dlstewart's Full Review: Outside Magazine Subscription
I had high hopes when I saw issues of Outside Magazine. The covers had vivid photography, and the blurbs for the inside articles sounded interesting. All I can say is thank goodness I had taken the time to read issues before making the leap to a subscription.
Description
This magazine is printed on okay paper ... not cheap but also not top quality. The issues range between 104 and 160 pages. The front of the magazine features a Table of Contents spread over several pages. There are regular columns in each issue that feature books and media, a sports spotlight, destinations, what to buy. Don't mistake this "outside" magazine as a travel magazine, though. It's not.
What this magazine has a lot of is advertising. Some of it is well concealed as "articles", but no matter how you try to package it ... it's still aimed at selling the reader. At the back of the publication is a "classified" section where even more advertisements are clustered.
My Experiences
After reading issues of this magazine, my first impression has not changed. I don't think this publication knows what it wants to be. With a title of "Outside", and the moniker "live the active life", one would think this would be an adventure, outdoor lifestyle, or travel magazine. While it touches on aspects of the adventure lifestyle and brings in some destination discussion, this magazine never achieves a true focus.
Scattered throughout each issue are some articles about athletes, some travelogues, as well as brief bits about where to travel. There are also pieces that verge on the metaphysical, fitness, and an esoteric assortment of pieces I find unrelated to the "outside".
Here is an example from a recent issue. Articles include how to Beat Stress, Total Life Fitness (mind and body), Best Lodges, Solar Power, tracking antique clothing, a feature of a mountain climber, a short blurb on a flying car, a piece on the shipping industry, an article about traveling on a Coast Guard Icebreaker.
A deal-breaker for me is the way the articles are written. The title of the article sounds promising, but the first several paragraphs always leave me wondering if the article is actually about what the title promised. It's not until I'm further into the piece that the writer gets to the point. The writing does not grab me and pull me into the piece. I find myself skimming the articles for anything of interest.
I'm also disappointed in the photography. With a title like "Outside", I expected some spectacular images. I wanted to see kayaks shooting rapids, incredible vistas, wildlife in its natural habitat. While there are a few decent photographs, none of them steals the breath away or brings that "oh, I wish I were there" reaction. Typical photos include torso shots of athletes, some action shots of daredevil antics (but even those photographs seem flat), plenty of product images, and other uninspiring pictures.
Flip through the magazine, and you're most apt to stumble upon an advertisement rather than an article. It's pretty bad when some of the advertisements are more interesting than the magazine contents. Ads pertain mostly to cars, alcohol, travel, and luxury items such as watches and cameras.
The Website Experience
Being the curious type, I checked out the Outside magazine website (www.outsideonline.com). If you don't mind reading past issues, the website includes the full articles from their publication. The latest issue is also featured, but the articles are not yet accessible via the internet.
The website also offers content not in the magazine such as "Ask the Experts", an area that features advice on equipment, destinations, nutrition, exercise, and even survival. There is also a blog area, as well as videos, podcasts and photo sections. I find some of the exclusive online content better than that in the magazine.
Subscription
One year (12 issues) costs $16.00 in the United States, $35.00 Canada, $45.00 for other countries.
Summary
I cannot recommend Outside Magazine. Its focus is too scattered, the photographs are dull, its rare to find a compelling article, and there is too much advertising and product promotion. Before investing in this magazine, I highly suggest checking out their website to see if this publication is right for you.
12 issues - Edited for the active adult. It is a contemporary lifestyle magazine that features sports, fitness, photography, adventure, travel, and po...More at SuperMagDeals.com
12 issues - Edited for the active adult. It is a contemporary lifestyle magazine that features sports, fitness, photography, adventure, travel, and po...More at Subscription Addiction
12 issues - Edited for the active adult. It is a contemporary lifestyle magazine that features sports, fitness, photography, adventure, travel, and po...More at SpeedyMags.com
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2010 Shopping.com, Inc.