Sustainable jackets, ski poles made of flax and touring bindings lighter than a chocolate bar: At the international sports trade fair ISPO, taking place in Munich this year from January 26 to 29, visitors can observe the newest trends and technologies of the sports industry. The annually awarded ISPO Award is widely recognized as a seal of quality regarding sports equipment.
The products are judged by an international jury consisting of athletes, journalists, retailers, designers and consumers. The awards are then given in 56 categories in the segments of snowsports, outdoor, running, fitness, team sports and sustainability. The best product among each of these categories wins the Gold Winner award, while the best product of each segment is crowned Product Of The Year. Here are the Gold Winners in the snowsports segment:
Product of the Year: Alpina Sports Prolan Vest
The Prolan Vest by Alpina Sports wins this year's treasured Product Of The Year trophy. Its back pads protect freeskiers as well as mountain bikers. The vest and protecting plate are made with sustainably produced sheep wool. It helps regulate the body temperature, avoiding unpleasant odor even after longer periods of time. The Prolan Vest adjusts to the wearers back in a natural way which makes it quite comfortable to wear. The back protection allows for ideal movement while complying with the 1621-2 level 1 TÜV standard.
Black Diamond: Dawn Patrol Hybrid Shell
Protecting its wearer from cold wind while being flexible and breathable, Black Diamond's Dawn Patrol Hybrid Shell is perfect for skiers going both up and down the mountain. To make this possible, different stretch materials are combined and mesh fabrics are used in key areas to improve breathability. The jacket's Green Theme impregnation is done entirely without water, palm oil or harmful PFC substances.
Blackyak: Amrit BC
A maximum of functionality and its ideal fit are what secured the Gold Winner award for the Amrit BC by Blackyak. The three-layer Gore-Tex Pro material is extremely robust and very flexible thanks to the four-way stretch fabric by Cordura. At the same time, the material is wind- and water-proof as well as very breathable. A Recco radar reflector is also sewn into the pants, making them a great choice not just for skiing, but for winter mountaineering and ice climbing as well.
Clew: Prerider 2019 Limited Edition
Leave the time and effort of sitting down to adjust your binding behind you with the Clew Binding PreRider 2019. The binding consists of two parts. While the the base is firmly connected to the snowboard, the foot part can be strapped onto any soft boot. The patented locking mechanism lets the binding lock and unlock quickly and easily, even when covered with ice or snow.
Dæhlie: Jacket Raw 4.0 + Pants Raw 4.0 Women
Dæhli's jacket-pants combo Raw 4.0 Women, part of the Signature Raw collection, came out first in this year's Nordic Apparel category. Both jacket and pants are equipped with a breathable membrane and are wind- and water-proof. The jacket's hood and down-padded inner vest can be detached. Elastic wool mix inserts provide warmth, but also freedom of movement at the back and under the arms. They also help prevent unpleasant body odor.
Dynafit: Blacklight pro including Pin-Skin System
The Blacklight Pro by Dynafit are light but strong carbon touring ski made for speed. The ski get their high performance in the High Alpine region from the Pin-Skin system which provides the skins with an especially steady grip. The adjusted skins can be positioned and attached firmly using the small pin. This way, no snow can get between the ski and their skin.
Gregory Mountain Products: Targhee Fasttrack 35
Gregory join the Gold Winner group with their Alpine backpack Targhee Fasttrack 35. With the Fasttrack ski carrying system, skis can be attached to the backpack without even having to take it off. Its light and tough materials make the backpack easy to carry as well. The hip and chest straps, the frame plate as well as the lid compartment can be removed if needed.
Grizzly Ski GR Olympic Touring ski binding
With a weight of only 98 grams (including stoppers!), the Grizzly Ski GR Olympic Touring Ski Binding weighs less than a bar of chocolate. The extra-light binding is designed especially for ski mountaineering racers, therefore meeting the ISMF (International Ski Mountaineering Federation) requirements. In case of a fall, the back part allows a safe release in both directions as well as upwards. The GR Olympic binding can be used with all common Tech-/TLT boots. The patented Grizzlyfix system safely fastens the shoes.
Helly Hansen: Elevation Infinity Shell Jacket
Helly Hansen shows competitors how to produce high-quality products in an environmentally responsible way with its Elevation Infinity Shell Jacket. Using the three-layer LIFA Infinity Pro technology, the hard shell jacket is made water-proof and breathable without using any harmful chemicals.
Kang: Flax pole
Another product showing sustainability is the Flax Pole by Kang. While most ski poles are made of carbon or aluminum, Kang replaced 70 percent of its carbon with flax fibers. They are not only fully recyclable, they also consist of a regrowing material. All this doesn't affect the pole's quality. The flax pole is light, flexible and robust.
Orage: Morrison Jacket
The versatile Mid Layer Morrison Jacket by Canadian brand Orage keeps its wearer warm while at the same time preventing them from overheating. Orage's so-called Gilltex technology can release the excess heat to the outside through mesh openings in the fabric. Isolation is provided by Primaloft recycled Thermoplume. The Ripstop Taffeta fabric is made from 100 percent recycled nylon. Additionally, the jacket offers high freedom of movement.
POC: Base Armor
POC's Base Armor is not only warm and comfortable, but also counts with breathability, compression and moisture transport. A great feature is the special Dyneema fabric, protecting its wearer from scrapes and cuts at sharp edges. This is especially helpful for ski racers, who fall on the icy slope when racing down the mountains.
Rohner Advanced Socks: Copper Jet
The colorful Copper Jet by Rohner advanced socks is made for winter sports activities like skiing, cross-country skiing or snowshoe hiking. It stands out from other models with its copper-based yarn, which has an antibacterial and fungus-inhibiting effect. Important areas such as the sole and shin are padded extra, protecting winter sports fans from pressure marks and provide a higher level of comfort as well as improved temperature control. The high heel area is reinforced as well.
Spektrum: Östra Premium
During production of the Östra Premium ski goggles, Spektrum made sure to be as eco-friendly as possible. Half of the frame and all of the nylon parts are made of bio-based polymers. The material's color was also applied with an environmentally friendly injection method. With the Zeiss lens's sonar technology, the Östra Premium is not only built sustainably, but also offers great vision in the snow.
Tenson: Aerismo Jackorak MPC Extreme
Tenson's Jackorak MPC Extreme can be seen as a contemporary version of a classic anorak. An extraordinary feature is the zipper in the back. Opened, it makes room for a back protector to be worn under the jacket without restricting the wearers movement possibilities. The hood is also large enough to be worn over a helmet. To keep the skier warm and dry, the three-layered material is waterproof up to 10,000 millimeters, windproof and breathable.
