products & thematic areas

Leisure & outdoors

For many people, outdoor and leisure items are indispensable if they want to indulge in their favourite activities in sport, nature or on holiday. To ensure that these items meet their requirements, we put them through a comprehensive range of tests here at the ipi institutes. In doing so, we assess their performance, fitness for use and durability. Whether it’s for camping equipment, backpacks, hiking and sports accessories, bicycles or sports equipment, our tests are as varied as the products themselves.

A graphic symbol of a bicycle.
A selection of leisure and outdoor products being tested at ipi. You can see a bicycle, a yoga mat, hiking poles, a water bottle, an air pump, an umbrella, a hiking backpack and cat litter.

Bicycles & accessories

We test e-bike battery life, the brightness of bicycle lamps, the volume of each pump on an air pump, the stability of bicycle carriers, the safety of child seats, the tear resistance of zips on bicycle backpacks and much more.

Bicycles & accessories

We test e-bike battery life, the brightness of bicycle lamps, the volume of each pump on an air pump, the stability of bicycle carriers, the safety of child seats, the tear resistance of zips on bicycle backpacks and much more.

Pet supplies

We test the dust properties of cat litter, the absorbency of animal litter, acceptance of pet supplies by humans and animals in the home use test and much more.

Pet supplies

We test the dust properties of cat litter, the absorbency of animal litter, acceptance of pet supplies by humans and animals in the home use test and much more.

Hiking & camping

We test sweating when carrying a backpack, including for hiking. We also test hiking poles for slip resistance on ice, headlamps for their light cones, drinking flasks to ensure they are leak-proof, tents for their waterproofing, umbrellas for stability and much more.

Hiking & camping

We test sweating when carrying a backpack, including for hiking. We also test hiking poles for slip resistance on ice, headlamps for their light cones, drinking flasks to ensure they are leak-proof, tents for their waterproofing, umbrellas for stability and much more.

Sports equipment

We test the rolling resistance of scooters, the practical use of rowing machines, yoga mats and much more.

Sports equipment

We test the rolling resistance of scooters, the practical use of rowing machines, yoga mats and much more.

When testing textiles, we carry out tear resistance and puncture tests to determine their durability. Besides testing materials, we also conduct application tests with test subjects or experts to assess the comfort of carrying a backpack and measure the sweat formation on the person’s back underneath.

A testperson testing a backpack as part of a backpack test.
Application test for a hiking backpack
A green hiking backpack stands in a tiled test room and is sprinkled by a sprinkler system.
Waterproofing test for a hiking backpack

Durability and battery life are other important criteria when evaluating leisure and outdoor products. We test use in everyday life to ascertain whether the items are comfortable and practical to use. Ultimately, the most important criterion for evaluating a product is its specific function, which is why it’s the priority in all our tests.

International consumer organisations value the varied expertise of the ipi institutes, and regularly commission us to test leisure products and camping equipment. These tests enable them to recommend the best equipment to their readers and viewers for a wide range of leisure and outdoor activities.

See it for yourself

a selection of our leisure & outdoor tests

Sleeping bag being tested
Stunt scooter being tested
Hiking backpack being tested

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