Gear
Gear manufacturers have realised that lots of women like the outdoors and they're different shapes from men. Here's what's out there, and where you can buy it.
Women's Adventure Magazine
What do you see when you pick up a typical magazine for women? The latest goings on between Brad and Ange, makeup tips, ads for the latest fashions, maybe a perfume sample and quizzes to help you figure out whether or not you’ve found true love. Women's Adventure Magazine is a women’s magazine with a difference. Instead of information about celebrities, you get information about the best ski spots. Instead of makeup tips, you get the best budget travel tips. You’ll find ads for outdoor gear and maybe even chocolate samples. And the quiz in the April 2009 Edition of Women’s Adventure Magazine is titled, “Are you too competitive?” and has questions about snowboarding, running, climbing and mountain biking. Millions of women across the world are outdoors having adventures - paddling, climbing, biking, skiing, fishing, caving, backpacking, and so on. Yet how many articles do you see in the leading outdoor magazines about women? In 2003 Michelle Theall decided to do something about this and started Dandelion magazine specifically for women who love the outdoors. In 2006 the magazine was relaunched as Women’s Adventure Magazine and in 2008 it was picked up by Big Earth Publishing Inc., a Colorado book publisher. It is now a thriving publication with a steadily expanding readership all over the United States.
Women’s Adventure Magazine is published bi-monthly and caters to women who aren’t into reading about celebrities and fashion, or about weight loss and gym-style fitness. Women’s Adventure is the only sports, travel, fitness and lifestyle magazine that is published specifically for women who love the outdoors. Each issue has a wide variety of articles that appeal to all readers, from women who like going for an afternoon run or climb to ‘hard core’ adventurers. The Women’s Adventure team make a concerted effort to come up with a variety of stories in each issue - from backyard adventures with the kids to third world outdoor expeditions. The magazine employs a small staff so a significant portion of the magazine’s content comes from freelance writers and photographers. Every edition, as they state on their website, aims to inspire, inform and invigorate - if you think you can help with this, let them know!
Most of the magazine’s readers are based in the United States but the publication is also starting to expand to other countries, first of all Canada. The Women’s Adventure website is also extensive, featuring a large amount of information including videos, blogs, an events calendar and a forum. You can join online and receive a monthly newsletter with all the latest from the web and the magazine, including contests and giveaways. In the United States you’ll be able to find Women’s Adventure in speciality stores like REI or Whole Foods, and in some booksellers and newsagents. If you like it, or you live further afield, it’s best to sign up for a subscription and get it delivered to your door every second month.So why can’t women just read the other big magazines that focus on outdoor adventure? Well, they can, but these magazines tend to be very male oriented. They don’t always focus on what women want to know regarding the outdoors, about gear, books, health and wellbeing or women adventurers. When you read Women’s Adventure, every article has something of interest for women. And yes, this might turn away the men, but they aren’t too worried at the publishing house - there are millions of women who are active outdoors, and the real challenge is to get the Women’s Adventure name out among them and encourage them to participate, either by reading the magazine or joining up on the website.
By their own description, Women’s Adventure Magazine is for women who ‘choose to thrive in the wild’. If this is you, perhaps you’d like to have a read - look out for it on the newsstands, or jump online and join the growing community of outdoor women. You are not alone!
The Women’s Adventure Magazine website is a great place to source information, buy new gear and enter competitions. Visit and join the email newsletter for all the updated information.
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