Stores Like Cabela’s: 12 Outdoor Gear Retailers Worth Switching To
Text
About Cabela's
Founded
1961
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
Who does Cabela's actually serve now that the green sign and the red sign belong to the same company? For years the answer was clear: the Nebraska whitetail hunter who drove two hours for the wall of Cabela's-branded MegaWader boots, the deer diorama by the entrance, the walk-in gun library, the aquarium full of walleye you could stand in front of before dropping $300 on a Guidewear jacket. The stores felt like a destination, not a stop.
Then Bass Pro bought it, and the two catalogs started reading like the same catalog with different fonts.
What loyal Cabela's shoppers noticed first was the pricing. The house-brand deals that made the place worth the drive quietly firmed up, the club-points rewards got reshuffled after the Capital One card transition, and the store experience began mirroring Bass Pro's down to the log-cabin restaurant. The identity that made Cabela's Cabela's — the serious-outfitter feel, a hair less theme-park than its new parent — has been sanded down. If you're the person who trusted that green catalog for waders and reloading supplies, where do you go when it starts feeling like a rerun?
Then Bass Pro bought it, and the two catalogs started reading like the same catalog with different fonts.
What loyal Cabela's shoppers noticed first was the pricing. The house-brand deals that made the place worth the drive quietly firmed up, the club-points rewards got reshuffled after the Capital One card transition, and the store experience began mirroring Bass Pro's down to the log-cabin restaurant. The identity that made Cabela's Cabela's — the serious-outfitter feel, a hair less theme-park than its new parent — has been sanded down. If you're the person who trusted that green catalog for waders and reloading supplies, where do you go when it starts feeling like a rerun?
Quick decision
Narrow it down
Price
Best for
Jump to a brand
12 brands
The 12 Best Alternatives to Cabela's
1
Sportsman's Warehouse
Est. 1986
West Jordan, Utah, USA
$
cheaper
Hunters and anglers who want gear and guns without the aquarium admission-price markup
Hunting, fishing, and firearms all under one roof with the no-nonsense outfitter feel Cabela's used to own before the theme-park treatment.
Pros
- Strong firearms and ammo counter with knowledgeable staff
- Frequent loss-leader deals on ammo and hunting gear
- Smaller, faster stores without the tourist crowds
Cons
- Store footprint is regional, not everywhere
- Apparel selection thinner than Cabela's
- Inventory can be inconsistent between locations
2
Scheels
Est. 1902
Fargo, North Dakota, USA
≈
similar
Shoppers who want the destination-store spectacle plus attentive, commission-driven staff
The megastore experience Cabela's fans crave — Ferris wheels, aquariums, and a genuinely deep hunting and fishing floor with better service.
Pros
- Employee-owned, service that outclasses Bass Pro/Cabela's
- Huge selection spanning hunting, fishing, and team sports
- Well-stocked firearms and optics departments
Cons
- Mostly Midwest and mountain-west footprint
- Pricing is full-retail on brand-name gear
- Stores are overwhelming for a quick errand
3
REI Co-op
Est. 1938
Kent, Washington, USA
$$$
pricier
Anglers and campers leaning into backpacking, kayaking, and non-firearm outdoor pursuits
B Corp
1% for the Planet
For the fishing, camping, and backcountry side of Cabela's, REI offers deeper technical gear and a co-op dividend instead of a points shuffle.
Pros
- Annual co-op dividend rewards actual loyalty
- Excellent camping, hiking, and paddling gear
- Generous return policy and repair services
Cons
- No firearms or ammunition
- Thin on serious hunting apparel
- Membership crowd skews toward hiking, not hunting
4
Academy Sports + Outdoors
Est. 1938
Katy, Texas, USA
$
cheaper
Southern and Texas outdoor families who want value on ammo, tackle, and gear
Covers the same hunting, fishing, and firearms bases as Cabela's but at prices built for the family budget, not the destination markup.
Pros
- Aggressively priced ammo and hunting basics
- Strong tackle and fishing department
- Broad reach across the South and Southeast
Cons
- Limited high-end optics and premium gear
- Apparel is mostly value-tier
- Not present in much of the North and West
5
Bass Pro Shops
Est. 1972
Springfield, Missouri, USA
≈
similar
Anglers loyal to the Bass Pro house brands and Uncle Buck's restaurant crowd
The obvious cousin — same owner, same waders, same aquarium — but the RedHead and Bass Pro house brands still carry their own deals worth checking.
Pros
- Deepest fishing and boating selection anywhere
- RedHead and Bass Pro house brands are solid value
- Destination stores with real theme-park appeal
Cons
- It's the same parent company driving the pricing creep
- Customer service quality varies wildly
- The merged identity is exactly what you may be fleeing
Visit Bass Pro Shops
Full guide: Stores Like Bass Pro Shops
6
Sierra Trading Post
Est. 1986
Cheyenne, Wyoming, USA
$
cheaper
Bargain hunters chasing name-brand outdoor jackets, boots, and layers at a discount
Discount outlet for name-brand outdoor and hunting apparel — the closeout hunting for the shopper who misses Cabela's bargain bin.
Pros
- Deep discounts on brand-name outdoor apparel
- Great for boots, base layers, and jackets
- Rotating closeout stock rewards frequent checks
Cons
- No firearms or ammunition
- Inventory is unpredictable and one-off
- Sizing and stock gaps are common
7
Palmetto State Armory
Est. 2008
Columbia, South Carolina, USA
$
cheaper
Shooters and reloaders focused on firearms, ammo, and AR components
For the reloading and firearms side of Cabela's, PSA delivers guns, ammo, and components at prices the gun library never touched.
Pros
- Some of the best firearm and ammo pricing online
- House-brand AR builds are a strong value
- Constant daily deals and flash sales
Cons
- Not an outdoor apparel or fishing destination
- Customer service can be slow at peak demand
- Limited physical store presence
8
Orvis
Est. 1856
Sunderland, Vermont, USA
$$$
pricier
Fly anglers and bird hunters who want heritage-grade rods, dogs gear, and waxed cotton
B Corp
1% for the Planet
The fly-fishing and upland heritage side of Cabela's, done with genuine craftsmanship — the outfitter feel without the theme-park.
Pros
- Gold-standard fly rods and reels with lifetime backing
- Strong upland hunting and dog gear
- B Corp with real conservation commitments
Cons
- Premium pricing across the board
- No firearms
- More fly-shop than general outfitter
9
Rural King
Est. 1960
Mattoon, Illinois, USA
$
cheaper
Rural and farm households buying guns, ammo, and gear alongside feed and tools
Farm-and-outdoor store with firearms, ammo, and workwear — the practical rural shopper's answer to Cabela's without the tourist tax.
Pros
- Genuine firearms and ammo counter at farm-store prices
- Free popcorn and no-frills shopping
- Strong workwear and general outdoor basics
Cons
- Not a technical hunting-gear destination
- Midwest-heavy footprint
- Selection skews toward farm and utility
10
Filson
Est. 1897
Seattle, Washington, USA
$$$
pricier
Hunters who want field jackets and vests that pass down generations
The heirloom hunting and field apparel Cabela's aspired to with its premium lines — Tin Cloth and Mackinaw wool built to outlast you.
Pros
- Legendary Tin Cloth and Mackinaw wool durability
- Guaranteed-for-life construction
- Timeless upland and field styling
Cons
- Very expensive per garment
- No firearms or fishing tackle
- Heavy fabrics not for warm-weather hunts
Visit Filson
Full guide: Stores Like Filson
11
First Lite
Est. 2007
Ketchum, Idaho, USA
$$$
pricier
Serious backcountry and mountain hunters who prioritize layering systems
The technical hunting apparel Cabela's house lines chased — merino base layers and camo systems built for hardcore backcountry hunters.
Pros
- Excellent merino base layers for scent and temperature
- Camo systems designed by real backcountry hunters
- Strong reputation among mountain-hunting community
Cons
- Premium pricing on every layer
- Apparel-focused, not a full outfitter
- Niche appeal outside serious hunters
12
Dick's Sporting Goods
Est. 1948
Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, USA
≈
similar
Weekend outdoor shoppers who want convenience and a broad general selection
Mainstream sporting-goods reach with a solid fishing, camping, and hunting-apparel floor for the casual outdoor shopper.
Pros
- Nationwide footprint and easy returns
- Strong fishing and camping departments
- Frequent sales on brand-name gear
Cons
- Pulled out of the firearms business
- Hunting selection is limited
- Not a specialist outfitter
Best for firearms and reloading
If the gun library and reloading aisle were your reason for the drive, Palmetto State Armory beats Cabela's on ammo and AR pricing outright, Sportsman's Warehouse keeps a knowledgeable counter and regional stores, and Rural King quietly stocks guns and ammo at farm-store prices. Note that REI and Dick's have exited firearms entirely, so skip them if that's your core need.
Budget picks that beat post-acquisition pricing
The pricing creep is the number-one complaint, and these fix it: Academy Sports undercuts on ammo, tackle, and hunting basics; Sierra Trading Post runs deep closeout discounts on name-brand outdoor apparel; and Rural King keeps everything no-frills and cheap. All three deliver the bargain-bin thrill the green catalog used to.
Heritage and technical apparel upgrades
For the shopper who wants field gear that outlasts a decade of seasons, Filson's Tin Cloth and Mackinaw wool are heirloom-grade, First Lite's merino layering systems are built for backcountry mountain hunts, and Orvis brings genuine fly-fishing and upland craftsmanship. These cost more, but they're the quality Cabela's premium lines only gestured at.Which Alternative Is Right for You?
Buying firearms and ammo above all? Palmetto State Armory and Sportsman's Warehouse are your first stops, with Rural King for the rural farm-store crowd. Want the megastore spectacle with better service? Scheels delivers the Ferris-wheel-and-aquarium experience employee-owned. Chasing value after the pricing crept up? Academy Sports and Sierra Trading Post. If you're moving toward backcountry camping, paddling, or fly fishing rather than firearms, REI and Orvis serve you better than a merged Bass Pro ever will. And if you want field apparel that gets passed down, Filson and First Lite are the upgrade. Frequently Asked Questions
QIs Cabela's more expensive since the Bass Pro acquisition?
Many longtime shoppers report exactly that. The house-brand deals that made Cabela's worth the drive have firmed up, and the club rewards were reshuffled after the Capital One card transition. Academy Sports, Sportsman's Warehouse, and Rural King consistently beat current Cabela's pricing on ammo and hunting basics.
QWhat's the best alternative to Cabela's for buying guns and ammo?
Palmetto State Armory offers some of the best firearm and ammo pricing online, especially on AR builds. For a physical counter with knowledgeable staff, Sportsman's Warehouse is strong, and Rural King stocks firearms at farm-store prices. Avoid REI and Dick's for this — both have exited firearms.
QIs Bass Pro Shops different enough from Cabela's to be worth switching?
Not really — they share the same parent company and increasingly the same catalog, waders, and pricing. If your frustration is the merged identity and pricing creep, switching to Bass Pro solves nothing. The RedHead house brand still offers value, but the theme-park feel and markup are identical.
QWhich store has the megastore experience like Cabela's used to?
Scheels comes closest, with Ferris wheels, aquariums, and a deep hunting and fishing floor — plus employee-owned service that outclasses the current Cabela's experience. Bass Pro has the same spectacle but the same merged pricing you may be trying to escape.
QWhere can I find high-end hunting apparel that outlasts Cabela's house brands?
Filson's Tin Cloth and Mackinaw wool garments are guaranteed for life and built to pass down. For technical backcountry layering, First Lite's merino systems are designed by real mountain hunters. Orvis covers upland and fly-fishing gear with genuine heritage craftsmanship. All cost more but deliver quality Cabela's premium lines only hinted at.
Our Verdict
The Best Cabela's Alternative For You
Buying firearms and ammo above all? Palmetto State Armory and Sportsman's Warehouse are your first stops, with Rural King for the rural farm-store crowd. Want the megastore spectacle with better service? Scheels delivers the Ferris-wheel-and-aquarium experience employee-owned. Chasing value after the pricing crept up? Academy Sports and Sierra Trading Post. If you're moving toward backcountry camping, paddling, or fly fishing rather than firearms, REI and Orvis serve you better than a merged Bass Pro ever will. And if you want field apparel that gets passed down, Filson and First Lite are the upgrade.