back packers.com

What back packers.com does

Backpackers.com is a B2C digital media and affiliate-publishing business that produces original, trail-tested editorial content for outdoor recreation consumers — primarily backpackers and hikers. Its content surface spans gear reviews, buying guides, how-to articles, and trail guides across categories including backpacks, tents, sleeping bags, footwear, apparel, lighting, and water filtration. The platform is built on a WordPress CMS with MailChimp as the email and newsletter automation layer; no mobile application is offered. Distribution relies on organic search plus a 75,000+ subscriber newsletter, supplemented by an active social media presence and a YouTube channel.

The company monetizes almost exclusively through affiliate marketing commissions, meaning it earns a percentage of sales when readers click outbound links to retailer product pages. A core affiliate relationship with REI anchors the monetization stack, and the newsletter functions as the primary conversion channel driving traffic to merchant partners. Geographic reach spans the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The organization operates with a small editorial team of roughly eight gear reviewers and is privately held with no disclosed funding rounds.

Name

back packers.com

Legal name

Backpackers.com

Website

https://backpackers.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Backpackers.com is a B2C affiliate publisher producing original outdoor gear reviews, buying guides, and trail content for backpackers and hikers across North America, monetizing via affiliate commissions through its 75,000+ subscriber newsletter.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Outdoor Content & Media

NAICS

Sporting Goods Retailers (45911)

SIC

Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores (5600)

akta.pro primary industry

Camping, Hiking & Backpacking Gear Retail (CRAMAMAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Backpacks, Bags & Load-Carriage Retail (CRAMAMAI), Hiking & Trail Accessories Retail (CRAMAAAD), Backpacking & Trekking Gear Retail (CRAMAAAA)

Keywords

• Outdoor gear reviews
• Backpacking buying guides
• Hiking equipment reviews
• Camping gear recommendations
• Trail-tested content

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Affiliate Marketing Commissions: The site earns commissions when readers click affiliate links to partner retailers (REI, Amazon, brand websites) and make purchases. Links are embedded throughout gear reviews, best-of guides, and product comparisons. The affiliate disclosure is prominently stated on product pages.
2. Newsletter/Community Subscription: Weekly email newsletter sent to 75,000+ subscribers featuring expert-tested gear picks, outdoor skills tips, and curated reader stories. While the newsletter itself is free, it serves as the primary vehicle for driving affiliate conversions and building a monetizable audience.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Backpackers.com is a digital content platform that publishes trail-tested outdoor gear reviews, expert buying guides, how-to tutorials, and backpacking trail guides. The site is monetized through affiliate marketing commissions earned when readers click embedded product links to partner retailers such as REI, Amazon, and brand websites. A weekly newsletter ("Pack or Pass") reaches 75,000+ subscribers and serves as the primary engagement and conversion vehicle.

Product overview

Backpackers.com is a content and editorial platform offering trail-tested outdoor gear reviews, expert buying guides, and backcountry adventure content. The core offerings consist of In-Depth Gear Reviews (hands-on testing of sleeping bags, jackets, footwear, and camping equipment), Best Gear Picks (curated buying guides like "10 Best Backpacking Backpacks of 2025" and "8 Best Rain Ponchos of 2025"), Guides & Comparisons (straightforward buying advice), Backpacking How-To's (skill guides and camp cooking recipes), and Trails & Adventures (route guides with planning advice). A weekly newsletter called "Pack or Pass" reaches 75,000+ subscribers. The site monetizes through affiliate partnerships with outdoor retailers but does not offer software products or APIs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• In-Depth Gear Reviews Hands-on, trail-tested reviews of outdoor gear such as sleeping bags, jackets, footwear, and camping equipment, written by actual backpackers after field testing. Targeted at consumers researching purchases of backcountry equipment.
• Best Gear Picks (Buying Guides) Curated buying guides such as "10 Best Backpacking Backpacks of 2025" and "8 Best Rain Ponchos of 2025" that organize top-rated gear picks by category. Targeted at consumers comparing options before a purchase decision.
• Guides & Comparisons Buying advice guides and side-by-side product comparisons that provide straightforward information to help readers select the right gear. Targeted at consumers comparing specific product categories.
• Backpacking How-To's Expert instructional articles covering backpacking skills, packing tips, gear care, safety advice, trail-tested techniques, and camp cooking recipes. Targeted at backpackers developing practical outdoor skills.
• Trails & Adventures Backpacking route guides with detailed trail information, highlights, tips, and trip planning advice for wilderness adventures. Targeted at backpackers planning specific trips.
• Newsletter (Pack or Pass) Free weekly email newsletter ("Pack or Pass") delivered to 75,000+ subscribers featuring expert-tested gear picks, outdoor skills, and real reader stories. Targeted at hikers, campers, and gearheads who want curated recommendations in their inbox.

Quantifiable outcome

• Trusted by 75,000+ hikers and outdoor enthusiasts who subscribe to weekly recommendations

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• REI Co-opcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerREI is a primary affiliate partner. Backpackers.com features extensive REI sale coverage (Labor Day, 4th of July, Anniversary Sale) with up to 30-50% off discounts. REI Co-op membership promotion ($30 one-time fee, 10% annual back) is featured. Multiple gear recommendations link directly to REI products with affiliate tracking.
• MailChimpsupportingTechnology or IntegrationMailChimp is used as the email marketing platform for the newsletter subscription system. The newsletter signup CTA redirects to MailChimp (mailchi.mp/backpackers/newsletter-sign-up) for managing the 75,000+ subscriber community.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• SectionHiker: Long-running backpacking and ultralight gear blog with reviews, how-to guides, and trail content aimed at the same backpacker audience as Backpackers.com.
• CleverHiker: Lightweight backpacking and hiking gear review site run by outdoor enthusiasts, monetized via Amazon and retailer affiliate links — competes for the same thru-hiker and backpacker keywords.
• Treeline Review: Hands-on, unbiased outdoor gear reviews focused on backpacking and hiking products, with affiliate monetization and practitioner-authored content.
• Backpacker.com: Established backpacker-focused media brand with gear reviews, trip content, and community — overlapping target audience and editorial scope with Backpackers.com.
• Switchback Travel: Independent outdoor content site publishing in-depth, field-tested gear reviews and best-of guides for backpacking, hiking, and camping — directly overlapping Backpackers.com's niche, methodology, and audience.
• OutdoorGearLab: Affiliate-driven review site that conducts hands-on, comparative testing of outdoor gear across categories including backpacking and camping, monetized through retailer links — same content + affiliate model.

Emerging players

• GearLab (by RunRepeat/Similar): Adjacent affiliate-content peer that monetizes traffic through Amazon and retailer partnerships — relevant as a benchmark for content-to-affiliate funnels in outdoor adjacent niches.
• The Trek: Thru-hiking and long-distance trail content platform with gear reviews, trail journals, and community features — overlapping backpacker audience with a more thru-hike-focused editorial angle.

Broad incumbents

• Outside: Major outdoor media brand covering gear, adventure, and travel across many categories including backpacking — a broader incumbent that competes for the same outdoor gear research queries and affiliate revenue.
• REI Co-op Journal: REI's owned content hub providing gear guides, how-to articles, and trail-tested expertise — a retailer-operated incumbent with deep resources and direct transactional integration with the site Backpackers.com sends affiliate traffic to.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/backpackerscom
• Instagraminstagram.com/backpackerscom
• Xx.com/BackpackersCom
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/backpackers-com

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about back packers.com