Seiji Ishii user profile headshot
374 articles

Seiji Ishii

Contributor

Seiji Ishii grew up cycling, backpacking, and camping in North Texas. He formerly joined the AllGear team after decades of involvement in action and adventure sports as a trainer and outdoor gear designer as a freelance writer. Ishii is based in Wimberley, TX, where continues his lifelong love of outdoor adventure, mostly climbing and cycling while raising a daughter and small herd of pets.

Title: Contributor
Email: seiji@allgeardigital.com
Location: Wimberley, TX
Social Media: instgram.com/seijisays/

Expertise

  • Topics of Expertise: Climbing, cycling, camping, vanlife, fitness, powersports, outdoor gear
  • Years in This Expertise: 25+
  • Number Of Products & Number Of Hours Expert Has Tested: 1,000+ products, 10,000+ hours

Education & Certifications

  • Education: Bachelor’s of Kinesiology, University of Texas at Austin
  • Years of Writing: 20+
  • Certifications: American College of Sportsmedicine CPT (expired), AMGA Single Pitch Instructor (expired), WFR (expired), CPR (expired), Registered Massage Therapist (expired), Avalanche 1
  • Club or Association Memberships: American Alpine Club
  • Awards or Recognitions: Nifty 50 Product Development Award (motorsports)
  • Previous Publications: VeloNews, Dirt Rider, Upshift Online, Gear Institute

Experience

Ishii’s outdoor experience began as a teen, backpacking and cycling around his North Texas home. He competed in road and mountain bike racing through high school and college in Austin, TX. He also started climbing in college and began training and coaching competitive cyclists and climbers upon graduation. Ishii then served as Vice President of Product Development for a company manufacturing outdoor products using heavy textiles and worked as a climbing guide.

Ishii continues his outdoor pursuits and gear testing while living on a wildlife refuge in Wimberley, TX. He also continues to train rock climbers and professional motorsports athletes.

Career Highlights

  • Regionally competitive cyclist for 15 years
  • First Ascents on multi-pitch ice climbs in Alaska
  • Participating in 10+ Outdoor Retailer Conventions
  • Trained motocross and supercross athletes to multiple amateur and professional national championships

A Word from Seiji Ishii

From my participation in competitive and non-competitive outdoor sports to my stint as a gear designer, it seems like my personal and professional interests put me on a path that ended here.

Indeed, it isn’t easy to discern when I am working or not. It’s all the same to me. I get to be outdoors, pursue my passions, add keystrokes, and carve out a livelihood. I feel very fortunate and as if my professional destiny has been fulfilled.

 

 


Overlanding on the Cheap: Build a Budget Off-Road Vehicle

Five Ten Dragon Lace climbing shoe

Black Diamond Technician approach shoe

dometic cfx3 portable electric cooler travels to Baja

CAKE Kalk OR: Not a Dirtbike, Not an E-Bike, 100% Fun

Boreal Ninja Climbing Shoe

MSR Pocket Deluxe camp stove

MoonShade vehicle awning mounted to camper van

Big Agnes Fly Creek HV1 Carbon Review: Testing a Sub-2-Pound Tent

VanDOit LIV: New Modular Van Upfit Can Carry 8 Adventurers

Cotopaxi Allpa 70 Overland Duffel Review: Structured Storage

Black Diamond Vision Down Parka Review: A Tougher Puffy

12 Best Fitness Gifts for the Outdoor Athlete

man using tools in velomacchi speedway tool roll alongside motorbike

VanDOIt Adventure Van Build

A blue LifeSaver Jerrycan resting on truckbed

Kammok Launches Packable, Waterproof Packs

Edelrid Drastically Improves Climbing Rope’s Cut Resistance With Aramid

Boreal Dharma Review: All-Around Climbing Shoe With an Amazing Fit

Beal Birdie Review: A New Device for Assisted-Braking Belay

NEMO Dragonfly 2 Tent

Crash Testing Bike Helmets? POC Sports & Volvo Cars Collaborate

Rock Solid used gear program

Osprey Exos 58 Review: Popular Lightweight Backpack Gets Better

gore tex infinium review

deuter speed lite review

survival school

four wheel hawk pop up camper review

MSR Mesh House 1 single-trekking pole shelter

Trango City Sender Review