, and road trips across America. The company's core products include Field Guides (available in both print and digital formats), Wildsam Stories (original editorial content on wildsam.com), and the annual Road Trip Awards program. Guides cover destinations including National Forests & Grasslands, Hudson Valley & Catskills, Lake Michigan Coast, Wild Alaska, Western Carolina, Big Trees of California, Olympic National Park, Northern Michigan, Route 66, Austin, Great Smoky Mountains, and Tupelo, among others. The company also offers a newsletter subscription service.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Wildsam Field Guides (Print) Physical print field guide books covering American towns, cities, National Parks, iconic regions, and road trips, priced at $24.00. Each guide features deeply researched, locally sourced editorial content with expert recommendations on lodging, dining, outdoor activities, and cultural attractions. Sold through shop.wildsam.com and at 1,000+ premium retailers across North America.
- Wildsam Field Guides (Digital) Digital versions of Wildsam field guides accessible through wildsam.com, providing travel guides with original stories and local intel for various destinations at a lower price point than the print editions.
- Wildsam Stories Digital editorial platform on wildsam.com publishing original travel stories, curated travel recommendations, and long-form features across categories including Cities & Towns, Outdoors, Road Trips, Culture, Gear, and Food & Drink.
- Wildsam Email Newsletter Subscription email newsletter delivering expert local intel, road trip essentials, and true stories of place to inboxes; serves as a top-of-funnel acquisition channel that drives readers to the shop and editorial site.
- Branded Content & Partnerships Sponsored editorial content and partnership opportunities for like-minded brands (e.g., YETI, Lincoln Motor Co., J. Crew, National Forest Foundation, Maine Office of Tourism, Tupelo CVB) across print, digital, and real-life events.
Companies that use Wildsam Field Guides
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Wildsam Field Guides technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Wildsam Field Guides partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- YETIcoreBrand partnership collaboration including print, digital, and real-life events. YETI is a leading outdoor recreation brand known for coolers and gear, making it a natural fit for Wildsam's travel and adventure audience.
- Lincoln Motor Co.coreAutomotive brand partnership covering print, digital, and real-life events. Lincoln vehicles align with Wildsam's road trip and travel content focus.
- J. CrewminorBrand partnership and branded content collaboration in print, digital, and real-life events. J. Crew represents a lifestyle brand partnership targeting travel-conscious consumers.
- National Forest FoundationcoreConservation partnership supporting public lands. Wildsam publishes content promoting the National Forest Foundation's mission to conserve and care for America's national forests and wild lands.
- Tupelo Convention and Visitors BureauminorSponsored content partnership for Tupelo, Mississippi travel guide. The CVB sponsors Wildsam's digital guide content for the destination.
- Maine Office of TourismminorSponsored content partnership featuring Maine destinations including Katahdin Woods & Waters National Monument and dark skies tourism content.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Wildsam Field Guides competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Lonely Planet: Iconic travel guidebook publisher with print and digital guides covering destinations worldwide. Closest comparable in product format (physical travel guides) though at much larger global scale than Wildsam.
- Fodor's Travel: Long-running travel guide publisher offering destination guidebooks, travel content, and editorial. Directly comparable in product category (destination guidebooks) and audience (independent travelers).
- Rick Steves' Europe: Travel guide and content brand built around expert-led travel recommendations, guidebooks, and tours. Comparable in combining curated editorial travel content with monetized travel experiences, though focused on Europe.
- Atlas Obscura: Digital travel content platform focused on unique destinations and experiences, with a large community-driven database. Closely comparable in editorial positioning around authentic, off-the-beaten-path American and global travel content.
- AFAR Media: Premium travel media brand producing a magazine, digital content, and branded editorial experiences. Comparable premium-positioned content brand serving cultural and experiential travelers with sponsored content.
Emerging players
- Roads & Kingdoms: Independent travel publication focused on food, culture, and storytelling across regions. Comparable editorial-first, storytelling-driven travel media with print and digital presence.
- Cereal Magazine: Independent lifestyle and travel magazine with high-design print issues and destination guides. Comparable in design-forward print publishing with curated travel and lifestyle content.
- The Infatuation: Digital restaurant, travel, and city content brand with editorial guides and city guides. Comparable in editorial-driven city/destination guides and curated recommendations, though focused on restaurants/urban experiences.
Others
- Field Notes Brand: Premium American-made notebook and memo brand sold primarily through independent retail and DTC. Comparable in aesthetic, premium independent positioning, and reliance on 1,000+ independent retail distribution across the US.
Broad incumbents
- Travel + Leisure: Established mainstream travel magazine and digital media brand with broad destination coverage and large advertising base. Comparable as a US travel editorial brand but at vastly larger scale and broader positioning.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat2 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Wildsam Field Guides social profiles
Digital presenceWildsam Field Guides financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Wildsam Field Guides leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Wildsam Field Guides funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Wildsam Field Guides M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Wildsam Field Guides
What does Wildsam Field Guides do?
Wildsam Field Guides publishes and sells print and digital travel field guides covering American towns, cities, National Parks, iconic regions, and road trips. Each guide features deeply researched editorial content sourced from local experts, historians, and residents, packaged as a $24 print book or digital guide. The company distributes through its own online shop at shop.wildsam.com and wholesale partnerships with more than 1,000 premium retailers across North America.
Is Wildsam Field Guides a public or private company?
Wildsam Field Guides is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Wildsam Field Guides founded?
Wildsam Field Guides was founded in 2012. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Wildsam Field Guides based?
Wildsam Field Guides is headquartered in Austin, United States, in the North America region.
How does Wildsam Field Guides make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Physical Field Guides Sales are the primary driver. The others are digital Guides, branded Content & Partnerships and wholesale Distribution.
Who are Wildsam Field Guides's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Lonely Planet, Fodor's Travel, Rick Steves' Europe, Atlas Obscura and AFAR Media. Emerging players are Roads & Kingdoms, Cereal Magazine and The Infatuation. Field Notes Brand is listed as an others. Travel + Leisure is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Wildsam Field Guides have an API?
No public API is recorded for Wildsam Field Guides.
What industry is Wildsam Field Guides in?
Wildsam Field Guides's product category is Travel Publishing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJAEAH, Travel & Outdoors Magazines, with a secondary code of THAKAOAN, Destination-Specific Custom Itinerary Specialists.