What happened to Outside magazine?
The Great Outdoors Meets Corporate Indoors
Imagine if a granola bar conglomerate bought Yosemite and replaced all the bears with holograms. That’s *kinda* what happened when Outside magazine, the beloved bible of dirtbags and peak-baggers, got swallowed by a media conglomerate named Outside Inc. (yes, they rebranded to sound like a tech startup that sells kale-flavored blockchain). Suddenly, the publication that once waxed poetic about “the joy of blisters” was hosting podcasts about optimizing your sleep schedule for maximum productivity. Readers wept into their dehydrated meals.
Layoffs, Rebels, and an Identity Crisis
In 2021, the new corporate overlords decided to “streamline” things. Translation: they fired 40% of the staff, including veterans who’d been there since hiking boots were just called “boots.” Rumor has it the layoffs were decided via a Zoom call and a game of corporate dodgeball (unconfirmed, but plausible). The survivors were left to navigate a baffling new world where SEO keywords like “best waterfall hikes near you” clashed with heartfelt essays about getting lost in the Andes.
Key casualties of the era:
- The annual “Gear of the Year” issue, now sponsored by *an AI that recommends socks*
- Editors who knew the difference between “alpine” and “a latte”
- Any mention of climate change that didn’t include a paid partnership with a carbon-offset app
A Subscriber Mutiny (With Free stickers!)
Longtime readers revolted faster than you can say “subscription fee hike.” Forums exploded with hot takes like, “Is Outside just REI’s weird cousin now?” and “Why is there a listicle about ‘glamping with NFTs’?” The magazine tried to calm the masses with free stickers and a promise to “stay weird.” Meanwhile, ex-staffers launched indie rivals, like “Inside Magazine” (tagline: “We’re not Outside!”), which immediately sold out of goat-themed merch.
The saga continues, of course. Will Outside magazine become a AI-generated trail guide? A wellness influencer with a hydration fetish? Or just a very confused LinkedIn influencer? Grab your popcorn (organic, non-GMO, sustainably packaged). This drama has more twists than a switchback on the Pacific Crest Trail.
What is the best outdoor magazine?
Ah, the age-old question that’s sparked more debates than “is a hot dog a sandwich?” or “did that rock just move, or am I hallucinating from dehydration?” The “best” outdoor magazine depends on whether you’re trying to summit Everest, identify a suspicious mushroom, or simply flex your imaginary outdoorsy persona at coffee shops. Let’s wade into this swamp of ink-and-paper glory.
Outside Magazine: For People Who Think They’re Bear Grylls (But Aren’t)
Outside is the Swiss Army knife of outdoor pubs—useful for 85% of scenarios, even if you’ll never use the toothpick. It’s got gear reviews for $400 jackets you’ll wear twice, inspirational stories about trail runners who eat existential crises for breakfast, and tips on “how to survive a squirrel uprising” (probably). It’s perfect if you want to feel adventurous while binge-reading on your couch.
Backpacker: Nerds Who Crunch Numbers (And Granola)
This one’s for the spreadsheet enthusiasts who want to calculate the exact ounce-to-joy ratio of their ultralight tent. Expect:
- Hyper-detailed trail guides (“Turn left at the vaguely owl-shaped rock”).
- Gear snobbery disguised as “reviews” (RIP your wallet).
- Diagrams explaining how to poop in a blizzard respectfully.
If you’ve ever uttered “But what about the Köppen climate classification?” unironically, subscribe immediately.
Field & Stream: Your Uncle’s Weirdly Specific Hobby
This magazine smells like campfire smoke and existential dread. It’s where you learn to:
- Fish using only dental floss and regret.
- Cook “gourmet” possum over a propane stove.
- Argue about bass boats with religious fervor.
It’s less “outdoor magazine” and more “survival guide for people who think duct tape is formalwear.” Bonus points if you spot Bigfoot in the ads section.
Honorable mention: Garden & Gun. Yes, it’s a real thing. No, it’s not about shooting roses (probably).
What are the big three outdoor magazines?
If the outdoor world had a Mount Rushmore, it’d probably be carved with the logos of three magazines that’ve been telling us to “touch grass” since before it was a sarcastic Twitter clapback. These titans of trail gossip, gear geekery, and “how to survive a bear encounter” tutorials are the holy trinity for anyone who thinks dirt is a food group and views REI as a spiritual sanctuary.
1. Outside Magazine: The Zen Master of Adventure
Imagine if your coolest uncle—the one who does triathlons for fun and owns a van named “Wanderlust McTrailface”—started a magazine. That’s Outside. It’s equal parts inspirational (“Climb this mountain!”) and existential (“But what is a mountain, really?”). You’ll find essays on ultrarunning monks, reviews of $500 rain jackets, and at least one article per issue questioning if you’re truly “outdoorsy enough.”
2. Backpacker: The Gear-Obsessed Guru
Backpacker is the friend who shows up to a campfire with a spreadsheet titled “Optimal Marshmallow Roasting Angles (2024).” This magazine lives for the nitty-gritty:
- Trail rankings (“Top 10 Paths Where You’ll 100% See a Moose… or Your Money Back!”)
- Gear labs (featuring tents tested by literal storms)
- Survival tips (“How to Fashion a Canoe Out of Duct Tape and Regret”)
It’s where practicality and paranoia collide, and we’re here for it.
3. Field & Stream: The OG Outdoor Enthusiast
Founded when dinosaurs still roamed (1871), Field & Stream is the granddaddy of outdoor mags. It’s for folks who believe fishing counts as a personality trait and think “glamping” is a dirty word. Expect:
- Tips on catching trout and your in-laws’ approval
- Debates about the best shotgun for a zombie apocalypse
- Nostalgic essays that start with “Back in my day, mosquitoes were bigger!”
It’s like if a flannel shirt became a newsletter.
Together, these three form a trifecta of outdoor obsession—whether you’re into summit selfies, calculating the caloric burn of squirrel-watching, or just really, really love arguing about hiking boots. They’re the reason your bookshelf sags and your camping gear budget is a cry for help. Read responsibly. (Or don’t. The bears probably won’t care either way.)
Who is the parent company of outside magazine?
If you’ve ever wondered who’s holding the reins at *Outside Magazine*—like, who’s the Gandalf whispering “run, you fools!” to a publication that’s equal parts granola and adrenaline—say hello to Outside Integrated Media. Formerly known as Pocket Outdoor Media (a name that sounds like it belongs to a company that sells cargo shorts for squirrels), this parent entity scooped up *Outside* in 2021. Think of them as the mysterious figure in a Patagonia vest pulling strings behind a literal and metaphorical mountain.
But wait, what even is Outside Integrated Media?
Imagine a corporate Voltron assembled from niche fitness apps, streaming services, and enough outdoor brands to outfit a moose for a board meeting. Their portfolio includes:
- Gaia GPS (for when you want to get lost, but with Wi-Fi).
- AthleteReg (the overlord of triathlon sign-ups).
- Warren Miller Entertainment (because skiing documentaries are their own currency).
They’re like the Swiss Army knife of outdoor media—if the knife also wrote think pieces about trail snacks.
Now, if you dig deeper into the corporate mulch, you’ll find Outside Integrated Media is part of a larger ecosystem called Outside Inc., which sounds like a summer camp for MBAs. They’ve got their fingers in everything from *Peloton Magazine* (spin bikes meet summit views) to *Yoga Journal* (downward dog, upward traffic). It’s less a “parent company” and more a chaotic outdoor-themed family reunion where *Outside Magazine* is the cool cousin who’s always halfway up a cliff.
And let’s not forget the mastermind behind it all: CEO Robin Thurston, a man who probably checks his email via satellite from a kayak. Under his leadership, the company has become a kaleidoscope of outdoor obsessions, merging *Outside’s* dirtbag charm with the relentless energy of a start-up that’s had one too many espresso gels. So yes, the parent company exists—but it’s busy debating whether to invest in AI or a better bear-proof coffee maker. Priorities, people.
