ISPO Award Jury Meetings 2025 – A Trend Compass for the Sporting Goods Industry

Some jury days feel like they come with their own built-in dramaturgy. Early summer in Schröcken is one of them: rain, fog, and late-season snow patches on the slopes. Berghaus Schröcken sits like a retreat in the middle of an imposing alpine landscape — an ideal setting for the first jury meeting of 2025. As every year, the composition of the ISPO Award jury is clearly defined: three permanent expert jurors — Prof. Dr. Martina Wengenmeir, Dr. Regina Henkel, and Andi Spies — joined by moderator Ralf Kerkeling and three rotating members of the ISPO Collaborators Club. These additional members bring varied perspectives on materials, performance, and product technology. Together, they deliver a broad and balanced view on innovation, usability, and market potential. 

From remote Schröcken, the journey continues into late summer to a region that has been actively reinventing itself: the Kleinwalsertal. The valley carries a distinct mix of calm and momentum — the kind of atmosphere found in destinations consciously shaping their future. A light dusting of early snow lies on the surrounding peaks, while the valley floor still holds traces of summer. Much feels orderly, refined, modernized — a region in transition. Fittingly, the second meeting takes place at Naturhotel Chesa Valisa, a property known for its clear vision and deep regional roots. The environment becomes a productive space for the team: focused discussions indoors, short runs, walks, and moments to reset outdoors. This interplay between concentrated work and conscious movement gives the Q3 meeting both depth and clarity in a relaxed, grounded setting. 

Kitzbühel completes the arc. The Schlosshotel, surrounded by late-autumn colors and a region steeped in sporting heritage, provides the backdrop for the Q4 meeting — a fitting finale in one of the world’s most renowned alpine destinations. By the end of the year, one thing is certain: 73 products will receive an ISPO Award in 2025. The ultimate question — which submissions will rise to the top across eight categories — will be answered at ISPO Munich, where the Gold Awards are presented on opening day. 

Anyone following the jury discussions across the meetings quickly notices an overarching shift: sport is becoming broader, more social, and more holistic. “Health will become a massive market,” explains juror Prof. Dr. Martina Wengenmeir — referring to far more than physical fitness. Movement increasingly serves as a resource for mental balance, social connection, and identity. Running communities, urban running, and mixed-use outdoor activities blur the boundaries between city and mountains, requiring products that move seamlessly between environments. At the same time, a trend that has been building over the past two years becomes unmistakable: multifunctionality. It is no longer a trend — it is an expectation. Consumers want fewer products, but with broader use cases. A jacket that performs on the trail without looking overly technical in the city, or footwear that transitions effortlessly from travel to everyday life to outdoor terrain — this is where the innovation energy of 2025 is particularly strong. “Trail-to-City” becomes the hallmark of a new design philosophy. Equally influential is the growing role of ingredient brands. Whether advanced fibers, next-generation membrane technologies, or novel insulation systems: many of the most sophisticated developments emerge from close collaboration between brands and suppliers. Across the meetings, it becomes clear how strongly these partnerships shape innovation — from glue-free constructions to rethought tent systems. 

Further trends solidifying across the year include: 

• Child-specific performance products: designed from the ground up, not simply scaled-down adult versions.
• Women-for-Women design: functional and emotional progress developed with genuine insight, not adaptation.
• Reduced, clear aesthetics: less bulk, more precision, longer usage cycles. 

Particularly striking is the strong innovation momentum coming from Asia. Brands from the region show increasing depth in material expertise and a strong understanding of circularity. Advanced textile solutions, fully circular design concepts, and high technical precision characterize many submissions. “China has long understood that circularity is essential,” notes Dr. Regina Henkel. “You see this both in the innovation level and in the strategic direction of many products.” Across all meetings, the picture is consistent: micro-innovations, clean execution, bold detail work — and often surprising everyday usability. 

With innovation accelerating, the need for clearer structures increases. This is exactly where the redesigned ISPO Award 2025 comes in: for the first time, submissions are evaluated within eight defined categories. In each category, the jury identifies the Top 5 highest-scoring products. From this group, one Gold Winner is selected — a benchmark for exceptional relevance, innovation, and long-term market potential. This new structure creates transparency: for brands seeking to communicate their achievements more clearly; for media looking for orientation; and particularly for retailers. “The ISPO Award acts like a filter — it highlights which products will genuinely matter for the market,” explains juror Andi Spies. This sentiment runs through all meetings: retailers need clear signals, and the award provides them. 

At the same time, 2025 underscores a key shift: sustainability is baseline — circularity is the next mandatory step. Developing take-back systems, repair-friendly construction, durable materials, and collaboration between the outdoor, textile, and recycling industries is no longer considered visionary but essential. The jury sees this as one of the most significant structural transitions shaping the industry. When the 73 awarded products are presented at ISPO Munich 2025, they will showcase far more than technical sophistication. Together, they illustrate how the industry is positioning itself for the future: more responsible, more user-focused, and prepared to see sport as part of a broader societal movement.