OutDoor Industry Awards bestowed on 30 products

In only its second year, the OutDoor Industry Awards presentation at the OutDoor trade show in Friedrichshafen, Germany, took center stage at the end of day one on July 19. An international jury of retailers, designers, journalists and photographers bestowed 30 awards from a total of 204 entries received from 21 countries. From all the entries, there was one gold, six silver and 23 bronze awards bestowed.

The products being judged included apparel, shoes, backpacks/travel luggage, mountaineering equipment, camping equipment, sleeping bags, water sports and accessories. They were evaluated using the following criteria: degree of innovation, design quality, workmanship, choice of materials, environmental compatibility, functionality, utility, safety, trendsetting character and brand value.

Gold Award
>> Madillo foldable climbing helmet manufactured by Edelrid, Germany
Yep, a folding helmet, and the judges weren’t the only ones astounded. This product made a big impression on many people who viewed it in the Edelrid booth and in the award area during the show. It’s truly innovative and solves a problem climbers have faced for a long time – what to do with a bulky helmet when it’s not being used.

Silver Awards

>> Big Turn Catch All Fastener by Fidlock GmbH, Germany
Too cool. This is an unconventional and, in comparison to other fastener mechanisms, completely innovative idea. It’s a magnetic system that provides a truly functional fastening action with one-handed opening and closing. The company is now licensing this slick design to manufacturers.

>> R 320 Harness by Arc’Teryx, Canada
The judges recognized Arc’Teryx for taking something that is traditionally all about simple function and adding in the flare of design. One look at this climbing harness/belt screams Arc’Teryx all the way. With such attention to detail, it deserves the recognition.

>> ColdBlack treatment method for black textiles by Schoeller Textil AG, Switzerland
The special treatment technology by Schoeller is designed so that black materials do not warm up too much under heat allowing black textiles to remain functional in direct sunlight and heat as white or light-colored fabrics would.

>> Carbon Fyre Trail running shoes by Timberland/GoLite Footwear, United States
A combination of unique lugging and carbon fiber to provide amazing stability and performance in an extremely lightweight trail running shoe earned deserved kudos and recognition here.

>> Radikal Mountaineering shoes, Millet, France
Very Euro design and a nifty mix of technical materials that produce a very lightweight and modern presentation to a traditional mountaineering shoe category.

>> Primus EtaPower MF Outdoor stove by Primus, Sweden
Just as Jetboil turned heads several years ago, Primus has turned the judge’s heads here. No, it is not all that different from the Jetboil system in concept, but Primus has offered up a slightly unique take that is extremely functional and eminently useful.

Winners of Bronze recognition included: CamelBak Vantage 30 hydration pack, Columbia Hot Shot Shell, SealLine Messenger Bag, Gregory Palisade 80 backpack, Hydro-Photon Steripen, Innov-8 Racepro 28 shoe, Klattermusen Noatun jacket, Mammut Qogir jacket, Mountain Equipment Xero 250 sleeping bag, Odlo Quantum jacket, R’Adys MyShell jacket, Samsonite Sloth duffel, Silkbody Fleece jacket, Mion Satguru Trail shoe, X-Bionic Biber shirt, X-Bionic Fennec polo shirt, X-Bionic Trekking shirt, Vaude Ice Peak Extreme sleeping bag, Vaude Versametric Proof backpack, Vertical Blue Sph’Air, Vertical MP+Ceramic zipper, Merrell Robotic shoe, and Merrell Toast and Jam shoe.