Backpacker Magazine “Be a Gear Tester” Contest

Posted by rmorris on 8. May 2009 03:44

In April Backpacker magazine had a contest for readers to enter to become volunteer gear testers for the magazine.  Contestants had to write a sample gear review and create a YouTube video review.  A little less the two hundred people entered and the magazine has chosen 11 winners who will now be official gear tests. 

And the winners are…

Matthew Grey from Perkasie, PA
Matt Heselton from Boswell, PA
Joe Flowers from Raleigh, NC
Nelson Radmall from Draper, UT
Geoff Ward from Portsmouth NH
Bobby Trotter from Powell, TN
Joel Nyquist from South Riding, VA
Will Rochfort from San Diego, CA
Ryan Dax from Placerville, CA

Congratulations to the winners! And I wish them luck and hope they have fun testing the gear.I have received some negative feedback about the way Backpacker magazine conducted the contest, primarily the main complaint is that contestants were not given any feedback – not even an email acknowledging that Backpacker magazine received their sample reviews and looked at their videos.   The criteria for choosing the winners also appeared to be quite random and undefined.  That is a bit disappointing that the magazine would treat some of their most loyal readers with such disregard.  That said, I’ve looked at some of the videos of the winners and I’m sure they will do a great job.

http://www.backpacker.com/gear_tester_contest_winners/blogs/daily_dirt/1007

 

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