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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REI Co-op Magma 850 Down Hoodie Review

Last Updated: September 5, 2024

REI Co-op is a consistent leader in the value space, but many of their designs are decidedly casual. The Magma 850 Down Hoodie bucks that trend, combining premium 850-fill down with a nice array of technical features and distinctive styling that wears...

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Best Hiking Boots of 2025

Last Updated: July 14, 2025

Hiking boots are critical to your comfort and performance on the trail, but this no longer means a stiff and burly model that will weigh you down. The trend is toward lighter materials that still offer decent support, and waterproof boots...

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Salomon Quest 4 GTX Hiking Boot Review

Last Updated: July 9, 2024

Salomon’s Quest has garnered serious popularity over the years as a highly capable backpacking boot, and the fourth-generation model carries the torch. We put the latest Quest 4 through its paces in Washington’s Hoh Rainforest, where it faced wet and...

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Salomon X Ultra 4 GTX Hiking Shoe Review

Last Updated: April 26, 2024

Every few years, Salomon revamps their best-selling X Ultra line, and they launched the latest “4” in spring 2021. Building on the success of the prior generation, the retooled shoe features a modernized and sleeker upper, updates to the lacing system...