Trail Runner Magazine

What Trail Runner Magazine does

Trail Runner Magazine is a digital-first media property serving trail runners and ultrarunners, founded in 1999 and currently owned and operated by Outside Inc. as part of its network of 15+ outdoor publications. The publication delivers editorial across four primary categories — Training, Culture, Gear, and Nutrition — supplemented by a curated email newsletter, and reaches a global audience covering at least 15 countries across North America, South America, Europe, and Asia Pacific. Distribution runs through trailrunnermag.com, an active Facebook and Instagram presence, the Outside app (which consolidates 15+ outdoor publications on iOS), and 4 integrated apps including Gaia GPS, Trailforks, and Outside TV.

The underlying technology is a standard digital publishing platform hosted on the Outside network; no proprietary APIs, AI features, or custom data products are disclosed, and there are no patents or certifications on record. The contributing roster includes credentialed coaches and well-known athletes (David Roche, Alex Hutchinson, Abby Levene now serving as Managing Editor), supporting content quality and brand authority in the niche.

The business model layers three monetization streams on top of free editorial: (1) Outside+ subscription revenue, which bundles Trail Runner Magazine premium content with 1,000s of training plans and access across the Outside ecosystem; (2) digital advertising and sponsored content placements across the website and newsletter; and (3) affiliate commissions earned on gear and equipment purchases routed through external links, with explicit affiliate-link disclosure on editorial pages. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; subscription access is gated at trailrunnermag.com/membership. The publication does not publicly disclose revenue, operate any disclosed funding program, or report stand-alone financials, functioning instead as a branded content vertical within Outside Inc.'s broader outdoor media portfolio.

Name

Trail Runner Magazine

Legal name

Trail Runner Magazine

Website

https://trailrunnermag.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Trail Runner Magazine is a digital publisher covering trail and ultrarunning — training, culture, gear, and nutrition — operated by Outside Inc. as part of its network of 15+ outdoor publications and 4 apps, monetized through the Outside+ subscription bundle, advertising, and affiliate commerce for a global audience of endurance athletes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Outdoor Sports Digital Media

NAICS

Spectator Sports (71121)

akta.pro primary industry

Trail Running & Ultra-Endurance Events (Trail Races, Ultras) (MPAKAIAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Endurance & Running/Cycling Training (HSADAAAG), Outdoor & Hiking Footwear (CRAAACAD), Trail Running & Outdoor Performance Accessories Retail (CRAMAAAH)

Keywords

• Trail running content
• Ultrarunning magazine
• Outdoor sports publishing
• Running gear reviews
• Endurance training articles

Headquarters

HQ city

Denver

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Outside+ Subscription: Premium subscription service offering exclusive content, thousands of training plans, and enhanced features. Powered by parent company Outside's subscription infrastructure.
2. Affiliate Commerce: The magazine earns affiliate commissions through product links, particularly for gear and equipment recommendations. The site explicitly states 'If you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.'
3. Advertising: Digital advertising placements throughout the website and newsletter, including sponsored content and display advertising.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Trail Runner Magazine is a digital-first publication that produces editorial content covering trail running, ultrarunning, training, gear, nutrition, race coverage, and travel destinations for runners worldwide. Its core offering is the website at trailrunnermag.com, supplemented by an email newsletter, mobile distribution via the Outside app, and a premium Outside+ membership that unlocks exclusive content, training plans, and access to the broader Outside outdoor media ecosystem.

Product overview

Trail Runner Magazine operates as a digital-first outdoor athletics publication powered by Outside, offering content across multiple channels including its main website, mobile applications, and email newsletters. The publication covers trail running and ultrarunning through training articles, athlete profiles, gear reviews, nutrition guidance, and international race coverage. Content is organized into categories including Training, Culture, Gear, Nutrition, and Newsletter, with premium Outside+ subscriptions unlocking exclusive content and training resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Trail Runner Magazine Website Digital publication at trailrunnermag.com delivering articles, training guides, athlete profiles, gear reviews, race coverage, and destination guides for trail and ultrarunning enthusiasts worldwide.
• Outside+ Subscription Premium recurring membership providing exclusive editorial content, access to thousands of training plans, and app access across the Outside network (Gaia GPS, Trailforks, Outside TV, and Outside app) for trail runners and other outdoor enthusiasts.
• Outside App Mobile application that provides access to 15+ outdoor publications, including Trail Runner Magazine content, along with companion apps for outdoor navigation and video, in a unified consumer experience.
• Trail Runner Newsletter Regular email newsletter that delivers curated trail running content, training tips, featured articles, and updates directly to subscribers.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• OutsideflagshipOthersTrail Runner Magazine is fully powered by Outside, its parent company. Outside is a leading outdoor sports media company that owns and operates 15+ outdoor publications and apps including Gaia GPS, Trailforks, Outside TV, and the Outside app. Trail Runner Magazine operates as a branded property within the Outside media network.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Gear Patrol: A digital media brand focused on product reviews and gear recommendations across outdoor, fitness, and lifestyle categories. Comparable in its affiliate-commerce-driven monetization model and gear-review content focus.

Direct peers

• Runner's World: The dominant mass-market running publication, owned by Hearst. Directly comparable to Trail Runner Magazine as a content-led running media brand with subscription, advertising, and affiliate commerce revenue models. Less specialized to trail/ultra but addresses the same reader use cases (training, gear, race coverage).
• Podium Runner: A digital running publication covering training, gear, and race coverage. Directly comparable as a content-led running media brand targeting engaged enthusiast runners, monetized through advertising and affiliate commerce.
• Women's Running: A running-focused digital media brand with similar content categories (training, gear, nutrition, race coverage). Comparable business model and target audience (dedicated runners), though skewed to a different demographic segment.
• iRunFar: The leading ultrarunning-focused digital media site, including Ultrarunning magazine. Closely comparable to Trail Runner Magazine in niche, audience (trail and ultrarunners), business model (content + affiliate + community), and content categories (training, gear, race coverage).

Others

• Outside Magazine: The flagship publication of Trail Runner Magazine's parent company, Outside Inc. Comparable as a content-led outdoor media brand, but broader in scope (covers all outdoor sports). Relevant as the parent ecosystem rather than as a direct competitor.
• REI Co-op Journal: REI's editorial content hub covering outdoor activities including trail running training, gear, and destination guides. Comparable as a content channel targeting outdoor enthusiasts, but operates as a retailer's content arm rather than an independent publication.

Broad incumbents

• Backpacker Magazine: A long-established outdoor recreation publication covering hiking, backpacking, and adventure travel. Comparable as a content-led outdoor enthusiast brand with training and gear coverage, but broader in scope than Trail Runner Magazine's trail/ultrarunning specialization.
• Climbing Magazine: A climbing-focused publication also operated within the Outside network. Comparable as a content-led vertical outdoor media brand serving an enthusiast community, with a similar subscription and affiliate model.

Regional players

• Trail Magazine (UK): A long-running UK trail running and fell running publication. Comparable in niche focus on trail running, but primarily serves a UK/European audience rather than North America.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/trailrunnermag
• Instagraminstagram.com/trailrunnermag
• Xx.com/trailrunnermag
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/trail-runner-magazine

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Trail Runner Magazine