I might not read many books each year (I average a whopping one new book a year… terrible, I know), but I do love a good magazine. I find I can get my teeth into short stories and articles shared in them much easier than I can a full length novel, I find flicking through the pages of a magazine the perfect way to relax and unwind in the bath, before bed or even just with a cup of tea on my day off. I am particularly enjoying the new wave of high quality magazines; you know the ones, they’re more like journals, full of inspiring stories and amazing photography, printed on great quality stock, with just four or six issues (or editions…) a year.
I have quite a collection of titles on my coffee table at the moment, covering all kinds of subjects. Here are my current favourites.
Magazines That Inspire Me
01. Trail. Motivating me to walk more.
A traditional magazine in the sense that it’s a monthly glossy publication, Trail never fails to inspire me to get out and walk. I love Trail for its photography at the start of each issue and its routes at the end. I don’t always keep magazines that I subscribe to, choosing to pass them on so someone else can have a gander, but this is one that takes up a lot of space on my shelves – I can’t bring myself to throw away all those wonderful routes for when I’m next road tripping around the country or looking for somewhere new to explore. I should really send in a photo or two, but I haven’t got around to it yet. If you’re looking for inspiration to walk more in 2018, a subscription to Trail will certainly do no harm.
02. Overland Magazine. Fuelling my motorcycle wanderlust.
I love a motorcycle road trip (read my Zartusacan posts), and have been fortunate enough to have a few. But I want more – Spain and Iceland are next on my list but there’s also South Africa and Morocco and, well, everywhere. Overland Magazine, dedicated to travel by motorcycle, is a recent addition to my magazine collection thanks to a Christmas gift that arrived a little early, but so far I’m loving it. It’s a story based magazine, which is perfect for me. I particularly like that adventures featured vary from a weekend spent exploring at home to a year spent exploring the world; adventure for all. Maybe my next motorcycle adventure will be worthy of a page or two?!
03. Like the Wind. Making me wish I could run.
I am no runner, but I was recently sent a copy of Like the Wind, and I really like what the team have done here. As much more of a walker or hiker, I have still been totally inspired by the stories – with the tagline “it’s not how we run, it’s why we run”, I totally get it. This isn’t a health and fitness magazine, it’s full of stories that cannot fail but to inspire and motivate. It might not turn these knees into those of a runner, but after reading a few pages this morning I was itching to get out into the countryside and join in, so I laced up my boots and went out for a walk.
04. Creative Countryside. Slowing me down.
Creative Countryside is truly a beautiful publication. I was pleased to support the first issue through the crowd funding campaign because I could just tell that it was going to be one of those must read magazines, and I wasn’t wrong. Each issue has stories, nature, folklore and adventure, with ideas that will fuel your creativity and motivate you to enjoy the small moments and the important things. It is just a wonderful read, with practical ideas to motivate you as well as stories to steal away a few minutes to yourself.
05. National Geographic. Teaching me.
An iconic journal style publication, National Geographic takes a different topic each month and looks at it from all kinds of angles. I always finish an issue of Nat Geo having learnt something, having agreed with something, and having changed my mind about something. The photography is simply stunning, and the words are well researched and interesting. This is a magazine that motivates me to expand my knowledge and thinking.
06. Intrepid. A magazine for people like me.
Last but by no means least, and not included in the photograph because it’s so new that the first issue is only just on the printing press, Intrepid is a UK based “female-first” adventure and outdoors magazine. As a non-girly outdoorsy woman I am one of those people a little fed up of how the main-stream media still talks about the outdoors as if it is exclusively for a) men or b) female models. I received a subscription for Christmas, and can’t wait to read the stories of real women who can inspire, educate and entertain me in the world of outdoors, adventure and sport. I’ll let you know what I think when issue one arrives in the new year.
Are you a magazine reader? Which are your favourite titles? Any you think are must reads for me?
John Warburton
Great post, I’m very much like you in this respect. I’ll send you a photo on Instagram with a recommendation since I can’t post it here. Nice one
Shybiker
Like you, I love magazines and read them regularly. The best, as you explain, inspire and motivate us to do important things. My favorite four are Outside (for adventure), Rider (for motorcycling), Harpers (for literature) and The New Yorker (for general knowledge).