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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Smith I/O Mag Goggle Review

Last Updated: December 20, 2024

Smith is a leader in optics, so it comes as little surprise that their snow goggles are some of the best on the market. Within their lineup, the I/O Mag stands out as their most well-rounded design: It offers excellent optics and fit, comes with two...

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The North Face ThermoBall Eco Hoodie Review

Last Updated: December 16, 2021

Now in its fourth generation, The North Face ThermoBall remains an extremely popular insulated jacket. With its puffy synthetic fill and smooth shell, the latest “Eco” version does a pretty good...

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The North Face Freedom Insulated Ski Pant Review

Last Updated: August 30, 2021

Easily one of the most popular ski and snowboard pants on the mountain, The North Face’s Freedom Insulated hits a very desirable mix of price, comfort, protection, and warmth. The budget-focused...

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The North Face Apex Flex GTX 3.0 Review

Last Updated: September 26, 2019

The North Face Apex Flex GTX 3.0 is a versatile jacket that doesn’t fit perfectly into any one category. The 3-layer Gore-Tex build provides excellent waterproofing, although it certainly is heavy for...