On April 25, 2007, Backcountry Magazine announced that it was merging with Couloir Magazine. These two magazines were the leading “earn your turns” styled magazines along with the revived Telemark Skier Magazine. Backcountry Magazine retained its brand and incorporated photographers, writers, editors, and arguably some edge from Couloir.

As a loyal Couloir subscriber for the past few years, I was somewhat concerned about this merger having never read Backcountry Magazine. Couloir subscriptions were passed onto Backcountry Magazine for which I have received my first two issues including a Gear Guide and a “White” Issues pre-season special. Overall, I am blown away by the combination and have nothing but positive things to say about the merger.

Backcountry has a much nicer layout and design than Couloir did with a clean, organized, and hip style. The most recent “White Issue” even contains a spectacular feature on the East Coast’s own Chic Chocs of Quebec (Couloir only featured one or two such Eastern features in over two years). While the gear review features far fewer selections, words matter more as the gear guide offers more than just industry specs and sound bites. The Gear Guide even has reviewers specify if the ski was preferred by Eastern skiers which was a notable absence in Couloir.

Articles are much shorter than Couloir, often confined to only one or two pages which leaves me wanting more depth. However, this allows the editors to present a higher quantity of unique features per magazine. The main features are all given ample layout space for both words and images.

Advertising is similar in scope but slightly cleaner in application. Without competition between two earned turn oriented magazines, it seems like every major backcountry gear manufacturer has included at least one big advertisement in Backcountry. Normally, I am not a fan of advertising. But such targeted advertising to an audience specifically interested in the given products is actually a benefit to Backcountry. It certainly does not hurt my impression when Mad River Glen takes out full page advertisements either.

Essentially, Backcountry following on the merger with Couloir is a major success. The great photographs and articles are retained with splendid editing across the board. A cleaner and more beautiful layout and an occasional Eastern perspective and article is most welcome. Backcountry Magazine needs to step up to the plate on future Gear Guides and review more gear while keeping their approach of non-spec field tested details which also include an Eastern perspective. Overall, I am a rabid fan of the new Backcountry Magazine and offer my highest recommendation as the best Ski Rag out there for earned turn enthusiasts.