Why Do We LOVE Stickers So Much

It’s a normal day, then suddenly someone posts an offer for free gear stickers or an adventure or hiking blog that you follow does the same thing on Facebook or Twitter. Suddenly, you’re giddy, full of joy and dreaming of slapping that new sticker on the back of your adventure mobile, laptop cover or tablet.

Why?

I get questioned a lot at the grocery store or from friends about the back of my Jeep (aka “George”). Recently, I started to think am I that different from other people in town? As I would drive back and forth to school to pick up and drop off the girls, I began paying specific attention to other cars. I think I am a little different than most in town I have noticed. I am sure that other people in places that are closer to adventure and hiking are just like me too. Jeez, I hope so anyway!

Here in town the only people who are even similar in the amount of stickers that I have on the back of George are the few overzealous progressive folks with the Obama, Ready for Hillary, Peace stickers and now the Buy Local Eat Local stickers covering the backs of their Prius. Good for them! On the other political side of the spectrum I have witnessed a few half rusted out pick-ups with the exact polar opposite bumper stickers plastered all over truck. Some of these I wonder on a few of these trucks are to prove or make a statement as much as they are to keep the truck together.

Ok… So now there are other people in town who are crazy about stickers too. What I have found is that we are a very small, small minority of the population out on the road. Obviously the people who have social issues or political stickers on their rides are doing it for a cause or to make a statement. The question still looms, why are we doing it?

I like letting people know that I love being outside, hiking and adventuring. Some people just buy Subaru’s and Jeep’s because they want people to think they are in fact like the rest of us. What posers! HA! I am selective on what stickers I put on George or on gear boxers and other locations. But I do as mentioned get super excited when I know stickers are coming in the mail. Working from home and knowing “they” might come today is a huge deal. I’m not sure who is more excited about seeing the mailman on those days, me or Boston (my dog).

I think the bigger reason for me and maybe for others is a sense of being a part of something bigger then you. To me seeing the back of the Jeep every day and looking at a gear sticker reminds me of that piece of gear and where I used it and how much I enjoyed the experience and settings. Blogger stickers remind me of maybe a story, trip report that led me to a new place or actually hiking with that person. And finally trip or locale stickers remind me of that place, the amazing experiences and new friends turned hiker family members that I now have. Stickers have been come a visual representation of my outdoor life and where better to place them on my adventure mobile that takes me to and from my adventures.

---

I hope you or someone like you is just like me and enjoys their stickers too! If you are proud of your ride that is plastered with stickers let us see it, post it to our Facebook page and we will share for all too see. 

If you would like a Hiking Forward Sticker for your adventure mobile send us a note by clicking here.

Keep Hiking Forward!

Scott