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HOOK & BARREL: THE MODERN OUTDOORSMAN
State Of The Outdoors Readership Survey
Let Your Voice Be Heard In The May-June 2026 Issue!
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IDENTITY & VIBE
1.
Which best describes where you’re at right now?
Grinding career mode
Building a family
Chasing experiences
Trying to balance it all
Still figuring it out
2.
How big of a role does the outdoors play in your life today?
Core identity
Major hobby
Occasional escape
Aspirational
Not a priority (yet)
3.
Are outdoorsmen better off than they were 10 years ago?
Yes
The same
Worse
4.
Do smartphones help or distract from the outdoor experience?
Smartphones help
Smartphones distract
Neutral
5.
How often do you think about your next outdoor trip, hunt, etc?
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
Everyday
MEDIA
6.
Where do you actually get outdoor inspiration? (select up to 3)
Social Media
Podcasts
Friends
Websites
Magazines/articles
7.
Which content format do you engage with most?
Short-form video
Long-form YouTube
Podcasts
Written features
Photo-driven stories
OUTDOORS, FITNESS & MINDSET
8.
How important is fitness to your outdoor life?
Critical
Important
Somewhat
Not very
Not at all
Critical
Important
Somewhat
Not very
Not at all
9.
Compared to 5 years ago, you spend…
More time outside
About the same
Less time outside
Wish I spent more
10.
How important is time outdoors to your mental well-being?
Essential — it keeps me balanced
Very important
Somewhat important
Not very important
Not important at all
Essential — it keeps me balanced
Very important
Somewhat important
Not very important
Not important at all
GEAR, MONEY & BRANDS
11.
Which best describes your gear mindset?
Buy once, cry once
Best value for the money
Gear is part of the lifestyle
I keep it simple
I’m a gear nerd
12.
What makes you trust a gear brand? (pick up to 2)
Hands-on experience
Honest reviews
American-made
Aesthetic / design
Word of mouth
13.
What turns you off fastest?
Overpricing
Influencer hype
Poor quality
Bad customer service
Relationships:
14.
How does a partner’s interest in the outdoors affect your lifestyle?
It’s essential
It’s a big plus
Nice, but not required
Doesn’t matter
I’m currently single
15.
Ladies, who influences outdoor gear purchases in your household most?
Mostly me
Me + my partner equally
Mostly my partner
Depends on the purchase
Just me (single)
N/A
16.
Would you feel comfortable dating someone who is a better shot and or hunter than you?
Yes
No
ACCESS & BELONGING
17.
Do you feel the outdoor community is welcoming to people from different backgrounds?
Very welcoming
Mostly welcoming
Neutral
Not very welcoming
Not at all welcoming
18.
Have you personally seen or experienced exclusion in outdoor spaces?
Yes
No
Not sure
WOMEN & THE MODERN OUTDOORS
19.
Do you think women are playing a bigger role in outdoor culture today than in the past?
Definitely
Somewhat
About the same
Not really
Not sure
20.
How do you personally feel about women taking more visible leadership roles in the outdoors (guides, athletes, creators, executives)?
Very positive
Somewhat positive
Neutral
Somewhat negative
Very negative
21.
Would you be more likely to support a brand that actively includes women in its outdoor storytelling (not just marketing)?
Definitely
Probably
Neutral
Probably not
No
Definitely
Probably
Neutral
Probably not
No
22.
Have women influenced any of your outdoor-related purchases?
Yes — significantly
Yes — somewhat
No
Not sure
SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT
23.
Which sports or competitions overlap most with your outdoor interests? (pick up to 2)
MMA / UFC
Car Racing (NASCAR, F1, etc.)
Endurance racing (marathons and ultra-marathons)
CrossFit / HYROX
Hunting or shooting competitions
Professional or College Sports
24.
How often do you watch outdoor or adventure films/series?
Regularly
Occasionally
Rarely
Never
25.
How often do you watch outdoor-themed television?
Regularly
Occasionally
Rarely
Never. That’s still a thing?
26.
Hollywood film and TV typically get guns and hunting technically wrong or put shooters and hunters in a bad light.
Agree
Disagree
Never gave it any thought
CULTURE & IDENTITY
27.
Which statement do you agree with most?
Outdoor culture feels more relevant to mainstream culture now
It’s becoming mainstream but losing edge
It’s still niche and misunderstood
I don’t think about it that way
28.
Which podcasts or shows influence how you think about life, fitness, or the outdoors?
29.
How much do creators and athletes influence what you buy or try outdoors?
A lot
Some
Very little
Not at all
30.
The pendulum is swinging back to the middle, where hunting or shooting isn’t going to lead to being cancelled.
Agree
Disagree
31.
Have something to add...go right ahead.
Current Progress,
0 of 31 answered