Registration for the women’s gear award #sheisoutdoors – billed as the first European award for outdoor sports products for women – is now open. This year, all submitted products for the awards must be PFA free. This also applies to laminated products, which must be PTFE-free.
Since the first edition of the awards in the summer of 2021, there has been a prize for the most sustainable product, in addition to the overall and category winners, which will also be awarded this year.
The award’s jury has taken a PFA-free and PTFE-free stance following a decision by the Netherlands and Germany, with the support of Norway, Denmark and Sweden, to submit a restriction proposal to cover a wide range of PFA uses.
Products can still be submitted for the awards until May 6 in seven categories: Outdoor Professionals and Expedition, Camping, Hardware, Footwear, Apparel, Bike and Urban Outdoor.
The entry fee for one product is €700, with discounts available for multiple entries. The awards ceremony will take place in July 2022 at a live-streamed hybrid event.
“Women have come a long and difficult way in the outdoor industry,” said awards co-founder Jana Erb. “Women’s gear has also evolved, from floral prints on rain jackets to specially tailored women’s backpacks, clothing, women’s hiking boots and all the other wonderful things we know and use every day.
“Women have come a long way – but they’re not there yet. It’s time to stop ‘adapting’ men’s products and start designing women’s products specifically.”
Miriam Mayer, the award’s co-founder, added “Someone might object, ‘Another award! Do we need that?’ We believe we do: brands can tell stories that inspire girls to climb impressive peaks, they can support women who travel long distances and traverse unexplored terrain.
“Outdoor brands and magazines can pioneer technical gear for women. Our goal is to advance the technical aspects of outdoor products for women beyond floral prints and ‘pink it and shrink it’ marketing.”
