Caption: Magazine cover, Best Life by Kyle Chandler.
Are you searching for a men's magazine that speaks to your interests and aspirations? Look no further! In this guide, we will explore the best and worst magazines for men, offering insights into their content and target readership. Whether you're in your 20s, 30s, or beyond, there's a magazine out there that caters to your unique needs and preferences.
Men’s Health Best Life: For the mature and successful man
Caption: John Sullivans rank.
Sample Headlines:
- 8 Laws of Building Wealth
- The Sexually Satisfied Wife
- 15 Flat Belly Power Foods
- 17 Secrets of Male Style
Target Readers: Best Life is the older, more mature brother of Men’s Health. It caters to men in their 30s and 40s who have successful careers and families or aspire to have them.
Pros:
- Provides mature and serious articles, setting it apart from many men's magazines.
- Offers practical tips and useful information that can be immediately incorporated into your life.
- Covers a wide variety of topics including health, relationships, career, and travel.
- Takes a mature approach to discussing sex.
Cons:
- Ad-heavy content.
- Format and layout could be cleaner.
Attainable Lifestyle? If you can afford $3,470 Tom Ford boots.
Percentage of the Magazine that Consists of Ads: 45%
Raunchy Sex Ad in Back? No
Rating: 4 out of 5 John Sullivans
Details: For the fashionable and hip
Sample Headlines:
- Do You Have Douchebag Hair?
- The Rise of the A-Gay
- Inside the Twisted World of Revenge Porn
- The New Chauvinism
Target Readers: Details appeals to younger men who consider themselves sophisticated and cool.
Pros:
- Offers useful fashion information, although more focused on hipster than classic style.
- Features an appealing format.
Cons:
- Ad-heavy content.
- Tries too hard to be cool, sometimes resulting in shallow articles.
- Questionable editorial decisions.
Attainable Lifestyle? If you can afford a $395 Burberry scarf.
Percentage of the Magazine that Consists of Ads: 45%
Raunchy Sex Ad in Back? No
Rating: 1.5 out of 5 John Sullivans
Men’s Health: For the well-rounded, fitness-conscious man
Sample Headlines:
- Lose Your Gut!
- Better Sleep, Bigger Muscles
- Dress for More Sex
- Lower Her Inhibitions
Target Readers: Men’s Health targets all-American, well-rounded, fitness-conscious men in their 20s and 30s.
Pros:
- Offers a wealth of practical tips and advice on a wide range of topics.
- Features a "Bulletins" section that provides easily digestible nuggets of information.
- Boasts an immensely readable format, allowing you to skim or dive into articles as desired.
- Provides effective new exercises and workouts to try.
- Includes engaging features such as "Belly Off Club," "Ask Jimmy the Bartender," and "Ask the Girl Next Door."
Cons:
- Promotes expensive products.
- Contains numerous ads for fitness supplements.
- Takes a less mature approach to sex, resembling Cosmo for guys.
- Features increasingly provocative photos of women.
Attainable Lifestyle? Most of the clothes featured are eye-poppingly expensive, but they do include more affordable options like Levi's.
Percentage of the Magazine that Consists of Ads: 40%
Raunchy Sex Ad in Back? Yes
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 John Sullivans
Nylon for Guys: For the hip and fashion-forward
Sample Headlines:
- Mila Kunis Can Kick Your Ass! The Moody Genius of Mogwai
- Vintage Cameras Go on Sale; We Go Crazy
Target Readers: Nylon for Guys caters to 20-something guys who pride themselves on being hip.
Pros:
- Offers decent video game reviews.
- Showcases a wide variety of fashion brands and prices, including options for regular guys.
- Profiles interesting musicians and celebrities.
Cons:
- Contains an abundance of ads, often promoting unmanly products.
- Lacks practical advice or in-depth knowledge.
- Sacrifices readability in pursuit of a cool and edgy format.
- Focuses heavily on fashion.
Attainable Lifestyle? If you can afford $60 vintage-looking New Balance sneakers.
Raunchy Sex Ad in Back? Yes
Rating: 1 out of 5 John Sullivans
Maxim: For the entertainment-seeking individuals
Sample Headlines:
- The Sexiest Stars of 2009
- The World’s Most Dangerous Sport
- Shark Beach
- Coolest Cars of 2009
Target Readers: Maxim appeals to frat dudes in their 20s and teenage boys who aren't old enough to buy adult content.
Pros:
- Provides mindlessly entertaining content, akin to a People Magazine for men.
- Offers decent reviews of music, movies, and video games.
Cons:
- Lacks useful information or in-depth articles.
- Emphasizes objectifying women with seductive spreads.
- Takes a less mature and classy approach to women and sex.
Attainable Lifestyle? If you can afford a $60 Banana Republic shirt.
Percentage of the Magazine that Consists of Ads: 28%
Raunchy Sex Ad in Back? Naturally
Rating: 1 out of 5 John Sullivans
Esquire: For the refined gentleman with a touch of mischief
Sample Headlines:
- Wisdom and Damn Good Advice from…
- Ten Things You Don’t Know About Women
- Living Rationally
- Influence: The Art of Sweet Talking
Target Readers: Esquire caters to classy, refined, and slightly mischievous gentlemen.
Pros:
- Offers an excellent feature called "Man at His Best," providing a monthly guide to culture, movies, books, health, advice, and style.
- Balances women's presence tastefully.
- Provides intelligent content and often includes classic and vintage features.
Cons:
- Struggles with truly sincere content, often incorporating a hip and cheeky tinge.
Attainable Lifestyle? If you can afford a $25,000 watch (yes, seriously).
Percentage of the Magazine that Consists of Ads: 30%
Raunchy Sex Ad in Back? No
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 John Sullivans
Men’s Journal: For the rugged and adventurous man
Sample Headlines:
- Reboot Your Life
- The Man Who Defined Being a Man
- The Algae Oil Boom
- Better Than Yoga
Target Readers: Men’s Journal caters to rugged, adventurous, and sophisticated athletes and travelers or those aspiring to be.
Pros:
- Offers an excellent mix of articles on cars, sports, health, science, cooking, and more.
- Provides interesting, intelligent, and well-written content.
- Features arresting photographs of exotic locales and extreme sports.
Cons:
- Presents features that are more aspirational than realistic, promoting a narrowly attainable lifestyle.
Attainable Lifestyle? If you can afford the $3,200 a week needed to lodge on a private island.
Percentage of the Magazine that Consists of Ads: 40%
Raunchy Sex Ad in Back? No
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 John Sullivans
Men’s Fitness: For the fitness-conscious man
Sample Headlines:
- The Best All Body Exercise Ever
- Video Games and the Future of Fitness
- Get Ripped Fast
- Tight Abs
Target Readers: Men’s Fitness appeals to younger, fitness-oriented men.
Pros:
- Offers useful advice on health and fitness.
Cons:
- Focuses more on selling high-tech gadgets than providing useful information.
- Presents shallow articles as bite-sized pieces of information.
- Includes numerous ads for supplements.
- Lacks the well-rounded approach of Men’s Health.
- Heavily ad-driven.
Percentage of the Magazine that Consists of Ads: 47%
Raunchy Sex Ad in Back? Yes
Rating: 2 out of 5 John Sullivans
GQ: For the stylish and ambitious man
Sample Headlines:
- How to Dress for the Big Job
- The 25 Sexiest Women in Film of All Time
- The (Overworked, Slightly Distracted) Man’s Guide to Finally Getting Productive
Target Readers: GQ targets guys who aim to be cool while also aspiring to be taken seriously.
Pros:
- Offers great fashion tips, although leaning more toward hipster style than classic elegance.
- Occasionally features engaging, thoughtful articles about current events.
- Showcases great photography.
- Contains minimal ads.
Cons:
- Includes occasional topless images, so be cautious if you have young children.
Attainable Lifestyle? If you can afford $640 diore homme jeans (though the most recent issue provides a guide to dressing for under $100).
Percentage of the Magazine that Consists of Ads: 26%
Raunchy Sex Ad in Back? No
Rating: 3 out of 5 John Sullivans
In conclusion, finding the right magazine for men requires considering your age, interests, aspirations, and budget. Whether you're looking for fitness tips, fashion advice, in-depth articles, or entertaining fluff, there is a magazine out there that will meet your needs. Consider the pros and cons of each magazine and choose the one that aligns with your personality and goals. Happy reading!
