ISPO honours final award winners in Munich ahead of move to Amsterdam

The historic outdoor event organised by Messe München ISPO took place in Bavaria for the final time, from November 30 to December 2. It gave ISPO the chance to present a final series of awards before its move to Amsterdam, where the trade show will be held from 2026.

This edition of the ISPO Awards was defined by three main criteria: circularity, multifunctionality, and technology. The winners were selected by an international jury and divided into several categories.

Comfortable, versatile products

In the Running/Trail Running category, gold went to The North Face for its Summit Vectiv™ Pro 3 shoe, recognised for its carbon plates, nitrogen-infused foam, and comfort. Completing the top five were Outopia (Vita Shell Jacket), Decathlon Kiprun (Kipnext shoe), Nedao (HexRise Active Running Long Sleeve T-shirt), and Mizuno (BreathDry Shell Jacket).

The contest in the Mountaineering/Climbing category was won by Ohmega, Edelrid’s lightweight assisted-braking belay device. Its three-stage braking system, integrated pulley and suitability for all rope teams played an important role in this success. Edelrid and its Ohmega were followed by Blackyak with the Javari Suit, The North Face with the Summit 5050 AMK Hoodie, Mammut with the Crag Recycled Classic Rope, and Blackyak with the Watusi Light Suit.

Lightness, a key element in sports equipment

In the Hiking division, Rab’s Syclon XP 40 pack took top spot, thanks to its low weight, waterproofing and body-hugging Aerofit carrying system. Completing the top five were Kathmandu (XT Series Pack 40 backpack and Women’s XT Series Hybrid Octa Fleece Hooded Jacket), Rab again with its Mythic -6 down sleeping bag, and Simond with its MT900 ultralight backpack.

Mammut’s Eiger Free Pro HS Bib Pants took first place in the Snow Sports category, thanks to their technical sophistication and durability. Helly Hansen (Sogn Patrol Shell jacket) and Elan (ACE GSX FX skis) completed the podium, followed by Pelliot with its The Limit Series One-Piece Down Coat.

Eco-responsibility, a must at the ISPO Awards

In the Lifestyle/Athleisure category, Impetus outpaced its rivals with the ImNatura T-shirt, recognised for its eco-friendly credentials. It finished ahead of Reima and its BugProof Hoodie Surista, Peak Performance and its R&D Helium Loop jacket, Bosideng and its 3-in-1 Smart Layering Kids Down Jacket, and Peak Design and its Roller Pro suitcase.

First prize in the Camping/Vanlife category went to Simond and its Single Wall Trekking Tent 2P UL Condensless, praised for its light weight and material efficiency. Simond was followed by Robens with the LightCore UL 3.1R Regular sleeping mat, Dometic with the Dometic CFX5 series cooler, Acebeam with the Keylight 500 torch, then Robens again with the Scoria Quilt UL +6°C Regular sleeping bag.

Versatile sports products are in vogue

Among the contenders in the Cycling/Commuting category, Bosideng took the gold award for the versatility and recycled materials used in its Circular Design Fashion and Functional Puffer jacket. Next came BBB Cycling with its BackStreet LED ERT helmet, Qiaodan with its Carbon Reduction Intelligent Wearable Luminous Riding Windbreaker, then Flectr with its Cargo Mate handlebar.

To bring this edition to a close, first prize in the Multisports category went to Helly Hansen for its Arctic Shield Pro Boot HT, whose technical capabilities won over the jury. The Norwegian brand finished ahead of Viking with its QuikGo GTX SL children’s shoe, Polartec with its AirCore x Montura Ritmo PTC AirCore Hooded Anorak, Acemate with its Tennis Robot, and EGGspander with its Your GYM ToGo! muscle-strengthening tool.

Future developments for the European Outdoor Group

This series of awards brought the last ISPO in Munich to a close, after fifty years in the Bavarian capital. The European Outdoor Group (EOG) took the opportunity to unveil the roadmap for its transformation programme, built around communications commitments (public relations, marketing, member recruitment) and events (ISPO, Outdoor Impact Summit and EOG Week) focused on environmental, social and regulatory issues.

EOG’s future also lies in data management, according to its director, Christian Schneidermeier. The association will be developing its Outdoor Market Intelligence Service (OMIS) market analysis tool, implemented by Sporting Insights, and plans to roll it out in Germany this month and in France in early 2026, following a successful launch in the UK. For the time being, OMIS covers three million product references in its database, across 2,000 physical points of sale. According to EOG, the tool represents over €5 billion (2023–2025) in value and includes 1,000 brands represented.

EOG also plans to develop the Sustainability Data Exchange (SDEX) and a European retail directory, and to produce annual market reports, along with complementary projects. The aim is to make EOG a complementary player to ISPO, and to strengthen the European outdoor industry.