Outdoor Media Award Winners Announced at Outdoor Media Summit 2024

Outdoor Media Summit (OMS) celebrated excellence in outdoor industry media and marketing at its annual Outdoor Media Awards ceremony in Missoula, Montana. The event recognized outstanding achievements across multiple categories, from gear innovation to storytelling and industry leadership.

“These awards represent the pinnacle of outdoor industry media and marketing excellence,” said Yoon Kim, one of the event’s organizers. “Hundreds of hours went into the judging process this year, resulting in recognition for truly groundbreaking work.”

Judge’s Choice Award winners:

• Best Story of 2023: Bruce Dorn and Vasilisa Komarova for “Unbreakable: Vasilisa Komarova’s Six-Year Journey to Justice” (Overland Journal)
• Conservation Story of 2023: Nora Neus for “Nature’s Battleground” (Trails Magazine)
• Best Gear Story: Rachelle Schrute for “Death, Lies, and Destruction: The Awful Irony of Balloons” (Gear Junkie)
• Editor of the Year: Adam Roy, Editor in Chief of Backpacker Magazine
• Brand of the Year: Trash Panda, led by Kelle and Jesse Stedman
• Brand Campaign of the Year: YETI’s “Every Single Use Campaign”
• PR Person of the Year: Kate Ketschek (Revolution House Media) and Katie Richter (Darby Communications)
• In-House PR Person of the Year: Corey Simpson (Patagonia)

People’s Choice Award winners, (voted on by over 20,000 individuals):

• Best Podcast: Tooth and Claw Podcast
• Best Digital Publication: Run Wild My Child (Sara McCarty)
• Best Print Publication: Paddling Magazine
• Best YouTube Channel: Kyle Hates Hiking (Kyle O’Grady)
• Best Business Social Media: @OutThereColorado (Spencer McKee)
• Best Personal Social Media: @KweenWerk (Parker McMullen Bushman)

Best in Show Gear Awards Editor’s Choice winners(voted on by editors who participated in New Gear Speed Date):

• COAST for the Voice-Activated Headlamp RL35R
• Passenger Clothing for the Tempest Recycled Waterproof Changing Robe

Best in Show Gear Awards Judge’s Choice winners

• Korkers for the Neo Flex Thermo
• ENO for their Parklite Hammock Chair Stand & Nomad Hammock Stand

In a milestone celebration, Outdoor Media Summit introduced its inaugural 40 Under 40 Awards, recognizing the brightest media and marketing professionals in the outdoor industry. The 2024 honorees include: Adam Roy (Backpacker), Alisha McDarris (Terradrift), Amelia Arveson (Freelance Journalist), Anna Rawlins (ENO), Ben Kielesinski, Cam Vigliotta (Forbes Vetted), Camille Swan (KT Tape), Chris Perkins (Outdoor Recreation Round Table), Chloe Moen (icebreaker/Smartwool), Colin Child (Devos Outdoor), Corey Vanbibber (West Virginia Dept. of Tourism), Danielle Summers (Revelyst/CamelBak), Erica Zazo (Freelance Journalist), Hannah Kilbride (YETI), James Denhalter (Jetboil), Jenna Celmer (Basecamp Outdoor), Kade Krichko (Ori Magazine), Kai Burkhardt (CNN Underscored), Karina Armijo (New Mexico Outdoor Recreation Division), Karson Bagby (Crazy Creek Products), Katie Houston (Sawyer), Katie Johnson (Osprey), Kaydi Pyette (Paddling Magazine), Liz Thomas (Treeline Review), Maggie Slepian (Freelance Journalist), Maribel Castaneda (Confluence of States), Mari Bodensteiner (SPACE Trailers), Meg Carney (Outdoor Minimalist), Parker McMullen Bushman (KWEEN WERK), Patrick Harrington (Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Office), Reid Stoppe (Minus 33), Ryan Wichelns (Freelance Journalist), Sam Rokos (NEMO Equipment), Sarah del Puerto (Gossamer Gear), Sarah Grothjan (REI), Sarah Lamagna (Freelance Journalist), Spencer McKee (@OutThereColorado), Stephen Starks (Engearment), Tyler Lee (KAVU), Will Egensteiner (Hearst), Yoon Kim (Outdoor Media Summit), and Zach Davis (The Trek).