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

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Outdoor Research Uberlayer Jacket Review

Last Updated: December 22, 2016

The new-for-2015 Outdoor Research Uberlayer shakes up the high end of the synthetic jacket market, with a relatively steep price tag but impressive breathability and a host of features designed for backcountry use...

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Patagonia Houdini Jacket Review

Last Updated: May 15, 2023

Patagonia’s Houdini jacket is a standard bearer and in many ways defines the ultralight windbreaker category. We tested this long-time favorite in high winds while backpacking and hiking in Patagonia and during late winter/early spring hikes and...

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Platypus GravityWorks Water Filter Review

Last Updated: June 23, 2015

Water treatment is a sometimes annoying and always time-consuming process, but remains an absolutely essential part of any backcountry trip. In the hopes of delivering convenience...

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Patagonia Ultralight Down Hoody Review

Last Updated: November 23, 2016

The Patagonia Ultralight Hoody is a quintessential all-arounder down jacket, one that works well as a midlayer and outer layer, but also plays nice for daily wear. Despite falling into...