The international Outstanding Outdoor expert jury tested each of the 203 submitted products in practice. © OutDoor by ISPO

The first winners of the new Outstanding Outdoor Award have been selected. After reviewing 203 nominations in 28 categories, the international jury of experts selected products that set new standards in terms of their special functionality, striking design, safety improvements or exceptional innovation. Another constant focal point: sustainability.

The Outstanding Outdoor Award places the winners in a powerful spotlight and serves as an important guide about current and future trends for retailers, the media and consumers. The awards were presented on 30 June 2019 during the OutDoor by ISPO trade fair.

With the Outstanding Outdoor Award, OutDoor by ISPO honoured products that make the outdoor experience something truly special. One striking aspect of the nominations was the clear focus on sustainability. “The issues of sustainability and quality continue to be a high priority for retailers. Customers expect products to last a long time, to be produced in a resource-conserving manner and to be able to be repaired, if necessary,” said Nico Thomas, Product Manager for hardgoods at Globetrotter and a member of the Outstanding Outdoor jury.

The nominees for the award also provided a comprehensive peek at trends for the 2020 summer season. “In addition to demand for products that people use everyday, for example, to commute on their bicycles, the need for extremely light, multi-functional gear has increased tremendously in recent years,” commented Johannes Ahrens, the Chief Equipment Manager at Camp4 Berlin. “The demand for comfort remains the challenge. Even with all of the lightweight materials, enjoying nature is what it’s all about.”

Sustainability

The all-weather jacket Redmont made by Vaude is durable wind- and waterproof 1L jacket that represents a new generation of street- urban and outdoor wear for men that care about both style and the planet. Trims and logo applications are made of certified cork.

The choice to use GOTS (organic) cotton using natural dyes is a double win: no use of pesticides or herbicides during the growing process and it doesn’t hinder the natural biodegrading process of cotton the way synthetic dye does.

Comfort Performance

Breathable and extremely comfortable: the Futurelight jacket made by The North Face  brings a new level of waterproofing comfort to users. Nano-spinning allows to fine-tune levels of breathability, lets air move through while maintaining waterproofness. This technology is setting a standard in comfort and performance while maintaining sustainable practices in the fabric creation process, using recycled fabrics and a production that cuts chemical consumption.

Lightweight

Designed for (ski) mountaineers, the mountaineering belt Fly made by PETZL features a world premiere: the patented construction of the belt uses an innovative loop technique, which enables a balanced proportion between metal and conventional buckles. Removing the comfort foam, this lightness miracle minimises its weight from 120g to only 90g. Multiple gear loops and ice-screw retainers transport all the equipment required on technical adventures.

Urban Outdoor

The Myshelter Parley jacket by adidas Terrex shows how outdoor performance and urban lifestyle go together. The three-layer, yet very breathable construction and clever details make the jacket suitable for an active urban lifestyle (e.g. when commuting to work) and make no compromises in terms of style. Non-dyed fabric highlights the inner seam tape, which shines through the outer fabric showing a powerful message: For the Ocean.

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