Four times a year, an international jury of experts made up of industry professionals and sports enthusiasts from the ISPO Collaborators Club selects the best products in sports. Here are the impressions of the third round in 2023.
The international jury of experts, made up of industry professionals and sports enthusiasts from the ISPO Collaborators Club, meets a total of four times a year to select the best products in sports. Now, after the third ISPO Award jury meeting in 2023, the winners have been selected. We present the winning products and explain which trends the jury observed.
27 sports and outdoor products from a wide range of categories have once again made it onto the winners' podium. Products that stand for the unbroken innovative spirit of the industry and for its willingness to continuously develop. How can you tell? For example, when you look at the new materials for products like personalizable shin guards and even lighter sleeping pads, new fabric constructions for down chambers, even more versatile lamp systems and new target groups, such as menopausal women. As in previous award rounds, the topic of sustainability also played a central role, but not as prominently as in the past. The use of recycled materials has become the new standard for sustainably oriented products, and now brands are focusing on other sustainability solutions such as the consideration of recyclability and repairability.
Many of the products submitted had one thing in common: comfort played an important role. The jury discovered some new solutions. Comfort is a broad field - many functions of outdoor and sports products ultimately serve comfort. Equipment and clothing should be as light, comfortable, temperature-regulating and protective as possible. To improve these features even further, brands found new approaches such as electrically powered heating components that are becoming increasingly flexible and invisible, while the necessary batteries are getting smaller and lighter.
Versatility is another trendy topic that product developers in the industry are currently dealing with extensively. Products should be as multisport-compatible and durable as possible. One approach, for example, is product sets made up of different components. This creates an "aha" effect and the products can be expanded and changed in just a few steps.
As different as the products were, they had one thing in common: they were truly convincing and impressed the six-member jury. This time, the jury members met for "Workation" in St. Vigil in South Tyrol to spend two days examining all the products that had made it into the final selection. Once again, the expert jury consisted of two groups: the permanent expert jury team, made up of magazine maker and snowboard veteran Andi Spies, outdoor journalist and professor of sports journalism & digitalization in sports Martina Wengenmeir, and textile expert and trade journalist Regina Henkel. As in previous rounds, the jury was also supported by enthusiastic amateur athletes from the ISPO Collaborators Club, who are newly selected each time, in order to incorporate the consumer's perspective into the selection process. This time, multisport athlete and mountain fan Hanna Betzle from Germany, ski instructor Christian Krobath from Austria, and multisport athlete and mountaineer Sebastiano Giampiccolo from Italy joined the team.
According to the new concept introduced in 2022, the ISPO Award jury will meet a total of four times a year. However, brands can apply throughout the year and decide in which quarter they would like to present their product or service. The winners will be presented at the ISPO Award Exhibition at ISPO Munich from November 28 to 30, 2023.
Whether on the way to work, to leisure time or simply on the way up - mobility combines an active lifestyle with maximum flexibility. Right at the forefront are these ISPO Award winners that take the way you get around to a new level.
When the "Makers and Shakers" of the industry gather, it's finally that time again: the winners of the ISPO Awards receive their trophies. Glasses clink, loud applause and a shrill "Whooo" here and there permeate the ISPO Award Exhibition Area as the 34 winners are announced. A special highlight: The Public Choice Award goes to Hezo Cycling. We have summarized the Award Gathering spectacle for you.
So, as Christina Rabl teased the ceremony, "So please everyone freak out, celebrate and get crazy!"
What's special this year: the jury will be supported by two movers and shakers from the industry. With Louisa Smith, the ISPO Award has a new sustainability check: all applications for an ISPO Award will now be subjected to an anti-greenwashing assessment by the renowned textile and industry expert. Among other things, she checks information on sustainability, finishing, manufacturing processes, recyclability and recyclability.
The ISPO Award now also has heavenly support from professional athlete Nadine Wallner. As an Award Angel, the Vorarlberg native represents the coveted quality seal as an ambassador.
At the ISPO Award Gathering Vol. 2 on the second day of the trade show, the time had finally come to announce and present the coveted Public Choice Award. The Public Choice Award will be presented to all winners in 2023 by the sports community of theISPO Collaborators Club.
After the ISPO Award Winners had already been determined in advance, all the winners were eagerly waiting to see who could win the prize as the end customer's favorite.
Amidst great jubilation, the ISPO Award Team presented the prize to ISPO Award Winner Hezo Cycling. The German start-up manufactures computer-aided custom-fit road cycling shoes - thanks to innovative 3D printing and modular three-piece system with magnetic Fidlock closure for fine adjustment, Hezo Cycling's Helu One fits perfectly to the feet of every male and female rider. CEO David Schiel was visibly overwhelmed and commented on the Public Choice Award win:
"We are totally surprised and happy. As a start-up, we are even more pleased because we are currently looking for partners who want to further develop the product with us, as well as investors. Winning the award is a nice push in this regard. We will definitely celebrate it today."
The sun is shining and not only the flowers are finally blooming, but above all the hearts of all outdoor enthusiasts. Whether it's camping, trekking, climbing, van life or mini adventures: with these 9 ISPO Award winners you'll be well equipped for every outdoor adventure.
