Stores Like Bass Pro Shops: 12 Outdoor & Sporting Goods Retailers Worth the Switch
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About Bass Pro Shops
Founded
1972
USA
Ships to
US, Canada
Editor-reviewed
Every recommendation read and refined by hand
Honest tradeoffs
Drawbacks listed, not hidden
No paid placements
Brands cannot pay to be ranked
Bass Pro Shops sells the fantasy of the outdoors better than it sells the gear you actually need for it. The stores are cathedrals — indoor waterfalls, taxidermied elk on fake mountainsides, the giant fish tank kids press their noses against while dad wanders the boat showroom. It's a destination as much as a store, and that's exactly the problem for anyone who just needs a spool of line and a decent pair of waders without driving ninety minutes to the nearest megastore.
The house brands do real work: RedHead flannel and boots, Bass Pro's own Uncle Buck's line, the XPS rods that punch above their price. Nobody's arguing the selection isn't deep once you're inside.
But the pricing on name-brand gear rarely beats what you'd find elsewhere, the Cabela's merger has slowly homogenized both banners, and if you live more than an hour from a flagship the online experience is just… fine. For fishing tackle, hunting supplies, and outdoor apparel, the moat around Bass Pro was always the theatrical store, not the checkout total.
So when the nearest one is a road trip and the price isn't the reason to go, where does a fisherman or a weekend camper actually shop?
The house brands do real work: RedHead flannel and boots, Bass Pro's own Uncle Buck's line, the XPS rods that punch above their price. Nobody's arguing the selection isn't deep once you're inside.
But the pricing on name-brand gear rarely beats what you'd find elsewhere, the Cabela's merger has slowly homogenized both banners, and if you live more than an hour from a flagship the online experience is just… fine. For fishing tackle, hunting supplies, and outdoor apparel, the moat around Bass Pro was always the theatrical store, not the checkout total.
So when the nearest one is a road trip and the price isn't the reason to go, where does a fisherman or a weekend camper actually shop?
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12 brands
The 12 Best Alternatives to Bass Pro Shops
1
Cabela's
Est. 1961
Springfield, Missouri, USA
≈
similar
Hunters who want the widest firearms and optics selection under one roof
Now owned by the same parent, Cabela's runs the same big-box hunting-and-fishing playbook with the same trophy-taxidermy showrooms and deep gun counters.
Pros
- Enormous hunting and optics inventory
- Strong house brands (Cabela's, Guidewear)
- Club loyalty program with real payback
Cons
- Merger has blurred it into Bass Pro
- Pricing rarely beats online rivals
- Stores are sparse outside key regions
Visit Cabela's
Full guide: Stores Like Cabela's
2
REI
Est. 1938
Kent, Washington, USA
$$$
pricier
Backpackers and campers who value gear knowledge and a return policy
B Corp
1% for the Planet
Covers the camping, hiking, and paddling side of the outdoor world with better technical apparel and a genuine expertise culture.
Pros
- Co-op dividend returns money to members
- Excellent used-gear and rental programs
- Staff actually use the gear
Cons
- Weak on hunting and fishing
- Premium pricing across the board
- Urban store placement, not rural
Visit REI
Full guide: Stores Like REI
3
Sportsman's Warehouse
Est. 1986
West Jordan, Utah, USA
$
cheaper
Hunters and anglers who want the merchandise without the theme park
A no-frills hunting, fishing, and shooting retailer that skips the aquariums and passes some of the savings on.
Pros
- Strong ammo and reloading selection
- More locations in the Mountain West
- Frequent local-focused sales
Cons
- Smaller apparel range
- Inventory varies wildly by store
- Online catalog is thinner
4
Academy Sports + Outdoors
Est. 1938
Katy, Texas, USA
$
cheaper
Family shoppers wanting outdoor and team sports in one cheap trip
Southern big-box that blends outdoor gear, fishing, and hunting with mainstream sporting goods at aggressive prices.
Pros
- Consistently lower prices
- Good entry-level fishing and camping
- Strong footwear and apparel value
Cons
- Not for serious hunters
- House brands are basic
- Mostly a Southern footprint
5
Scheels
Est. 1902
Fargo, North Dakota, USA
≈
similar
Anyone who wants the destination-store experience done better
Employee-owned Midwestern megastore chain that out-Bass-Pros Bass Pro with Ferris wheels and huge outdoor departments.
Pros
- Broad mix of outdoor and team sports
- Knowledgeable specialty shops inside
- Employee-owned service culture
Cons
- Limited to Midwest and Mountain West
- Pricing similar to Bass Pro
- Stores are few and far between
6
Dick's Sporting Goods
Est. 1948
Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, USA
≈
similar
City and suburban shoppers who want outdoor basics nearby
National sporting goods chain with solid camping, fishing, and outdoor apparel plus a Public Lands outdoor spinoff.
Pros
- Locations almost everywhere
- Strong apparel and footwear
- Good entry outdoor gear
Cons
- Dropped firearms sales
- Shallow on serious hunting/fishing
- Generalist, not specialist
7
Tackle Warehouse
Est. 1993
San Luis Obispo, California, USA
≈
similar
Serious bass and freshwater anglers who live for tackle
Fishing-obsessed online retailer with the deep tackle inventory and expert buying guides Bass Pro can't match for bass anglers.
Pros
- Unmatched tackle depth
- Fast shipping and easy returns
- Honest product reviews and videos
Cons
- Fishing only, no hunting or camping
- Online only
- Premium baits add up
8
Filson
Est. 1897
Seattle, Washington, USA
$$$
pricier
Outdoorsmen who want gear that outlasts them
Heritage outdoor apparel maker whose waxed Tin Cloth jackets and Mackinaw wool answer the RedHead crowd wanting real durability.
Pros
- Legendary Tin Cloth and wool durability
- Lifetime guarantee on many goods
- Timeless field styling
Cons
- Expensive up front
- Apparel-focused, no gear
- Heavy for warm climates
Visit Filson
Full guide: Stores Like Filson
9
Orvis
Est. 1856
Sunderland, Vermont, USA
$$$
pricier
Fly anglers and upland hunters wanting refined gear
1% for the Planet
Fly-fishing and upscale field-sports specialist covering rods, waders, and country apparel with genuine expertise.
Pros
- Top-tier fly rods and waders
- 25-year rod guarantee
- Strong conservation commitment
Cons
- Premium pricing throughout
- More fly-fishing than bass
- Apparel skews preppy
10
Fin Feather Fur Outfitters
Est. 1975
Ashland, Ohio, USA
≈
similar
Ohio-area hunters and archers wanting real specialty service
Regional hunting and fishing outfitter with the specialist gun counters and archery expertise big-box stores gloss over.
Pros
- Deep firearms and archery expertise
- Strong local reputation
- Competitive gun pricing
Cons
- Very limited geographic reach
- Smaller apparel selection
- Thin online presence
11
Backcountry
Est. 1996
Park City, Utah, USA
$$$
pricier
Backcountry campers and paddlers shopping premium brands online
Online outdoor retailer with premium hiking, camping, and paddling brands plus expert Gearhead chat support.
Pros
- Premium brand selection
- Live Gearhead expert chat
- Frequent deep clearance deals
Cons
- No hunting or firearms
- Pricier than big-box
- Online only
12
Rural King
Est. 1960
Mattoon, Illinois, USA
$
cheaper
Budget hunters and rural families wanting cheap ammo and gear
Farm-and-fleet store carrying hunting, fishing, ammo, and workwear at rock-bottom rural prices with free popcorn.
Pros
- Very cheap ammo and gear
- Hunting, farm, and workwear together
- Locations in small towns
Cons
- No frills, basic inventory
- Inconsistent stock
- Little technical outdoor gear
Cheaper trips than the megastore
Bass Pro's theatrical stores are fun, but the prices rarely reward the drive. Academy Sports and Rural King consistently undercut it on ammo, entry gear, and apparel, while Sportsman's Warehouse skips the aquariums and passes some savings along. If you just need waders, tackle, and a decent flannel without the theme-park markup, start here.
Specialists who go deeper
For anglers, Tackle Warehouse buries any big-box tackle wall and backs it with honest reviews. Orvis owns fly fishing, and Fin Feather Fur runs the kind of gun and archery counter Bass Pro can't staff. When you know exactly what you want and want it done right, a specialist beats a generalist every time.
Heritage gear that outlasts RedHead
RedHead flannel is fine until you want something that survives a decade of seasons. Filson's waxed Tin Cloth and Mackinaw wool carry lifetime guarantees, and Orvis backs its rods for 25 years. Pay more once, or replace the cheap stuff every few winters — that's the real trade.Which Alternative Is Right for You?
For hunters who want the widest gun and optics counter, Cabela's and Fin Feather Fur deliver the depth. Anglers should point straight at Tackle Warehouse for bass tackle or Orvis for fly fishing. Campers and backpackers get more expertise at REI and Backcountry, while REI's co-op dividend softens the premium pricing. Chasing value? Academy Sports, Sportsman's Warehouse, and Rural King all beat Bass Pro on the receipt. And if the destination-store experience was the whole appeal, Scheels does it bigger and better across the Midwest. Frequently Asked Questions
QIs Bass Pro Shops the same company as Cabela's now?
Yes. Bass Pro Shops acquired Cabela's, and the two banners now share ownership, loyalty programs, and increasingly similar inventory. If you liked Cabela's for its hunting depth, you'll still find it, but the merger has blurred the differences between the two stores.
QWhere can I buy fishing tackle cheaper than Bass Pro Shops?
Tackle Warehouse offers deeper bass and freshwater selection online, often at competitive prices, while Academy Sports and Rural King undercut Bass Pro on entry-level tackle in store. For premium fly gear, Orvis is worth the splurge.
QWhat's the best alternative to Bass Pro Shops for camping and hiking?
REI and Backcountry both go far deeper on technical camping, hiking, and paddling gear than Bass Pro, with staff who actually use the equipment. REI's co-op dividend returns money to members, easing the higher prices.
QWhich store like Bass Pro Shops has the best gun and ammo selection?
Cabela's and Sportsman's Warehouse carry the widest firearms and ammo inventories, while regional specialists like Fin Feather Fur run expert gun counters. Rural King is the budget pick for cheap ammo. Note that Dick's Sporting Goods no longer sells firearms.
QIs there a store with the Bass Pro Shops experience but better?
Scheels is the closest — an employee-owned Midwestern chain whose megastores feature Ferris wheels, aquariums, and huge specialty departments, arguably outdoing Bass Pro on the destination-store front. It's mostly limited to the Midwest and Mountain West, though.
Our Verdict
The Best Bass Pro Shops Alternative For You
For hunters who want the widest gun and optics counter, Cabela's and Fin Feather Fur deliver the depth. Anglers should point straight at Tackle Warehouse for bass tackle or Orvis for fly fishing. Campers and backpackers get more expertise at REI and Backcountry, while REI's co-op dividend softens the premium pricing. Chasing value? Academy Sports, Sportsman's Warehouse, and Rural King all beat Bass Pro on the receipt. And if the destination-store experience was the whole appeal, Scheels does it bigger and better across the Midwest.