22 outdoor products win ISPO Munich 2012 awards

       ISPO MUNICH 2012 concluded successfully on February 1 (Beijing time: February 2 early morning). With its massive scale, luxurious lineup of exhibitors, cutting-edge product technologies, and enthusiastic audience, ISPO MUNICH once again wrote a new chapter in the global sporting goods industry.
　　     On January 30, the ISPO 2012 Awards were grandly presented at ISPO MUNICH 2012. The ISPO 2012 Awards are a sporting goods competition primarily judged by innovation, open to brands and products worldwide. In the words of Tobias Gröber, Head of the Consumer Goods Division at Messe München, the ISPO 2012 Awards aim to become “a new symbol of innovation and quality certification in the sports industry.”

　　     The ISPO Awards are divided into two major categories: products and environmental sustainability, further categorized into four segments: skiing, outdoor, action sports, and fitness. This year, experts from media, design, sales, and sports selected the 22 most innovative products out of 260 globally entered, and awarded them the ISPO 2012 Awards at the award ceremony — below is the list of winners by category, with all category winners also making their first comprehensive appearance at ISPO MUNICH.

 

Dupraz D2 Skis

　　     The D2 skis feature an ultra-wide tip that catches the eye. The Dupraz brand guarantees performance in powder and on-piste as well as user enjoyment. Judges' comment: “We chose the Dupraz D2 mainly for its unusual shape, stylish design, and versatility.”

　　     Alpine Skiing: Völkl Rocker-type V-WERKS RTM Skis

　　     The V-WERKS RTM incorporates lightweight elements into a full rocker ski design: the skis weigh only 5.7 kg in total, are 176 cm long, feature a wooden core and sidewalls, an innovative carbon binding, and are made in Germany. Judges' comment: “We chose the V-WERKS RTM because Völkl used innovative materials, reducing the weight and thickness of the skis by 20% compared to other products in this category.”

　　     The new K2 Bolt is a high-performance ski designed especially for hard-surface riding. It features clear edge control, high-speed stability, and visible technical sophistication. Judges' comment: “The K2 Bolt’s avant-garde shape and use of A.M.P. Bolt technology ensure excellent directional stability.”

　　     Amer Sports’ backcountry freestyle ski bindings come with a quick-release design, are suitable for short hikes, and deliver top performance on powder descents. Judges' comment: “The Guardian 16 is extremely easy to operate and can be used for both ski touring and pure freestyle skiing.”

　　     Protection: POC Fornix Lightweight Helmet

　　     POC’s new all-mountain and freestyle helmet has drawn attention for its outstanding durability, thanks to its excellent structural design that can withstand multiple impacts. In addition, it is lightweight, fits various head shapes, and offers a wide range of ventilation adjustments for comfort. Judges' comment: “The Fornix combines all key attributes of a helmet: lightness, protection, comfort, and functionality.”

　　     The Slopestyle poles developed by Komperdell feature an innovative grip design that ensures maximum freedom for jumps and tricks. The strap can be fully retracted into the grip when not needed. This innovation, along with the pole’s ultra-light and highly durable design, impressed the judges: “The Disco design is extremely clever and innovative. It offers exceptional freedom of movement.”

　　     Outdoor Category

　　     The Petzl NAO headlamp automatically adjusts brightness and beam range based on ambient conditions and user needs, ensuring energy efficiency. The headlamp uses rechargeable batteries. Judges' comment: “The NAO’s automatic brightness adjustment is the first of its kind on the market. Also, the USB charging function is a very creative design.”

　　     The adjustable cragging rope Cable Vario, launched by Edelrid, is the world’s first climbing rope that adjusts locking force according to the climber’s weight, greatly improving safety. The rope’s shock absorber gradually reduces fall energy, lessening impact on the body. Judges' comment: “The Cable Vario is the top choice for lightweight climbers. The new design significantly enhances safety.”

　　     Apparel: Arc’teryx Alpha SV Alpine Jacket

　　     The Arc’teryx Alpha SV Alpine Jacket fully meets functional requirements for lightweight construction, breathability, waterproofing, high abrasion resistance, and comfort: it uses the new N80p-X Gore-Tex® fabric. Judges' comment: “The Alpha SV jacket impressed us with its high breathability and waterproofing. Additionally, the material is extremely durable.”

　　     The Sympatex 3F jacket is designed specifically for fashion-conscious female outdoor enthusiasts. The three F’s in its name represent its design philosophy: Function, Fashion, and Femininity. The jacket is windproof, waterproof, breathable, fashionably cut, and made with bluesign® certified materials. Judges' comment: “The 3F jacket combines fashion and function, and its stylish outdoor design earned our favor.”

　　The brand-new mounting system I.P.O. developed by NOW Snowboarding ensures the highest performance conversion efficiency while snowboarding. The design by NOW is based on the pivot of a skateboard, integrating this movable axis into the snowboard binding. Jury comment: “The NOW bindings represent a brand-new innovative design in the snowboard industry, and rotating bindings are expected to conquer the market.”

　　The Vassi jacket was developed in collaboration with professional athletes, featuring durability, lightweight construction, and is especially suitable for freestyle skiing. The jacket meets protective requirements while also offering the necessary freedom of movement. Jury comment: “The deciding factor in choosing the Vassi was its overall impression. It incorporates numerous innovative details, including an extremely effective ventilation system.”

　　The Taos 28 PRO freeski backpack was developed in cooperation with top athletes and features an excellent carrying system: utilizing Salewa Ride Fit technology, it adapts to different speeds and body positions during freestyle skiing. Jury comment: “This Salewa backpack combines three important qualities: form, function, and outstanding design. That’s enough to win the ISPO Award.”

　　The Hudora Twin-Skate skateboard combines elements of dancing, ice skating, and skateboarding. Two separate boards, each with two wheels that can rotate 360 degrees, allow for various tricks at high speeds. Jury comment: “The Hudora Twin-Skate offers endless control possibilities and introduces a completely new way of skating, giving it a unique character.”

　　The lightweight running jacket Hooded Effusion, developed by Mountain Hardwear and Montrail, helps athletes stay protected against wet and cold conditions. Made from three-layer material, it offers high breathability and freedom of movement, making it a favorite among the jury: “The Hooded Effusion jacket combines comfort, high functionality, and pure design — winning the ISPO Award is only natural.”

　　The best word to describe the Freeheel Running Pad might be “minimalist.” These ultra-light running shoes are designed for barefoot-style long-distance runners, especially suitable for extreme weather conditions. Despite using minimal materials, the Bavarian company ‘Starringer Leder von Sinnen’ provides excellent foot protection. Jury comment: “The Freeheel Running Pad represents another step forward in the barefoot running shoe trend, and the use of natural materials adds to its appeal.”

　　The Free2Move HIOD One uses Bluetooth technology, enabling cyclists to communicate with each other over hundreds of meters even at high speeds. The device can be mounted on the bike handlebars. Jury comment: “The young Free2Move company is pursuing a unique concept: the HIOD One focuses on communication between cyclists without making unnecessary technical modifications.”

　　The environmental initiative launched by snowboard manufacturer Amplid is quite radical: the company replaces all environmentally harmful materials with sustainable alternatives while maintaining the highest level of performance. Jury comment: “They’ve used a series of interesting sustainable and recycled materials, and we believe that deserves the ISPO Award.”

　　The Rossignol Group has introduced a new binding system called Rossignol and Look, focusing on resource conservation and minimizing environmental impact. The Xelium - Xpress bindings are lightweight while ensuring safety. Jury comment: “Every component of this product has been analyzed by a Life Cycle Analysis Auditing Company, and the final product significantly reduces environmental impact.”

　　Niche’s efforts in making their alpine freestyle snowboards more environmentally friendly are evident. They use eco-friendly or recycled materials instead of traditional ones, resulting in lighter and more flexible boards. Jury comment: “The Niche Story snowboard is thoughtfully designed, carefully selecting sustainable materials. The company is determined to avoid any materials that are severely harmful to the environment.”

　　Made from recycled materials, the PUYA jacket reduces energy consumption by 84% and CO2 emissions by 72%. Certified by bluesign®, it also meets all requirements for outdoor jackets. Jury comment: “PUYA has further expanded its environmental efforts, including a fluorine-free production process that offers long-lasting water resistance.”

　　The Mammut 9.8 Transformer climbing rope is made from 100% recycled yarn, specifically high-quality spinning remnants that were previously discarded due to color issues. Jury comment: “This production process utilizes the entire yarn cone, significantly reducing waste and giving the rope a new look.”

　　ISPO MUNICH – The International Trade Fair for Sports Equipment and Fashion (formerly known as ISPO), held annually in February in Munich, Germany. Since its inception in 1971, it has successfully hosted 73 editions and is the world’s most important, influential, and largest comprehensive exhibition in the sports equipment and fashion sector. For over 40 years, ISPO MUNICH has consistently provided a leading service platform for global sports business development and exchange.