Press Information: 16thMarch, 2018
UK Outdoor Industry Awards 2018
Winners announced at the OIA Conference Dinner
Following finalist products being on display to 90,000 consumers at the Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show and over 1,200 votes being placed, the winners of this year’s UK Outdoor Industry Awards were announced on Wednesday 14th March at the Outdoor Industries Association’s (OIA) Conference Dinner.
The winners across the ten categories are as follows:
- Accessories - Katadyn - BeFree
- Backpacks–Osprey - Levity 60
- Camping Equipment-JetBoil - Flash
- Climbing Equipment-Edelrid – 3D Lap Coiling
- Clothing - Jack Wolfskin - Sierra Trail Jacket
- Digital Product - Sat Map - Active 20
- Family - Lifeventure - OS Map Towel
- Footwear - Garmont - Sticky Stone GTX
- Sleeping - Rab - Mythic
- Tents - Backpacker - Flying Tent
Prior to the public vote, all 102 products entered were on display to 1,000 trade visitors in July 2017 at the Outdoor Trade Show (OTS), the UK’s largest outdoor trade exhibition. The 31 finalist products were shortlisted by a panel of judges, including Lee Bagnall (JD Sports), Will Parkhouse (Cotswold Outdoor), Anthony Greasby (Countryside Ski & Climb) from retail, and Ben Weeks (Trail), Tom Hutton (OE Retailer), and Will Renwick (Outdoors Magic) from the media, as well as Claire Carter (Writer; Filmmaker; Artistic Director – Kendal Mountain Festival; Engagement Officer – OIA).
From these ten winning products, the panel of expert judges, selected Katadyn’s ‘BeFree’as the overall ‘Product of the Year’.
The BeFree is a collapsible drink bottle with a filter in the head. Simple really, but the high flow rate means you can get clean water from streams and lakes wherever you are on the hill. Ideal for runners and walkers, just fill up the bottle and let the EZ-Clean Membrane do the work. Easy to clean; remove the filter and swish in any lake, river or stream. For storage, the collapsible bottle packs down small. Available in 600ml, 1L and 3L versions.
About the bottle, Outdoors Magic Editor, Will Renwick said: “It's a remarkably lightweight, compact and simple filter that is mightily effective. A product lightweight backpackers and long distance runners will really benefit from.”
The UK Outdoor Industry Awards is an initiative launched by the Outdoor Industries Association (OIA). The 2019 Awards will be open for entries in April.
For further information and updates, please visit
-ENDS-
Editors:
Please follow this link to download the winning product images and descriptions:
For further information about the OIA contact:
Andrew Denton, OIA Chief Executive Officer:
Lauren Mackenzie, Marketing & Communications:
General Enquiries: