Great Outdoor Shift
Last Updated on January 12, 2026 by Boatsetter Team
After a decade of optimizing, broadcasting, and consuming through screens, people have hit their limit. In 2025, phrases like “brain rot,” “AI slop,” and “touch grass” entered the mainstream lexicon. Behind the internet speak is a measurable shift: people are trading screen time for presence, investing time in building relationships IRL, and craving the alchemy of the outdoors. Water sits at the center of this, not as escape, but as the place where the shift becomes most visible.
We recently conducted a survey to better understand the shift, and spoke with outdoor enthusiasts, behavioral experts, and Boatsetter Owners. The results signal a behavior change is underway.
Key Takeaways: what happens when people log off
- 92% of respondents have already reduced or want to reduce their screen time
- 76% say their 2026 mindset is to invest in experiences that get them outdoors and off their devices
- 74% say time outdoors or on the water does more for their mental health than meditation apps or digital wellness tools
- 56% would choose unlimited access to outdoor and water activities over unlimited access to gyms, studios, and wellness apps
- “Being on the water with friends” ranked as the #1 experience people want more of in 2026—ahead of hiking, national parks, running clubs, and other outdoor activities
Powering Down: The screen fatigue is real and people are acting on it
What makes this different from the usual “digital detox” discourse is that people aren’t just talking about it. They’re changing how they spend money, how they spend weekends, and what they consider a good day.
“It’s not just about less screen time,” said Charlie Nutting, outdoor adventure enthusiast. “Sometimes you need to put down the camera and experience things WEBO. With Eyeballs Only.”
Streaming, delivery, AI assistants—the trend line points toward less friction, less effort, less skill required. And yet people are gravitating toward activities that require something from them. Learning to sail. Fishing. Getting up on a wakeboard. The report finds that 47% of respondents say learning a new skill is driving their interest in outdoor activities, and 81% have joined or want to join local groups or clubs to pursue them. The format that run clubs proved—give people a regular, low-stakes reason to show up—is spreading to sailing, fishing, and outdoor skills.
“For a long time, unplugging sounded indulgent or impractical—something you did if you had the privilege to step away,” said Sara Wilson, founder of digital strategy consultancy SW Projects. “What’s changed is that digital overload is no longer abstract. People don’t just feel distracted; they feel cognitively saturated and physically dysregulated. Devices did more than just take over our attention. They replaced many of the structures that used to anchor us in time, place, and shared experience.”
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Activity as the excuse, presence at the point
The shift isn’t just about where people spend time. It’s about how they want to connect.
More than one-third (35%) of respondents say they want to meet new people through outdoor groups and shared activities rather than dating apps. Algorithmic matchmaking is losing ground to showing up in the same place, doing the same thing, and letting connection happen on its own.
“The core motivation of people in a lot of places right now is to be in community with others,” said Siddiq Cornish, founder of Pacific Town Club. “I think a lot of messaging, at least since I’ve been an adult, is that the places to do that are at a bar or restaurant with your friends. We now know that there are so many other kinds of places you can be in community with others in a way that’s sustainable and ultimately fulfilling.” Boatsetter’s own booking data reflects this generational shift: Gen Z now represents 28% of bookings, making it the platform’s fastest-growing segment after passing Gen X in 2025.
“Gen Z is really focused on being present in the moment, taking in their surroundings, enjoying the people they’re with, and fully experiencing their time out on the ocean,” said Nicole Golfiere Boatsetter owner. “There’s less emphasis on partying and more emphasis on connection, atmosphere, and the overall feeling of the day.”
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Why water works here
Across the data, water-based experiences consistently surface as where the Great Outdoor Shift becomes most visible. Sailing requires reading conditions. Fishing requires patience and adaptation. Even getting to a remote spot like Dry Tortugas turns into a shared challenge that bonds the group. The built-in difficulty is a feature—it creates the friction that makes the experience feel earned.
“Research shows that moments of awe, encountering something vast that transcends our current understanding, calm our nervous systems and fundamentally expand our worldview.” said Michael Farb, CEO of Boatsetter. “Nature delivers this in ways screens simply cannot. When you’re watching your kids snorkel off the boat or sailing, your phone disappears. You’re present in a way that’s become almost countercultural.”
The bottom line
As adults, we rarely play. We optimize our time, our bodies, and even our trips. There’s little space for mistakes, learning, or joy. But out on the water, people remember who they are. The Great Outdoor Shift isn’t a wellness trend. It’s a correction. A rejection of passivity and a return to experiences that require presence, effort, and each other.
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View & Download Report
Methodology
This report is based on a national online survey of 834 U.S. adults conducted by Boatsetter in 2025. The survey explored attitudes toward screen time, outdoor activities, wellness, social connection, and water-based experiences. Responses were analyzed and synthesized into key trends shaping how people plan to spend time outdoors in 2026.
Contributors
Siddiq Cornish — Founder, Pacific Town Club
Nicole Golferi — Boatsetter Owner
Sara Wilson — Founder of Digital Strategy Consultancy SW Projects
Charlie Nutting — Outdoor Adventure Enthusiast
JP Mancini II — Boatsetter Owner
Questions? Reach out to us at collaborativeboating@ledecompany.com
Boatsetter empowers people to explore with confidence by showing them a world of possibility on the water. Rent a boat, list your boat, or become a Boatsetter captain today.
