Alpkit Innovation Award Entries Close...

Entries have closed for the Alpkit coLAB08 National Innovation Awards, with the next stage being down to the just announced Expert Panel who will whittle down the original entries to a shortlist of just nine entries to be submitted to the public vote.

The panel consists of Berghaus-sponsored climbers Leo Houlding, and Andy Kirkpatrick - below - lab gear-testing expert Mark Taylor from Leeds University and Graham Thompson from Trail Magazine.

They'll be sitting down to sift through the pile of virtual entries before selecting the nine which they reckon demonstrate creativity and innovation in the outdoors sector.

The nine finalists will then be displayed, or at least their ideas will, at The Outdoors Show 08, where visitors will be able to vote for their favourite concept over the course of the three-day show.

Along with the main winning award, which will be on its way to becoming a product, there will also be several 'honourable mention awards' including the sought after It Does What It Says On The Tin Award and the Pie In The Sky Award.

The Entries...

You can check out and comment on the entries over at Camp 1 on the Alpkit web site with everything from an ingenious modular backpack system, through a scrolling map case, to a 'better' waterproof zip.

There's loads more besides. Some great, some not quite so great and some really not very good at all :-)

Loads more info over at www.alpkit.com