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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Best Hiking Pants of 2025

Last Updated: April 28, 2025

A great pair of hiking pants offer comfort, freedom of movement, the versatility to perform well in a range of environments, and durability over the long haul. In terms of materials, many of today’s top pants are made from lightweight and stretchy...

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Patagonia Nano Puff Hoody Review

Last Updated: February 23, 2023

Patagonia’s Nano Puff remains one of the most popular and recognizable insulated jackets on the market today. But with a fresh crop of new rivals, we felt it was time to take another look at this legendary synthetic piece. What we found is that the...

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Best Ski Poles of 2025/26

Last Updated: December 8, 2025

It’s hard not to admire the utility of the humble ski pole. A pair of ski poles serves a number of purposes, from helping you set a rhythm for turns, to propelling you along flat sections of trail, to having a crutch to lean on in long lift lines. For...

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Arc’teryx Macai Ski Jacket Review

Last Updated: December 8, 2025

Sitting atop Arc’teryx’s venerable ski lineup is the Macai: a Gore-Tex-equipped, down-insulated ski shell built for frigid conditions and serious resort use. Two of our testers put the Macai through a season-long test in Washington State and found it...