John Ellings

John Ellings

Title: Editor-in-Chief (Former)

Location: Wenatchee, WA

Expertise & Background


Why I Chose This Career

I wouldn't say it was my plan all along, but the work connects a lot of things I love: creating and building something great, geeking out on outdoor gear, and adventuring in my Pacific Northwest backyard and around the world.


How I Began My Career

I met Switchback founder, David Wilkinson, while I was working at REI and part way through my MBA program in 2014. The opportunity to rethink outdoor gear testing, photography, and long-form content was too good to pass up!

Recent Articles

Teaser Image

Patagonia Torrentshell 3L Rain Jacket Review

Last Updated: July 12, 2024

Patagonia’s Torrentshell 3L rain jacket is about as popular as it gets in the outdoor apparel space. The hardwearing 3-layer build offers excellent protection and durability, you get a wide variety of color options, and it's very reasonably priced for...

Teaser Image

Rab Neutrino Pro Jacket Review

Last Updated: October 20, 2021

Winters are harsh in the U.K., and British alpinists are known for getting out in all types of conditions. So if there’s any brand we can trust to make proper gear for the cold and wet, it’s Rab. This England-based company launched the Neutrino down...

Teaser Image

Salomon Speedcross 4 Review

Last Updated: December 13, 2016

As one of their most popular and recognizable designs, the Speedcross trail-running shoe has been a huge hit for Salomon. The toothy, exposed traction and bright colorways are a common sight at...

Teaser Image

Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid GTX Hiking Boot Review

Last Updated: June 26, 2024

Salomon’s X Ultra lineup is legendary in the world of hiking footwear, and they overhauled the flagship collection a few years back. We brought the mid-height version of the X Ultra 4 into Washington’s Hoh Rainforest and found that it retained most of...