What are the greatest products in all the (European) land? ISPO, held yearly in Munich, is the largest outdoor industry show in the world. These are the ISPO Gold snowsports winners for 2019.
Every year, European outdoor retailers, suppliers, and media gather in Munich for the largest outdoor industry show in the world. And each year, a panel of judges picks the best of the best for the ISPO Gold Awards.
These represent the most innovative at the show. It’s worth noting that some of these products are already on the market and some aren’t. Inclusions are based on the show’s judges, not GearJunkie staff.
For this article, we break down the winners of the Snowsports division. Check out this article for winners of the Outdoor division.
There are some very cool jackets, skis, and more in this list. Check them out and let us know which you’re excited to try.
Overall Winner: Mammut SOTA HS Hooded Jacket
The Mammut SOTA HS Hooded Jacket has four-way “super stretch” laminated knit fabric and a 3D surface. This seamless surface improves breathability while maintaining durability, the brand claims. Partially bonded PrimaLoft insulation in key zones enhances temperature regulation. But the secret sauce is in the pattern construction that gives “optimal freedom of movement and ergonomic fit.” ISPO said this is the first time an apparel product earned the Overall Winner honors in this catagory.
ISPO Gold Winners
The following products won ISPO Gold, which is the highest honor in the show short of the overall winner.
POC POCito VPD Air Vest + TRAX POC Edition
Keep your kid’s back safe. That’s the goal of the POC POCito VPD air vest. This child-specific, lightweight, breathable back protector conforms to EN1621:2 Level 1 certification. But it does more than protect the back. The front chest pocket stores a TRAX POC Edition device to keep track of your child’s location and notify you during potentially dangerous situations.
Black Diamond JetForce PRO BT
The Black Diamond avalanche airbag just went on a diet. The JetForce PRO BT Technology avalanche airbag system is smaller and lighter than previous versions. It also has Bluetooth to easily update software. The entire system is modular, giving you the ability to attach a splitboard booster pack, which comes in 10-, 25-, 35-, and 25-liter options. It’s a great evolution of a fine airbag system.
Craft CTM Baselayer Hood Long Sleeve
Craft gives winter enthusiasts a slick base layer. The seamlessly warp-knitted CTM Hood Long Sleeve has a 3D knit for fit, comfort, and freedom of movement. The knit allows open mesh patterns, carefully placed for breathability where needed. An integrated facemask with breathing holes ensures maximum feel and performance in cold conditions.
Auclair Sports Race Fusion Glove
Full-grain goat leather gives the Auclair Race Fusion glove a durable yet soft exterior. But it stands out thanks to an external, articulated shell using D3O Impact Technology for premium protection. The result is a race-worthy but comfortable, ergonomic glove.
Black Diamond Solano Glove
Push a button and feel the warmth. The Black Diamond Solano Glove offers three levels of electric heat, an LED button control, and two different heat circulation modes. It’s also waterproof and breathable thanks to its Gore-Tex insert.
HEAD RADAR Helmet
There are other helmets on the market with visors and built-in goggles, but the HEAD RADAR is one of the first that just looks damn good. HEAD claims this is an entirely new approach in regard to construction and design. It provides an
unrestricted field of vision and protects against wind and water. Its double-lens visor can be exchanged within seconds.
ODLO I-Thermic
An “intelligent thermoregulating performance mid-layer.” Wait, what? Well, that’s the claim from I-Thermic. The point is the garment has a smart module called CLIM8 that can tell if you are hot or cold and turns the thermostat up or down. We may want to test this one before rendering a verdict, but it sounds pretty interesting.
VAUDE Larice LesSeam Jacket
This jacket makes less waste. VAUDE used a circular-knit manufacturing process to reduce the amount of remnant material. The Larice LesSeam Jacket should also keep you warm thanks to its PrimaLoft Silver Insulation Eco on the front for warmth.
Helly Hansen W Whitewall Lifaloft Jacket
A long silhouette, double-needle embossed stitching, and “vast pocket space” set the Helly Hansen Whitewall Lifaloft jacket apart, according to the judges. The jacket is extra warm without any added bulk thanks to the 80g Lifaloft insulation by PrimaLoft.
Roxy Premier Snow Jacket with Warmlink
Roxy takes a swing at the heated jacket market and brings home a win here. The Roxy Premiere Collection introduces Warmlink Technology. Internal heating panels keep the warmth in and the cold out. Fine goal. And it’s done with a nod to style to look good during apres.
KJUSMen 7SPHERE HYDRO_BOT Jacket
The electronic HYDRO_BOT membrane actively pumps moisture from inside
the jacket to the outside using electro-osmosis. Yes, you read that correctly. This battery-powered jacket literally pumps out moisture. For heavy sweaters, this could be a big win. The brand claims it’s up to 10 times more efficient at removing
unwanted moisture than conventional membranes. It also claims that HYDRO_BOT is the only technology that can match the sweat rates of the human body.
Norrøna røldal Thermo Hood
Somewhere between a hoodie and a technical insulation piece lies the røldal Thermo Hood from Norrøna. Expect to find this warm, stretchy piece near the rails and kickers of the terrain park. Norrøna builds it with recycled and weather-protective (PFC-free DWR) outer fabric and recycled PrimaLoft Gold Active fill.
Peak Performance Argon
Recycled Thermore Eco Down synthetic fill insulates this Peak Performance puffy jacket for a sustainable, technical liner jacket. Woven vertical and horizontal channels give it a sleek look.
Ternua Blackcomb Ski Suit
This technical ski touring suit is meant for earning turns. It’s light, breathable, and warm. Dryshell active flex fabric, a blend of 35 percent Elastane and 65 percent recycled nylon coming from recycling discarded nets, give it quick-drying attributes. Two chest pockets for skins and two zippered inner pockets carry an avalanche transceiver and other kit.
Black Yak Kostroma Jacket
Black Yak brings Gore-Tex INFINIUM to a shell layer with the Kostroma multiuse jacket. The highly breathable, less waterproof material works with an integrated removable inner jacket of YAKLOFT for insulation and YAK TruFlow air-permeable textiles for good breathability.
RottefellaMOVE Switch Kit
The Rottefella MOVE first showed at the Outdoor Retailer show in 2018, where it earned a GearJunkie Best In Show award. It allows Nordic skiers to adjust binding location to enhance grip and glide in variable conditions. All you need to do is twist the MOVE Switch for better grip and better glide.
Goldwin G-Fides Jacket
Goldwin makes the G-Fides jacket of high-loft down. It also has two-layer Gore-Tex construction for waterproofness. It looks like a nice jacket following design paradigms that have been around for a while. But what sets it apart, according to judges, are unique detailed designs such as hood that wraps the collar and iconic designed front flap.
Spyder Eiger GTX Shell Jacket
Developed with pros like Chris Davenport and Owen Leeper, the new Eiger GTX shell jacket is not your granddad’s Spyder. This highly technical shell has minimal branding (that looks like duct tape) and understated aesthetics. The Gore-Tex shell has integrated four-way stretch panels for reach and range of movement, an underarm ventilation system, a helmet-compatible and adjustable fixed hood, a removable powder skirt, and a storage management system with large pockets.
Spyder Nordwand GTX Shell Pant
To match the above jacket, the Spyder Nordwand GTX Shell Pant offers excellent weather protection and breathability, articulated knee construction, integrated stretch panels for full range of movement, and internal and external thigh ventilation.
Allied Feather & Down TrackMyDown.com
TrackMyDown.com might be the coolest thing you ever learn about ducks and geese. OK, that’s a strange statement, but we stand by it. Learn a ton about where your down jacket came from thanks to this very cool system. TrackMyDown.com provides the ability for consumers to trace down in a garment back to its source.
Deneriz Dual’d
These handmade all-mountain skis are innovative for two reasons: First, because of the general concept of construction with balsa core and two lateral beams that work
like a catamaran for the best skiing experience. Second is the asymmetrical
structure of walnut and ash wood longitudinal beams, which adapt perfectly to
each side and are ideal for either powder or piste depending on the side they are
skied on (left/right ski).
RENOUN Citadel
Renoun launches a full-carbon ski that uses non-newtonian material inside to reduce chatter and vibration. The brand claims that the harder and faster you ski, the smoother it performs. The Citadel represents a major refinement in this technology (non-newtonian material). The ski is light enough for the backcountry at about 3.6 pounds (1,632 g) per ski, but it should rip inbounds as well.
Nordica Speedmachine J 3 Plus
Adjust the flex of Nordica‘s The Speedmachine J 3 Plus as your child grows. That’s the aim of this new boot. Bootfitters can adjust the shell, thermoformable liner, and all
modular components for correct fit. On the back of the boot, the Weight Adjuster Button adjusts the flex on three different levels according to the size and skill level of the child.
G3 MINIMIST
G3 claims its new MINIMIST skins are up to 30 percent lighter than similar skins from its competition. That’s a big number. But even a small weight reduction can mean a lot on climbing skins. Beyond weight, these also pack small enough to fit into your
jacket pocket. A carbon fiber insert at the tip of each skin creates a rigid platform
that prevents snow creep.
G3 FINDr
The FINDr series is uncompromising in performance and versatility in all conditions, with a feature set and weight ski mountaineers dream of. New to the FINDr are magnetic contact points that make boot pack transitions quick and eliminate the need for a strap when shouldering. As always, the FINDr has a full-carbon construction and polyurethane sidewalls for best-in-class dampness.
