Feud Between Outside Inc., Writers Goes Public

March 14, 2025

For decades, Outside Magazine has offered its readers some of the best outdoor journalism found anywhere. Many of its contributors — from Jon Krakauer and Hampton Sides to Jimmy Chin and Tommy Caldwell — have become iconic authors, photographers, and athletes.

Now, some of those icons have asked for their names to be removed from the masthead of the legacy publication. They say the magazine’s parent company, Outside Inc., has abandoned “bold, spirited journalism” by laying off senior staff and discouraging investigative work or political coverage, according to a letter signed by nearly 40 writers, photographers, and editors.

That includes many luminaries of outdoor journalism, like Oscar-winning filmmaker Jimmy Chin and bestselling author Hampton Sides. There’s also travel writer Tim Cahill, longtime magazine contributor Katie Arnold, and many others.

“Your company now seems intent on destroying what Outside once stood for,” the group wrote to Outside Inc. CEO Robin Thurston this week. “We urge you to return to the values that made Outside successful, and that it must embrace to navigate an uncertain future.” Gear Junkie