Author
Gabi Stadulis and Ellen Eberhardt
For us at Field Mag, being an outdoorist comes along with an appreciation of all things highly considered and well crafted. From fashion and photography to architecture and more, creativity informs how we interact with our surroundings. This outdoor lifestyle includes a consciousness of our role within our communities and the one we play in the natural world—it’s more than just Instragmming a hike on the weekend.
And in the pandemic age, we all find ourselves searching for a more, dare I say, “real" way to connect—a way away from the screens we are so easily consumed by. For us, escaping to the world of print is always an option worth the effort. There's something about the duality of print materials—the physical copy being a tangible object with a unique texture and smell that exists outside the cloud, that at the same time could be altered forever with an accidentally spilled cup of coffee. This is just one reason we love print.
The following eight small-batch, intersectional print publications have offered us a simultaneous source of both escape and connection in this current age. They celebrate various aspects of the modern outdoor-lifestyle. From carving out space for queer folks in the cycling industry and tales of urban farming stories of personal adventure, and plenty more, these publications expand the depiction of people who love being outside and the outdoor industry itself, all through bold images, graphics, and design. We hope you can find a bit of connection in our favorites below.
Radical Adventure Riders
An annual publication from Radical Adventure Riders, this zine aims to change the way women, trans, femme and non-binary people are depicted in the bicycle adventure community. Their first issue, It’s About Bikes, But Not About Bikes, features bright, colorful graphics, comics, pieces on riding in a patriarchal society and more fun.
Another Escape
With a focus on “outdoor lifestyle, environmental stewardship, and regenerative living” and full of dreamy images, Another Escape guides us towards more conscious cabin/farm/van lifestyles by sharing stories from those already out there doing it. While they plan on changing formats from a biannual print publication to a book, podcast, and complementary digital articles soon, many current and back issues are still available for purchase.
Cyclista Zine
"The decolonial and radical intersectional feminist critique of the cycling industry." Oh yeah. Cyclista Zine is an important and educational printed platform to share knowledge, art, and stories by and for marginalized people of the cycling community. This quarterly zine is the best cross between punk, loud, IDGAF vibes, while also being soft and welcoming at the same time.
Deem
Newly launched last year and led by a team of BIPOC creative folks, Deem focuses on architecture and design as an inherently interconnected social practice. While focused more on life inside the city instead of out of it, Deem covers everything from city-farming to social-housing. Good for those outdoorsists that can’t quite quit their love of city-life and hopes to see it improve for all.
MÁS
Made by friends of Field Mag, MÁS is a true DIY gem among the cluttered outdoor media landscape. Founded by photographer and climbing coach Bella Rojas, photographer Nic Sabo, and artist Hiram Trejo, the group dedicates their print publication to diversifying climbing media. Their most recent issue features an intimate photo series of a group climbing trip to Bishop, from chilly morning wake-ups to afternoon sends.
The Thalweg
Named for the word meaning the deepest part of a canyon where the current is the strongest, the Thalweg is the brainchild of a professional whitewater guide on the Snake and Salmon rivers. This print-only publication is a collaborative work by artists, writers, poets, musicians, map makers, etc. making for a unique issue each time around. The Thalweg looks to highlight the creative voices of people who live and work in wild places. And BTW, they're currently accepting new submissions.
Portraits de Villes
In this almost-pocket sized photo-book, photographer’s are given carte blanche to capture intimate portraits of life, landscapes, and moments around a city of their choosing. While big players like New York, Buenos Aires, and Paris are covered, the series also offers windows into less-chattered about metropolises like Apsen, Tbilisi, Georgia and Asmara, Eritrea for the curious eyes.
HiHeyHello
On our radar for some time, HiHeyHello is a bi-annual publication celebrating women’s outdoor culture. Their goal is to broaden the definition of adventure for all non-men, whether that means hauling your ass up a mountain, or taking a walk around the block. Both mean getting outside, and we love that distinction.
Published 03-09-2021
