I have to say that I've only just picked up my February copy of TGO, been waiting for it to fall through the letter box and then remembered I forgot to renew my subscription, and I must say its the most time its ever spent in my hand for a TGO magazine. There is a lot more text than normal and the reading is more simple and effective for me. I'm a very simple person so love reading simple experiences and easy and appropriate gear reviews and the February edition is probably my favourite ever, odd because I'm usually a stickler for the ones just full of amazing photos but this one I have found I have spent a lot more time reading and I do think its becasue its a little simpler than usual with things I can relate more too. Well done!
Good for you mate! It is a great mag overall. This is the issue that CT was on here telling us a bit about his part in, just the other day too! It looked quite good just from what he said then as well.
Current March issue is pretty good too - plenty of decent articles to read rather than some of the bitty boxes of text that have been creeping in (but that seems to be the style for mags these days, probably influenced by the internet?).
Personally I just wish there was much less on the gear front and more on outdoor matters/walks/etc, and a little less Scotland bias (although I love the Highlands like anyone else, how often does eg Exmoor/Dartmoor/Shropshire really get decent coverage?). And, this might be controversial - but is it time for some new columnists?
Must remember to fill in the current reader questionnaire....
Go take a look at Googles home page and you'll see that simple works!
Lets face it most of us outdoor loving folk have a fantastically simple side to us, we aren't superficial, self obsessed or insecure, we are turned on by the simple things in life instead like opening the door this morning and seeing the robin on the bird table chirping at me because it wanted feeding and the clouds that will no doubt fascinate me as usual on my way home from this dreadful days work in the office through the rush hour traffic as a cormorant skims overhead following the skinny line of water through Manchester provided by the River Irwell. Love it when they drop a bomb on some executive car on the ring road its such a great mix of humans and nature! And then you have an illegal polish imigrant at the next set of lights to wash it off for them.
Uncluttered - that's one of TGOs great plus points.
Look at almost any other mag these days and they are full of little boxes, flashy columns, 20 ways to do this, 100 ways to do that, 50 must haves, etc - many look just like websites, and I want a magazine that takes me away from the internet for a while!
I've just taken a sub to a digital photo magazine but there's nothing in it to read - just endless tips and snippets which all seem to blur together....
Cameron has recently hinted at a redesign - but please don't sacrifice the longer articles, excellent uncluttered photos, simple clear layouts, etc!!
