Check out our latest blog, where Operations Director Jon, Assistant Buyer Lily and Marketing Assistant Sam head to Sweden for an action-packed few days of training, hiking, camping and sea kayaking with Hilleberg, Primus, the Outdoor Academy of Scandinavia and more.
Introduction – Why go to Sweden?
We were recently invited by Hilleberg to join them, along with a number of other outdoor brands and the Outdoor Academy of Scandinavia, for a few days in Sweden. It was a great opportunity to learn more about the brands and products we work with, as well as giving our staff the chance to spend some proper time outdoors and put some exceptional kit to use.
We left Head Office in Taunton at 1pm on the 22nd and made our way to Bristol Airport, where we would catch a late flight to Amsterdam before continuing on to Gothenburg. We arrived at around 12:30am and headed straight to bed, ready for an early start and our bus the following morning.
DAY 1 – Meeting the Group & Learning
Day one was a relatively relaxed start to the trip. We were collected by bus from Gothenburg Airport at around 12pm and began our two-hour journey to Ramsvik Campsite, which would be our base for the trip.
Once we arrived, we had a quick chance to explore the campsite before heading to the restaurant for a series of presentations from Gore-Tex, Primus, Silva, Icebug, 3M, Hilleberg and Devold. This was a great introduction to the trip, giving us the chance to learn more about brands we already knew well, as well as some that we were less familiar with.
Once the presentations were finished, we collected the kit we had been provided with for the next three days. The brands had been incredibly generous, with everything from stoves, base layers and hats to cutlery, head torches and plenty more.
Then it was time to head out onto the campsite and set up our Hilleberg tents. There was quite a selection, from Keron 4 GTs to Akto and Niak tents. As the Hilleberg rep joked, he was in charge of teaching us about Hilleberg and looking after the “hotel”. I’ve never stayed in a hotel where you have to pitch your own room first!
After a quick chat from Hilleberg, we moved on to dinner, which was hosted by Primus. We split into groups of four and got to work cooking on their larger stoves, using their cutting boards and Basecamp-style cooking sets.
It was a great way to wind down after a long day packed with information and introductions, while also giving everyone a chance to get to know each other a little better.
Then it was time for bed, ready to see what the next day had in store.
DAY 2 – Hiking and Cold Dips
We started day two at 7am, meeting for breakfast before a talk from Gore-Tex. We learnt more about the membrane, what it is used for, the care it needs and how it works. There were also a few experiments to demonstrate both its waterproofing and breathability, which made for an interesting start to the day.
After breakfast, we packed our bags for a full day of hiking before reconvening for some Silva training. They took us through the basics of navigation, from taking a bearing to pacing, which was a great refresher and also gave us the opportunity to use a variety of their compasses.
Then it was back on the bus and off to the start of our hike.
The hike was around 13km and was led by Icebug. It was a beautiful and varied route, with plenty to see as we made our way through both the coastline and inland areas. All the while, we were putting our base layers and boots to the test.
We stopped for lunch around halfway through the hike, where we had the opportunity to swap shoes and try something different. Silva also gave us a talk about their running and hiking poles, including how to use them correctly and what they have coming next year.
Then it was back on the trail, heading towards the coast. Eventually, we stopped to make some hot coffee with our stoves and enjoy some Swedish chocolate – perhaps a little too much!
We completed the final leg of the hike as the sun began to come out, making the last few kilometres even more enjoyable.
When we returned to camp, we retreated to our tents, got changed and headed down to the pier for a quick swim before dinner. I’m happy to report that the Brits held their own, staying in the freezing water for as long, if not longer, than some of the others. Maybe that was down to British stubbornness, because it was absolutely freezing!
After drying off and getting changed, we gathered for dinner and a talk from Light My Fire. We made cowboy coffee and cooked dinner over an open fire right by the sea, while also getting the chance to test some of the Light My Fire kit and enjoy a few drinks.
Once dinner was finished, we had one final talk from Silva, this time about their head torches. We then put them to the test with a short navigation course, using reflective tape placed on the trees to guide us back to camp.
It was a fun and interesting way to test the head torches in the dark and finish off a brilliant day before heading back to the tents for a good night’s sleep.
DAY 3 – Sea Kayaking and Saunas
Day three was our final full day, and the trip had gone so quickly. It felt like every second was packed with activities and fun, with very little downtime, and day three was no different.
We started at 7am with breakfast and a Hilleberg chat about the tents we had been using. We went through how to take them down and the best ways to manage them in storms and varying weather conditions, which was particularly useful after spending the previous two nights camping in them.
We then got our kit sorted and met at the beach for our sea kayaking trip. Once we had been briefed and collected our dry meals for lunch, we set off.
It was great to be back in a sea kayak, and everyone did amazingly well, especially considering it can be a little daunting getting into a sit-in kayak with a spray deck for the first time. After around an hour and a half of paddling between the islands and rocks along the West Swedish coast, and even trying a variety of seaweed along the way, we landed with the second half of our group on a secluded beach for lunch.
Our dry meals were cooked using the Primus stoves, and eating lunch on a secluded beach with crystal-clear water, beautiful scenery and some great weather was a pretty special experience.
Before setting off again, we had a talk from Devold before getting back into the kayaks. This time, we were paddling into the wind, making the journey back a little harder, but that wasn’t an issue. Along the way we were lucky enough to have visits from both a kestrel and a seal, while enjoying some amazing views back towards the West Swedish coast.
Once we landed back on the beach, we had a little downtime before moving into our cabins for the night. Then it was time to do what you do in Sweden – head to the sauna!
Luckily, the sauna was right next to the sea, so we could warm up before heading out onto the pier and jumping into the freezing water. It was something I’d never done before, but I absolutely loved it. Getting straight back into the sauna after the cold plunge felt like having a cold forcefield around you, and the beer afterwards definitely helped as well!
Then it was time to get showered, changed and ready for our final dinner. One last evening of good food, good drinks and, most importantly, amazing company before we retired to our cabins for our final night.
The following morning, we were up early for one last bit of exercise, with the choice of a 45-minute walk or a 5km run before getting back on the bus and heading to the airport.
This was such an amazing experience for me, both on a work and personal level. I learnt a huge amount about the kit we sell, but also learnt a few things about myself along the way. Having the opportunity to properly test kit in the field, learn directly from the brands and experience the products in the environments they are designed for is incredibly valuable.
It also gives us experiences that we can take back into the stores and use when talking to customers and staff. Being able to talk about kit from personal experience, rather than simply reading the specifications, is something I really value.
Overall, it was an incredible few days in Sweden, and I’m incredibly grateful to Hilleberg, the Outdoor Academy of Scandinavia and all of the brands involved for putting together such a brilliant trip. The combination of learning, testing kit, getting outdoors and spending time with such a great group made it a trip I’ll certainly remember for a long time.
Want to see more from our trip? Check Out our YouTube Video
