Here’s the truth: Your Instagram feed probably looks exactly like every other outdoor rental company’s. Perfectly staged tents at golden hour. Generic hiking captions. Zero personality. In an industry where trust is everything, you can’t afford to be forgettable.
Stop Posting Like a Corporation
Your customers don’t want polished ads – they want:
- Raw footage of that one tent that survived 200+ rentals (with the scars to prove it)
- Unfiltered reviews from hungover campers who barely made it through setup
- Side-by-side comparisons of your gear vs. what they almost bought at Walmart
Become the Go-To Resource
Instead of “check out our kayaks,” try:
- “Here’s how to spot a rental kayak that’s seen too many rocks” (with close-ups of hull damage)
- A weekly “Dumbest Gear Mistakes” series featuring real customer stories
- An annual “Most Creative Use of a Trekking Pole” contest
Platform-Specific Game Plans
- TikTok: 15-second “Can our cheapest sleeping bag handle [local mountain] in October?” challenges
- Instagram: Carousel posts showing the exact gear list for popular local routes
- Facebook: Live Q&As where your most grizzled repair tech answers anything
User Content That Actually Works
Run a “Trail Fail” campaign where customers submit their best disaster stories using your gear. The more epic the failure (with your equipment holding up), the better. Bonus points for blood, mud, or tears visible in photos.
Influencers? Think Smaller
Forget sponsored athletes. Partner with:
- SAR volunteers who actually depend on reliable gear
- Overlanding moms with minivans full of kids
- Fly fishing guides who post about gear failures mid-trip
Engagement Hacks That Don’t Feel Like Hacks
- Start posts with “Okay, real talk…” or “We need to settle this debate…”
- Share your actual inventory spreadsheet when gear is running low
- Post the coffee order your team is drinking during peak rental season
When It’s Working Right…
You’ll know your social media is hitting the mark when:
- Customers reference your posts when they walk in (“You’re the ones with the bear spray hack!”)
- Guides start tagging you in their gear prep stories
- Your DMs become 50% trip planning questions, 50% rental requests
The goal isn’t to sell gear – it’s to become the first account adventure buddies tag each other in when planning trips. When someone says “Check your brand’s page – they’ll know what works here,” you’ve built something money can’t buy.