UKC

Does anyone know if there are any bouldering specific magazines out there covering both the new craze in indoor bouldering only centres and the outside world? If not, is this something people would buy and what would people like to see in there?

In reply to saquince: Its a very good thought.Most of the mags do a wee bit on bouldering but it would be cool to have a dedicated glossy featuring lots of good images(bloc porn) training tips specific to bouldering, world destinations, new problems in UK and abroad, split tip advice, foam density/ boar hair brush debates and beanie hat bench tests.It could be very swish indeed.I'd buy it.

In reply to saquince: most climbing magazines are able to cover it pretty well.

In reply to saquince: Alot of people are viewing this post but not replying, is this because it would not be of interest or another reason?
Just trying to gauge if it is a viable suggestion and if there would be a market for such a product.

Thanks

In reply to saquince:
I think the problem is that the narrower you make the target of a magazine the less content you have: Look at Mens Health, PCPlus, Practical Electronics, Climb... All of them repeat articles after a while, there are only so many "Introduction to bouldering" or "OMG 8C+ Bloc" articles you can write before you run out of material. Once people have purchased 6 issues and read 3 different articles that are basically "interesting V2-V4 climbs within 400yards of Stanage plantation" then people will stop buying it.

In reply to saquince: I suspect the market in this country is too small to make it viable in a traditional print form. However nothing to stop you having a go a producing an eMag?

In reply to Reach>Talent: Totally agree that the content needs to be there to keep people interested. There could be equipment reviews, people writing in with their own stories / achievments, fashions, competitions, training, diets, featured indoor and outdoor spots etc.... I think the sport is growing fast enough and progressing with new climbers to keep content fresh. It would be very much based on what content people want to see and benefit from.

In reply to Removed UserJeremy Ashcroft: There would defo need to be an Emag version available but im guessing people still like to have the option of a hard copy, especially as so many people look at screens all day.

In reply to saquince:

I don't think I'm alone in saying if I'm not out climbing, I'm generally doing other stuff! (Obviously that includes procrastinating on here). I haven't bought a climbing mag in years, everything seems so out of date once it gets to print and I just can't be arsed.

I get all the info/ interest I need from t'interweb, I can search just for the bits that interest me - bouldering in my case.

So for me personally, no I wouldn't buy a bouldering mag.

In reply to:

http://www.rockandice.com/news/2070-urban-climber-magazine-calls-it-quits

In reply to saquince:

Bouldering doesn't need a lot of gear. That's bad if you need to attract advertisers selling gear.

In reply to saquince: Perhaps I should rephrase that. I think the market is way too small to sustain a Bouldering Magazine. An eMag would realistically be the only way you could publish. Specialist magazines for climbing, mountain biking, walking etc are at the threshold of what is viable. Bouldering is a niche part of a tiny market and simply would not attract sufficient ad revenue to pay for publication as a paper mag?

In reply to saquince: As mentioned all I am trying to do is judge if the market needs such a product, so all good comments.

Thanks

In reply to saquince: there used to be a great wee mag called friction that was always a good read. It stopped a while ago now which was a shame! I quite like dead point mag from the USA but it covers sport climbing as well as bouldering.

Doubt there would be enough interest from just within the uk to sustain one Similar though.

In reply to Richard Hession: I was just going on the basis that climbing is a fast growing sport with numbers growing each day especially in bouldering with all the new centres opening.

In reply to saquince:

Have to agree there aren't dedicated trad magazines or sport climbing magazines because as people say you are narrowing the crowd. However something that maybe was more boulder and less the others would certainly be something I might look at. However as others commented all the info you need is on the internet anyway.

Shame though

In reply to saquince:

Remember that the centres are opening, yes, but the people who go to said centres may never climb outside: ever... and as such have little interest in the wider climbing community, they do some climbing with friends at the centre but there stops there involvement. I know a bunch of people that are like that.

For me personally it would be nice to have some more bouldering articles, but I agree with the other posters in that its too small a market to sustain a print mag.

In reply to saquince: ive found i buy climbing mags less because i use UKC more and it covers anything a mag could!!

In reply to saquince: Friction used to be a nice little zine style publication with some good articles.

In reply to payney1973:
Same here and same with (my most active activities) hill walking & camping.

As others have said, though, an emag may be a way forward but even so...