Despite Outdoor Retailer’s prominence in the U.S. market, Europe’s ISPO trade show has long dwarfed it by orders of magnitude. I traveled there for the first time to find the biggest innovations for outdoor recreation.
This year, more than 55,000 people from 50 countries descended on Munich, Germany’s Messe München exhibition hall. Inventors, marketers, upstarts, and global companies packed the hall’s 10 interconnected buildings with gear, gadgets, and tech-forward innovations from 2,300-plus brands.
Even Andre Agassi dropped by to chat. After all, whereas Outdoor Retailer brought together people and businesses from around the outdoor recreation industry, ISPO unites the outdoors, racket sports, fitness, style and fashion, and cutting-edge tech.
For 3 full days, I walked through countless aisles — dodging robotic dogs, ducking ricocheting tennis balls, and plowing through schnitzel — to take it all in. At the end of it all, I had a new appreciation for the phrase “drinking from the firehose.” But a handful of gear stood out for its breakthrough tech and clever design.
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GearJunkie Top Products From ISPO 2024
Though I walked through every building and (I’m pretty sure) every aisle, there were simply too many exhibitors to see everything. But I did meet with big-name brands that Stateside readers know well — Patagonia, Rab, Allied Feather, and Oakley — and unheard-of companies worldwide (Japan, Bangladesh, China, and Austria).
What follows represents not only the pinnacle of innovation and tech but also new approaches to common problems. In some cases, brands find ways to solve problems we don’t even think of as problems. (How about gear that changes size?)
Oakley FlowScape ‘Conical’ Goggles
One of the biggest names in eyewear, Oakley debuted a big-ticket product, the kind GearJunkie often looks for when selecting Best in Show products.
The California-based brand’s next big thing is FlowScape, a snow goggle that introduces an entirely new lens shape. First, there were cylindrical lenses, then spherical, and most recently, a hybrid of the two, toric lenses. Now, Oakley unveils the next evolution: conical lenses.
Lauded as improving visibility by 60% in all directions (over the brand’s Line Miner goggles), FlowScape’s conical lenses resemble toric lenses with a slant. That is, the lens slopes inward from the forehead to the cheekbone.
I did a quick, unscientific test with my arms outstretched in front of me and slowly moving out to my sides (again down to my thighs) to gauge roughly how far my periphery goes. Compared to a pair of toric lenses, the FlowScape indeed extended my peripheral vision, albeit more noticeably from top to bottom than left to right.
Oakley also claims that FlowScape employs a “new face foam innovation” that improves comfort and brings the goggles closer to the face.
Available: October 2025
Price: $376
Graphene-X Aerograph Puffer
Puffies were a dime a dozen at ISPO (more to come on this list alone), but one in particular rose head and shoulders above in terms of real performance innovation.
Hong Kong-based Graphene-X, specializing in apparel enhanced with the nanomaterial, showed me its new Aerograph Puffer. Unremarkable on its face — matte-black bio-based nylon and six horizontal baffles. However, inside the jacket are two novel approaches to insulation.
First, the synthetic fill is mixed with graphene to produce GRAPHTHERMAL, a highly water-repellent insulation that stores body heat (thanks to the graphene) to boost warmth. But that’s not the most interesting part — running throughout the baffles is a layer of aerogel-infused textile.
These are thin tubes that, at warmer temps, lay flat. However, as temps get colder, this thin membrane begins to fold because the air inside the aerogel (composed of 99% air) contracts. This forces the tubes open and creates an extra air barrier against cold.
According to Graphene-X, this “W.A.I.” (weather adaptive insulation) allows the Aerograph puffer to remain comfortable in temps ranging from -4 degrees F up to 60 and above.
Available: Now
Price: $399
Yardsale Magnetic Ski Poles
While ISPO hosts hundreds of brands from around the globe — many of which have little or no reach into the U.S. market — I was pleasantly surprised to find an upstart right in my own backyard.
Just over a year old, Yardsale hails from San Francisco and built its brand on making ski gear (and accessories) a little bit better through clever innovation. Its debut product reinvents the ski pole — with, you guessed it, frickin’ magnets!
Co-founder Cristina Ashbaugh recognized that poles created a small but persistent headache for many folks on the mountain. They’re unwieldy and frustrating when not in use. To solve this, Yardsale performed the deceptively difficult task of adding small magnets near the basket and grips, allowing the poles to pair cleanly into a single, easy-to-carry (or prop up) system.
These magnets also allow users to swap in different-colored handles, straps, and baskets for added custom style. The brand currently has P1 and P1 Mini poles for inbounds skiing and P2 poles for backcountry pursuits.
Available: Now
Price: $149-189
Flowell Massage Pants
I passed by the Flowell booth (branded ReBoots in Europe) several times before finally stopping in — for two reasons. First, I’ve seen compression massage boots before, and second, I do not like big crowds.
For the first 2 days of the show, Flowell’s booth was packed with people lying on an array of inflatable loungers and more waiting in line to do so. It was the “it” booth at the show. Everyone was eager to slide into a pair of Flowell’s massage pants.
When it was finally my turn, I learned that while massage boots are relatively well known, massage pants — which go all the way up over your glutes and mid-section — are not.
Less than a week before the show, Flowell launched its latest product, the Sport Mobile Pants Set, a streamlined version of its tech. These burly leg sleeves wrap over your feet and up to about the navel, near your kidneys and liver, where toxins are filtered out of the bloodstream (thus, the rationale for full pants).
You can control your massage session via the cylinder-shaped power center and battery or via the app. Chambers within the pants fill with air and begin the therapeutic compression. You can select a wide array of intensities, durations, and preset or customizable programs. Squeeze your feet and calves, or set it up to roll up and down from your heels to your hips. The options are nearly endless.
Furthermore, Flowell announced at the show that it is launching an even more streamlined interface, making the power bank and interface even smaller.
Available: Now
Price: $749
Cirql Zero Biodegradable Midsoles
The final eye-opener from the show was one step away from concept and one literal step toward reality. A subsidiary of insole giant OrthoLite, Cirql worked to find a sustainable alternative EVA foam — the heart of the running shoe’s comfort and cushion.
EVA is a nearly ubiquitous midsole material — it’s durable and bouncy, making it a no-brainer for shoe companies. But it also releases harmful chemicals and microplastics as it slowly breaks down.
Enter Cirql and its “Zero” EVA foam alternative. This industrially compostable, biodegradable foam uses no toxic chemicals or additives in the creation process. Cirql Zero is also recyclable, breaks down almost completely within 180 days of being composted, and has a zero-waste construction process.
And while “breakthroughs” like this often grab headlines and disappear, Cirql claims to set itself apart, saying it has the ability to tune its product to meet a variety of comfort and performance characteristics, and it is ready and able to scale its output for brands.
If all that’s true, Cirql Zero could completely change the way most shoes are made. The innovation also impressed ISPO judges, who selected Cirql for its Brandnew Award in the sustainability category.
Best of ISPO Awards
In addition to brands I met with and gear I tried, ISPO also distinguished a collection of the most standout products, according to its own judging panel. While the full list of ISPO Award winners is long and varied across categories, here is the most interesting I saw through the GearJunkie lens.
Outdoor Research Foray, Aspire ‘Net Zero’ 3L Jackets
Why it won: “The Foray and Aspire 3L Jackets from Outdoor Research combine cutting-edge performance with a commitment to sustainability. Engineered with PFAS-free advanced waterproofing and breathability, 100% recycled 3L fabric, inclusive sizing, and an exclusive factory-applied Nikwax Direct.Dry DWR, these jackets are perfect for outdoor enthusiasts seeking reliable wet weather protection. As the outdoor industry’s first carbon-neutral technical apparel, they set a new standard for eco-friendly gear.”
BlackYak Watusi Hooded Jacket
Why it won: “The Watusi Hooded Expedition Down Jacket is all about mobility, lightness, durability and an innovative thermal concept. It was developed for adventurers who need equipment that is just as robust and flexible as they are.”
Tindeq Snow Saw
Why it won: “Accurate avalanche forecasts rely on thorough snow analysis and field observations. The introduction of a unique, foldable snow saw has significantly streamlined this process, quickly becoming a favored tool among avalanche forecasters worldwide due to its portability and efficiency.”
Skimulator
Why it won: “The Skimulator is a sales tool that simulates the gradient of a ski slope and thus enables precise determination of the ideal size and shape of ski boots.”
Templa Biodegradable Puffy
Why it won: “The ‘Future Now: Designing to Disappear’ jacket was created in a collaboration between the luxury outdoor brand Templa, Active Apparel Group, and ALLIED Feathers + Down. It is designed to biodegrade in a short period of time at the end of its life.”
Ulu Amak
Why it won: “The Amak by Ulu combines eco-friendly materials, low-temp adaptive midsole, and advanced traction to redefine winter trail running in extreme conditions.”
Xtep 160X 6.0 Monxter
Why it won: “The Xtep 160X 6.0 Monxter running shoe is a high-performance marathon shoe designed for professional runners who value speed and efficiency. The unique heel-less design supports a forefoot strike technique, improving stride fluidity, reducing ground contact time and increasing propulsion.”
Ruroc RG2
Why it won: “The RG2 helmet offers ultimate protection with integrated 3D goggles, an auto-locating magnetic facemask, and advanced impact technology for seamless safety.”
Komperdell Ballistic Flexfit Junior
Why it won: “The Ballistic FlexFit Junior by Komperdell provides 360° protection that’s light, flexible, and fits perfectly — ideal for kids on the slopes.”
Fakir Dilata Insulator Jacket
Why it won: “With the Dilata Insulator Jacket, Fakir Apparels (FA) wants to show that one jacket can be used by several people, even if they have different body sizes.”
Tanboer Airbag Recycled N66 Down Jacket
Why it won: “Advanced textile recycling: Tanboer uses several recycled materials in this jacket, including recycled down and an outer fabric made from recycled airbag fabric.”
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