Best credit card for outdoorsmen

[Finbob]

Which outdoor company credit card has the best rewards for its members? Was thinking about getting a Cabela card. Input appreciated!


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[toadmeister]

Tagged.

I've had the Cabelas card for over a decade. No complaints.



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[AustinL911]

I've been thinking about getting an Alaska Airlines card so I can start racking up air miles for any potential future hunting trip there. Might be worth a look if that sort of thing is on your radar.

 

[HuntHarder]

The reason i have not gotten a cabelas card yet is I can usually find gift cards on ebay for 15-20 % off. MY regular credit card gets me 3% on gas, 2% on groceries and 1% on evertyhing else. I am going to follow this thread. Great topic

 

[Nalgene]

The only real bonus cabelas card gives is customer service. The credit card people you talk to are US based.

 

[motts]

I also have the Cabela's card, the black version that gets the most points per purchase, but I've really been looking at other cards as of late. I've used it as a way to save up for and make specific purchases, but more and more I find that they either don't have what I want when I want it, or they simply don't carry what I want at all. I also feel I could better use the rewards to actually fund a trip or other purchases through a cash back option rather than being limited to only purchases at Cabela's.

I'm considering the Capital One card (I think that's it as I haven't looked lately) or some other card that gives you points on both purchases and payments. I'm not making enough purchases at Cabela's to capitalize on their point earning structure, and I feel like my rewards would be more beneficial spending them elsewhere.

I like not having a yearly fee for the card, but I would be willing to pay a fee for a more versatile option (Whether or not there's a yearly fee for the Cabela's card escapes me right now). I also pay my entire balance every month, so a low interest rate is nice in case there's ever some catastrophic life event, but not a necessity. We also pay all of our month-to-month bills with the card, so points do add-up quickly.

You have to really think about what your goals with the rewards are before you decide.

 

[Huntindog45]

Been happy with cabelas.


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[PNWGATOR]

None.

Seriously. Pay cash.

 

[dreamingbig]

I don’t know. If you stick to your budget and carry zero balance it actually pays to pay with credit. But you must be disciplined.


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[Finbob]

To clarify, I am a strictly zero-balance card user. I like not having any fees, and my current income and credit spending isn’t enough to warrant a premium card. Don’t really like “miles” cards because i don’t travel for work and I can usually find better value on airfare through kayak etc.


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[Laelkhunter]

None.

Seriously. Pay cash.

Sometimes when traveling, you might need gas, and the station is closed but the "Pay at the pump" is working, CC is the only payment option. Also, if you check into a hotel/motel, they usually want a CC for security deposit even if you pay cash. Save your cash (dollar bills) for the nudie bars along the way.

I have a Cabelas Credit Card.

 

[Trial153]

i just use my Amex for everything, i dont want to be tied down to points in one place. I just use my points when an where i want them.
The only down side with Amex is that some f&g sites dont take amex. The other card i use is BOA rewards...same thing, genertic points.
Both have low rates and no or waived fees.

 

[WyoBowhunter21]

None.

Seriously. Pay cash.

This! Give up credit cards. Put money elsewhere that you get a return but can still withdraw your funds.

 

[Matt Cashell]

As you are probably aware, if you aren't going to pay it off every month, then no credit card is a good deal. You will likely end up paying more in interest than any rewards.

If you can pay it off every month, Chase Sapphire Preferred is the best rewards card I have found, and has great travel benefits that translate well for hunting. There is an $85 yearly fee starting your second year, so you do have to use it frequently to make the most of it.

 

[hodgeman]

None.

Seriously. Pay cash.

I'm with you...I'm a cash guy.

Asking "What credit card is best..." is like asking "What casino is best...". The only reason they incentivize you to use it, is because most people can't/won't/don't pay it off ever month.

Cabelas is a lot like Sears...a bank with some junk on the lawn to sell. You can usually beat Cabelas (including any 'reward' incentive) by shopping around.

 

[colersu22]

The reason i have not gotten a cabelas card yet is I can usually find gift cards on ebay for 15-20 % off. MY regular credit card gets me 3% on gas, 2% on groceries and 1% on evertyhing else. I am going to follow this thread. Great topic

I think you earn Cabelas points on all purchase's from Cabelas. I have bought Cabelas gift cards with my Cabelas credit card then used the gift cards for the purchase at the store and slide my credit card to get points for the purchase and I have a ton of points now. I have a friend that only uses his Cabelas credit card and has had enough points for a new X bolt and a Kimber 1911.

 

[blackpowderhunter]

REI credit card gets you an additional 5% back on your dividend on full price items ( so you get 15% as opposed to 10%) and 5% on sale items as opposed to 0%.
$0 annual fee if you're a member already, and usually have deals set up where when you sign up you get a 100 dollar gift card after making any purchase.
I honestly have that one SOLELY for REI purchases. Alaska Airlines Visa for everything else for the miles.
To those saying pay cash for everything.. Why? IF you're responsible and treat it like cash, you are giving away free money by not using it.
REI card for example...you get all those perks on REI purchases and 1% on all other purchases, all for 0$ a year.
Treat it like cash and you come away with free money.
REI Dividends can also be turned into Cash after like July of the year they are sent out.
Also...if you think REI is anti hunting.. your loss not mine

 

[Yankee]

Cash only is a great idea, until you need to take out a loan to get a house and don't have any credit history.

I have the Cabela's black card. I use it for everything, then pay one bill at the end of the month. I don't carry a balance, so not paying any extra fees or interest charges.

 

[hodgeman]

To those saying pay cash for everything.. Why? IF you're responsible and treat it like cash, you are giving away free money by not using it.

Americans right now owe just under a trillion dollars in credit card debt and the average adult has over $4k in revolving debt accounts with only about 1 in 3 paying off the balance every month for a 6 month period. Maybe you're the exception to the rule...but I talk to a lot of people who lament just how expensive all this "free" money became.

Credit card incentives and teasers are just consumer psychology posing as a math problem and the credit card companies are just better at it than anyone else in the game. I'll pass.

 

[colonel00]

If you are going to travel a lot, get an airline card when they have their best offers of 50,000 miles or more. The wife and I have done this with just about all of them and had several free trips. Once we used up the miles, we just stopped using the cards.

Now, I travel a lot for work so I have been able to fly Alaska Air a lot (I mean a lot). So, we have kept the Alaska Air card active for my airfare (2x miles) and other expenses. I also have a Delta Platinum card that I use at times. Both of these cards have a yearly companion fare where your companion flies for free or $99 with your full fare. Now, these cards do have a yearly fee that goes with them so make sure you'll use the companion fare and other perks. Otherwise, dump any cards that have yearly fees.

Oh, and we do pay everything off. As hodgeman mentions, make sure you are disciplined to do this.