Well, as some of you will know by now I have been chosen (along with Hendrik) to represent Gossamer Gear on this side of the Atlantic. Acting as Trail Ambassadors we will be working with Gossamer Gear to promote lightweight and ultralight backpacking as well as helping with the design, testing and promotion of their products. As I often review equipment on this blog I thought it only fair to inform my readers of this development. I am under no obligation to use their products exclusively and I'm encouraged to feedback to Gossamer Gear with all my views on their products. You can check out all their products, as well as gain loads of good tips on how to go lighter and simpler in the wilderness by visiting their all-new web site here.
I have been using several Gossamer Gear products extensively during the past seven months including the SpinnTwin tarp, LT4 hiking poles (which I reviewed here) and the Gorilla, their lightweight mid-sized backpack (review upcoming). All these products are designed in the hot and humid American Southwest and it will be interesting to see how they cope with the cold and rain of the west coast of Norway.
I look forward to working with Gossamer Gear in the future and thank them for this opportunity to work with like-minded folk with a passion for lightweight wilderness travel.
(photo courtesy of Gustav Bostrom at The Bearable Lightness)
7 comments:
Cool, they're lucky to have you as a trail ambassador
Good luck Joe. I think you'll do a good job for them. Sad, really, that you feel you have to assert your impartiality - I've seen a few people do it and, on the back of the rather touchy rant on the LFTO forum and a post on Robin Evans' blog, it saddens me that bloggers feel they need to do it. People will read your reviews and, having an opinion of you from your blog, will already be able to assess the basis for your reviews for themselves. Tell people what you think of Gossamer Gear products in the same as you would for all others, as I know you would, and no one can complain.
Enjoy the innovations they send you! Cannot wait to get the inside scoop through TITN.
Good lad. Get one of them pyramid tents they are bringing out and test it to destruction. I like the idea. Ambassador Joe. Sounds good :)
Thomas - let's hope I can repay their faith in me!
Maz - I hadn't seen the thread on LFTO or Robin's post. I like the way Phil Werner addresses the issue by simply informing readers of how he got the reviewed product, either free sample from the manufacturer or bought with his own cash. It gives the reader some simple information but allows them to make up their own mind about the impartiality of the review. I will review all products, regardless of how they came into my possession, the same.
Martin - their pyramid shelter is one I have my eye on.
"But Ambassador, with these Ferrero Rocher you are really spoiling us!"
Had another think about this and like it even more as they listen. It is not test and give us free advertising. It is test and develop for backpacking. I like it a lot Joe. Good for you and young Hendrik.
Martin - very true, they are a great company to work with. I might be a little nervous putting my ideas across at first though.
Thought I'd just mention that there are new regulations in the states issued by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) that require US bloggers to inform their readers of any pre-existing relationship between the blogger and the manufacturer in product reviews. While it makes sense to be completely transparent about it, I also don't have a choice. It's the law. Glad you noticed though, Joe, and congrats on the GG Trail Ambassadorship.
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