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 Shoes of 2025

Last Updated: November 25, 2025

The momentum in hiking footwear is moving away from bulky boots toward lightweight shoes and even trail runners that are faster and more comfortable. You do lose some ankle support when carrying a heavy pack or traversing rocky trails, but the weight...

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Lowa Renegade GTX Mid Hiking Boot Review

Last Updated: April 21, 2022

Nearly every major hiking boot brand has its signature model, and for Lowa, it’s the Renegade GTX. We took the popular mid-height boot out backpacking and day hiking...

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Osprey Poco Plus Child Carrier Review

Last Updated: January 8, 2021

Osprey’s Poco (offered in both standard and “Plus” models) is easily one of the most popular and recognizable child carrier packs on the market, and it underwent a fairly thorough revamp last year. My wife and I gave the fully featured Poco Plus a...

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Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 Tent Review

Last Updated: May 19, 2022

First introduced in 2008, the Copper Spur series by Big Agnes has been a consistent frontrunner in the ultralight tent category. We tested the latest two-person model (which was lightly updated a few seasons back) on a series of backpacking trips in...