Probably you dreamt of going to an outdoor activity like hiking, trekking, mountaineering, or participating in some other outdoor recreations. Nevertheless, as a result of financial constraints, the question “How to Get Sponsored by Outdoor Companies” confronts you.
Also, you intend to explore the beautiful scenes of nature, the woods, the beautiful immovable mountains, but have no sponsors and don’t know how to get one. Search no further! This article is for you to help you get a sponsor for your outdoor activity quickly and conveniently without hassle.
Contents
- 1 Concept of Sponsorship
- 2 Advantages of Getting a Sponsor
- 3 How to get sponsored?
- 4 Clothing Sponsorship
- 5 How to get Hunting Sponsors?
- 6 Get paid to Hike
- 7 Sports Sponsorship
- 8 Outdoor Sponsorship
- 9 Jobs to attract sponsorship
- 10 Success Stories
- 11 Conclusion
Concept of Sponsorship
Firstly, you have to clear the basics and delve into the idea of sponsorship. That will help you further understand the need in How to Get Sponsored by Outdoor Companies.
Sponsorship is one of the fastest-growing methods of marketing. Companies involved in outdoor activities seek to sponsor individuals in a bid to achieve specific objectives like selling their brand name and thus creating awareness.
This statement points to the fact that while you need sponsors for your outdoor activity, the sponsor also needs you for their marketing—especially when dealing with “in-kind” sponsorship. In turn, it will help you in How to Get Sponsored by Outdoor Companies more easily.

Financial sponsorship could be a little bit different. As such, it is advisable that before seeking a sponsor, you must fully comprehend the concept of support and How to Get Sponsored by Outdoor Companies.
What is Sponsorship?
Who exactly is a sponsor, and what do they expect when you earn a sponsorship from them? According to the Cambridge English Dictionary, aid is defined as the act of supporting a person, organization, or activity by giving money, needed materials and equipment, encouragement, or other help. This fact is all in return for advertisement or exploring the commercial marketing potential to achieve specific business goals.
Sponsorship entails setting out concise terms and conditions between the sponsor and the sponsored individual. Also, you need to outline the expected contributions between the sponsor and sponsored party clearly, so the business is in good faith.
Sponsorship is of two primary forms, which are In-Cash and In-kind:
- In-Kind Support: this is in the way of materials and equipment easier to get. Those are easier because they aid in marketing the sponsoring companies’ goods and brand names.
- In-Cash sponsorship or financial sponsorship, on the other hand, is more challenging to secure. Also, people embarking on profound endeavors usually award them. For example, to achieve unachievable feats, such as trekking on a terrain never harnessed before. Considering this concept of sponsorship, many travelers get sponsored by outside companies by indulging in financial support.
Advantages of Getting a Sponsor
Availability of Quality Materials
For example, companies such as Tarptent, GossamerGear, Katabatic Gear serve as sponsors. They often provide to their sponsors or sponsored individual, simple, lightweight, and durable elements. For example, items such as backpacks, materials for tent, hiking poles, sleeping mats, hiking boots, hunting boots, and so on.
Thus getting one of these companies to sponsor your hike or trek means you are also getting quality materials to embark on such recreational activity.
Reduction in Cost
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGB7AN326Zc
Therefore, getting sponsored by an outdoor company is nothing but purely beneficial, and this is one of the leading advantages of getting a sponsor. The expenses that sponsor take care of include meals, supplements (such as magnesium, calcium, necessary vitamins), specific clothing, footwear, etc.
Representing Company Brands
While creating awareness for the company and its product, you also get to popularize yourself and garner fame. Individual companies might use their sponsors as cover stars on their brands. Such popularity can help the individual in other walks of life.
As an individual, you can be an extremely potent promotional tool by showcasing the product of the outdoor company sponsoring you.
How to get sponsored?

To get sponsorship from outdoor companies isn’t sheer luck. Getting aid involves putting in a lot of effort and using techniques that increase your chances of getting a sponsor. Some of the ways of quickly getting sponsorship for any activity of interest are below.
Are you Looking for Sponsorship Money?
However, they can find out about how to get sponsored by outdoor companies, and this rekindles hope. Numerous attempts to secure aid can be futile. But you might keep looking for sponsorship money.
Sending numerous emails and follow-ups, contacting sponsors, building a strong personal brand, and upgrading a portfolio is basic. By being proactive and persistent, you can achieve this feat. And this goes to show how long it takes and how much persistence and perseverance play in how to get sponsorship from outdoor companies.
With persistence, you can become a renowned brand ambassador that participates in outdoor activities. With an attractive portfolio, you will learn how to get sponsored by outdoor companies and how to get lots of sponsorship deals.
Find a sponsor for free
To summarize, always research on the internet and know your companies first. Most importantly, write a quality proposal to attract lucrative deals. Build your strong portfolio, and do not forget to follow up! This secret recipe might be your code to crack the big question, “How to Get Sponsored?“.
How to get sponsored to travel
Since he was a teenager, he had sworn on the fact that he will make this happen. But now, in his mid-20s, he slowly realized the harsh realities of life. Everything costs money, and Dean didn’t have enough expenses to turn this trek into a reality.
Just when he had lost all hope, his college friend Carl told him about sponsorships. Well, Dean always knew what aid was but always shrugged the idea to get sponsored by outdoor companies.

Since then, Dean worked on what Carl had told him, and slowly he got to know that this is something he could manage.
Just like I told you, he worked on his social media, built connections, started a blog, and only in a year he caught the eye of a local travel company. They sponsored him for some local hikes and treks, which in turn increased his social media following. Dean had at last found out how to get sponsored to travel and fulfill his dreams.
Also, he managed to gain some good network of companies ready to work with him. And just in a matter of two years, Dean traveled to India, discovered his inner spirituality, and went on that fantastic trek.
Dean has new goals now, and he is working hard for them.
Become a sponsored athlete
Take a look at the following tips and learn how to get sponsored.
Following
- It will point out what number of people will be viewing the brand.
- The higher the following, the higher is the impact quotient.
- Be active on your social media to don’t lose out on people.
Maintain your identity
This fact is one of the crucial steps to get a loyal fan following and, most importantly, get sponsored by outdoor companies.
Ethics
Being an ambassador for a brand signifies that you genuinely believe in what you promote. You are the voice of the company, and you won’t ever encourage something worthless or known to cause harm. Stand firmly with your ethics.
How to request sponsorship
Once you have zeroed on what companies you are targeting, it’s time to proceed with the next question- “how to request sponsorship?”.

Do Research
Surf the internet for corporate sponsors or companies looking for brand ambassadors. Make good use of online and social media platforms in your quest to get sponsored by outdoor companies.
With the right information online or garnered through friends, you can quickly get a sponsor. Take consideration of your demographics and the section of people you are targeting. This information is the essence of how to get sponsored by companies and how to request sponsorship.
Create a Facebook page, an Instagram account, a Twitter account, and any other platform you think where you can acquire a decent following.
Build your profile gradually and showcase your work by growing your network.
Tell people you exist!
Sending Electronic Mails
This point can readily grant you access to the companies that are willing to sponsor your outdoor activity.
they have good firewalls that prevent unsolicited emails and bounce them back.
Therefore, you cannot rely wholly on this means to get sponsored by outdoor companies.
Explore the other factors which I’m going to discuss subsequently.

Relate to Others
Such groups could be an online or social media platform; or a well-established group. Try as much as possible to identify with any of these groups. This fact increases your chances of getting a sponsor.
Meet the Right Person(s)
Also, getting to talk to the right staff in a company gives you access to accurate and precise information regarding certain things. For example, what the company can offer to you, how to get sponsored, and expectations of the company from you in the sponsorship deal.
When meeting with some companies, it is advisable to speak with the head of the marketing department, public relations, or brand management as he/she would be in a better position to guide you through the sponsorship deal.
Quality Proposal
You must look for a way to convince the company that sponsoring you for your outdoor or sports activity isn’t a bad idea.
You can achieve this proposal by presenting a quality sponsored plan for such companies. Show them what you can offer them as a sponsoree regarding marketing their products. Make your proposition utterly compelling that it will be able to convince the company of the essence of sponsoring you.
A quality proposal could make a company want to sponsor you to increase awareness of their brand. So before you go to meet a company representative, be ensured to take along a quality proposal to get sponsored by outdoor companies.
Be Patient
might want to sponsor you; companies may turn down your proposals.
Regularly follow-up companies to get sponsored by outdoor companies, ensure continual back and forth communication with them.

Although this may seem a daunting task, it remains one of the most reliable means of getting in touch with a company. Also, probably the best way of getting sponsorship.
Go the Extra Mile
You should make a conscious effort to impress your sponsors while still
maintaining your integrity. This strategy can help you to get sponsored by outdoor companies and can attract several others having seen your cordial working relationship with your previous partners.
Corporate sponsorship proposal template
Think of this as your resume for the job. You won’t land a good job until and unless you have an impactful resume in hand. It will just increase your chances of getting sponsored by outdoor companies by an impressive figure of 50%.
All the best!

Choose a format
It won’t take you more than a couple of minutes to understand that most sponsorships use standard business letter format. Hence, you will be following the corporate sponsorship proposal template.
- And just like any business letter, use the proper format of the date, name, salutation, etc.
- Try to keep it as short and precise as possible.
- Choose the proper tone of the letter. Understand that this requires you to be professional, so refrain from using colloquial language and stick to the formal tone.
Attractive Introduction
- Mention your name or company clearly and the cause of your sponsorship.
- You can start by telling a story and try to make an emotional connection with the sponsor.
- Ask for sponsorship directly and why you need it.
- Tell them what you do and why you do it.
Stress on Benefits
- Tell them how you plan to publicize their event (via social media, television, radio, magazine, etc.).
- Mention how extensively their brand is going to get promoted by doing their business with them.
- Include factual information rather than boasting about your impact or following.
Mention the money
- Try to layout your financial needs in the proposal.
- Keep it organized, making a tabular section is a fantastic idea and can genuinely help you get sponsored by outdoor companies.
- Tell about all the expenses that will be involved very specifically.
- The proposal won’t get declined if you are asking for a hefty sum.
Thanking note and Proofread
At last, do not forget to proofread your proposal. It is nothing but unprofessional if you send a letter with loads of mistakes. It lowers your chances of getting an outdoor sponsorship.
Clothing Sponsorship

Brands looking for ambassadors
Sports sponsorship can be financial or in-kind, with the latter covering sports gear, footwear, clothing, etc.
I haven’t included the clothing sponsorship companies exclusively. Sports sponsorship will be covering the clothing sponsorship in the subsequent section.
Clothing Companies looking for brand ambassadors
The list has to be intricately specific to the type of sponsorship.
There are four tiers of Clothing sponsorship:
- Donation or contribution: The company sponsoring you will provide financial support for your venture. In return, you contribute towards them by sending a word of thanks.
- Shop sponsorship: Here, the company will give you free or, in some cases, discounted gear. It can include your sports footwear, clothes, and other requirements.
- Amateur sponsorship: The company gives you not only free or discounted gear, but also financial support. It can cover your travel fees, equipment expenses, or other specific requirements.
- Professional sponsorship: The company grants you full expenses that cover every requirement of yours and also gives you a paycheck.
Companies looking for brand ambassadors

Some of these requirements to get sponsored by outdoor companies include:
- To possess the capacity or potential to be an excellent and enthusiastic brand ambassador.
- You are granting your sponsors the required permission to publish your photos on adverts and their websites.
- Uploading their logo on your social media accounts such as
Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter and also putting it on your website. These forms of publicity tend to relate your sponsors and, consequently, make them more positively inclined to you. - As an athlete, strive to attain top-notch finishes in races. Finishes that will have you mount podiums, and as such, promote your brand. You will soon notice it’s easier to get sponsored by outdoor companies this way.
It is noteworthy that getting the first clothing sponsorship is usually the most rigorous of all sponsorship applications.
It is because your portfolio is still quite scanty, and proving your potential to sponsors might show to be an arduous task. But on successfully scaling this hurdle, the rest is history.
Become an ambassador for clothing
Sticking to the thumb rule, I mention it here again, sponsorship is a two-way street. You won’t get sponsored by outdoor companies until you have something to offer them in return.
You make them look smart, you publicize them, and there you have your sponsorships rolling towards you. Well, it might sound quite easy to read, but do not be fooled by just mere words.
Why in the world are the companies going to get ready to sponsor you in the first place? Even if you assure them to put in some reasonable efforts to publicize them, there might be some cons.
Welcome to the world of social media, my friend!
Get paid to promote clothing
Brands are looking for ambassadors to promote their products daily, hourly, every minute, and every second. Get paid to promote clothing, gear, equipment, just anything the company can provide you.
The only significant question now remains- HOW YOU DO IT?
Of course, the profile has to be specific to the sponsorship that interests you. Maybe you love kayaking, or you are much of a camper, so make that noticed on your Instagram profile and get sponsored by outdoor companies.
You can be a boho fashionista and a lifestyle blogger with a decent following. Now is your chance to acquire sponsorship. Nike would love it if you could promote their sports gear with your 20000 followers on Instagram.
Blog
Apart from social media platforms like Instagram, having a blog is more than just an add-on to your portfolio and can help you to get sponsored by outdoor companies.
Moreover, it gives the sponsor an easy way to sort out the applicants plus assurance of getting their job done efficiently.
If being outdoors is your passion, and getting sponsorship is the middleman, you should put some night hours to have a blog that wouldn’t get unnoticed.
Realistic goals
Are you still trying to create a niche for yourself? Do your research and narrow down the list of companies from whom you will be asking for sponsorship.
Start local
Prove your love
Build a good reputation that catches the eyes of the company.
How to get Hunting Sponsors?

Off-season
Also, it will help you get noticed by companies quickly and even give them time to devote to your request.
Document
Send the video to the company you are requesting sponsorship from to make them realize the credibility of your work. You can post the video on your Youtube channel and spread a word across all the other social media platforms like Instagram.
Pro-staffer
To be a pro-staffer, you have to be not just an okay hunter, but you even need to have the right equation with the public. A pro-staffer has to be charismatic and good with words, such that people are impressed with their words.
You need to have a good following and work to promote the product and companies name with the public.
Get paid to Hike
To see the big picture, as a newbie, you might not earn full financial sponsorships from big brands. Instead, try to stick to local brands, which will most likely provide you with in-kind support.
It may include things like some food meals for your hiking trip, some camping equipment or other gear. That’s more than a decent start to make your name among sponsors and, in the future, get sponsored by outdoor companies.
Do not forget to send a word of thanks to your sponsors. Also, a picture of you will help other hikers along with the product is a token of appreciation.
Get paid to Hike Trails
Take a look at this excellent video that inspired many hikers to come together to fulfill a former hiker’s dream.
Appalachian Trail
This Eastern United States trail extends about 2,200 miles approximately from Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine.
The hike will take about 5 to 7 months to complete! It’s safe to state here that the trail is one the longest hiking trail in the world. The fact that the path will take you to travel through 14 states is what attracts the hikers the most.

Everest Base Camp Trek
The best time to go for Everest Base Camp Trek is from March to mid-May and between September to mid-November. With a distance of about 70 miles, it’ll take about 16 days for a practiced trekker to reach the base camp.
The pristine mountains and picturesque beauty of Nepal are sure to make you want to come back to this place.

Torres del Paine
Get paid to hike trails and experience the majestic mountains, pristine waters, and amazing glaciers in this 80-mile long trek. It will take about 4 to 6 days for total completion.
The difficulty level is moderate, with fantastic scenery all along the way. The famous circuit follows the letter ‘W’; however, if you wish to go for the longer course, you can opt for the letter ‘O’ trail.

White Pocket, Arizona, USA
It’s not always about climbing hills, going into the snow, and gazing at the fantastic glaciers. Located in Arizona, USA, at the White Pocket, you get to see the crazy rock formations in deep orange hues all around.
Wander along with these marvels of nature with an easy hike of just 5 km. What else can we ask?

Get paid to walk around

- Sweatcoin: Sweatcoin lets you convert your footsteps into its currency, which you can be used to get discounts in some stores around you. Get paid to walk with a daily step limit of 2000. Available in the US, UK, CA, and Ireland, the app is for both Android and IOS users.
- Charity Miles: While you stay fit, let your fitness benefits others. Charity Miles does precisely this job. You can walk for charities like Stand Up To Cancer, Alzheimer’s Association, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, the ASPCA, the Special Olympics, and Habitat for Humanity. The app is available globally on both Android and IOS.
- Achievement: Well, not just walking, but with the Achievement app, you can earn money for biking, swimming, and other exercises you do. You can make as much as 80 points a day, and for every 10,000 points, you get 10$. The app is from the US and available both on Android and IOS.
How to make money walking?
So why don’t you get out of your house right now and start making cash? You can save the money for your big hike trip that you always wanted to take. Or buy that lovely red dress you couldn’t afford because you had to pay your house rent instead?
Sports Sponsorship

Brands looking for ambassadors
Outdoor Sponsorship
You can go on your favorite hike, to that fantastic kayaking expedition your friend went to and that too without bearing any expenses.
Start ticking off your bucket list now!
Become an ambassador
Jobs to attract sponsorship
However, one can start small and grab the little opportunities with both hands. “In a world riddled with so many financial hassles, how can one meet up with the full requirements for their activity without adequate sponsorship?”
Jobs! Specific jobs can be taken up in the course of the journey to generate funds. Likewise, to complete the tasks or even to get sponsored by outdoor companies by getting noticed. These jobs attract sponsorship and can also make income even after the completion of the journey.
We will take a look at a few ouch jobs below that will help you to get noticed in the eyes of sponsors while allowing you to travel.
Freelance Photography
You can sell your photographs for some good money with some basic freelance photography and marketing skillset. But it depends on the quality, beauty and sheer packaging of the images
Travel Blogging
However, you have to devout and put in a lot of hard work to make your blog attractive. It can help you as an individual to further develop your blogging skills. Also, it can open doors for other job blogging job opportunities or even better, help you to get sponsored by outdoor companies.
You can place the brand logo of the corporate company sponsoring you on your blog. Also, advertising the company’s products such as backpacks, hiking shoes, etc. can generate more income for the company through affiliate marketing.
When your blog becomes popular, you can earn more money from this job, and also it will help to increase further the brand awareness of the company sponsoring you.
Some of your blog followers and other corporate companies might even be willing to sponsor you on further journeys. They want you to help further discover and explore the relatively unexplored regions. So, it is safe to mention that blogging is one of the jobs to attract sponsorship effectively.
Tour Guide
Being a tour guide also grants you the privilege to meet and relate to others from different locations.

You would have to dedicate most of your time to organizing accommodation for the tourists and some other responsibilities of a cynosure. Hence, making sure the group of tourists under your guide is happy at all times.
Ski Instructor
Besides the prospect of making extra money, working as a ski instructor could also be fascinating. It affords you the ample opportunity to tutor upcoming skiers and to harness more terrains.
Ski instructors make up to a whopping 12 dollars per hour for a start, and renowned instructors even get to earn much more. In most parts of the world, however, instructors need to undergo a course, make a certificate, and get accredited.
Once you can get this and probably a few clients under your belts, working as a ski instructor might be the way for you to get sponsored by outdoor companies.
Continuous work as a ski instructor can further help you land other clients. In turn, they can easily advertise the brand of the company sponsoring you.
Working as a ski instructor can also afford you the opportunity to meet new people and showcase your (sponsor’s) brand. Your tutees and also broadens your horizon as an individual by putting them and you on other subtle forms of an advertisement.
Hiking Vlogger
Since the Youtube rules the Earth, some envious channels are coming up, which for once will make you question your role.
Check out these channels to get an idea of what their content is.

Language tutor
Document your work and try to popularize it via Youtube channels or vlogs.
Its documentation can undoubtedly make you noticed and might even help you to get sponsored by outdoor companies.

Success Stories
People like Usain Bolt, Blessing Okagbare, and others too have in one way, or the other managed to get sponsored by outdoor companies from large companies and corporate bodies.
Team Huntress
Some businesses that sponsoring Team Huntress are:
Doeville is the Product Sponsor for Team Huntress. The latter organizes daily outings where participants receive gifts daily. Doeville is a partner and provides a leather hunting diary ($40 value) for each participant.
Faini Designs sponsors a scholarship for a woman for attending the Team Huntress Event. Faini takes up the expenses involved in the cost of the outing for someone who cannot afford it any other way.

Sponsorship of Usain Bolt
Usain Bolt usually called, “Lightning Bolt” by media houses, was a talented kid and is documented to have been the best sprinter in his alma mater, Willian Knibb Memorial High School.
He is born to an average family in a small town in Sherwood content in Jamaica. But would not have been able to achieve the highest echelon of his career as an athlete without sponsorship deals.

Bolt’s sponsorship deal has also been a blessing to his family and country at large. Moreover, Usain Bolt is now following many brands, although he chose to stick with Puma in a mouth-watering deal (numbered to be worth up to 20 million pounds).
In his words, “Yeah, definitely, I was interesting others, Puma is number one.”
The Real Hiking Viking
He was marine combat when he decided to give up on his belongings, everything from his car to his apartment, and became a full-time professional hiker.
“Walk off the War” program, founded by Sean Gobin, provides gear and other supplies to complete a thru-hike on any of several National Scenic Trails. Apart from this, the program also includes lodging facilities, food, and transportation to the hikers.
The basic idea is to help the war veterans to shrug the adverse effects the war had on them by going on a hike. It also proved to have incredible therapeutic effects and a real stress buster. The disabled veterans or the ones suffering from PTSD get their funds via this program and achieve their dreams.
National Wild Turkey Federation
It took years of hard work to make the number hit about 7 million with the help of fantastic support received throughout the journey.

Significant companies partner with NWTF and sponsor its events throughout to enhance the wildlife habitat and also manage outdoor recreation activities. Some well-known name includes Proteus, Alps Outdoors, and Outdoor Underwriters.
Blessing Okagbare
However, this hope nearly blew before it became manifest. Speaking in her IAAF biography, she said: “It is not as if I’m trying to talk about my country, but it lacks the right facilities, and these things limit us.”

Nike offered Okagbare a sponsorship deal worth $500,000. According to the then President of the Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Chief Solomon Ogba, he explained that one of the critical reasons that Okagbare received such a mega sponsorship deal was to aid her preparations.
Also, to possibly help break the perceived stronghold and dominance of Jamaicans in sprint races.
In this case, the sponsorship deal would help Blessing prepare adequately. In return, she helped promote the brand of Nike and possibly coming out tops and subsequently perhaps becoming a brand ambassador.
Which company doesn’t want a top-class athlete to be a brand ambassador? None!
Conclusion
Tailoring back the apparent lack of success from specific individuals and athletes can sometimes lead to the lack of grooming investment and their inability to get sponsored by outdoor companies.
This fact goes to say that acquiring sponsorship is not an easy task, but then again, it is not impossible. Strict adherence to the afore-mentioned tips of this article as it can almost guarantee sponsorship.
Expect to turn down a handful of times, but in the end, you will get a sponsor.
As Robby Gordon once said, “There are two exquisite feelings. The first is when you land a sponsorship that allows you to be competitive. Then to win a race is the icing on the cake that you have made with the sponsorship.”