The Best and Worst Magazines for Men

85 Responses to “The Best and Worst Magazines for Men”

1. Cameron Schaefer on January 7th, 2009 12:33 am

   Excellent work! I too have surveyed the vast lands of men’s lifestyle magazines and found that only a handful seem to be written by men, rather than 40-year old boys. Agree on your ratings and thanks again for consistently raising the bar for manhood in our generation.

2. Ali D on January 7th, 2009 12:48 am

   There’s a great UK men’s magazine called Arena that I’ve been buying continually since about 2003 (even though I now live in Australia and it’s kinda hard to get a hold of). The writing is good, the photo shoots are top drawer and it’s the only magazine that both my wife and our female lodger both read too.

   http://www.arenamagazine.co.uk/

3. Nigel on January 7th, 2009 1:25 am

   An interesting article. Most of these publications are available in the UK, so I can easily relate to them, but I do find that they are more the kind of thing I might pick up while waiting at the barbers, rather than something I would buy. I appreciate the intentions of this piece, but I think that most men would rather buy a magazine relating to something that they are specifically interested in, and for me that’s some kind of classic car publication.
   Very best regards to all for 2009.

4. e on January 7th, 2009 4:01 am

   “Cons: The occasional topless lady can be found in its pages. Might not want to leave it around the house if you have kiddos”

   What’s wrong with breasts? I’ll bet kids have seen those before and for beeing children they only know one use for them…

5. +1 Greg A. on January 7th, 2009 4:10 am

   I can’t believe Men’s Health got a 4.5 I can definitely see the worth of Esquire (best on the list by far) and GQ and some of these others but Men’s Health just repetitive and useless. I learned how to lift and stay in shape while playing sports in school. I don’t need a magazine to tell me how to lift or workout 12 months out of the year. How many different ways can you do a curl? Plus unlike Esquire there is never any reporting in Men’s Health, I know Maxim puts out many many more “in depth” articles than MH and that isn’t saying a lot. At least in Maxim you get pictures of attractive woman and humor instead of the newest way to make your pecs sparkle and a dude without his shirt on.

   It’s a shame you degraded Esquire by giving them the same score as Men’s Health, they’re so much better than that.

6. +2 Tim on January 7th, 2009 5:15 am

   Good article, however, I no longer throw away money on subscriptions for magazines I do not have time to read! I am now spending my time being a better dad, shaving the right way, cooking manly food, and romancing the wife. That and I have too many manly books left on my reading list! I blame this website! Where is that trashy, self-absorbed life I once had? Totally your fault!

7. +2 Steve on January 7th, 2009 5:58 am

   Thanks for the reviews – most men’s magazine’s I’ve picked up have been pretty much crap (and they wonder why sales are struggling), but there are a couple here that after reading the reviews I intend to check out – both BestLife and Esquire sound interesting.
   (I’d have to agree that Men’s Health is probably not worthy of a 4.5 – mostly very short and fluffy articles along with the “ab exercise of the month” every issue).

8. Ross on January 7th, 2009 6:10 am

   I was somewhat surprised not to see The Chap in this line up. It would appear to cover everything that you are looking for in a magazine and more. i can only assume that it is not on ready sale outside the UK.

   Definitely worth a look.

   http://www.thechap.net/

9. +1 Lyndon on January 7th, 2009 6:28 am

   Great post. My biggest pet peeve with these magazines is the recent onslaught of dudes in their undies. And it’s not just dudes in their undies, but the, um, package is right out in front, like he’s trying to poke you.

   Also, the cologne ads are terrible.

   My vote is for Men’s Fitness. It has a good selection of exercises and inspirational stories. It is the same each month, but I just don’t need to read about David Beckam’s (sp?) trip to the Alps and what skis he used.

10. Harland on January 7th, 2009 6:29 am

    I agree with Tim – too much inspiration and entertaining reading of books to get through. But when in the Barber shop…
    I think what you mostly point out is a great void for Art of Manliness to fill. Come on Brett – how about a magazine!
    Sample Headlines:
    The natural workout
    How to dress for an interview
    Beards 101
    How to defend yourself using a ballpoint pen – Bourne style
    Pros:
    It’s manly, it’s helpful, it’s accessible to all men
    Cons:
    Only comes once a month
    Attainable lifestlye?: If you can afford to not be a jerk
    Percentage of ads?: (Realistically 30-35%) Although The Saddleback Leather Co gets a big push with those ads of bags in exotic places
    Rating: 6 out of 5 John Sullivans

11. Lyndon on January 7th, 2009 6:30 am

    Sorry about the horrendous grammar in the previous comment. It’s early.

12. Nesagwa on January 7th, 2009 6:42 am

    A real art of manliness publication would be pretty awesome. Even if it were a bi-yearly or even once a year pub it would still be something worth buying.

    It isnt really a “mens” magazine, but my wife recently signed me up for a free year of ReadyMade. Its somewhere between Make and Popular Mechanics minus all the annoying ads mixed into the articles. Lots of cool DIY stuff and articles on things like that.

13. Mitchel on January 7th, 2009 7:02 am

    Like the rest of your articles, I loved this one and may actually check out a few of the more outstanding ones.
    Now lets see some articles on suggested book reading for different topics. Surely if we can find merit in a $3 – 7$ mens magazine, we could find infinitely more substance from a well written $17 – $22 trade paperback.

14. +1 Bradley Looy on January 7th, 2009 7:22 am

    Not one of those passes my test. I stay away from anything with photos of women. For my seven boys, and for myself, I set the standard very high for what is acceptable to look at. I won’t even go near a JCPenny catalog. My wife deserves it, my God deserves it.

15. gordon on January 7th, 2009 7:24 am

    Thank you for the research and the article. I was a long time subscriber to GQ when Art Cooper was at the helm. When he died the magazine took a sharp turn, in my opinion, to a magazine that I felt was too immature or young for me. It seems to have improved as I look at it from time to time but it is just not what it once was. Esquire is more mature but at times boring and predictable. Men’s health is currently my only men’s magazine. I seek another, but a classic style, sophisticated magazine I don’t think can be found. A magazine similar to apparel arts would be nice, actually quarterly would be preferred, and a little less emphasis on frat boys would be great.

    Cordailly,

    Gordon

16. Pete on January 7th, 2009 7:36 am

    Wow, that is awesome. My free 4-year subscription to Maxim just ran out….it was a hot deal way back for something, and was entertaining throne reading. But I’ve had many of the same thoughts that brought about this article – especially the “Attainable Lifestyle?”! Sometimes I tire of having to depend on my wife to dress me , wanting to expand my “normal” style. I’ll read the magazine’s fashion advice with interest, but cannot and will not spend $300 on a pair of boots, $250 on jeans, $800 on a coat, $300 on a dress shirt, etc. Like you said – I shop at Old Navy and look for the cheapest basic finds I can get!

    I also agree with the sentiments that AoM beats all of these. Maybe that is the direction of the future – special interest blogs like this that truly have good content, active feedback by readers, and are fun as well. Keep up the great work!

17. NZR (the Plainsman) on January 7th, 2009 8:08 am

    I picked up Esquire at the airport last week and I found it to be a great magazine. I used to pick up Men’s Health, and occasionally do at the gym, but I too found it to be reptitive (different 6 pack abs routine every month it seems) and relatively useless.

    However, I too would like to throw in my hat for the Art of Manliness magazine. Hell, I’d even try hard to write for it!

18. Adam on January 7th, 2009 8:14 am

    Wow, talk about timing. I had just been with the family over the holidays and my dad mentioned that he wasn’t renewing his Mens Health magazine because of many of the same complaints. I sent him a link to this to hopefully find something more in line with what he wants.

    It also makes me realize that there are a lot of things in Mens Health that are getting old, even for me. I don’t plan on renewing any of my magazine subscriptions any more, whereas before I was thinking of only renewing Mens Health.

19. Jay Schryer on January 7th, 2009 8:25 am

    I think there’s a real need for a print version of Art of Manliness!

20. Brett on January 7th, 2009 8:52 am

    @Greg A.

    Men’s Health does have some repetitive fluff but it also has some surprisingly interesting and in-depth stories on topics like men and anger, reconnecting with dad getting your life in order, ect. I always start out reading it with really low expectations, but there’s always some real gems in the longer articles. Now that i think about it, maybe the rating I gave it reflects the low expectations I went in with! At any rate, it’s a pretty enjoyable magazine.

21. Ben Pratt on January 7th, 2009 8:54 am

    As with some others above, this only makes me even more grateful for Art of Manliness!

22. +1 Vincent on January 7th, 2009 9:12 am

    How about a real, serious magazine like The Economist? Knowledge about current affairs and the economy is what defines a real man!

23. Andy K. on January 7th, 2009 9:13 am

    I used to be looking for “style” advice in magazines, and thought GQ would be a suitable magazine for, well, advice on how to be a gentleman. After all, GQ meant (at one time), “Gentleman’s Quarterly.”

    Then I started to notice the raunchy ads, the idiotic articles, and then a main piece titled:
    “(Some guy’s name, I forget who) just doesn’t give a f**k”

    It seems to me, that it is run by a bunch of over-grown frat boys with too much money. Gentlemen, in my eyes, don’t use such coarse language, and they’ve lost my business ever since (I’m only 21, but still, they could’ve had a lucrative lifetime of my monthly purchasing).

24. Logan on January 7th, 2009 9:50 am

    This is precisely the reason I religiously read AoM; no magazine covers your niche.

    Of the magazines I read FIELD AND STREAM covers it best! It’s the only magazine men’s interest magazine that’s not out to sell me facial rejuvenating creams and $8k watches.

25. D. on January 7th, 2009 10:58 am

    I think GQ should get a bump up in rating, I’ve found it to have some really entertaining and insightful pieces, and some of the style advice is great. I pretty much ignore the fashion spreads with the absurdly priced clothes.

    I’d prefer a more grounded, pragmatic men’s magazine, but I gues that is why we have the Web. Pragmatism doesn’t do glossy spreads.

26. S. on January 7th, 2009 11:54 am

    Details? 1.5 Sullies is being generous. Extremely generous… Unless you are gay. Look, I realize many men are gay and I’m not against gayness. I also realize I’m about to write a controversial comment here that will create a divide amongst some readers… That said, I’m not gay and given the choice between a magazine colored with gay editorial tones and those without – I’m choosing those without. That’s all.

27. Pieter on January 7th, 2009 11:57 am

    I guess I’ll stick to National Geographic Magazine. Beautiful photo’s (with next to no photoshopping or airbrushing at all) and really intelligent and interesting articles. Sure, it won’t tell you who or what is hip, but I’ve got the Internet for that sort of stuff.

28. Basil Moss on January 7th, 2009 12:50 pm

    I simply cannot believe that you did not mention the finest journal a gentleman could subscribe to: The Chap.

29. +1 NTO on January 7th, 2009 1:24 pm

    My major issue is against the sex articles. Let me explain my experience with MH. It is mostly about a reality check.

    I used to pick Men’s Health every single month. There were very interesting and down-to-earth pieces. I remember a section that featured a survival story in every number (to major injuries, to a father’s struggle with cancer, etc.). There was this funny and useful section, ONE MAN, ONE CAN, ONE PLAN, on cooking.

    Nowadays, I run away from it (literally). It has become to raunchy and fleshy. Not only you get female nudity, but I bet you can even count more (way more) shirtless dudes in the pages than topless girls.

    I avoid all the sex articles, not because I lack of a healthy and necessary sexual interest, but because I am slowly learning to practice (quoting AoM) a certain sexual discipline.

    As a single man, I’d like to see sex advice -real sex advice- on how to keep a wife content for life. Articles like “useful tips when holding a threesome”, and “one-night-stand catchphrases” don’t add any value to my life.

    Don’t get me wrong. I have got too much porn and promiscuity, and I can’t recall learning something useful about manhood and a solid sexual life. But thankfully, all this insatisfaction with traditional media for men led me to AoM! Ready for an AoM mag too!

30. +1 Allan White on January 7th, 2009 1:25 pm

    I cannot believe you’ve omitted Outside magazine. Full of really great writing (many from great writers that turn into books, such as John Krakauer), real adventures, and useful, get-outside-the-gym fitness. Inspires me to get outside and live life!

    I’ve also grown quite fond of Smithsonian. It’s helped me appreciate my country and history, and consistently profiles great men of history and what we can learn from them. Worth looking at.

    Real men: leave the vapid, expensive-lifestyle style rags alone. Read things that inspire and challenge you!

31. Shaun on January 7th, 2009 1:57 pm

    So when are you going to start publishing an AoM magazine? I reckon you could do a lot better than any of those listed above!

32. Worried Reader on January 7th, 2009 2:29 pm

    I would love a AoM mag.
    Recently, however, I have been visiting your website less because of the raunchy ads. Please! I like the old, clean AoM. Please do not run weight loss ads or dancing women.
    If your mag had ads like those I would never buy it. I it was like AoM used to be …. I’d definately try to buy it!

33. +1 Doc on January 7th, 2009 2:30 pm

    This article caused me to lose a lot of respect for AofM. In the end the 2 highest rated mags are Men’s Health- a mags that only has the three basic articles of get bigger, lose you belly- and a sex article and Esquire, which caters to the men who can afford a $25,000 watch. That is indeed a sad state of affairs if those are the best you can come up with.

34. cory @ agoodhusband.net on January 7th, 2009 2:45 pm

    Great article, and your opening reason is the same reason I started AGoodHusband.net – there’s just nothing out there as far as magazines or great websites (yours truly excepted) that fill that niche.

    I’m with other readers Brett, you should start your own mag. I’d read it.

35. DJFelix on January 7th, 2009 2:51 pm

    Wow .. I mean … wow … This reads like an old, married wuss-bag’s review of current events. About the only review I agree with is Details. Like other commenters have said before, it’s just too queer for my taste. They should “come out of the closet” and just admit that it is a magazine for queer boys … their sales would probably go up.

    As far as the rest, I think you’re just a little bit too hyper about sex. Why no review of Playboy? Playboy is arguably the -first- men’s magazine, and if you’ve ever had the pleasure of reading one, you would know why. It’s not just a skin mag … there is much more … oh, and I’m sure you’re thinking “Oh yeah … he reads the articles … har har …” But here’s the facts … If men didn’t read the articles, and buy the products in the ads, the magazine would not exist. Period.

    I think the reviewer needs to relax just a bit … go to the store, buy a Playboy, and get some real perspective.

36. Phil on January 7th, 2009 3:03 pm

    subscription to esquire is $16/36 issues. not as cheap as AoM, but still not bad

37. +1 P. Paul on January 7th, 2009 3:07 pm

    Your ratings did not match your “cons” comments, or the fact that the magazines generally suck. For instance, Men’s Health, with its raunchy ads in the back, warrants a 4.5 out of 5? C’mon!

    Your website, which started out with a genuine down to earth, real man feel to it, seems to be creeping towards mainstream pabulum, hence this whole article on a bunch of so-called “mens” magazines that real men, like my father, would not waste a single hard-earned nickle on.

38. Ryan on January 7th, 2009 3:10 pm

    I’ve been a Men’s Health subscriber for two years. I’ve found it to be very informative, especially in the longer articles. The critiques here are largely true (yes, lots of redundant abs and biceps articles) but there is much more to it. There are some very interesting articles on topics such as depression, aging, restaurant foods to beware of, etc. I also like the constant reminder to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

39. Made To Measure on January 7th, 2009 3:13 pm

    I’m so grateful that SOMEONE called out these magazines for what they really are. My favorite part was the attainable lifestyle rating which, in part, is why I started my own blog. You can look very stylish on a low budget and find that $3,000 scarf for about $20 if you look hard enough.

    http://www.madetm.wordpress.com

    Thanks again!
    Dennis

40. Brett on January 7th, 2009 3:38 pm

    @Worried Reader-We don’t control the ads that show up on the site. Thus there is no “old” or “new” AoM. When we notice an ad we don’t like (like the current one about getting a flat belly), we can request that it stop showing. But if often takes awhile to be pulled. Please have patience.

    @Doc-The ratings given are relative to what’s available. So while Esquire and MH got the top ratings, that doesn’t mean they’re anywhere close to perfect; it simply means that they are the best relative to the others.

41. andrew on January 7th, 2009 3:41 pm

    Brett,

    Couldn’t agree more. Same reason I started Primer. I do however occasionally enjoy GQ, Esquire, and Men’s Health but I agree with your sentiments if each.

    Best of luck,
    Andrew

42. David T on January 7th, 2009 4:26 pm

    Thanks, much better for you to waste your money on some of this crap than me. Your reviews are right on the mark. The best mags are Esquire and Men’s Health. That’s for those of us who are quietly intellectual and mature, a little older (50’s), and don’t need to be ostentacious. We are just great the way we are.

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44. CJS on January 7th, 2009 5:52 pm

    I agree with Best Life, and would actually rate it higher than Men’s Health (I’m 34, so I’m in the cross-over demographic).

    W/r/t GQ and Esquire, they have good articles, but the reflexive liberalism and Republican-bashing gets old fast, which is why I canceled my subscriptions to both this election cycle.

45. Christine the Soccer Mom on January 7th, 2009 7:24 pm

    I’m surprised at your high rating for Men’s Health, too. Travel Man (my better half) finally ditched his subscription because it was so heavy on the casual sex. (Just look at that cover in your sample!) It’s degrading to treat men as though they need not grow up and be real men someday (i.e. responsible, as opposed to hooking up or looking to do so well into their 30’s and 40’s).

    I wish there were more choices that weren’t offensive (or dangerous to leave around where the kids will inevitably find them). It’s a struggle for someone trying to get past the programming our culture pounds into us (ala Men’s Health or Cosmo – to be fair and go after both sides here) when magazines just continue to glorify the hook-up culture we see around us.

46. Michael on January 7th, 2009 8:49 pm

    I would like to offer that political bias should be factored in to the magazine reviews. Mens Health is one of the worst I’ve seen. So much so that I stopped reading it entirely. They are virtualy incapable of writing a single article without taking a shot at any form conservatism at all. The editors there can not write an article about Orange Juice without squeezing in how horribly evil G.W. Bush is.

47. Anna on January 7th, 2009 9:26 pm

    I’m a woman and I enjoy flipping through Men’s Health.

    I was very excited when Women’s Health was announced a few years ago, and though it is a very good magazine, it suffers somewhat from a politically correct, feminist point-of-view. One thing that I liked about Men’s Health is that it wasn’t afraid to be contra de zeitgeist.

48. Andrew on January 7th, 2009 10:00 pm

    GQ and Esquire are the only two from the list that I would ever suggest anyone subscribe to. (Surprised that GQ only got 3 Sullivans.) Both usually have fantastic articles and profiles along with handy style tips.

    One thing to point out though is that while both Esquire and GQ usually feature very pricey items in their pages, both magazines have pointed out on multiple occasions that those items are also meant to be used as a guide to what is stylish.

    Also, Esquire’s end of the year, “Big Black Book” is absolutely a fantastic read. Even if you don’t subscribe, go and pick up a a copy of it.

49. Evan on January 7th, 2009 10:18 pm

    I enjoy Outside for travel and adventure inspiration, but it, too, sells an unrealistic lifestyle ($300 “environmentally friendly” bluejeans? Gimme a break).
    By a LONG LONG shot, the best car magazine is “Grassroots Motorsports”. Realistic lifestyle, entertaining, and just the right ammt of tech. They have a good forum, too.
    I’m 24 and I admit to the occasional guilty pleasure of flipping through a friend’s Maxim or MH, but neither has improved my life in any respect.

50. Daniel on January 8th, 2009 3:21 am

    GQ is about fashion, not style. Fashion is for women. Their style tips are dubious. Replace GQ with The Chap, and burn the rest and we have a decent list.

51. Andra on January 8th, 2009 4:11 am

    Personally I like to balance my reading. Aside from reading Esquire, I can’t deny that I’m also an avid reader of Maxim or FHM. They do have some fountain-of-useless-knowledge features that are just fun to read I guess heheh..

    However, for someone who encourages their readers to view sex on a mature standpoint and if I may quote yourself saying,

    “Also, one of our pet peeves about men’s magazines is that they often mar the reading experience by placing a really tasteless ad in the back for some sex-related product. Whether or not a magazine is willing to print such scurrility is a good mark of its classiness, so we took note of which ones did and didn’t.”

    clearly you take the ads as not having class. Then why give something that you think doesn’t have class, the same grades as something as classy and clean as Esquire? Plus MH always have that, “If you don’t have six pack abs, then you must get one!” tone all around, while you encourage readers that there are so much to the world than six pack abs. Just like your yesteryear’s icon and today’s icon face off (James Dean vs Matthew Mccounaghey, etc).

    I just think that this attitude contradicts with your review on MH. You had so much to complain about MH and the magazine still gets a 4.5? Might wanna redo the review there, sir.

    Just a thought though. Looking forward for more great articles. All the best for AoM! Cheers from Indonesia, mate!

52. Rick on January 8th, 2009 5:48 am

    I just go to the websites. Save paper, save money, and get all the same information.

53. Christopher T on January 8th, 2009 6:05 am

    @Ross, The Chap looks like a great magazine, I have half a mind to cough up the extra *pounds* to have it sent over the pond.

54. Scott on January 8th, 2009 9:47 am

    Unfortunately, “Classic Style” magazine (http://classicstylemag.com/) failed to gain enough of a market to stay afloat. Why, you ask? Well, it didn’t rely on selling 45% of its space to advertisers, nor did it attempt to be ironic or hip. Despite what we would like, it seems what the Art of Manliness and many of the commenters decry is exactly what the population in general want. What a shame.

55. Miranda on January 8th, 2009 1:00 pm

    Wow, this is disheartening. Most of those magazines embody the shallow consumerism of the arrested adolescent (so popular today as the symbol of modern masculinity), and the treatment of the “obligatory” commodification of women’s bodies as just a bit of background noise is especially disturbing.

56. Bill on January 8th, 2009 1:01 pm

    Love your website but I think the magazines chosen for this review are a bit skewed. A real man wouldn’t waste his time reading guy “style” magazines. They give unreal expectations (looking vainly stud-tastic, going somewhere imprudent for vacation, or pretending to afford a $600 scarf.) The articles never give you the complete story – only bait you.

    Both my grampa’s didn’t read magazines unless they were getting their hair cut at the barbers. But they both read the newspaper.

    My Dad was a living “Rooster Cogburn” (True Grit). He only read the newspaper and business journals. His business was gunsmithing (Yup, that’s right) and when he wasn’t reading a gun repair journal, he was reading an article about protecting our legal rights to bare arms or thumbing through a tool catalogue. Those are the “magazines” of real men.

    So, if you’re going to read, read your local paper (A real man should know what’s going on in the world); Consumer Reports (Buy the best you can afford); and professional journals (stay current in your field).

    Can’t afford a paper? Then read Businessweek, Newsweek, or The Week.

    Then, when you’re at the barber’s read…
    1.) Popular Mechanic (At least you’ll look manly reading it.)
    2.) Field & Stream
    3.) National Geographic
    4.) Popular Science
    5.) Scientific America
    6.) Sports Illustrated
    7.) Motor Trend
    8.) Money Magazine (For those fiscally unskilled) or The Economist (for others.)
    9.) Popular Woodworking (At least you’ll look like your creative)

57. Jeff on January 8th, 2009 2:36 pm

    Everyone of these magazines is a metrosexual propaganda machine. None of the mags on this list should be sold to, or bought by men. The quality of these is pathetic. The men these magazines are trying to create are feminine men. No one can read any of these magazines and honestly consider himself to be a real man.

58. Kyle on January 8th, 2009 4:44 pm

    When someone like John F. Kennedy himself calls a magazine a “fag rag” (how he described “GQ” when he saw his brother, Bobby, reading it), you know something’s up.
    Started reading Men’s Health a year ago and must agree that the ads have gone WAY up (Beckham in his Armani undies? give me a break), there’s too much repetition, and yes, there are plenty of scantilly-clad women (not something someone aspiring to be a gentleman really needs).
    The Economist and Esquire are both good reads, but, like many, I feel AofM should put out a publication… possibly a quarterly (like GQ was, originally, before becoming a museum for metrosexuals and closeteers).

59. Healthy Joe on January 8th, 2009 10:56 pm

    Heya.!.The quality of these is pathetic. The men these magazines are trying to create are feminine men. No one can read any of these magazines and honestly consider himself to be a real man.

60. K on January 9th, 2009 9:00 am

    Good Sir,

    Have you considered hosting a podcast? I for one would certainly subscribe to such a project. Perhaps you could use it as a monthly half-hour articulation or discussion of some topic that may be difficult to expose through blogging?

    On the current topic, I think I may have to pass on all of these magazines. I think Esquire may be the only one that doesn’t directly exclude me with all the ab talk.

    …though I would like a six pack–or any pack for that matter.

61. Jordan on January 9th, 2009 9:41 am

    Anyone read outside magazine? Meets a lot of what this website is trying to do.

62. Jordan on January 9th, 2009 9:41 am

    Anyone read outside magazine? Meets a lot of what this website is trying to do.

63. Accountant on January 9th, 2009 2:27 pm

    Playboy was once a magazine that would have been listed, as it used to have a great number of good and important articles and advice for men. Granted, it was overtly sexual in nature, but you could at least expect one or two intellectually stimulating articles in each one.

    I do not read any of these magazines. the Economist is my favorite, with specialty magazines like Traditional Muzzleloader or Military History being some I also read, as well as others, but these are definitely out of touch with the average man.

64. +1 Jere on January 9th, 2009 7:00 pm

    Man, I don’t even know why you bothered with Details or Nylon for Guys. Just looking at the cover makes me wretch a little — and I enjoy Fall Out Boy (yes, musically).

    Personally, I don’t read any magazines. Not even at the barber’s or any waiting room. The closest I’ve come is occasionally looking at Men’s Health’s webpage, and after a couple months, like Greg A. said, it does get repetitive. I can’t blame them, though; if I could make a living finding new ways to reword and rewrite “eat healthier, get more more exercise,” I would jump at that, too.

    Lifestyle magazines, whether for men or women, make their money making you want more and feel like less. Sometimes there are good articles, but 90% of the time it is six-pack ab models rising out of beach water and getting into a Mercedes telling you they’re the ideal. While you guys (by “you,” I mean TAoM aren’t a magazine (technically), you should be proud to be able to say you manage to cover a lot of the same ground without doing that.

65. Andrew Kaszowski on January 10th, 2009 5:50 pm

    I absolutely second Ali D’s recommendation of Arena and wish “The Art of Manliness” had reviewed Arena. Ever since I stumbled upon this magazine at the bookstore, I’ve purchased almost every issue. It is a perfect balance of really well-written articles about the state of the world and interesting people who shape the world; pretty solid style advice [can't afford a single piece of clothing profiled in the magazine, but the style ideas are actually applicable for an everyday man like myself]; tonnes of awesome tech toy and lifestyle goodies to gawk at; and really well-done spreads of beautiful women.

    Here’s a fun tool that I found… recommends magazines based on some personality questions: The “Magdentifier” from the coolest magazine store ever, Mag Nation. http://www.magnation.com/index.php?do=magdentifier

66. Jesse Hines on January 10th, 2009 8:39 pm

    Love Men’s Health, really like Men’s Journal, and enjoy GQ.

    MH BestLife looking better all the time. Maxim has great photos, but not much else.

67. Drew on January 11th, 2009 1:15 am

    While I agree that Maxim does feature a lot of mindless articles, I take offense to the comment that it features “A complete lack of useful information or in-depth articles.” One of today’s best sports writers, John U. Bacon (feature writer for the Detroit Free Press and occasional contributer to ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Men’s Health, and Maxim) has written very in-depth articles for Maxim. His most recent article for them was a feature on NHL goalie Marty Turco that was extremely well written and had some of the most in-depth reporting you will find in any article. My point is that they sometimes throw in very worthwhile pieces, and therefore warrant a little more respect than a comment like “complete lack.”

68. Brucifer on January 11th, 2009 2:38 pm

    Magazines like Men’s Journal and Outside are what I call lifestyle porn…. purportedly for those who seek an “authentic lifestyle” and want to “stop and smell the roses” … provided they first can damned well-afford it. Like the grossly overpriced clothing of the men’s fashion magazines, we are invited travel to out-of-the way places with state-of-the-art equipment….. if you can afford it, that is. Bah.

69. EviD on January 12th, 2009 1:09 pm

    I’m a woman and most women’s magazines are devoted to shopping and sex; it’s hard to find consistent, substantial writing on other topics women might care about, and I’ve had subscriptions to Esquire, GQ and Men’s Health.

    I agree with the ratings on Men’s Health. They have really evolved and have proven to no longer be just a fitness magazine with the good articles and information for life/mind-body health. Another Con: The scantily clad women in their magazine are not as culturally diverse as their male models.

    I’m also down with the ratings on Esquire and GQ and hope that women’s magazines can compete more for my attention in the future.

70. Jack Winslow on January 12th, 2009 5:00 pm

    I gotta hand it to you, these are great gay men’s magazines. For tips on hair products, man-bags and cologne, there are none better. I’ll take Field & Stream and The Atlantic. At least those help me be a better fisher and a smarter person.

71. Will on January 26th, 2009 11:55 am

    I’m pleased that Esquire got a good rating.

    I have subs to:

    Esquire
    Guns & Ammo
    The Backwoodsman
    Pop Mech
    Pop Sci
    Newsweek

    I sometimes pick up a copy of Men’s Health, Men’s Journal, or GQ at the mag rack.

72. Robert on February 6th, 2009 6:06 pm

    These are all metrosexual publications — not at all manly. You want manly, read Popular Mechanics and Field and Stream.

73. Sean on February 8th, 2009 4:51 pm

    Just discovered this site. I thought the same things about men’s magazines as the author. I don’t need a jeans buying guide and everything in the magazine costs more than I’m going to spend. I also agree with the comment about the underwear ads, do we really need those in our magazines? I currently get men’s health and best life, I’m thinking of ditching them since I read most articles online and I’m finding less useful information. I do enjoy this site, keep up the great work.

74. Nokware Knight on February 23rd, 2009 9:35 pm

    I agree with most of these ratings, except that Men’s Vogue should get at least a 4, if not a 4.5. The writing is excellent. Esquire is hands down the best men’s magazine out there. Maxim has actually improved its editorial since last summer, though it is still leagues behind the top tier mags. And what the hell happened to GQ? A few years ago the quality of the content was right up there with Esquire. Now its just a bunch of short, too-hip-to be square articles that lack the depth, insight, and originality I used to enjoy the publication for. Also, you do a review on men’s magazines and don’t include Playboy?

75. Steve on February 24th, 2009 9:48 pm

    It’s too bad about Men’s Vogue – I’ve checked out several magazines and it probably had the most interesting to read articles of the bunch, but the “Vogue” name probably killed it. I think I may actually email them to see if they’ve considered releasing it under a name without the connection to the women’s mag.

76. Hankhill on May 17th, 2009 4:13 pm

    What about Shave Magazine … i cant believe that didnt make the list.

    askmen too

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