Did you hear?… ispo show's outdoor, ski and “eco-design” awards announced

Awards covering various categories were handed out at the recently concluded ispo sports show in Munich, Germany, with safety, comfort and the environment dominating among winners.

Outdoor awards

>> Hardware — Leki: Twister Interchangeable Basket System — The basket can be freely rotated 360 degrees and is well-suited for use on terrain with up to a 45-degree slope. For winter touring, to pole models — Air Ergo 2 and 3 — have the new Twister baskets.

>> Softgoods — Rossignol: Harness Pants — The pants for freeriders have an integrated climbing harness for safety in unexpected emergencies.

>> Footwear — Hanwag: Ivalo GTX — The boot has minute glass particles that can’t be felt with the fingers embedded in key zones to keep users from slipping on ice.

>> Electronics — Petzl: Ultra Belt — The headlamp designed for fast-moving, endurance sports has three adjustable illumination levels and a rechargeable battery.

>> Backcountry — Snowpulse: Life Bag — Designed in case of avalanches, the bag has a mechanical trigger with easy access and inflates in less than three seconds. It is now the lightest and most compact system on the market.

>> Other — Power’n play: CU — Prism glasses allow climbers to watch each other without cocking the head back.

Ski awards

>> Hardware — Volkl: Racetiger GS Power Switch — The new generation of Power Switch has three settings: “Cruise,” “Dynamic” and “Power.” Carbon tubes integrated into the skis are either completely relieved of loads (Cruise) or completely tightened (Power) and consequently change the flex behavior of the skis.

>> Ski Wear — Sympatex Technology: Eco-Blue Ski Jacket Women — A new recycled laminate and an environmentally compatible production method are incorporated into this prototype by the supplier.

>> Ski Boots — Salomon: Falcon CS Pro — The technology makes precise shoe fitting possible.

>> Nordic — Leki: Shark Glove — Similar to a thin climbing rope, the loop between the pointer finger and thumb is simply hooked into a Leki Shark pole for better handling.

>> Ski Binding — Marker: iPT Wideride — The integrated ski binding system has a 30-percent larger contact area.

>> Other — X-Technology: Ski Metal Socks — The metal in the socks works to warm the user’s feet.

Volvo SportsDesign “EcoDesign” awards

More than 300 companies and designers submitted their products for the eight categories. The main criteria in judging was sustainable design consisting of functionality, form, innovative step, ergonomics, shape and production, material, manufacturing, distribution, product life cycle, recyclability and usability.

>> Outdoor Equipment — Nextec: OutDry membrane system for waterproofing footwear, Italy – OutDry is a membrane technology that allows footwear waterproofing without the use of solvent-based glue.

>> Ski Equipment — Grown Skis: Wooden Skis, Germany — Grown Skis have entirely eliminated fiberglass, plastic top sheet or sidewalls, foil with prints or varnish from the production process.

>> Board Equipment — Amer-Salomon: Salomon Snowboards, SickStick, France — The sustainable construction of the SickStick is the result of a three-year development process, driven by Salomon’s goal to improve the performance of its products while significantly reducing the ecological cost of snowboard production.

>> Apparel — Klattermusen: Einride Jacket, Sweden — The Etap-cotton in the Einride Jacket is made from organic cotton, grown according to the EU’s organic agricultural guidelines and is controlled internationally by independent organization Skal International. The jacket is densely woven from organic cotton and highly windproof, keeping you dry in light rain for several hours at a time.

>> Wheelers — Essedum: CycleCaddy Wagon, Germany — Essedum created the first-ever golf trolley that is compatible for use with a bicycle. Now golfers can get to the first tee just as easily by bike.

>> Accessories — Plantaplast: BioGolfTee, Austria — Plantaplast has created the first-ever 100-percent biodegradable golf tee, made from entirely natural wheat starch combined with a combination of other natural polymers.

>> Concepts — Max Koriath: “schöner bootfahren,” Weissensee School of Art Berlin, Germany — The entire boat is made of beech wood, a type of wood native to Germany and other countries.

>> Special Award — EcoBrand of the Year: Patagonia, USA

For more about the competition, the awards, the winners and finalists, click here.