Name: Antoine Haincourt
Company: Emylon Business School
Title:Head of MSc in Sports, Entertainment & Lifestyle
Country: France & Canada

Favorite outdoor activities:
Ski touring, climbing, ice climbing, running, but overall hiking & kayaking in Scandinavia.

What’s your main contribution of being in the Jury do you think?
I’m what you might call an outdoor enthusiast – I’ve  worked in this industry for over 20 years, trying to make sense of the needs of the consumers a to help provide the most appropriate answers. I must also avow that I had the chance to use outdoor gear in all conditions, and getting paid for it. 

I’m now a practitioner scholar in a business schoo, but I have always wished to maintain a link with the industry, in particular through writing articles questioning the strategy of companies in the sector. 

Name: Jarda Zaoral
Company: Freelance Photographer, Writer and Blogger at www.thebestviewpoints.com

Favourite outdoor activities:
Hiking and climbing mountains around the world and basically all winter sports, especially nordic skating and all kinds of skiing
 
What’s your main contribution of being in the Jury do you think?
I started testing outdoor equipment during my project European Peaks which I brought me to the highest peak of every European country between 2018 and 2019 so I will be looking at the products how they can handle tough mountain conditions. For me, it’s important to find balance between light weight and durable material.

 

Name: Astrid Schlüchter
Company: PERFORMANCE DAYS functional fabric fair (Design & Development GmbH Textile Consult)
Title: Senior Communication Manager Country: Germany

Favorite outdoor activities:
Snowboarding, Mountainbiking/Downhill, hiking, general outdoor sports, running and fitness, climbing

What’s your main contribution of being in the Jury do you think?
I have been deeply rooted in the outdoor- and fashionindustry for over 15 years. After studying at ESMOD in Munich, I built a reputation as a freelance journalist specializing in sports, lifestyle and fashion, following my most recent role as editor-in-chief of the B2B magazine SAZsport. Perhaps that’s why I’ve had the opportunity to contribute my expertise as a jury member for the ISPO Awards, as well as a member of the “she is outdoors” Awards and the SAZsport Newcomer Awards Startrampe. The field of performance and sportswear has always been my primary interest. Whether it’s fabrics and their composition, exciting new technical solutions, innovative design approaches, or developments in insulation and membranes, it’s a passion that ultimately led me to support the sustainable sourcing fair for functional fabrics & accessories PERFORMANCE DAYS in my new role as communications manager. I’ve always sought balance from everyday life in the mountains—preferably through mountain biking, hiking, or snowboarding. Having appropriate equipment and clothing by my side is essential. Primarily, my focus is on defining the utility of a product and then, of course, in a second step, whether it offers a benefit for the active athlete. In the future, it’s crucial for brands to constantly question whether introducing a new product to the market is worthwhile—considering factors like production methods, location, and the ability to fully recycle garments back into the cycle.

 

 

Name: Nadine Regel
Company: Freelance sports journalist for Süddeutsche Zeitung and outdoor/mountaineering media such as bergundsteigen, outdoor-Magazin, magazines of the German alpine association and many more. Topics: expedition mountaineering, climbing, trail/ultra running, skimo, focus on female athletes/adventurers. https://nadineregel.com @nadineausnahme
Location: Munich, Germany

Favorite outdoor activities:
Thru-Hiking, mountaineering, trekking, trail running, ski touring and experiencing outdoors with my dog Ralfi and my friends. Since 2020 mostly traveling Europe with my camper van to find new places and stories.

What’s your main contribution of being in the Jury do you think?
My heart belongs to the outdoors. Over the past 20 years I have traveled the world and experienced several continents mainly through my activities in nature. Trekking is one of my biggest passions as it gives me the most profound feeling of freedom. I’m super happy to share my experiences and knowledge with a broad audience through my publications. On my (research) trips I always have equipment with me for testing purposes. Currently, I’m writing a book about my alp cross that I did with my dog Ralfi in 2023. Also for this year we have planned a big trip – this time we are trekking with tent. What I value the most about gear is versatility and durability. When I’m in the outdoors I want to trust my equipment 100 percent and try to make use of most of it for different purposes. Rating and recommending products that I have thoroughly tested is just what helps other people to have wonderful experiences in the outdoors. That’s why I’m super happy to be part of the jury fall/winter 2024.

 

 

Name: Fredrik Ekström

Company: Above the Clouds & Scandinavian Mind
Above The Clouds: Founder, Brand Strategist and Consumer Insight Specialist. Creator of two annual insight reports, The NXT Outdoor Consumer Report and The NXT Sustainable Consumer Report. Based on 2500 nordic respondents.
Scandinavian MIND: Editor-at-Large Outdoor & Sustainability
Founder of: Explorers Run Club Trailfulness running Chamonix, and Freelance Strategy Days, ski touring and freelance network co-creation in Engelberg.

Country: Sweden

Favorite outdoor activities:
By far my greatest passion is mountain trail runnig, long slow distances, not to win any race, but rather as explorative journeys with a mix of running and mindfulness – Trailfulness. That is also the focus of the Explorers Running Club. However, I just love to be outdoors and I always have a lot of activities as ongoing projects and trips, it’s a lot of hiking, climbing, back country skiing and ski touring. Probably the usual mix of adrenalin and connecting with nature.

What’s your main contribution of being in the Jury do you think? 
My main contribution is probably the deep knowledge I have in outdoor consumer behavior, outdoor trends and lifestyle context, linked to branding, products and sustainability, but also how this could merge into more of a lifestyle usage and place the products in a wider context, that is increasingly important for outdoor brands today when entering new markets or addressing new consumer groups.

Name: Doug Schnitzspahn
Company: Editor in Chief, Elevation Outdoors Magazine
Title: Expert in Sports Clothing Design & Functional Material Concepts I Innovation & Sustainability Consultancy
Country: US

Favorite outdoor activities:
Skiing, mountain biking, hiking, and yoga. 
I spent the past three decades testing gear out in the field and as a journalist I have reported on and researched the ins and outs of manufacturing and supply chains. I was a part of the Scandinavian Summits team around Matthias Aßmann and contributed to SOA during the jury meeting some years back.

What’s your main contribution of being in the Jury do you think?
Award-winning writer Doug Schnitzspahn is a leading voice in outdoor, travel, music, and conservation journalism in North America. Since 2009, he has served as the editor-in-chief of Elevation Outdoors magazine and he worked as the editor-in-chief of Outdoor Retailer magazine and The Daily, the official publication of the Outdoor Retailer trade shows.

Photo: Carlo Nasisse

Name: Alexa Dehmel
Company: Active sports design & consulting
Title: Expert in Sports Clothing Design & Functional Material Concepts I Innovation & Sustainability Consultancy
Country: Germany

Favorite outdoor activities:
Skitouring, hiking, general outdoor enthusiast, tennis player, SUP paddler and occasional kite surfer

What’s your main contribution of being in the Jury do you think?
My world is Outdoor sports and the textile industry. I grew up in the Black Forest and was a youth pro athlete in ski racing and tennis. After my studies in fashion design and tailoring in Paris, I went back to Germany and founded my agency in Munich for sports design over 20 years ago. I was blessed to design many great Mountain-, Water- and Performance Sports collections. For many years I guided the „ISPO Award“ Jury in Apparel and was Head judge for the „She is Outdoors“ Award. For 14 years I have curated the functional „Fabric Forum“ at „Performance Days“ – Functional Fabric Fair. Any new fabric development goes through my hands.
My main contribution will be to advise if the products are well thought and developed in all their details for the respective purpose and end consumer. I can also contribute the know-how about the purposeful fabrics and trims use in the garments.

Name: Sarah Muehl
Company: The Female Explorer  @sarih.woodstock, 
Title: Co-Founder + Creative Director Leipzig
Country: Germany

Favorite outdoor activities:
(Thru-)Hiking, Trekking, Camping, Climbing, Snowshoe-Hiking and spending time outdoors as wild as possible

What’s your main contribution of being in the Jury do you think?
We launched our print-magazine in 2020 and I’ve been the editor-in-chief for the first 4 issues and gear editor for the past 3 years. Together with our team we are developing campaigns and content that connects brands and the female outdoor community. We are part of this female community and have listened to their feedback, needs and wishes for outdoor equipment. On a personal level, it was hiking a long section of the Pacific Crest Trail in 2022 that gave me a whole new perspective on ultralight-gear, essentials and comfort on trail and being in total wilderness. I became been even more obsessed with materials, functionality and durability and am always looking for gear and clothing that fits our values: it should be sustainable, high performing and made for all bodies and sizes outdoors.

Name: Linda Åkerberg
Company: Freelance, Wilderness Stories, Topo Travel
Title: Professional adventurer, Outdoor communicator & content creator. Mountain leader.
Country: Sweden

Favorite outdoor activities:
Favorite outdoor activities: Hiking, Kayaking, Nordic Backcountry skiing, sailing

What’s your main contribution of being in the Jury do you think?
During the years within the outdoor business, I have had the honor to test a lot of gear and clothes – but as an adventurer (with focus on long-distance) I also know what will work in the long term and what is just a fancy detail. Functionality, sustainability and innovation is what I look for (fancy details on top of that is off course a bonus!). And as a mountain leader I can also tell what products that are beneficial for people that don’t spend as much time in nature as I do. So “user friendliness” is also a feature that I will look for in the products we test.

Name: Christian Milbo
Company: Outsite.dk
Title: Cheif Editor
Country: Denmark

Favorite outdoor activities:
Hiking in Scandinavia. Best above the arctic circle in the mountains.

What’s your main contribution of being in the Jury do you think?
I been testing and reviewing gear since 2009, and guiding groups in Lapland, Greenland and Iceland, where the gear needs to be the best. I’ve been on two expeditions and most important: Learned from the best in the outdoor business.

Name: Victoria Reim
Company: NORR Agency
(NORR Magazin, Suston – Sustainable Outdoor News, utsidan.se) 

Title: Project Manager & Writer at NORR Agency 
Country: Sweden

Favorite outdoor activities:
I can never get enough of the Nordic wilderness – I love exploring it on foot, from the water, on skis, or on horseback. As well as active multi-day trips, I also enjoy mindfulness walks, where I can focus on the nature around me.

What’s your main contribution of being in the Jury do you think?
My true love of the outdoors and the desire to inspire people to explore it in the most sustainable way possible – whether that’s through travel, activity, or equipment! With NORR, we give the outdoor community a voice and a platform to communicate their products and developments. At the same time, we share our own knowledge and guidance on how to enjoy a more sustainable outdoor lifestyle.

Name: Björn Meurer
Company: Trampelpfadlauf.de – Outdoor Blog since 2013
Title: Editor in chief / Co-Founder
Country: Germany

Favorite outdoor activities:
Trailrunning, mountainbiking, hiking, fastpacking, backpacking, stand up paddling, snowboarding, cross country skiing, outdoor cooking  and just spending time in nature. And all of these activities, I prefer to do with my Australian Sheepdog called Nugget.

What’s your main contribution of being in the Jury do you think?
With our blog, www.trampelpfadlauf.de, we have now over 10 years experience in testing outdoor stuff. In the beginning we were focused on products just for trailrunners. But over the years, we get more and more other products. I found my passion for outdoor sport about 20 years ago. It started with mountainbiking and moved more and more in running, hiking and just being outdoor. Now I spend as much time as I have in the nature, sometimes running, and sometimes just being outdoor and relax.

Trampelpfadlauf.de

Trampelpfadlauf – Podcast
Trampelpfadlauf – facebook.com
Trampelpfadlauf – Instagram
Trampelpfadlauf – YouTube

 

Name: Marika Varpenius
Company: Outdoor magazine Luode
Title: Founder, editor in chief
Country: Finland

Favorite outdoor activities:
Hiking, skiing, winter fishing with nets. I also have 10 siberian huskies.

What’s your main contribution of being in the Jury do you think?
 I used to test outdoor gear as a profession and worked as an outdoor journalist for 7 years. Then I moved to Kilpisjärvi in Finnish Lapland, a small village of 150 people, and wanted to do something else. My life was earlier all about hiking (weeks in Lapland) and when I moved here, it changed. Now it is just everyday life outdoors, above treeline in wind and snow. I can open my front door and walk the fells. I used to call that hiking. Now it is everyday life, outdoor gear is everyday gear. At the same time I still wanted to write and offer Finnish outdoor people something special. So I founded a new magazine in Finland, Luode.

Luode Stories

Luode Stories Instagram

Name: Sofie Lantto
Company: Utemagasinet
Title: Art Director and social media
Country: Sweden

Favorite outdoor activities:
Gravel bike, running, swimming, hiking, kayaking, ski-touring and ice-skating.

What’s your main contribution of being in the Jury do you think?
Grew up in Lapland with the mountains outside my door. Been trying outdoor gear since I was born and have been working in the mountains, on foot and on skiis before I started working as an Art Director.

 

Name: Werner Müller-Schell
Company: NORR Agency (NORR, 365, Scandinavian Outdoor News and Suston)
Title: Editor
Country: Sweden

Favorite outdoor activities:
The outdoors is my passion, and since an early age I have been an avid sports enthusiast. After growing up in the foothills of the Alps, I moved to Stockholm from where I explore the Nordic nature – mostly by bike, by foot or on skis.

What’s your main contribution of being in the Jury do you think?
Having worked for international print and online media, as well as agencies and brands in the outdoors and sports sector, I know the industry and different product worlds very well. In recent years I’ve focused more and more on sustainability topics. That’s why I’m happy to represent NORR in the jury. With NORR, we give the sustainable outdoor community a voice and a platform to communicate their products and developments. At the same time, we spread our own knowledge and guide to a more sustainable way of life.

www.norragency.com
www.norrmagazin.de
365 (Naturkompaniet)
Scandinavian Outdoor News
Suston (Sustainable Outdoor News)

Name: Harald Angerer
Company: auffimuasi.at – Trailrunning Blog since 2012
Title: Blogger, Founder
Country: Austria

Favorite outdoor activities:
Mostly trailrunning in summer and skimountaineering in winter. In Summer also normal running, mountainbiking, roadcycling und bike&hike. In winter alpine skiing and cross country skiing, classic and skating.

What’s your main contribution of being in the Jury do you think?
I have been working as a journalist and press photographer for almost 30 years. It all started with photography and snowboarding 32 years ago. I actually come from the sports industry, but then switched to the media industry 30 years ago. 10 years ago I brought together my passions, sporting goods, photography, mountain sports and writing in my hobby project, the blog “auffimuasi”. “auffimuasi” is translates to “I have to go up” and reflects my enthusiasm for mountain sports. Combined with my enthusiasm for the products, this has resulted in the focus on product testing.

www.auffimuasi.at

Name: Victoria Reim
Company: NORR Agency (NORR, 365, Scandinavian Outdoor News and Suston)
Title: Project Manager
Country: Sweden

Favorite outdoor activities:
I can never get enough of the Nordic nature – I love to discover it by foot, from the water, on skies or on a horseback. In addition to active multi-day tours, I appreciate mindfulness hikes with a pure focus on the nature around me.

What’s your main contribution of being in the Jury do you think?
My true love for nature and the will to inspire people to discover the outdoors in the most sustainable way – whether it’s the way of travelling, the activity or gear. With NORR, we give the sustainable outdoor community a voice and a platform to communicate their products and developments. At the same time, we spread our own knowledge and guide to a more sustainable way of life.

www.norragency.com
www.norrmagazin.de
365 (Naturkompaniet)
Scandinavian Outdoor News 
Suston (Sustainabile Outdoor News)

Name: Bjarke Rosenbeck
Company: GrejGuide.dk / theOutdoorBeat.com
Title: Founder and editor
Country: Denmark

Favorite outdoor activities:
Favourite outdoor activities: Hiking, microadventures, MTB and trail running.

What’s your main contribution of being in the Jury do you think?
What’s your main contribution to being on the Jury do you think: Having tested gear and written outdoor gear reviews since 2008, I have tried both great and not so great gear. I have a great affinity towards products that match outdoorsy persons real needs.

www.grejguide.dk
www.365microadventures.com
www.afinityspring.com

Name: Petra Rapp
Company: Bergsteiger Magazin (existing since 90 years and the oldest commercial mountain magazin in the world) & www.petra-rapp.blogspot.com
Title: Editor
Country: Germany

Favorite outdoor activities:
Skitouring, skiing and cross-country skiing, hiking and trekking, biking and long walks outside with my dog.

What’s your main contribution of being in the Jury do you think?
I’ve been writing in the sports and outdoor industry for over 25 years, and I’ve been engaging in multisport outdoor activities for even longer. Testing products and sharing insights about them has become almost my ‘daily bread.’ There’s truly nothing better than being out in nature, equipped with exceptional products that enhance the experience. The thrill of discovering these standout products amid a sea of options never fades.

Name: Linda Åkerberg
Company: Wilderness Stories
Title: Adventurer and content creator
Country: Sweden

Favorite outdoor activities:
I love all kinds of activities – especially if I haven’t tried them before! I’m curious by nature and love to explore both myself, nature and new things. If I had to pick one activity I would say long-distance hiking in the mountains.

What’s your main contribution of being in the Jury do you think?
Spending a lot of time in nature on different adventures gives me an idea of what functions that are really appreciated and helpful in the products and not only a “cool feature”. When I pick products for my own adventures I am very picky and look at both functionality, sustainability, quality, weight, comfort, price etc and I think all of this is important for a winner as well. I will also look for how the brand have adapted the products for the female body (if applicable) or if they only produce products by male standards.

website: wilderness-stories.com
instagram: @wildernessstories

Name: Carsten Jost
Company: Outward Bound Germany and Fastpacking.de
Title: Outdoor Education Program Manager
Country: Germany/Austria

Favorite outdoor activities:
Long-distance-hiking with tent (backpacking) using lightweight equipment. But as a dad of two children also a lot of family outdoor activities.

What’s your main contribution of being in the Jury do you think?
The variety of gear that I used and that I am interested in. My outdoor career started at age 6 with the boy scouts, led to a job in outdoor retail, followed me e.g. along the Pacific Crest Trail and brought me to managing outdoor programmes for Outward Bound. Gear is important but more so is the person using it.

www.fastpacking.de

Name: Leslie & Nate Axvig 
Company: Aktiv
Title: Owners
Country: United States

Favorite outdoor activities:
Downhill skiing (Leslie) Cross-country skiing (Nate), hiking, cycling, drinking wine or beer outside, outdoor concerts.

What’s your main contribution of being in the Jury do you think?
The origin story for our brand is as organic as it gets. Our family and moved to Oslo for additional legal education after we spent 17 years in the litigation trenches. As we lived in Norway we discovered: 1. Norwegians and Coloradans dress the same way, quasi-technical almost all the time. 2. The brands from Scandinavia make the best clothing in the world. When we returned to Colorado we decided to bring those clothes to the United States, first through a website (aktivstyle.com) and later to a store in the Denver Metro area. For the jury, we think our background will bring a fresh perspective to the review as we pick clothing for the store that is built well, is sustainable, technical but also at home with everyday wear.

activestyle.com

Name: Jana Erb
Company: KontraPixel
Title: Photographer
Country: Germany

Favorite outdoor activities
Favorite outdoor activities Hiking, climbing, backpacking, horseback riding and trail biking.

What’s your main contribution of being in the Jury do you think?
As an Outdoor and Adventure Photographer I spend a lot of time Outdoors with a lot of heavy equipment to carry under all possible conditions. Good Equipment makes my life so much easier and my backpack so much lighter! I have also been working at Globetrotter in Munich for 6 years, selling Backpacks, Sleepingbags, Shoes and Equipment for Kids. I have had a fair chance to see how the products changed and developed over time, and what the potential buyer wants and needs. I know what the key features of the equipment are, how a backpack carrying system works and the difference between a hiking and an alpine boot. Plus I love talking gear, developing new ideas and making outdoor gear a little more suitable for women adventurers.

Social Media: @kontrapixel

Website: kontrapixel.de
Blog: KontraPixel

Name: Gijs Loning
Company: www.outdoorguru.com
Title: Independent gear reviewer/vlogger/blogger
Country: The Netherlands

Favorite outdoor activities:
Camping, mountainbiking, making campfires, being outdoors, watching stars, cooking on campfires.

What’s your main contribution of being in the Jury do you think?
I am an 100% independent outdoor gear and bike journalist/reviewer/blogger and next to outdoorguru.com Youtube is my main channel. I look at products from a consumer’s point of view without forgetting that the gear needs to be produced for a certain price. I always take sustainability into my judgment. And sustainable can mean longevity instead of a total environmental friendly production. When I say I am independent I mean 100% INDEPENDENT. I am not payed for what I do and I don’t have affiliate deals. I don’t have advertisements on my website and I don’t sell anything.

Outdoorguru / Youtube
Outdoorguru / Instagram
Outdoorguru / Facebook

Name: Cath prisk
Company: Outdoor People
Title: CEO
Country: UK

Favorite outdoor activities
Walking, Swimming, Camping. Exploring mountains, beaches, parks and forgotten urban green places…

What’s your main contribution of being in the Jury do you think?
I sell great kit in East London to customers who want to be outdoors more and look after the planet. Through all our work we try to appeal not just to the experienced explorers, but to everyone. How can the products entice more people outdoors? And how are they looking after the planet in doing so?

Cath Prisk / Twitter
Cath Prisk / LinkedIn

outdoorpeople.org.uk
Outdoorpeople / Instagram

Name: Marie Kjellnäs
Company: Utemagasinet
Title: Editor in chief
Country: Sweden

Favorite outdoor activities
Hiking, kayaking, XC-skiing, skitouring, iceskating … and chilling, eating, drinking 😊

What’s your main contribution of being in the Jury do you think?
I have 25 years of personal experience of all year outdoor life, and a love for outdoor gear and clothing. In my profession I deal with the readers of Utemagasinet, Sweden’s leading Outdoor and Adventure Magazine, who buy more sports- and outdoor gear than any other magazine subscribers in our country. They are really picky and want to know Why? Who? How? When? before they buy anything. Our job is to guide them in the gear jungle, and I believe that I work for them in this jury too..

Name: Philipp Olsmeyer
Company: NORR Agency (NORR, 365, Scandinavian Outdoor News and Suston)
Title: Editorial Manager
Country: Sweden

Favorite outdoor activities:
I love exploring nature – in best case combined with a dip in cool waters. Each activity that takes me there is welcome, while trail-running, hiking, ski touring and roaming the near forests with dog and family are those I spend most time with.

What’s your main contribution of being in the Jury do you think
My mission as a journalist is to inspire and help people to discover the outdoors how it fits them best as a person. To show with the help of good stories and people that there are endless possibilities to enrich life by nature. And to demonstrate how to do so in the most sustainable way – both when it comes to behavior outside and the choice of activity, location or gear. I contribute with my own experience in Nordic nature, good knowledge about sustainability issues and a broad understanding for the needs of different outdoor target groups.

 

Name: Karen Hensel
Company: NORR/Suston/365
Title: Editor in chief (NORR)
Country: Sweden/Germany

Favorite outdoor activities
Hiking, windsurfing, swimming, kajaking, snowboarding, Nordic skiing

What’s your main contribution of being in the Jury do you think?
As an outdoor journalist and editor in chief for NORR magazine, I’ve been out in the wilds for more than 15 years in a multitude of conditions and expect high quality functioning outdoor products. Apart from their technical performance, I set an extra focus on the sustainability principles of the brands and products which should affect the environment in the least possible way.

norrmagazin.de
sustonmagazine.com

Name
Cajsa Rännar

Company
Swedish outdoor magazine Friluftsliv

Title
Editor in chief

Country
Sweden

Favorite outdoor activities
Hanging out in the mountains, hiking, skiing, camping, just chilling. Or make a fire and cook some really good food.  

What’s your main contribution of being in the Jury do you think?
The readers of Friluftsliv are ordinary people who are interested in the outdoors. For ten years I’ve written for them and tried to keep them and their needs in mind in  a business that sometimes are swept away in small technical questions and innovations that are merely nice to have. They keep my feet on the ground and my perspective a little bit different. 

Name: Joel Svedlund
Company: Peak 63 AB
Title: Sustainability Specialist
Country: Sweden

Favorite outdoor activities:
Snowkiting, skitouring, kitesurfing, kayaking, mountainbiking, hiking, nature ice skating… but also enjoying stillness, great views and gourmet outdoor meals!

What’s your main contribution of being in the Jury do you think?
Sustainability, innovation and product development knowledge with specifics on materials, production methods etc.

www.peak63.se

Name: Piotr Drożdż
Company: Góry Magazine
Title: Editor-in-chief
Country: Poland

Favorite outdoor activities:
Climbing, hiking, skitouring, outdoor photography and slackline.

What’s your main contribution of being in the Jury do you think?
Experience as jury member, dynamic character 😉  and – last but not least – my camera which can capture all our adventures and discussions in the beautiful surroundings.

Name
Will Renwick

Company
Outdoors Magic

Title
Editor

Country
UK

Favorite outdoor activities
Long distance hiking and trail running

What’s your main contribution of being in the Jury do you think
I come with seven years of experience testing all kinds of outdoor gear for print and digital publications but I’d say my main expertise lies in equipment for hiking and backpacking. Over the last decade I’ve completed a number of long solo treks, including the Cambrian Way, the 1000-mile path around Wales, the Alta Via 2 through the Dolomites and a coast to coast of Scotland. At the moment, I’m pretty fixated on ultralight stuff as I’m fine tuning my fast packing kit list for an attempt to run end-to-end of Wales via all of its mountains over 600-metres.

Name: Frank Wacker
Company: Motor Presse Stuttgart
Title: Equipment Editor for The Outdoor, the leading german hiking and backpacking publication.
Country: Germany

Favorite outdoor activities:
Multli-day trips with tent (backpacking) during all for seasons, day-hikes on and off trail through out the gear – and all the time testing gear while being out.

What’s your main contribution of being in the Jury do you think?
I have more than 25 years of experience in testing and comparing outdoor gear, within in industry I am known to be one of the best testers worldwide – and although I am gear freak I understand the needs of “normal” hikers and backpackers.

Motor Presse Stuttgart