6 Best Long Distance Hiking Magazines For Endurance That Pros Read

You’re a week into a thru-hike, resupplying in a small trail town, and your phone’s algorithm is serving you the same three blog posts you’ve already read. You crave something more substantial—a story that sticks, gear advice that’s been vetted, or a photo that makes the next 100 miles feel not just possible, but necessary. In a world of fleeting digital content, the curated, tangible experience of a great magazine still holds immense power for the serious long-distance hiker.

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Beyond Blogs: Pro Hikers’ Go-To Print Reads

In the age of endless YouTube reviews and Instagram trail diaries, it’s easy to think print is obsolete. But for professional guides, record-setting athletes, and dedicated long-distance hikers, curated magazines offer a depth and authority that a blog post rarely can. Online content is often driven by clicks and search engine optimization, not necessarily by quality or accuracy.

A well-regarded magazine, however, brings a team of editors, fact-checkers, and professional photographers to the table. The articles are commissioned and chosen for their value, not just their viral potential. This process results in more reliable gear analysis, more inspiring storytelling, and a more thoughtful exploration of the culture and ethics of being in the wild.

Flipping through the pages of a great outdoor journal is a different kind of discovery. It’s a deliberate act, a chance to disconnect from the screen and connect with the broader community of adventurers. These are the publications that don’t just tell you what to pack; they remind you why you’re heading out in the first place.

Backpacker Magazine for Gear and Trip Planning

When you need to know the practical differences between three-season tents or how to properly pack for a week in the Rockies, Backpacker is the foundational text. It has long served as the industry’s most accessible and comprehensive resource for hiking and backpacking. Its strength lies in its methodical approach to gear and skills.

Pros and seasoned hikers keep a pulse on Backpacker, especially for its annual Editors’ Choice Awards and Gear Guide. These issues provide a reliable snapshot of the mainstream market, from boots and packs to stoves and water filters. While it may not always cover the niche cottage-industry gear beloved by ultralighters, it establishes a critical baseline for what makes equipment reliable, durable, and effective in real-world conditions.

Beyond gear, its trip reports and skills sections are invaluable for planning. Whether you’re a weekend warrior tackling a local loop or an aspiring thru-hiker planning a section hike, Backpacker provides the maps, logistics, and how-to knowledge to do it safely and confidently. It’s the reliable, knowledgeable friend you consult before every big trip.

Trail Runner for Fast-and-Light Endurance

If your hiking philosophy is defined by covering maximum ground with minimum weight, Trail Runner magazine is your playbook. While its focus is on running, the principles of fast-and-light movement, endurance nutrition, and minimalist gear are directly applicable to modern long-distance hiking, especially for those attempting a thru-hike in a single season.

This magazine is where you’ll find the cutting edge of endurance. Pros read it for advanced training plans, injury prevention techniques, and fueling strategies designed for athletes pushing their limits for hours or days on end. The lessons learned from a 100-mile ultramarathoner are incredibly relevant to a hiker aiming for consistent 25-mile days on the Pacific Crest Trail.

The gear covered in Trail Runner is a masterclass in efficiency. You won’t find much about camp comfort, but you will find deep dives into hydration vests, high-performance footwear, and calorie-dense foods that can be consumed on the move. It’s the resource for transforming your hiking engine into a fine-tuned machine built for mileage.

Adventure Journal for Long-Form Trail Stories

Sometimes, you don’t need another gear review. You need a reason. Adventure Journal is a quarterly publication that provides just that, focusing on the soul of adventure through stunning photography and profound, long-form storytelling.

This isn’t a magazine you skim for beta; it’s one you savor. Each issue feels more like a beautifully curated book, filled with essays on remote expeditions, profiles of fascinating outdoor figures, and reflections on what it means to live a life connected to wild places. It’s the antidote to the fast-paced, disposable nature of online media.

For the professional or lifelong hiker, Adventure Journal serves as a vital source of inspiration. It pulls you out of the weeds of logistics and reminds you of the bigger picture—the beauty, the challenge, and the human spirit at the heart of every great journey. It’s the magazine you read to dream up your next grand adventure, not just plan it.

The Gazette: ALDHA-West’s Community Voice

For a true insider’s perspective on the long-distance hiking world, nothing beats The Gazette. Published by the American Long Distance Hiking Association–West, this is the official newsletter of the hardcore hiking community. It’s written by thru-hikers, for thru-hikers.

You won’t find glossy ads or professional gear reviews here. Instead, you’ll find raw, honest trail journals from the latest hiking season, updates on trail conditions from fellow hikers, and thoughtful discussions on trail preservation and "Leave No Trace" ethics. It’s the unfiltered voice of the community.

Reading The Gazette is like being invited to the annual ALDHA-West Gathering. It’s where seasoned veterans share hard-won wisdom and first-timers share their wide-eyed discoveries. For anyone serious about long-distance hiking, it provides a direct connection to the culture and pulse of the trails that you simply cannot find anywhere else.

Alpinist Magazine for High-Altitude Ambitions

When your long-distance hikes start leaving the well-trodden trail for high-mountain traverses and cross-country routes, your reading needs to evolve. Alpinist Magazine is dedicated to the art of climbing, but its ethos of "clean" ascents, risk management, and mountain sense is essential for any hiker tackling serious, technical terrain.

The stories in Alpinist are often raw, intense accounts of expeditions in the world’s greatest mountain ranges. They explore the razor-thin margins between success and failure, providing profound lessons in decision-making, partnership, and mental resilience. These are skills that translate directly to navigating a high route in the Sierra or traversing a series of remote peaks in Colorado.

While you may not be planning an ascent of a Himalayan peak, reading Alpinist prepares you for the mindset required in high-consequence environments. It informs your understanding of technical gear like ice axes and microspikes and, more importantly, instills a deep respect for the mountains. It’s the graduate-level text for the ambitious mountain hiker.

Outside Magazine for Expedition Inspiration

Outside Magazine sits at the intersection of adventure sports, science, and culture. It casts a wide net, covering everything from backcountry skiing and mountaineering to environmental policy and wellness. For the long-distance hiker, it serves as a window into the broader world of exploration.

Its primary value lies in inspiration and context. Outside excels at telling the stories of groundbreaking expeditions and profiling the adventurers who are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. A feature on a first descent of a remote river or a traverse of an unexplored wilderness can plant the seed for a future hiking objective.

While not as specialized as other publications on this list, its award-winning journalism often tackles important issues that affect all outdoor enthusiasts, such as public land access and climate change. Pros read it to stay informed and to see how their specific passion fits into the larger tapestry of the outdoor world. It connects the trail beneath your feet to the global adventure community.

Matching Your Magazine to Your Hiking Style

The right magazine is the one that meets you where you are. Are you deep in the gear-planning phase for your first big trip, or are you a seasoned hiker looking for a story to reignite your passion? Choosing the right publication is about aligning it with your current goals.

Your choice should reflect your immediate needs and long-term aspirations. A simple framework can help guide you:

• For Practical Planning and Gear: Start with Backpacker.
• For Optimizing Speed and Fitness: Turn to Trail Runner.
• For Pure Motivation and Story: Immerse yourself in Adventure Journal.
• For Community Connection and Trail Intel: Subscribe to The Gazette.
• For High-Mountain Skills and Mindset: Study Alpinist.
• For Broad Inspiration and Culture: Pick up Outside.

No single source has all the answers. Many experienced hikers read a mix of these, drawing gear knowledge from one and inspiration from another. The goal isn’t to find the one "best" magazine, but to build a library of resources that fuels your passion and prepares you for whatever the trail throws your way.

Ultimately, these magazines are just maps and guidebooks. The real territory is outside your door, waiting to be explored. Use these pages to gather knowledge and spark your imagination, but don’t forget that the best stories are the ones you live, one footstep at a time.