The 14 Best Outdoor Adventure Magazines

We all love an incredible story, especially when it’s accompanied by stunning visuals, exceptional depth, and a design orientation that’s viscerally appealing. While a number of our favorite magazines certainly deliver on those desirable traits, there comes a time when we branch out from our selection of mainstream publications in search of something more — something that’s both impactful, and present.

If you’re like us, you’ve likely fostered an appreciation for the creative side of things — whether it’s the design, caliber, or personability of an editorial (or its contributors). That being said, reading the industry’s most prolific magazines might leave you feeling a bit transitional. So, we’ve decided to create a listing of our favorite outdoor adventure magazines — the ones that live to illustrate, portray, and enamor. You’re not going to find “acceptable” photography, wordplay, or story choice here; instead, you’ll be treated to a journey of genre-defining stimulation. Each of these publications will take you on a journey that you’ll never forget — so, take the time to sit back, relax, and submit to a deep dive into our recommended experiences.

Tiny Atlas Quarterly

Tiny Atlas Quarterly might not be the most robust publication on our list, but they’re certainly one of our favorites. This boutique magazine effortlessly blends remarkable photography, interesting writing, and mesmerizing graphic design principles to create a collection that feels more like an art exhibit than a journal. As a publication that caters toward the intrepid explorer who fosters a vast appreciation for the creative side of travel, Tiny Atlas Quarterly brings a one-of-a-kind experience to its readers, without souring the experience through overexertion.

Purchase: Free

Life and Thyme

Life and Thyme might be one of the most aesthetically pleasing publications on the list, but with a staunch focus on gastronomy, recipes, and the individuals behind the knife, it’s become much more than a collection of handsome subject matter. From California to Taiwan, Life and Thyme taxis readers behind the counter for a look into the lives, stories, and customs of local chefs, while shedding light on their influential upbringing, and spotlighting the cities that gave them life.

Purchase: $10

Outside Magazine

Outside Magazine is the quintessential magazine to everything “adventure” oriented, offering a wide variety of content revolving around skiing, running, snowboarding, cycling, hiking, and camping. When it comes to editorial work, the volume of Outside Magazine’s projects (and the scope of their coverage) is top-tier — however, if you’re looking for a boutique, indie-oriented publication, you’ll be hardpressed to find one here. As one of the biggest outdoor publications the world over, this magazine is a one-stop source for everything outdoor related, and as such, it places a staunch focus on a wealth of subject matter.

Purchase: $10

Powder

Powder is a magazine that has found great success within the winter-oriented space, bringing its readers a vast collection of writeups, editorials, and visual materials relating to sports like skiing. The key to its success, however, lies in its immaculate art direction — which places a heightened focus on photography, design, and artistic illustration. If you’re looking for a magazine that brings a unique approach to winter’s frigid white wonderland, Powder has everything you’re looking for — a great design principle, a solid team of writers, and an aesthetic that sets it apart from its competitors.

Purchase: $10

Boat

Boat Magazine is all about the ambiance, bringing a beautiful (and often, unique) perspective to the world’s most distinctive locations. From local music, personalities, gastronomy, and art, all the way to the magazine’s very own art direction, Boat have found a way to bring a mesmerizing perspective to each location that they cover. As a publication that doesn’t shy away from the depth of the cities they cover, you won’t find any tourist traps or blown-out attractions on their fabled pages.

Purchase: $12

Another Escape

Another Escape is an amalgamation of stories, ideas, and visuals that blend together for an entirely visceral experience. Storytelling is the key, here; whether it be through visuals, the written word, or powerful ambiance. Each issue of this multi-volume publication brings you closer to the places, people, and gastronomy of the earth’s remote locations — reminding us that the beauty isn’t always in the destination; rather, it’s the intricacies in between.

Purchase: $15

Cereal

Cereal is a bi-annual travel and lifestyle publication that’s helmed by some of the most prolific creatives around, and while the magazine only reveals itself twice a year, you’ll understand why as you flip through page after page of impeccably-crafted work. This Bristol-based outfit spends the majority of the year compiling the best stories, photography, and artwork for display alongside their artisanal stories, giving readers access to a range of essays, journal entries, and guides to various locations around the globe.

Purchase: $15

Roads & Kingdoms

Roads & Kingdoms is an award-winning publication that places a large value on its journalism. In recent years, it’s been named as the “Best Travel Journalism (site)” by the Society for American Travel Writers; and after picking up an issue of their magazine for the first time, you’ll understand why. This visually-enticing collection of journalistic writing, photographs, and art will help you to foster a heightened appreciation for food, drink, and culture, while providing a beautifully recognized depiction of each.

Purchase: $20

Surfers Journal

Surfers Journal is a reader’s magazine, paying close attention to its faithful community. It features some of the most awe-inspiring surf photography from around the world, articles from the industry’s most trusted surfers, and a purist mentality that isn’t swayed by the sport’s subtle trends. Instead, you’ll find a publication that melds art, photography, and wordplay with a passionate love for the sport — something that’s always welcome within the brotherhood of the sea.

Purchase: $17

Holiday

Holiday was once a touted literary travel magazine in the 1950s, but, after a slow decline in readership, it was relegated to become a bi-annual publication overseen by Parisian art director Franck Durand. As an homage to the magazine’s original roots, you’ll find a menagerie of retro stylings, colorful layouts, sensationalized spreads, and a focused approach toward the beauty of the subjects portrayed. Although Holiday is written and produced in the English language, it’s chock-full of undeniable spirit; thanks, in large part, to Durand’s French influence.

Purchase: $24

Lodestars Anthology

Lodestars Anthology is a magazine created for the inquisitive traveler. With a variety of hard-hitting articles revolving around the inspirational stories, visuals, and determinations of adventurers around the world, this cumulative journal brings readers a personal look into the unique quirks, flavors, and intricacies of the planet’s most beautiful locations. With an attention-to-detail that’s unmatched, each issue of this stylistic collection will leave you in a sense of awe.

Purchase: $24

Sidetracked

Sidetracked has garnered a wildly committed following due to its sensational stories, out-of-this-world visuals, and structurally-sound publication workflow. Not only is this magazine one of the most beautiful we’ve seen, but the content that’s being produced (on a regular basis) also stands up to the test of time. If you’re looking for value-oriented stories that will leave you feeling connected to the subject matter — whether emotionally, mentally, or physically — Sidetracked is the perfect medium to inspire your next trip outdoors.

Purchase: $25+

Stay Wild

Stay Wild is an adrenaline-inducing publication that brings readers on an existential journey with its subjects, allowing for an insider’s perspective when it comes to some of the world’s most inspirational “daredevils.” While most of the magazine’s contributors are adventurers who are looking for a less-than-tame approach to life, you’ll find that their stories, visuals, and personalities will leave a lasting impression on your overall psyche. At the very least, you’ll be inspired to head out into the great unknown, and heed the “Call of the Wild.”

Purchase: $25

Modern Huntsman

Like most of the publications on our list, Modern Huntsman is a bi-annual collection of the outdoor industry’s most telling stories, bringing readers in-line with their favorite creators, brands, and figureheads. That being said, Modern Huntsman takes an artistic approach to the outdoor space that isn’t often found in other magazines, giving them a leg up for avid outdoorsmen who are more interested in the deep, hard-hitting stories associated with their favorite past time.

Purchase: $35