Is Print Dead? Ranking the American Climbing Print Mags

In an increasingly digital world, these three publications prove that some of climbing’s most iconic storytelling is still happening on paper.

There is a place for digital media. After all, I’m writing (and you’re reading) on your phone, laptop, or table right now. Here at Climbing House, we focus on reviewing gear, spotlighting iconic crags, interviewing athletes, teaching basic skills, and providing other resources for climbers to learn about the sport. All that stuff works great on the web, where you can quickly. But for longform, in-depth storytelling, there’s something to be said for the tactile, timeless appeal of print. 

Mainstay U.S. titles like Rock and Ice and Climbing may be websites only now, but there are still a few American climbing magazines that you can actually pick up in your hands and leaf through, without feeling like your brain is being zapped by banner ads, blue light, and clickbait. Here are the three best American climbing magazines in print. 

1. Summit Journal

Summit Journal, founded in 1955 by Jean Crenshaw and Helen Kilness, was originally a skiing magazine, but soon became focused on all things mountain sports—and increasingly, climbing—though it went out of print in 1996. Former Rock and Ice editor Michael Levy revived the magazine in 2023, and it’s pumped out two print issues in the year since then.

Summit is biannual, and focuses on deep, longform storytelling from all slices of climbing life, from alpinism to bouldering, sport climbing, and even competitive climbing. In Levy’s words, the magazine is rooted in “deeply-reported journalism, including on-scene reportage and first-person athlete-authored pieces. Nuanced profiles, humorous epics, first ascent tales, harrowing survival stories.”

I’m ranking it first for a few reasons. The photography is next-level, the ads are thoughtful, and few and far between, the stories are deep and rich, and the bylines consist of some of the best writers in the game. (Two of the articles in Summit Journal’s return issue were shortlisted for the Best Mountain Article at the prestigious Banff Mountain Book Competition.)

This magazine only releases every six months, which means the stories inside it are six-month stories, not smash-and-grab digital jobs hustled out to keep up with the latest news cycle.

Another reason I ranked Summit first is because, unlike some titles with a digital arm, including all the others mentioned on this list), this magazine is only found in print. The articles inside its pages will always be print-only. Summit Journal has a website, but it exists only to sell subscriptions and merchandise. The writing is all on paper. 

This ensures an impenetrable quality bar, preventing the creeping digital decay that has affected many magazines. As soon as a magazine begins to slowly leak their writing online, print loses it’s appeal. Digital numbers start cranking, and gradually web and social media take priority over print. It’s happened to nearly every magazine in existence over the last two decades, but Summit’s print-only policy ensures it’s free of this risk. So if you’re looking to take a step back in time, and feel a story in your hands as you read it, Summit Journal is the way to go.

2. Alpinist

Alpinist, established in 2002 by Christian Beckwith and Marc Ewing, quickly gained a reputation for its stunning photography and in-depth stories. For much of the next two decades, particularly after the demise of Rock and Ice and their print annual Ascent, Alpinist was the North American climbing title for readers searching for world-class longform stories. 

Until Summit’s revival last year, it was the only traditional print magazine for American climbers. Published quarterly, Alpinist touches on rock climbing, but as its title suggests, its main focus is on alpinism, fast, light, and long ascents in the high places of the planet. 

The magazine purports to present “a vision of climbing and its lifestyle that matches the intensity of the pursuit itself,” maintaining that “making great climbing stories and art requires the same boldness, commitment, integrity and imagination as the most cutting-edge ascents.” Readers can expect first-person coverage of bold ascents, historical perspectives on the sport, profiles of influential alpinists, and some poetry and fiction now and then. A one-year subscription to Alpinist will set you back $75.

3. The Climbing Zine

The Climbing Zine, brainchild of Luke Mehall, emerged in 2010 as a counterpoint to the polished mainstream climbing media of the time. The Zine, now published twice a year, is a raw, unfiltered collection of personal essays, poetry, and photography from the vertical world. 

While titles like Summit Journal and Alpinist are focused on crafting deeply reported stories, the Zine is more of an everyman’s title. Much of the writing comes not from professionals, but everyday climbers.

It’s less a traditional magazine, and more a platform for climbers to share their experiences, philosophies, and struggles, often with a focus on the internal journey inspired by climbing. So I’m ranking it third because, although The Zine is a great product, a lot of the work is akin to something you’d find on a personal blog or local publication. Climbers can subscribe to receive two issues of The Climbing Zine per year for $39.

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While Summit Journal, Alpinist, and The Climbing Zine are the three main U.S. climbing magazines still in print, there are plenty of others still on belay. The United Kingdom has Climber, France has Vertical, Spain has Desnivel, Canada has Gripped, and Australia and New Zealand have Vertical Life, to name just a few.

There are also outdoor print magazines that aren’t focused specifically on climbing, but often cover it, such as Mountain Gazette. Many mountaineering clubs also publish their own semblance of a magazine, such as the British Mountaineering Club’s quarterly, Summit, or the American Alpine Club’s American Alpine Journal.

Print may not be the norm, but it certainly isn’t dead. Try one of these titles out, and let us know what you think in the comments below!