Hooked on Everyday Outdoor ENGLISH

on everyday outdoor no. 6 / 2021

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PACKING LIST

WWW.ADDNATURE.COM

Tent Sleeping bag and mat Camp kitchen + fuel + ignition steel Map + compass Woolpower 200 Rain jacket Oats (salt and cinnamon) Cup + spork + bottle First aid kit Cap + sunglasses

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EDITOR’S NOTE

A tribute Here at Addnature, all of us have one thing in common: our love of the outdoors. Being out in the forest, mountains and on the sea is a common thread through everything we do. We swim together near the office before work, bike together at lunchtime and then go ski touring in the nearest mountains as our happy hour after work. We′re outside as much as possible. We live the outdoors together.

The products we use and clothes we wear in our everyday lives are an extension of, and a tribute to, our interests. It's a way to be part of nature all the time, to show it respect and to show our activities some love – like a business card. Gadgets and garments that are designed for the outdoors take on a greater meaning as soon as we take them into everyday life. You can use them for more situations than you might think – it's about having fewer things and using them to the fullest.

This issue of Hooked is dedicated to everyday adventures: the great outdoors, every day.

Victor Inggårde Brand & Marketing Nordics Addnature 3

32. Yo Running Club

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CONTENTS 12

MY PLAYGROUND Sofia and Jacob’s daily life, far from the everyday

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FROM KEB TO CATWALK Outdoor and fashion have got it going on

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CLOTHES FOR ALL SIDES OF LIFE

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YO RUNNING CLUB Running adventures, friendship and joy

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MADE IN SWEDEN

12. My Playground

Locally produced outdoor classics

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AN ADVENTURE A DAY KEEPS THE

DOCTOR AWAY Shake up established routines with small adventures

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EPIC GEAR: FOLD-A-CUP

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THOUSAND-STAR RESTAURANT Dry food is for amateurs

48. An adventure a day keeps the doctor away

48. Thousand-star restaurant

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CLIMBING AT ANY COST Climbing cold cliffs

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EPIC GEAR: PETZL SPATHA

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THE ANATOMY OF A SHELL JACKET

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EPIC GEAR: ARC’TERYX SQUAMISH

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MY BEST FRIEND A guide to the perfect daypack

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EVERYDAY HEROES Everyday carry – small gadgets with a big impact

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THE WAVE MASTER For Tim Latte, the water is never too cold

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CREATORS Julia Möller

· Emelie Voltaire · Victor Inggårde

PUBLISHER

Martin Netinder Uddvägen 7, 131 54 Nacka 08-403 047 03 info@addnature.com / www.addnature.com

EDITORIAL

CO-WORKERS Anna Kernell · Ben Lubin · Bramm Clitherow Christer Myhran · Daniel Lindström Dennis Wernersson · Emma Carlsson · Frida Dagis Jenny Wikman · Jorie Einarsen · Lina Åsberg Nathalie Spjälle · Olof Lange · Pim Shaitosa Sofia Wester Sjöberg

THANKS TO Mårten Persson · Oskar Eriksson · Sabina Widing

COVER Sofia Wester Sjöberg

COPYRIGHT All rights reserved. Nothing in whole or in part may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. © Addnature 2021

Printed by Holmbergs Svanenmärkt trycksak, 3041 0140

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Blown Away

by Nature Optimerad för att besegra berg med stighudar – VASSI TOURING GTX JACKET är extremt lätt. Den ikoniska VASSI-designen i kombination med GORE-TEX Active materialet genererar hög andningsförmåga och är GUARANTEED TO KEEP YOU DRY™ i ombytligt väder.

Jackan är tillräckligt tunn för att få plats under en isolerad jacka när du tar en paus och den atletiska passformen följer med i alla rörelser och passar utmärkt till friåkning.

VASSI TOURING GTX JACKET

addnature.com 7

IN FOCUS 8

ADDNATURE'S ANNIVERSARY FRIENDS In the wake of the pandemic, we’re all eager to finally celebrate some milestones together, in person. We’ve also had to delay our 20-yearanniversary festivities until next year.

Two other brands celebrating their anniversaries have found innovative ways to mark the occasion from a distance. They are Hilleberg from Sweden and German company Hanway. The first is celebrating 50 years since founder Bo Hilleberg and his wife Renate revolutionised the tent industry, with interconnected inner and outer tents and strong Kerlon 1500 material. Those 50 years are summarised in a wonderfully nerdy book covering the company's history, tent models and best tips.

Hanwag, on the other hand, is celebrating 100 years since founder and alpinist Hans Wagner started making high-quality leather boots for outdoor, mountain-top adventures. And they’re still making the same durable shoes that can be resoled over and over again. The upper can last the wearer's whole life, even when the sole has worn down. The 100-year-old company is marking the occasion with a special anniversary collection with embossed anniversary logo and shoe-care kit.

ICEBUG PRAISED FOR ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES Shoe manufacturer Icebug is already a member of ′1% for the planet′ and the world's first climate-positive shoe company (according to the UN Climate Convention UNFCC). Now, the Gothenburg company is taking another big step by launching the 'Follow the Footprints' initiative, together with the Swedish traceability system TrusTrace.

The initiative makes it easier for customers to take part in the company's environmental work and make an informed choice. By scanning a QR code on the shoe box or following a link on the website, shoppers can get information about their purchase's carbon footprint and its material composition.

They can also see which countries and factories it’s passed through in the manufacturing process.

The initiative has been awarded the Scandinavian Outdoor Awards Sustainability Award. Icebug now hopes more competitors will follow suit, not only because this makes it easier to compare products from different brands, but also because it can help reduce the carbon footprint for the industry as a whole. Or as Icebug themselves put it: "In the race to zero, if we all increase our speed, everyone wins."

FOLLOW THE

FOOTPRINTS

THE LEGENDARY CLIMBING SHOE IN A NEW FORM La Sportiva's popular Mythos climbing shoe was launched in 1991 and for 30 years now has taken climbers up cracks and drawn-out multi-pitches in the greatest possible comfort. It's probably the climbing market's most beautiful shoe: just as perfect for long days on the cliff, as it is for those who have injuries or other foot problems and need a very comfortable shoe.

Now, the iconic climbing shoe is being celebrated with an anniversary design. In addition to the eye-catching purple colour, the materials have also been updated in line with 30 years of advances in environmentally friendly manufacturing. Nowadays, the shoes are made with metal-free tanned leather, recycled shoelaces and water-based glue.

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“I imagined I was a praying mantis, because they have these hooks for arms, which statically, slowly-but-surely took me up the wall” Climbing at Every Cost p. 60 / Photo: Pim Shaitosa

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My

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d n u o r g y a Pl DAILY LIFE, FAR FROM THE EVERYDAY

Text: Anna Kernell / Photo: Sofia Wester Sjöberg

The everyday life of our Addnature Family members Sofia Wester Sjöberg and Jacob Wester is far removed from most people’s day-to-day routines. They’re a bit like migratory birds, but they move towards colder instead of warmer climes in winter. They spend most of the year far from their Stockholm apartment, searching for fresh snow, big waves, dramatic landscapes and the right type of light.

He’s a professional extreme skier. She’s a professional extreme sports photographer. Together, they’ve turned their hobbies into careers, where their everyday life is a series of adventures.

At the young age of twelve, Jacob decided to make a living from skiing. The alpine world he grew up in was driven by performance (metrics). Seconds and minutes determined your place in the rankings and dictated whether you were in or out. To become someone, you had to compete – and win.

Jacob understood that he might have to become one of the best skiers in the world to be able to make a living from his sport. But then the ’new’ wave of free skiing arrived from the US, and these riders seemed to be able to survive in other ways, through sponsorship, videos and more.

– I decided there and then – this is what I’m going to do in the future. It took a mixture of hard work, ambition and pure luck to make it work out.

– When I was 17, I got my first well-paid contract. It was then I began to realise that if I can stick to this, I can live off it. Since then, the industry has made me who I am in that it’s no longer just a matter of taking part in competitions.

Today, the boundaries between athlete and influencer have

become blurred – for better or worse. If you’re good enough at marketing yourself, you can have a career that doesn’t involve constantly needing to get on podiums.

For Sofia, the lifestyle they now live was far from an obvious option. Even though she had a long-term boyfriend who was a professional skier, and had been interested in photography since childhood, it never occurred to her that a photographer was something you could just become.

– I never really thought that I could do anything else but get a ’real’ job in Stockholm. I was more focused on typically high performing roles, such as engineer or CEO. But during my final year at university, I started getting paid a little for the pictures I took of Jacob. That’s when I started to realise it might be possible to do this as a team. Also, it would be great to avoid a long-distance relationship and be able to spend more time with each other. Jacob was often away in the winters and we didn’t get to see each other much at all.

So five years ago, I decided to try full-time photography. And since then we’ve been making a go of it.

And did it just work?

– I think it’s worked well for us because we see ourselves as a team. As an outdoor photographer, it doesn’t always mean raking in the money, but I still feel that I help Jacob build his brand and vice versa.

– Companies have a lot to gain from Sofia taking pictures or videos because they don’t have to send anyone out themselves, Jacob adds.

My Playground is a series of short films where we follow Addnature Family members as they combine their passions, their training and their daily lives. Each section is independent and shows why Addnature Family members have such a passion for what they do. The films can be seen on YouTube, and Sofia and Jacob’s episode will be uploaded in spring 2022.

Follow them on Instagram: @sofiasjoeberg / @jacobwester

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WINTER At the end of November, Sofia and Jacob gather up their things and head north. Towards Åre. Short days and an empty mountain make it a perfect, gentle start to the season. There aren’t many lifts open at this time, so it’s a good opportunity to start hiking and get some miles into your legs. It’s wise to be kind to yourself and not rush into things, for example, by rushing straight to the high mountains after six months down at sea level.

When their bodies are warmed up and ready for adventure, they head towards Chamonix in France, which has everything from easier terrain to the world’s most extreme lines. After many years of competing, Jacob was fed up with travelling all the time. Now he prefers to stay in one place for a few months so that they can have a bit more normality. They can get to know the area and have a better idea of the snow and avalanche conditions. That’s why they spend most of the winter here, in Chamonix, pushing boundaries in everyday life, both behind and in front of the camera.

Can such an adventurous life ever become the dayto-day?

– It becomes more ’day-to-day’ when the weeks look more or less the same, even if there’s an adventure every day, says Sofia. That’s what it feels like for me during the winter. We get up early several days a week, are up on the mountain during the day and do mostly the same things, day in, day out. Then you end up going to bed straight after dinner because you’re so tired.

– For it to count as an adventure, I still think you have to define it as the opposite of everyday life. It has to contain uncertainty, some kind of risk or challenge, Jacob adds.

– So, in the Alps, you probably don’t think there’s such a thing as day-to-day life? Sofia asks.

– No. Or, rather, it depends on what you do in the Alps. Of course, there are everyday situations there as well. You go out and maybe do some photos of turns for a catalogue. But if you’re out really pushing the limits, it’ll never be a normal weekday. It’s the real deal.

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SPRING Sofia and Jacob don’t get that ’spring feeling’.’ They barely have time to catch a glimpse of spring at the end of their stay in Chamonix before they return to Stockholm at the end of April. Then it’s just a quick stopover in the capital before they continue to follow the snow and light up north towards the Arctic Circle. Destination Riksgränsen, Tromsö or Lofoten. Although the days can hardly be separated from the nights in early June up there, there’s hardly a bud on any tree as far as the eye can see.

But missing the spring doesn’t seem to be a big deal for them.

If you ask Jacob, northern Norway is where you can create the absolute best outdoor and van-living memories. There are both mountains and sea there, which means he gets to combine skiing with his other big interest: surfing. The day after a storm, they can wake up in their van to a perfect wave fifty meters in front of them and a 1000-metre-high mountain covered in fresh snow just behind them.

How much pure skiing is there in one season?

– I think ordinary seasonal skiers ski twice as much, Jacob says.

They go out every day regardless of the weather. We’re more fussy.

If the weather’s bad, we have to think about whether we’ll get something good done. Sometimes it makes more sense to let your body recover and catch up on some computer work.

It’s more preparation, waiting and repetition than you might think. Less active skiing, but more time on the mountain. It can take a whole day to get a single movie sequence. And if it doesn’t work on the first or second try, it can take as long as three days, says Sofia.

What people see on Instagram or in ski videos, these are really just the best five minutes from a whole winter, Jacob continues. It’s really compressed, you don’t see all the hard work that went into it.

Do you ever go out without a camera and just enjoy yourselves?

– You feel a sort of ’fomo’ when you don’t have a camera with you, says Jacob. I get out on the snow quite a lot just to train. But then I usually ski quite conservatively, I don’t go out and immediately jump off a cliff. It would feel a little silly to do that without someone filming it. You also have to start remembering that you’re over 30, your body can’t take everything you throw at it anymore. So, I try to choose my days when I really go for it and I like these to be photographed!

– And I’m out there to take the photos, says Sofia. A few times I didn’t have the camera with me and almost always regretted it. Maybe it would’ve been different if I was really a skier, then I probably would’ve appreciated being able to ski in peace more. But I’m more of a photographer than a skier.

– Skiing, for you, is more like a way to get the photo, Jacob adds.

– Yes, maybe…can I say that? wonders Sophie, laughing.

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SUMMER For six months, their lives revolve around snow, but when the Swedish summer is in full bloom, they go back to Stockholm. And then it’s no wonder they’re both a little done with all that skiing; tired of living out of bags.

Jacob is usually exhausted at the end of the season.

Being out there working hard in the mountains for several months straight takes its toll on the body. It means long days one after another with food that isn’t always the most nutritious. One’s condition may be at its peak but it’s easy to lose muscle mass and energy and these take time to get back. It’s time to take care of that #1 tool – the body.

For Sofia, it’s about taking advantage of the heat and summer that she misses so much in the cold winter. Hanging out with friends. Maybe working one day and skipping work the next. Taking the days as they come and taking breaks.

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AUTUMN You can split Sofia and Jacob’s lives into two parts.

During the winter, they get a lot of footage, but don’t have time to work on it. That’s why it’s important to do that during other parts of the year. The donkey work is usually done in the autumn. They head off to Fårö and do their office work in a cabin in the woods. Editing movies and photos. Planning for next season. Writing articles and delivering more long-form content.

Running, strength training and surfing. And maybe it’s on Fårö that they come closest to a traditional life.

The days roll along calmly and flow into one another.

But only for a short time. One thing’s for sure: winter’s coming, and with it an everyday life outside the norm.

Is there something that always gives you a boost, even if it’s part of your everyday life?

– Every time I get a good photo or good shot. That’s what I live for, and it can happen all year round. For you, maybe it depends a little more on where we are?

Sofia says, turning to Jacob.

– It can be quite subtle, getting a kick out of something. I can sometimes stop and smell the flowers, as they say. It doesn’t have to be a special day at all. Maybe we’re just up there, taking some lifestyle pictures and doing a few turns. But then on the way down from the mountain it’s sunset and incredibly beautiful. Then you just stop and say: ’Shit, this is my life now!’ How cool is that? You did the same thing yesterday and will do it again tomorrow as well. That’s a kick in itself. It’s in-the-moment happiness every day. That’s how you want life to be.

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FROM KEB TO CATWALK Text: Daniel Lindström

Once upon a time, not so long ago, the boundaries between outdoor clothing and fashion were clearly defined. Not anymore – the fact is, it’s getting hard to see where one ends and the other begins. Fashion journalist Daniel Lindström has been giving this some thought.

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Paris, January 2020.

I'm standing in a tent in The Tuileries Garden and it's crowded with fashionistas and super-stylish world-famous artists like Tyga, Pop Smoke and J Balvin. We're backstage after Louis Vuitton's lavish showing of this autumn's collection and are waiting for the designer, acclaimed American artist Virgil Abloh, to come out and receive our applause.

Abloh has been responsible for the Luis Vuitton men′s collection since 2018, and with it, the reputation of a brand that has been producing fine leather goods since 1854.

When Virgil Abloh eventually peeks out from behind a curtain – surrounded by an entourage of large bodyguards and PR assistants – he does so in a turquoise shell jacket from Arc’teryx.

It's a sensational sight that marks a definitive breakthrough in outdoor clothing in fashion. I also spot Frank Ocean in the front row, wearing a yellow down jacket from Mammut.

A few weeks later, just before the pandemic, Virgil Abloh shows off his own brand Off-White at Paris Fashion Week.

In it, he shows deconstructed versions of Arc’teryx-jackets paired with romantic tulle dresses. Two worlds united on one catwalk.

Another place, another time

I grew up in Östersund and Åre in the 1980s. My first memory of feeling a strong attraction to and desire for clothes is from 1986 when Stefan Engström and Peter Blom founded Peak Performance. I was in junior school then, skied every weekend in the winter, and wanted nothing more than a sweater or cotton anorak with the embroidered Native American on it.

Much later, I worked as an editor for Magazine Café in Stockholm. Following the clothing industry became my fulltime job, great for a guy interested in fashion, and by now I've seen hundreds of shows and collections in Sweden and around the world. But I keep coming back to the same conclusion: it's always more interesting to look at functional clothing from the outdoor world.

Sure, there are incredible Italian tailored jackets made from cashmere blends – but what is that compared to a three-layer shell jacket? And a pair of jeans in raw denim woven on an antique Japanese loom can never measure up to technical hiking trousers you can unzip and turn into shorts.

Outdoor brands have to be progressive, it's in their nature. To be constantly searching for newer, lighter, more-waterproof materials that make garments functional both for everyday life and the wild outdoors is a way to justify their existence and place in the market. Forward movement has always fascinated me.

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Frank Ocean keeps warm in his Mammut down jacket.

When I recently attended Copenhagen Fashion Week, together with my friend, running buddy and industry colleague Petter Lundgren, we got stuck for a long time in the Norse Store, a shop specialising in Japanese workwear and limited-edition sneakers. They had a few products from Visvim's first sports collection and I couldn't stop myself from buying a merino wool t-shirt for 3,400 SEK. It's outrageously expensive, I know, but it also says something about how strong the appeal of certain brands and quality products is to me (merino is always pricey anyway!)

Like me, Petter dresses in a mixture of functional clothing and 'ordinary clothes'.

– I also grew up in Norrland and have worn ski clothes since childhood. Today I live an active life in the city, running and cycling a lot, so I like to dress comfortably.

I buy a shell jacket to ski or hike in, but then also use the jacket in the city because of its superior function, he explains.

“Constantly looking for new materials that make the garments functional both in everyday life and in the woods and fields is a way to justify one's existence”

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This is just the beginning

But when and how did outdoor wear become so trendy and end up on the catwalk in Paris, Milan and New York? Why do the world's most prominent fashion stores sell Salomon's XT6 trail shoe next to brands like Balenciaga and Prada? And how does Gucci's genius chief designer Alessandro Michele come up with a collaboration with The North Face (a down jacket was sold for over €7000 on vintage site Grailed)?

The answer is of course that there's a strong demand for technical clothing that protects us from the elements. Even fashion companies have understood that there’s money to be made here.

– I’m generally skeptical of fashion brands that make outdoor garments at triple the price. They lack credibility because they have no tradition of making functional clothing,

so I'd much rather choose a Swedish brand with a focus on genuine craftsmanship and sustainability, Petter Lundgren continues.

There's no evidence that outdoor fashion has reached its peak yet. During the pandemic, we headed to ’local’ wildernesses to hike, instead of flying abroad.

Hiking clothing, which protects us against rain and wind, can also be stylish.

Part of me longs to wear a double-breasted suit, shirt and tie again – it's been almost two years since I’ve worn one. However, I know that my everyday outfit this fall and winter will consist of hiking boots and trail shoes, merino wool undershirts, light shell jackets and, when it's really cold, an Everest-ready down jacket.

Life’s so much nicer and easier when you’re dressed correctly!

“A pair of jeans in raw denim woven on an antique Japanese loom can never measure up to technical hiking trousers you can unzip into shorts”

Virgil Abloh astonishes the fashion world by wearing an Arc’teryx jacket in Paris, 2020.

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CLOTHES FOR ALL SIDES OF LIFE

Text: Olof Lange / Photo: Emelie Voltaire

The fashion world, always on the lookout for the next big thing, has found a source of inspiration in what we call ‘outdoor’. At the same time, many of our favourite brands are starting to offer products for the more urban, everyday life we live when we’re not off adventuring.

No one could be happier than us about this development – the result is a wardrobe full of comfortable garments that make everyday life easier and enhance our experiences in the great outdoors. And we don’t even have to get changed when going from work to training and much-needed trips into nature.

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Designed for the middle of everywhere.

The new IC3 collection pays tribute to our mountain heritage. Designed in close collaboration with outdoor lifestyle and performance design pathfinders Piers Thomas and Nigel Cabourn, the IC3 collection is defined by timeless craftsmanship and contemporary performance materials of the highest quality. “What makes this collection so special I feel is that we have been able to take 70 year old ideas but interpret them into a new and contemporary collection,” says Nigel Cabourn.

addnature.com

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1. Down jacket, Salomon Transition / 2. T-shirt, Patagonia Cotton in Conversion / 3. Shell jacket, Klättermusen Allgrön 2.0 / 4. Gloves, Black Diamond Lightweight Screentap / 5. Headlamp, Black Diamond Sport Lite 200 / 6. Sweater, Houdini Campus Crew / 7. Lotion, Climb On Mini Lotion Bar 8. Jeans, Black Diamond Forged Denim / 9. Shell pants, Marmot Minimalist / 10. Shoes, Adidas Five Ten Five Tennie / 11. Knife, Opinel N°10 Corkscrew

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1. Knife, Mora Eldris / 2. Beanie, Lemmel Kaffe Glöden / 3. Gloves, Hestra Wakayama / 4. Sweater, Patagonia Synch Anorak / 5. Jacket, Black Diamond First Light Hybrid / 6. First aid kit, Lifesystems Pocket / 7. Backpack, Haglöfs Bergspår 25 / 8. Bottle, Addnature V2 Insulated / 9. Chinos, Houdini Omni / 10. Socks, Kavu Moonwalk / 11. Coffee, Lemmel Kaffe Kokkaffe / 12. Cup, Kupilka 37 13. Shoes, Lundhags Stuore Low / 14. Ignition steel, Kupilka Firesteel 8

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1. Down sweater, Klättermusen Liv 2.0 / 2. Shoes, Danner Mountain 600 / 3. Sweater, Patagonia Synch Anorak 4. Cup, personal item / 5. Flask, Stanley Classic Wide Mouth / 6. Skis, Black Diamond Helio Recon 105 / 7. Backpack, Arc’teryx Alpha FL 30 / 8. Gas, Primus Power Gas / 9. Gas stove, Soto Wind Master Micro Regulator / 10. Pants, Patagonia Skyline Traveler / 11. Gloves, Black Diamond Spark / 12. Dog: Mila

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1. Sunglasses, Oakley Latch / 2. Shell skirt, Houdini The Square / 3. Shirt, Patagonia Insulated Fjord Flannel / 4. Jacket, Houdini One Parka / 5. Gloves, Black Diamond Dirt Bag / 6. Bottle, United By Blue Insulated Steel / 7. Sweater, The North Face Lightning / 8. Pants, Black Diamond Alpine Light 9. Camping stove, Trangia Mini Trangia 28 / 10. Climbing shoes, La Sportiva Mythos 30th Anniversary / 11.

T-shirt, Marmot Coastal / 12. Urskog Skateboard, personal item

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1. Cap, Arc’teryx 5 Panel Label / 2. Multitube, Buff Heavyweight Merino / 3. Jacket, Arc’teryx Atom SL Anorak / 4. Jacket, Houdini The Cloud / 5. Cup, United By Blue Stainless Compass / 6. Sweater, Icebreaker Nature Dye Helliers / 7. Bottle, Hydro Flask Wide Mouth / 8. Pants, Devold Nibba 9. Shoe, On Cloudventure / 10. Shoe, Haglöfs L.I.M Mid Proof Plus

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1. Vest, Patagonia Classic Retro-X Fleece / 2. Jacket, Patagonia Down Sweater / 3. Cap, Black Diamond Camper / 4. T-shirt, Houdini Activist / 5. Sunglasses, Julbo Vermont Classic / 6. Spork, Optimus Titan Folding / 7. Backpack, Exped Black Ice 30 / 8. Knife, Fällkniven LTC / 9. Compass, Silva Pocket 10. Cup, Hydro Flask Wine Tumbler / 11. Pants, Patagonia Skyline Traveler / 12. Gloves, Hestra Windshield / 13. Shoe, On Cloudventure / 14. Shoe, Haglöfs L.I.M Mid Proof Plus

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Photo: Emelie Voltaire

“One of the many powder days we had in Åre last season. Here, Lovisa Rosengren and Jacob Wester are skiing at a secret location northeast of Åre with no other skiers in sight; just sun and powder all day.”

Photo: Sofia Wester Sjöberg

YO Running. Is there any more accessible form of exercise? Just put on your shoes and get out there, it's as simple as that. But what do you do when you feel you’re in a rut, running the same old tracks, or want new views and bigger challenges? What about when you don't want to sacrifice time with your friends because you have to train? Lina Åsberg spoke to Henrik, Rasmus and Tommy from Yo Running Club.

YO Running Club. The name, which means Your Own Running Club, hints at what the group is all about: running joy, friendship and adventure. The club was started by musician Daniel Adams Ray and photographer Fredrik Wannerstedt, two friends who wanted to combine art with running, photography with sweaty

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RUNNING CLUB Text: Lina Åsberg / Photo: Dennis Wernersson

workouts, tough challenges with hanging out with friends, and coffee and croissants at their favourite café at Sankt Eriksplan.

– Daniel and Fredrik started this as an alternative to traditional athletics clubs. Those have a certain aesthetic, a lot of norms about how things should be. Daniel and Fredrik are two very creative people and wanted to explore how they could combine their passion for running with art and photography, says Tommy. There wasn’t much room for that in existing clubs, so they did their own thing.

What they started was Yo Running Club, a club made up of friends who meet every Tuesday night and Saturday morning to tackle the city streets with a camera in hand and a wealth of ideas to challenge and rethink their running. The club has about twenty members, most of whom are old friends who met in various training situations and competitions, including the Swedish

“We go to the far end of a line and run along it, as far as we can. If someone can't manage it, they can just take the train back” swimrun competition 'Ö till Ö'. Henrik Kindgren is among those who have been at the club the longest.

– Yes, Daniel and I competed together in 2013 or 2014, I think. We gave it a try – and won! A really, really big competition, he says, laughing.

– Afterwards, in the paper, the headline was: ”Daniel Adams Ray won an extreme sports competition”.

– Daniel Adams Ray and a friend, adds Rasmus, also laughing. Ouch!

– Well, no, it wasn't such a big deal, it was a competition called Beach to Beach.

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YO's tips for starting a running club.

"Just do it”, say the members of YO who think people waste time looking for clubs.

All you need is a bunch of friends you like to run with, and regular routines. It also helps to be a slightly larger group, so there are always some people who run even if not everyone can. The group run every Tuesday and Saturday, the same time, same place.

They get motivation from the treat afterwards – a croissant and coffee, for example.

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Concrete jungle book meets farmhouse

The soul and heart are the very essence of the challenge. Yo isn't a club for those who want to run the same old track morning and night – they want to challenge themselves and discover new surroundings while running. Perhaps it's their passion for photography that laid the foundation for this inexhaustible desire for new views. Indeed, the culture in the club is a bit reminiscent of the idea of urban exploration.

One challenge that gained some media attention was their metro (underground railway) run. The concept is simple: – We find the end of the railway lines and run a new route out to them. When we’ve completed all the final stations, we're done, Tommy says.

– Yes, it's not such an advanced concept really, Rasmus says.

Some of their favourite views are in Akalla and Hjulsta.

– It's truly amazing how the concrete connects to Järvafältet's rural scenes, says Rasmus. It almost feels like being out in the country, with large fields and farms. In the centre, on the other hand, it's a totally different feeling. Large concrete blocks, million-home housing estates. There are fantastic pictures to be taken in such concretedominated environments.

– Another gem was the abandoned Kymlinge metro station in Sundbyberg, Tommy adds.

Stockholm is a city of contrasts: concrete and green idylls, housing estates and medieval cobblestone alleys. Discovering the city at dawn, when it hasn't yet woken up is fantastic, according to the members of the club.

“It's the best way to get out, to do it with friends and have fun socialising afterwards.”

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YO's tips to take your running up a notch Take advantage of your city’s public transport

Find a means of transport that can take you to new places in your town and discover new running routes from there. If you want to run a long way, you can follow the public transport route back and hop on the bus, train or underground home again if your legs get tired.

Run all streets or run in patterns

Find a map of your town and then run every single street on it. Use a GPS watch to log where you’ve run and see where you haven't yet been. Or draw a pattern and try to make a word or shape across the city streets.

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Petrol station to petrol station or viewpoint running

Run between petrol stations in the countryside and stock up on energy at each station, or just stop and admire the view. Inform a friend who lives somewhere along the way if you're running far so they can pick you up in their car if you get too tired.

Get inspiration from other running clubs

YO recommends Copenhagen-based Norrebro Running and Dutch club Patta as places to find inspiration for new running challenges. Or why not turn to YO itself? You'll find them on Instagram under the name yorunningclub, where they upload inspiring photos from their runs and adventures.

When YO ran out of final stations, they started what they call 'safari runs', and used commuter train lines instead.

– We have runners of many different levels, says Tommy, and it's obviously important that people can keep up, but also that everyone can participate. So we go to the far end of the commuter train lines and then run back along the line, as far as we can. If someone can't manage it, they can just take the train back.

A beautiful route they recommend from the safari runs is the trail from Kallhäll towards the city, where you can run along the water and take in the sea, bridges and castles.

All the city's streets

2019 was a year for a new challenge. YO's members wanted to run not only for the group but for a higher purpose, and the result was a challenge in support of Musikhjälpen. The running club took on all of Stockholm's inner city streets in a mad frenzy, and anyone who wanted to could participate – provided they donated to the appeal. In total they raised 150,000 SEK, not just

through running, but also by selling training programs and other products on Tradera.

There was one thing I thought about before I met YO: how did they keep track? How did they know how many, and which, streets they had left?

– At first we started to set up a route, a kind of schedule, but it became far too cumbersome and time consuming, says Rasmus. So we started using our GPS watches to log where we had run instead, and at the end of the day we put the routes that the watch recorded onto a map to see what we had left.

Did you manage to run all the streets?

– Yes, almost, says Rasmus. There were some we missed around Vasastan. But nearly all the streets. It took 17 hours in total. We ran around two hours per day in one week. I was probably the only one who ran every day, the others joined in when they could.

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– It was so much fun. We met so many people we’d never met before. People who saw what we were doing through Instagram, and posted about it. Friends of friends. My dad joined for a bit, he ran a kilometre and then dropped out, says Rasmus.

When asked if they got a different picture of their city after the challenge, they all answer 'yes' in unison.

– There’s so much we didn't know about Stockholm, so much we hadn't seen. The coolest place is probably Gamla stan. You wouldn't believe it, but there are many hidden gems, you always get the old classics – Västerlånggatan, Svartmannagatan. When we ran for Musikhjälpen we got to see so many small alleys, hidden streets and places we had never seen before, it was fantastic, says Rasmus.

– You get to rediscover how beautiful Stockholm is, Henrik adds.

For occasional runs, they suggest island jumping in Stockholm's inner city – to take in all the streets in the Old Town, Kastellholmen, Riddarholmen and beyond.

YO's tips for running challenges

It's clear that this is a group that loves to run in new and unexpected ways. For all of Stockholm's glorious beauty, only one in ten Swedes lives there. Do they have any advice for others who want to add a challenge to their running – in the countryside as well as in the city?

Try tram and bus running, following the same method as the underground metro running. But how do you do it in the countryside? Can you run far in unknown territory, if you don't have a commuter train to jump on?

– I'm from the countryside, says Tommy, who was born and raised outside Jönköping. When going on a new long run, somewhere I'd never been before, I made sure to call a friend who had a house somewhere far along the road and ask if they could drive me home. It's not a big loss for them, if a distance takes an hour for me, it might take a quarter of an hour by car. And if I didn't have the strength

Contributors

to run the whole way, I just had to call and be picked up along the way.

– Another good challenge is running from petrol station to petrol station, he adds. It's just how it sounds. You run a stretch where you know there are petrol stations, and you stop at each station and have a coffee. It's also a good way to get your stomach used to handling the food and energy intake required for longer runs, if you’re interested in ultra-running.

– I usually combine it with a little family time, says Rasmus. I ask my wife to drive with the kids to a beach, and then I run there. Then I don't have to worry about being able to get home, as the car is right there. I can take a dip and hang out with my family afterwards.

Another cool thing to try, which works for both urban and rural running, is ’viewpoint running’. As usual, the name is self-explanatory: you run to a viewpoint, take a break and admire the views, and then run on to the next one. It's an excellent way to satisfy your need for eye candy while getting some exercise.

When asked if they have any new challenges on the horizon, they mention that they're excited about making patterns with their runs.

– We have tried a little: round circles of eight in the city and a few other things, says Tommy. But it would be cool to do more advanced stuff, like run a word or a sentence.

The whole gang joins in, in agreement.

– After all, running is also something that requires discipline: it's hard to run. It can be boring and requires perseverance, Tommy continues.

– A lot of our races are centred around coffee, Rasmus adds, laughing. It sounds funny but I'm actually not joking.

It's the best way to get out, to do it with friends and have fun socialising afterwards. We always go to the same cafe.

So if you want to find YO, you just have to look for their favourite hang-out spot, somewhere in Vasastan.

Rasmus Regnstrand, Tommy Guldstrand and Henrik Kindgren: three YO friends who, in addition to running, train in several other disciplines, including cycling and swimrun. Follow them on Instagram: @yorunningclub.

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Text: Anna Kernell

MADE IN n e d e Sw

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In times of intense globalisation, goods 'made in Sweden' seem much more exotic. At the same time, interest in locally produced items is growing. Microbreweries are popping up all over the place, and the demand for locally produced food is rocketing. Nowadays, we’re also happy to dress in, and equip ourselves with, Swedish-made products.

Domestic manufacturing often means unique opportunities for brands when it comes to ensuring quality, evaluating products, and following them up. It also leads to fewer links in the production chain, which in turn means less strain on the environment.

This also, however, brings great challenges. Hooked takes a closer look at three Swedish outdoor brands that have been successful at home.

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a i g n Tra

The portable stove from up north Half of all outdoor enthusiasts in the Nordics own or have owned a Trangia stove. Even if they don't currently own one, most Swedes probably still remember when their parents took the whole set out and put it together, to make coffee or instant mashed potato on a childhood trip to the forest.

Trangia has become synonymous with quality and reliability: a portable stove that works in all situations, for both families with children and the discerning adventurer. So it's no surprise that the company has been a leader in the Swedish portable stove industry for generations. They’re even based in the same place where it all started: a small village in the middle of Jämtland province.

Let’s go back almost a century. At that time, John E. Jonsson lived in the village of Trång, and was passionate about technology and design. So much so that he said goodbye to the farming life and instead founded Trangia in 1925, together with his father-in-law. They started producing durable household goods made of aluminium, production under one roof. Of course, one might think it's a for home use. As more and more workers in the 1930s bit remote up there in central Sweden. After you've passed were given time off work to take holidays, the demand for the nearest town of Östersund, it’s still several hours before camping equipment increased and John and his father-inthe next one. However, it's near what matters. Practical law decided to switch focus. testing in harsh weather conditions becomes a natural part Their first camping set came to the market in 1935, and of everyday business when was given the name 'no. 24'. you're out in the middle of the It consisted of a set of pots, wilderness with the Jämtland plates, cups, coffee pan and mountains around the corner. frying pan for two people and From a rural perspective, it's cost 11 SEK to buy. Sixteen advantageous if companies years later, John, along with choose to stay and create Product: aluminium portable stove his two sons, launched the jobs, which in smaller Founded: 1925 first prototype of a complete communities would otherwise Where: Trångsviken, Jämtland province cooking system that used become increasingly rare. liquid fuel.

Even Trangia itself has grown Over the years, the stove hugely in the last few years. has been optimised and the In 2017 they had around 20 details modernised. In the 60s you could get the frying pan in employees, and today there are around 80. That's quite a lot a non-stick version, in the 70s the handles got air holes and in a village of only 266 people. in the 80s a gas burner was introduced as an option. Even Many of you reading this will have never heard of the today, however, the original design is key to the outdoor village of Trång before. And even those who have heard cooking set's success. That 70s portable stove will still be of it might not have known that Trangia comes from there. fully usable even if you’re missing a part or two – you don't However, sometimes the bond between a place and a need to discard the entire set. The new parts manufactured company is so strong that the connection is obvious. The today work just as well with the old stoves. local connection is so clear that the good reputation of one Both the company and the wealth of its inventions have spreads to the other, and vice versa. been passed down from generation to generation. Trangia is still family-owned today and in the same village with all

Trangia

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Malin Bergman, systems administrator and project leader at Trangia What do you think the benefits are in keeping production local?

– Mainly that we’re so close to where everything happens. The office is in the factory, so decisions can be made quickly. We can go from ideas to action in no time and can easily change production if something needs to be fixed. If we need new any tools, we can also manufacture them here on site.

Is there anything you don’t manufacture on site?

– We produce everything ourselves except the small parts made of plastic, such as the Multidisc, the fuel canister itself and the canister cap. We buy in these parts, but if we can buy them locally, we do.

For example, our new T-Spoon and the cap for the canister both come from Essge-Plast in Östersund.

We plan to have that plant carry out even more of our production in the future.

– If we can’t buy locally, we at least buy Swedish products. Our multifuel and gas burners, for example, are manufactured for us by Primus. You could even say that we are Primus’ biggest customer.

– The only things we don’t manufacture ourselves or buy in Sweden are our fabric cases. We buy those, and only those, from China.

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Oskar Eriksson, buyer at Addnature What's the ultimate Morakniv knife?

– I'd say the Eldris Neck Knife Kit. It's small, flexible and comes with a fire starter. Usually, you don't need more than a small, simple knife, so in most situations I choose to take this one with me.

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both labour and a market share, they also shared a sense of belonging, a feeling that’s remained over the years. The socalled Östnorsandan (Östnor vibe), where companies help Real Champagne always comes from the Champagne region each other through ups and downs, can still be found in the in France, and the same is true for Morakniv – the knives are area today. all made in Mora. Also, it couldn't have escaped anyone's Over time, many acquisitions took place among Östnor’s attention that they′re manufactured here in Sweden, all the knife producers, and by the end of the 80s, Krång Johan's and knife blades are stamped 'Made in Sweden'.

Frost's factories had merged into one. An entire century of In the area around Mora, this 400-year-old tradition of competition, ingenuity and entrepreneurship, finally under knife making lives on. Originally, knives were produced by one roof. In 2016, the family company, which is still owned hand, but as the 19th century came to an end, factories took by Krång Johan's grandchildren and great-grandchildren, over. That's where the long and interesting story of one of changed its name to Morakniv AB. the world's most successful knife manufacturers begins.

You might wonder how Morakniv has managed to In 1891, a man named Frost-Erik Erson founded a vehicle stay at the top, making world-class products for so many factory that manufactured sleighs and wagons in the village of years. What makes Morakniv stand out? Yes, of course the Östnor, outside Mora. It wasn’t a time of plenty, and carefully company offers a winning combination of user-friendly managing resources was part of everyday life. True to the knives, with awesome performance and a lifetime guarantee, frugal spirit of that era, these knives were made from leftover at a fair prices. In fact, how to treat, harden and sharpen material for use in the workshop. Over time, the knives this unique steel is still a wellbecame a sought-after items kept secret. If you dig a little for bartering among travelling deeper, though, you'll see farm traders, and so they spread that part of the answer is in across the country with them. how Morakniv has chosen to It wasn't long before Morakniv stay in Mora and make good became a well-established Product: steel knives use of the resources and brand among craftsmen and skills that have existed in the Founded: 1891 manual workers, and over time area for centuries.

Where: Östnor, Dalarna province also among wholesalers and Perhaps they've also hardware dealers in Europe. been shaped by the fierce This encouraged Frost-Erik to competition between the change direction and turn his full various knife manufacturers attention to knife manufacturing. that has long simmered under the surface. Even today, the In the years that followed, more people in the area started company stays up to date with the industry and constantly producing knives. These included a former employee of strives for improvement. When developing new knives, they Frost's, Krång Johan, who was fired after a disagreement get help from product ambassadors who get to test the with the management. Having many manufacturers in a knives in their daily work and provide feedback. Everyone small town inevitably led to fierce competition, but the from woodworkers, craftsmen and outdoor chefs, to famous rivalry also kept them on their toes and trying to excel, which names in wilderness medicine, bushcraft and survival resulted in a great selection of knives for a growing world technology, provides invaluable information from real-world market. Even though the manufacturers had to fight for use, about what works and what needs improving.

Knives out

Morakniv

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Warmth from the north Even if local production comes with many advantages, it also brings great challenges. One of these is cost. It's much cheaper to manufacture outside Sweden, and often the further away, the cheaper. The cost of a textile worker in Sweden is equal to to approximately 30 textile workers in Bangladesh, for example. However, for those who give a damn about defying the odds, there's still hope.

Not many people know that Sweden's largest sewing factory is in Östersund. Or that it might soon be Sweden's only one. Unfortunately, that's just how it is. On the upside, Woolpower is growing extremely fast. The company currently has 130 employees and next year a newly built factory of 10,000 square meters will be ready.

Originally called Vinetta, the company was started in 1969 in Östersund as a project initiated by the Cooperative Association to create jobs in Norrland. Back then it manufactured nylon socks.

In the early 1970s, together with the Swedish Armed Forces, the company developed the Ullfrotté Original material. The defence industry needed low-maintenance underwear which would keep wearers warm in the coldest conditions. The material was a great success. In the years that followed, under the new name Ullfrotté, the company specialised in creating more functional products from the same material. That could withstand extreme weather conditions, sudden weather changes and more intense activities.

The company began to take bigger steps into the flora. Without the sheep, the land would be quickly depleted international market and in 2006, changed its brand name of its nutrients. When they’re allowed to roam freely on large to Woolpower. grazing areas, it not only benefits nature to the landscape, When dealing with wool, it's difficult, if not impossible, to but also helps create jobs in the countryside. keep the whole production chain within Sweden, as After the wool has become yarn and arrives in Östersund, conditions just aren't good enough. Unfortunately, there however, everything else happens under one roof. This aren't enough sheep here with the wool quality required goes from product development and sewing, through to to manufacture underwear on a large scale, nor enough packaging and sales. The yarn is used to make the unique cleaning plants, dyes or spinning mills to be able to deliver Ullfrotté material and after preparation, the textile workers the amount of yarn at the take over. Each garment is quality that's needed. sewn by the same person from The wool Woolpower uses beginning to end. therefore comes from merino When the garment is sheep in Uruguay and the finished, the worker checks it, Argentine part of Patagonia. and then sews in a label with Produces: merino wool clothing There's a long tradition of their name on it. The label Founded: 1969 sheep breeding there, and it's serves as a sign of quality, and worth supporting, as sheep Where: Östersund, Jämtland province also as a way to draw attention farming plays an important to the person and the skilled role in maintaining Patagonia's work that′s gone into garment. sensitive landscape and natural

Woolpower

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Jenny Odqvist Kristensson, product manager at Woolpower What are the biggest advantages of having production in Östersund?

– The reason we′ve chosen to keep all production in Östersund is the dedication of the employees, which is crucial for Woolpower. Here in the north, people also have a great knowledge about how to dress in cold, harsh weather. This improves our credibility as we manufacture products whose main purpose is to keep people warm.

Also, Östersund invests in fostering good conditions for entrepreneurship, with a strong drive and forward-thinking spirit, and which also has a proenvironmental and sustainability attitude that's in line with ours. That's why it feels right for us to keep production here and contribute to increased growth and employment opportunities in the municipality.

What are the biggest challenges?

– Since textile production in Sweden has traditionally existed in and around Borås and Sjuhäradsbygden, but not in northern Sweden, our biggest challenge has been in finding expertise. Industrial garment workers and mechanical engineers aren’t so easy to find here, so in-house training has been crucial. People who have moved to Sweden and have sewing expertise (among other knowledge) have also brought their valuable skills to the company.

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AN ADVENTURE A DAY KEEPS THE DOCTOR AWAY Text: Anna Kernell / Illustrator: Jorie Einarsen

When does a trip become an adventure? That's a very individual question. Where exactly you draw the line depends on your previous experiences, or perhaps when your fears take over. In any case, you know you're doing it right when you feel you're breaking new ground, when your stomach flutters with excitement, and when you want to give up but instead grab the bull by the horns.

You don't have to climb Everest or throw yourself down wild rapids to chase excitement.

Small adventures in everyday life are the building blocks of bigger ones. Also, they're cheaper, less time consuming and more doable. You

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just have to look a little closer to home. Try to look at normal things slightly differently. An adventure can be doing something ordinary in an extraordinary place or at an unusual time.

Something that shakes up established routines and challenges old thought patterns.

We've cooked up some ideas for challenges and everyday adventures that will get you out of that rut and make life a little more fun. Don't sit and wait for a lottery win, vacation or when the stars align. Challenge yourself and your friends – right now!

Fill in the gaps

We’ve become blind to the delights of our home turf. We think we know our city inside and out, that we’ve been everywhere and seen everything worth seeing. Does this sound familiar? Maybe it’s given you something to think about. Go out and explore your city’s forgotten corners and quiet streets.

It’s important not to miss a single small backstreet, side passage or alley. It’s even more fun if you take a paper map and mark the completed streets while you go, so you can follow your progress in black and white. No matter how clichéd it sounds, you never really know what you might find around the next corner, unless you actually look.

Become friends with cold water

You don’t have to wait for summer to go swimming.

Give an icy dip a chance, you’ll be pleasantly surprised – we promise! Does it feel daunting? Prepare a fire (or crank up the heating) for when you get back, brew some steaming-hot tea and have some warm pajamas to change into. Nothing gets your endorphins going like doing something your brain doesn’t want you to do!

Get up with the sun

Watch the sunrise from a mountain top. If you don’t live near the mountains and you haven’t booked a holiday to somewhere with impressive views, it’s at least as fun to choose the highest point near you.

Check what time the sun rises and calculate how long it’ll take to reach the top so that you get there just in time for the sunset. And pack some breakfast, it’s lovely to enjoy it while you witness the beauty of a sunrise. Afterwards, you still have the whole day ahead of you.

When darkness falls...

…the adventure begins. At night even humdrum activities are more exciting. Your daily run will take on a whole different character when it’s still dark out, with shadows and dark shapes to stimulate your imagination. Buy a headlamp and plan your runs for the wee hours, or schedule a ski trip with a full moon lighting the way.

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Happy hour oʹclock

Why wait till the weekend? Get the most out of your weekdays instead. Get away straight after work. Get on a train, on your bike, or go on foot. Just go out into nature. Find a nice place to pitch your tent or sleep in the open air. Fire up your camp kitchen and enjoy a meal that wouldn’t taste as good if you were in your kitchen and let nature’s noises wash away the stress of your working day. The next day, wake up with the sun, take an invigorating morning dip and return to work again. Maybe your body will feel sore and stiff during the day, but you’re guaranteed to be happy.

Let your back rest and your brain work

Make it hard for yourself. Put away the large hiking backpack and bring out a daypack for weekend hiking instead. It won’t fit everything you usually bring on multi-day trips, so you’ll be forced to think differently.

Maybe that means only a sleeping mat, light jacket and mosquito net, instead of a tent and sleeping bag. Or you can replace your camp kitchen with timehonoured fire making techniques. No matter how you pack, the limitations will force you to think creatively, making it a fun project even before you go.

One tip is to take your first minimalist steps a reasonable distance from home or from a bus stop.

If it doesn’t work out, you can just go home and try another time.

Roll the dice for a new lake

Tired of the same old swimming spots? Time to roll the dice for a lake lottery. Open up your map app or get a paper map of a local area with plenty of lakes.

Select six lakes of the desired size and number them 1 to 6. Roll the dice to see which lake you should swim in. Set a goal for the number of lakes you can tick off within one year and let the dice show you where to swim. When it gets cold, just dig out your wetsuit.

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Line hike

This is a fun way to make the same old forest walk more fun, make your hikes more challenging and work on your compass and map skills. Make a map of the area you plan to hike or walk in. Draw a line from point A to point B. Next, follow the compass course and walk along the line as straight as you can. Does your line cross a lake or large boulder? If yes, then go over the lake and the boulder, not around them.

Seven (nearby) summits

Climbing the highest mountain peak on each continent (there are seven) is a prestigious achievement in mountaineering circles. You can gain inspiration from that, but skip the trips around the world and set the bar to your own level. Climb the highest mountains, hills or high points in your city or landscape and join the unofficial ’seven summits’ club where everyone is welcome.

Remix your festive routine

Weekends. Big meals at the dining table and then straight to the sofa for a nap. Why not celebrate the birth of Jesus, or resurrection for that matter, in a slightly more unconventional manner? Drop a pin on the map and let your guests navigate to a Christmas dinner over an open fire. Paddle through the endless light of a midsummer night. Gather your friends, dress up as father Christmas, gingerbread men or elves and get out running along the trails, or skating on some frozen lakes (if the ice can take it!) The only limit is your imagination.

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SWEDEN’S ULTIMATE OUTDOOR GADGET Text: Jenny Wikman / Photo: Emelie Voltaire

Too ugly for Instagram, tainted by childhood memories of forced family and preschool outings: the folding cup may look unassumingly unsexy at first glance, but it has a special place in our hearts. In fact, it’s such a brilliant design that it’s been classified as a work of art by the Svensk Form (Swedish Design) association.

At the end of the 20th century, long before enamel mugs began trending on Pinterest and hipsters started dragging heavy wooden mugs out to the woods (read: the nearest nature reserve, a stone’s throw outside the city limits), a washable Swedish classic was invented. More Swedish than the band GES and getting drunk on schnapps, more Swedish than snus: it’s Wildo’s brilliant Fold-A-Cup. Wildo was founded in 1979 when a minimalist outdoor enthusiast threw his lot in with a former soldier. Together, they developed an outdoor dining set that was functional and light – made for the harshest environments that hikers and other outdoor enthusiasts could visit. 35 years later, and this foldable plastic cup is still a bestseller and now even a copywrighted work of art.

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In 2021, a Fold-A-Cup will be released for three to four euros, a modest outlay for its functionality. It weighs a mere 25 grams, which makes it one of those rare products that’s loved by weight-weenies, parents and comfort maximalists alike. It’s among the lightest and most flexible drinking vessels you can get for your money.

Fold it and it takes up hardly any space in your pack. It’s only 2.5 cmthick when folded up, so can even fit in a trouser pocket. For the minimalist, it replaces a water bottle when you’re guaranteed fresh water sources, as you can sip straight out of the cup.

When it’s folded up, you can store a few tea bags inside the cup for your upcoming break – always be prepared!

If you have a classic Trangia kitchen, you’ll see that the cup fits snugly inside

as a permanent part of the kit. At the camp site, it can happily serve as a bowl for peanuts and snacks.

If you hike with your family, you can effectively eliminate the kids whining about ”mine” and ”yours” because the cups come in all the colours of the rainbow. And if you want to avoid dragging around an extra water bowl for your four-legged hiking companion, serve the water from your folding friend. If you’ve got a big dog, or it becomes so fond of your beloved cup that that you don’t want to share anymore, then you can get a larger (600 ml) version, called the Fold-A-Cup Big. But, since you can use the larger cup for food, a tasty goulash perhaps, it may be that your four-legged friend still wants to share your cup!

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Name: Nathalie Spjälle Age: 29 Profession: Works at

the deli counter at ICA supermarket and creates vegan recipes for cooking on camping stoves.

r a t s d n a s u o Th Restaurant Nathalie Spjälle is a food creator from Jämtland who spends most of her free time outdoors – with her portable stove. She shared four recipes with us, ready for your next outdoor dinner.

Instagram: @foodbynatta

SWEET POTATO HASH BROWNS WITH FRIED KALE AND CHANTERELLE MUSHROOMS Makes 2-3 portions Hash browns

2 large sweet potatoes 3 tablespoons cornstarch 2 tablespoons oil (and some for frying) Herb salt Rosemary Garlic powder

Toppings

200 g chanterelles 70 g kale

Lingonberry cream

100 ml oat-based creme fraiche 2 tablespoons lingonberry jam

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Method: Prepare the sweet potatoes at home: peel, grate and squeeze out the liquid.

Season with herb salt, rosemary and garlic powder.

Mix the sweet potatoes with oil and cornstarch.

In the outdoors:

Pour plenty of oil into the frying pan and let it warm up. Put about 100 ml of the mixture for each hash brown in the frying pan. Press with a spatula and fry the hash browns until they’re crispy and golden brown.

Next, fry the mushrooms in the oil and herb salt.

Chop the kale and fry in the oil and herb salt until it becomes crispy (can also be prepared at home).

Serve with lingonberry cream!

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CREAMY LEMON ORZO WITH SPINACH AND PARMESAN Makes 2 portions You'll need:

½ litre boiled water 1 stock cube 1 tablespoon olive oil Approx. 2 tablespoons butter 1 onion 3 cloves of garlic 200 g orzo pasta 1 tablespoon lemon zest 100 ml white wine 1 handful of fresh spinach 1 dl grated parmesan (I use vegan cheese) 100 g cherry tomatoes Salt, pepper and nutmeg

Toppings

Parmesan (or vegan cheese), rocket & pine nuts

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Method: Bring ½ litre of water to the boil.

Add a stock cube. Put to one side.

Pour oil into the pot. Add the butter.

Chop the onion and garlic finely. Brown for a short while and then add the orzo.

Stir it all together and add the lemon zest.

Add white wine and some of the broth.

Continue to add the broth, a little at a time, stirring until the orzo gets as creamy as you want it.

Then stir in fresh spinach, butter, parmesan and tomatoes.

Add pepper, salt and nutmeg to taste.

Top with extra parmesan, pine nuts and rocket.

Ride Clean

100% PFAS free shell layers that most waterproof clothing available today is treated with PFAS, a group of chemicals that are hazardous to ourselves and the world around us? No Houdini clothes are treated with PFAS. Instead, we use circular performance fabrics treated with a biobased, biodegradable water repellency treatment.

DID YOU KNOW

SWEDISH CIRCULAR SPORTSWEAR / HOUDINISPORTSWEAR.COM

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ONE-POT PASTA WITH BASIL AND FETA CHEESE Makes 2 portions You'll need:

3 cloves of garlic Olive oil for frying 3 tablespoons of tomato puree 200 g cherry tomatoes (save a few to use as a topping) 100 g white beans 300 g pasta 1 stock cube Approx. 300 ml oat-based cream 1 handful of basil + a little as a garnish Black pepper 100 g feta cheese as a topping (I use vegan cheese)

Method:

Fry the garlic in oil.

Add the tomato puree, cherry tomatoes and beans.

Add the pasta, stock cube and cream, and then the basil and black pepper to taste.

Stir everything together and make sure the pasta is always completely in cream, add more if necessary – the more cream you use, the creamier the pasta will be.

Finish by topping with crumbled feta cheese, fresh basil and tomatoes.

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MAPLE PECAN TOAST Makes 2 portions Youʹll need:

4 slices of bread 100 g butter Maple syrup Cinnamon 70 g pecan nuts 125 g blueberries

Method: Add plenty of butter to the frying pan and let it melt. Place both pieces of bread into the butter.

If necessary, add more butter to cover the whole slices.

Fry the bread until it's golden brown.

Drizzle over maple syrup and cinnamon on each side and fry about 1 minute more.

Top with pecans and blueberries.

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CLIMBING AT ANY COST Text & photo: Pim Shaitosa

For Pim Shaitosa, climbing is everything; she lives to climb – and climbs to live. When the pandemic forced her to stay home Sweden, she had venture out on icy rock to get her fix. What did she think of it? Not bad, not bad at all.

Name: Pim Shaitosa Age: 34 Profession: Freelance creative Instagram: @pim.shaitosa

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Make winter climbing a pleasure 1.

Dress properly: down jacket, proper shoes, thick socks, warm underwear and a pair of down trousers.

2. Bring heat packs (hand warmers), either reusable gel or disposable bags. These can be put in the shoes to soften them up a bit. Otherwise they’re very hard and you feel a bit like one of Cinderella’s step-sisters when they try on the glass slipper. Not very nice. You can also have the heat packs in your pockets or chalk bag to keep your fingers warm.

3. The most important thing during climbing: keep your fingers warm! If they get super cold, you won’t be able to feel the biggest grip even if you’re looking right at it. And if you can’t feel the grip, nor can you trust it. You can warm your hands on your neck or in your armpits before and during climbing. Before climbing, I usually like to give my hands and arms a good shake, like when I go cross-country skiing, to get blood to my fingertips.

FOR MORE THAN A DECADE, I've been obsessed with climbing. In the beginning, I lay awake at night going through bouldering sequences, which I then demonstrated, grip by grip, in front of my colleagues.

They probably didn't get any of it but seemed to find it entertaining to watch.

Since climbing came into my life, everything has slowly changed: how I work, who I socialise with, how I spend my money, what gives me energy, my mood, how I behave and what I eat. There are few leisure activities that have such a big impact on my whole way of life as climbing and now, twelve years later, I'm still just as into it.

Seven years ago, I promised myself to never spend another winter in Sweden, because I'm so strongly affected by the darkness, and I've kept to that promise.

I spent my winters in warmer places, but then came the pandemic and I had no choice but to stay in Sweden.

I don't ski, so if I wanted to get out to get some light, fresh air and move around, I could take a walk. That's quite boring, though. So what could I do? I decided to drag myself out of the house, brave the cold and go climbing.

There’s no point pretending that winter climbing is just as pleasant as climbing on cool summer days, but it’s still great to get out and get vertical.

4. Climb in blocks. The first climber does a warm-up climb. It’ll feel like shit, your fingers will hurt and as soon as you stop climbing, all the blood will rush to your fingers. Be careful not to climb too hard so that you get ’cold-pumped’ (when blood and lactic acid build up in your muscles). Between climbs, make sure to move constantly and get back on the wall again within a maximum of 5-10 minutes and do a real push. Then it’s the next person’s turn to climb their block. This way, you don’t have time to get cold and stiff. Keep your shoes warm between climbs; I usually put my shoes inside my jacket, close to the body.

5. Bring hot food and drinks; this can make the difference between a nice day and a miserable one.

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WHEN I THINK OF CLIMBING in the winter, I think of the Alps and mountaineering, but I was stuck in cold Sweden, and here we had lower temperatures and more snow than we've had in many years. But everything can work if you're up for it!

I spent a lot of time at Örnberget in Stockholm this winter.

During the warmer seasons, this cliff is very popular, almost like an outdoor gym, but in the cold and snow the situation was different, and we were often completely alone on the cliff. There’s only a short window for climbing in the winter as you can't start until the sun hits the rock. Otherwise, in shade and darkness the holds become icy cold and you completely lose feeling in your fingers. What's more, the sun goes down early, but that also means you get to climb in the soft evening light.

APART FROM CLIMBING and bouldering, in winter you can try dry tooling. It's an odd form of climbing where you use ice axes and crampons to go up stone walls that aren't covered by ice. In the rock there are small grooves where you can just insert the axe. Dry tooling was developed as a way of training when there was no ice to climb, but today climbers do it as a discipline of its own.

Since crampons and ice axes are sharp, it's a good idea to have a top rope if you're not a professional and aren't fully knowledgeable when it comes to technique and safety. A fall combined with a couple of sharp edges could mean that you

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cut your rope and land on the hill instead of being caught by the rope.

When it comes to winter climbing, I'd have to say that dry tooling is the most comfortable discipline. You have big shoes on your feet, so there’s room for really warm socks, and you don’t have to use your delicate little fingers on freezing-cold stone instead, you grab the ice axe with your whole hand in a cosy mitten. Climbing with a top rope can also be reassuring if your body feels a little stiff and unstable due to the cold. Keep in mind, however, that you only drytool on walls that are specifically for dry tooling, because the tools you use can ruin the rock for other styles of climbing.

I WAS COMPLETELY BLOWN AWAY by dry tooling the first time I tried it. It was so much more fun than I expected. I thought it would be a bit like climbing a ladder, even though you chop with axes, but instead, the ice axes felt like an extension of my arms. I imagined I was a praying mantis, because they have these hooks for arms, which slowly but surely took me up the wall. It was the first time ever that I didn't feel limited by my height. If it was too far to reach, I could just change grip on the ice axe, and then suddenly I could reach 20 centimetres further. Truly magical!

So now I climb year-round, regardless of the weather. It's always climbing season if you want it to be.

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PETZL SPATHA

– OUR SHARPEST CLIMBING BUDDY Text: Jenny Wikman / Photo: Emelie Voltaire

"We should pay tribute to one of our favourite products in the magazine," I said out loud, and suddenly all we could talk about was the Petzl Spatha. Mentioning this knife in the Addnature office is like opening Pandora's box. And if the ice climbers and kayakers among us needed a common Mecca to turn to, it would be south-south-west down to Crolles, where the legendary brand's headquarters have been for 45 years.

The brain behind the company was Fernand Petzl, who did cave research – an activity that’s pretty closely related to rock climbing. After inventing the first nylon rope in the 40s, he produced his own rope clamps and an alpinist's headlamp in the 60s and 70s. The rest is, as they say, history.

Among climbing ropes, GriGris and other safety equipment, a knife probably doesn't seem to be the most obvious lifesaver. But while others might head home if they lose their passport, my climbing colleague Lotta would probably cancel her trip if she left her beloved Spatha at home.

– If something happens, you really don't want to be without your knife! I've had it on every single climbing trip I’ve done. Its design means you can hang it on a carabiner on your harness and wear it whenever you climb.

As well as cutting rope strings into abalakovs, or cutting climbing ropes that have been frayed by crampons, she uses it to open snack packs too,

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when the temperatures at the ice wall make taking off warm gloves unappealing. And over the years, it may be this party trick that’s picked up the most Spatha fans in her circle of acquaintances.

"After having been involved in ice climbing recently, of course my friend bought his own Petzl Spatha before our climbing trip to Chamonix."

The genius of this knife actually lies in two features: Its carabiner hole makes it incredibly easy to attach to a climbing harness or hiking backpack.

And, weighing just 43 g, it’s popular with those looking to save weight.

Even our most nerdy colleague and gram hunter Olof (boring holes in toothbrushes? Check!) admits that while he sometimes has to travel without his partner and children, he’d never ever travel without his Spatha.

– For paddling, it's the first tool on the vest. Speed kayakers have special knives and mounts on their vests, but if you don’t have space for

all that special equipment, a Spatha goes a long way. They’re great for for cutting a tow line or something that’s got stuck in an emergency. Once on dry land, you could help a desperate boat owner whose nets are wrapped around a propeller. Of course, the most important thing is to salvage invaluable wreckage that’s wedged itself between the rocks on the outer side of the island!

Of course, the Petzl stays with Olof even when he puts down his paddles to go hiking or skiing. Olof reluctantly admits that even though he bought the knife because it was a cool gadget for climbing, over time it’s come to have a different main purpose.

– I’ve never had to use it in ’sharp mode’, but the design with the hole for the carabiner is simply unbeatable!

So it’s mostly a knife I keep ready ’just in case’. If we're talking about use, it’s probably spent most of its life in the backcountry, and mostly to cut apples!

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DWR

Text: Emma Carlsson / Photo: Emelie Voltaire

ANATOMY OF A SHELL JACKET

When the wind blows cold or the promised sunshine turns to rain, you’ll thank yourself for the shell jacket you hurriedly threw into your backpack before heading out. But what is it that makes the shell jacket the last word in weather protection, and how does it work? Come with us as we take a closer look at the fibres and discover all the secrets that make shell jackets so effective in keeping the weather out but the heat in.

A Durable Water Repellent finish, or ’DWR’, is a water-repellent surface treatment that causes the rain to bead on the jacket the rain bead on the jacket before it runs down down off the surface.

It works just like the Teflon coating in a frying pan. Been a while since you’ve caught a glimpse of pearl-like rain drops on your coat? Have a look at ’Washing 101’ for advice on how to re-impregnate your jacket

Breathability

No less important than managing to keep the rain out, a jacket has to be able to breathe. This stops you getting wet inside the jacket.

The breathability of a garment is often measured in g/m²/24h.

This unit shows the amount of moisture that can be moved from inside to outside, per square metre, over a period of twenty-four hours.

The higher the number, the more moisture the jacket can let out.

5 000–10 000 g/m²/24h: everday walks 10 000–15 000 g/m²/24h: hiking and biking >15 000 g/m²/24h: running and ski touring

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Taped seams

When a jacket is sewn together, the needle punctures the fabric, creating small holes. To make sure the seam is waterproof, tape is applied over the stitches to help keep the rain out. These seams are usually on the inside of the jacket, and the tape is attached to them using glue or by melting it with heat. Heat and high pressure can also be used to attach the parts of the jacket to each other. This results in a jacket that’s completely seamless, which helps keep out both rain and dirt.

Ventilation zips

These ’pit zips’ are your best friends when your heart rate increases! If a jacket’s fabric is less breathable, there are often zipped openings at the armpits. Sometimes you can open these areas at both ends thanks to a two-way zippers. This is a great way of letting out any extra body heat without having to take off your jacket.

Denier

The term ’denier’ (D) describes the thickness of the threads or fibres that make up a material. A higher number means thicker thread and a more durable jacket. For hiking, for example, you should choose a jacket with a denier number between 30 and 80. Fun fact: all fibres with less than 1D are called microfibres.

Membrane

If you were to zoom in on your jacket with a microscope, you’d see a membrane with tiny pores.

These are large enough to allow moisture from your body to pass through, but small enough to keep out snow and rain. It’s a smart feature that allows the coat to breathe without your body getting wet from the inside or outside. The most famous membrane is GORE-TEX, but also keep your eyes open for Dermizax, Event and HProof (from Haglöfs).

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Layers

’But I can only see one layer of material’ That’s true, but what’s happened is that several layers have been laminated together to make one piece of fabric. How many different layers your jacket has depends on how the membrane in the material has been protected.

2 layers – An outer layer of material where the membrane is laminated on the inside, along with a loose, protective mesh lining. This kind of material is available on everyday jackets and is often cheaper.

2,5 layers – Instead of a loose mesh lining, the membrane is protected by a treated surface on the inside. These jackets are easy to pack, so they’re perfect for day trips when there’s a risk of rain.

3 layers – A thicker and more durable jacket that has an inner layer to protect the membrane.

All three layers are laminated together, which makes the jacket more durable, making it ready to be worn under a backpack or climbing harness.

Water columns

To figure out how much rain and snow a jacket can withstand, the fabric’s ’water column’ can be measured. A water column is how much water pressure fabric can take before it lets water through. Water columns are measured in millimetres and the higher the number, the better the protection.

<10,000 mm: drizzle and light snow 10,000 - 15,000 mm: light rain and light snow 15,000 - 20,000 mm: moderate rain and moderate snow >20,000 mm: heavy rain and heavy snow

Washing 101 ’You shouldn’t put your shell jacket in the washing machine because it’ll damage the membrane’. This is probably something we’ve all heard, but it’s not true at all! Over time, dirt and sweat clog up the membrane’s pores, which impairs its ability to keep water out and release moisture and heat.

1. Close all zips and Velcro fastenings 2. Turn the jacket inside out 3. Follow the instructions on the care label (even the small print!)

4. Invest in detergents that are made specifically for shell jackets 5. Note! Avoid products containing fabric softener, stain remover or bleach 6. Need impregnation? Some detergents have a clever 2-in-1 combo!

7. Protect the membrane and choose a more gentle washing program 8. Tips! Add an extra rinse to remove all the detergent 9. To give the water protection a head start, it’s best to dry the jacket in a dryer on low heat 10. You can also use an iron or hair dryer (even on low heat), just make sure to put a piece of fabric in between the iron or hair dryer and the jacket

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NOT WITHOUT MY WINDBREAKER! Text: Jenny Wikman / Photo: Emelie Voltaire

It’s been a best-selling classic for ten years, with a dedicated crowd of loyal fans and numerous copies from other brands around the world. The Arc’teryx Squamish windbreaker is a crown jewel in Addnature’s range and a fixture in many peoples’ wardrobes.

When I sat down to write this tribute, something hit me: what is it about men and jackets? It’s a serious question.

As the daughter of an obsessive jacket collector, I saw an unhealthy number of shell jackets and windbreakers during my childhood.

Mum gave up early on her dream of the stereotypical women’s high-heel wardrobe in favour of Dad’s search for the ultimate jacket, and the large collection of candidates he’s hoarded over the years. He treats the most expensive ones like children, so I feel like I had a lot of extra siblings growing up.

Yet another one? ”Yes. The previous one didn’t have a breast pocket.” Or – ”This is the only one I have with a hood.” ”The red one is especially designed for hiking, sweetie.” ”The blue one is for running.”

My equally nerdy colleague David, on the other hand, has found his holy grail. His one true love, the answer to all his needs.

– I use my Squamish all year round.

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All the time! If I’m not wearing it, I’m carrying it!

David goes on. He’s probably the only person my dad would think of as his shell superior. If someone has worked for a decade in the outdoor industry, both in shops and distribution, as well as for a dedicated ski clothing brand – well then they certainly have a little jacket-obsessed maniac inside them.

David lives in his windbreaker.

– I wear it for running, skiing, commuting…

I just nod quietly and let him prattle on.

– ...mountain hiking, boating…

I fail to get a word in edgeways and he continues: – ...I also use it for 99% of all my ski touring trips! But of course it’s also about what gear you’re wearing in general: undershirt, fleece sweater, puffer jacket and windbreaker…

Before he disappears down the rabbit hole of jackets and their specific uses, I manage to ask why the Arc’teryx Squamish is one of the very best

windbreakers in our range.

– It’s a perfect fit! The fabric is thick enough to protect against the wind without being itchy, but at the same time thin enough to be light - even though it’s not really meant to be a super-lightweight jacket. It has all those ingenious little details you need, such as a chest pocket, drawstring in the hem and a brim on the hood. And when it’s well waterproofed, it even resists moisture in a cool way.

The more David goes on, the more I feel the pull of the Squamish. Maybe it’s not so stupid after all? It does have a brim on the hood. My current windbreaker doesn’t have that – nor does it have a chest pocket for the car keys. The white one I have is really only good for running. But I could also have that blue Squamish one for winter ski touring trips…

The jacket of jackets, the answer to all our needs. Is the eternal search over?

I have to call my dad!

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MY BEST FRIEND Text: Olof Lange / Illustrator: Jorie Einarsen

A guide to the perfect daypack A friend who’s always there for you, never disappoints and follows you wherever you go...is there such a thing as the perfect backpack? How do you find it? We take a closer look at the backpack’s various functions in search of a brilliantly flexible pack for life’s different situations. Many features and components are equally useful in everyday life, training or going on adventures.

Which ones are important to you, and which can you do without?

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What to take and what to leave?

Daypacks are designed to be light and versatile, while keeping everything easily accessible when you’re on the move. From strolling in the city to extreme alpine hikes, they share the same basic function: to hold and organise everything you need during the day.

Form always follows function and aesthetics play as great a role in backpacks as compression straps or outer pockets do. Style dictates where a backpack fits in and where it feels out of place. At home in the city or feeling fab in the forest? Where do you carry your backpack and which functions are most important to you?

• If you always carry your backpack with you, easily accessible pockets and a computer compartment could be key features. With a toned-down exterior that doesn’t scream ’sporty’ or ’functional’, it works just as well at the office as on a trip into the wilderness.

• For those who are always on the go between work, the climbing wall and weekend trips, technical features are more important. The backpack has to carry everything you need, and keep it tidy. Shoulder straps with a good fit, flexible volume and divided compartments increase versatility, but don’t always look great with smarter business attire.

• If urban life for you is mostly about killing time before the next adventure, roll-top closure is a good option, with adjustable volume and no unnecessary straps. The minimalist design of modern climbing backpacks means they look good in town, but are ready for tougher challenges. A bag that’s pared down to the bare essentials can be the best option for daily life

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Design, key features and compromises

A bag with two straps – a simple description that we can apply to almost every backpack and maybe that’s all that’s necessary. But for longer trips, it’s nice to be able to adjust the bag’s fit. Being able to close it properly shouldn’t be a bonus! Here, your options begin to multiply with different types of fastenings, straps and padding. Inner and outer pockets make it easier to organise the contents, and fixing points on the outside can accommodate extra equipment. There are almost as many configurations out there as adventures!

Adding more and more features eventually becomes annoying and makes the bag unnecessarily cumbersome.

Most daypacks are designed for one main purpose, often with a few extra features to make them more versatile.

We want the perfect daypack to be full of pockets and features, but still ultralight, streamlined and stylish. But just like your best friend has their little quirks, it’s hard to get all three aspects in balance – so which things are nonnegotiable, and which are you willing to compromise on?

Zip, roll-top or lid?

All different types of backpack closure have their advantages and disadvantages, but together they can provide extra functionality, such as a roll-top with an extra zipper along the side. Unfortunately, easy access can make it easier for others to get at the contents.

Most daypacks have zippers that make them easy to open with just one hand, and the opening can be positioned at different points. It provides good access to the contents, but is also a weak point for wear and tear.

A roll-top is practically indestructible, but a little more cumbersome to open and close. The volume is adjustable and when closed, and the bag is completely waterproof.

If you combine this with an easy-access back panel, for example, you get the best of both worlds.

Lids with drawstrings (also known as ’brains’) can give a backpack both style and function that last a long time.

They’re fast and easy to use and therefore found on a variety of backpacks, from retro-style for daily use, through to hiking and ultra-running.

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Computer or hydration pack?

Features designed for a specific purpose can also end up working well in different situations, and that versatility is the key to a long-lasting partnership. A computer compartment can also hold a hydration pack, although probably not at the same time as an electronic device. Pen holders are perfect for collapsible skewers and titanium chopsticks. How about using a skiing backpack in the city? Your phone and wallet will be well protected in the lined goggle compartment, and the section for avalanche equipment is perfect for a notebook, headphones or a power bank. The helmet mount can work for both ski and bicycle helmets.

When adventure is the aim

The Arc’teryx Alpha FL30 is a light, technical backpack for climbing, ice and alpine tours, but with its minimalist design, can also blend in well in an urban environment.

Double closure at the top makes the volume highly adjustable and the two zipped pockets are extremely useful. The Alpha FL30 only gets better the higher up the mountain you go.

Best for daily use

The Haglöfs Bergspår 25 has a simple and classic style that works well for city life. It has many extra features, such as side pockets, a large and lockable opening with internal sections, and a zipper on the side for the computer compartment. The pack has a reinforced base and can rest upright by itself while you wait for the bus.

Versatile and stylish

The Osprey Apogee 30 manages to combine many really good features for different activities and still looks more stylish than functional. The ventilating back panel, adjustable chest strap and waist strap work for both forest trails and fast-paced commuting. A computer, change of clothes, keys and valuables – everything’s in the right place. The elastic side pockets have an opening at the back so you can reach your water bottle while on the move without having to take off the backpack.

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Bär du fortfarande plast?

Vandra mer. Svettas mindre.

Välj 100% merino.

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Sofia Wester Sjöberg Where are you now and what do you have with you?

– Right now I’m on Fårö editing a skiing video from Riksgränsen from the spring. So I’m switching between training, mushroom hunting, and sitting at the computer. That’s why I only have my simple little backpack for my computer and ’only’ one camera with one lens. I also use it on shorter forest walks – but then it’s just to hold my coffee and biscuits!

Two favourites are better than one Skiing and outdoor photographer Sofia Sjöberg has to carry fragile yet bulky equipment when she’s out in the challenging (to say the least) environments that she usually works in. So it’s no surprise that she has a lot to say when it comes to choosing the perfect daypack.

Do you have a daypack that’s a favourite for both outdoor trips and more daily, urban life?

– I work up in the mountains a lot, and that backpack isn’t one I carry around town because it gets so big and clumsy with avalanche and camera stuff. On the other hand, there’s no backpack I use in town that would work on the mountain, haha. So I guess I’m still on the lookout for the perfect daypack!

What are your days like and where does your backpack go with you?

– I have two types of rucksack: a larger one for the mountain that has to have room for cameras, extra clothes, avalanche gear etc., and a smaller one that I use in more urban environments, like when I go to meetings or to the office, and need to have a computer and hard drives with me.

As a photographer, do you always carry a camera backpack, or are there other backpack features that are more important when you’re out in the mountains?

– I actually use a regular ski backpack as a camera backpack.

The feature that’s most important to me is the ability to zip up the backpack at the back (rather than the sides), so

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you can access the entire large compartment from above.

I always pack the camera equipment in an ICU (internal camera unit.) It’s important to have easy access to it all, and that it’s not a struggle to pull the camera out from between lunch boxes and my change of clothes.

What features could you not do without?

– When it comes to the skiing backpack, the most important thing for me is that it’s possible to fully unzip the backpack so you can access the entire large compartment from above.

I also appreciate having lots of different compartments and adjustable straps at the waist.

What would you compromise on?

– I absolutely compromise on comfort for the sake of having a stylish backpack in town. I use a classic one that doesn’t have a zipper in the back or adjustable straps at the waist and so on. It just doesn’t feel necessary as I never walk longer distances there.

Are there any parts that feel unnecessary or features you completely avoid?

– Compartments that are too small.

Is there something you always pack, no matter what you’re doing?

– A camera, some water, and energy bars.

How long does a normal, everyday backpack last, for you?

– I use things until they fall apart.

Photo: Sofia Wester Sjöberg

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Text: Olof Lange / Photo: Emelie Voltaire

EVERYDAY HEROES

1.

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2.

5.

6.

7.

10.

15. Something happens to our thoughts in nature.

16.

Among all the special equipment and hi-tech garments for extreme environments, there are some things that can be easily overlooked – if it wasn’t for the fact that they’re absolutely indispensable. Put simply, they’re always with us, no matter where we go or what we do. Everyone has their own special EDC (everyday carry) items, but here are some of the things we never leave home without.

4. Sun protection, rain protection, for bad hair days and a cool look: the right hat works in all kinds of situations.

3.

9. Lip balm is a must, this one has a beeswax base.

8.

14.

11.

12.

13.

19.

17.

20.

18. When nature calls, a tent peg can act as a shovel.

1. Sweater, Houdini Outright Houdi / 2. Cap, Outdoor Research Pub / 3. Wallet, Kavu Fairbanks / 4. Cap, Black Diamond Camper / 5. Belt, Kavu Beber / 6. Carabiner, Camp Nano 22 / 7. Gloves, Black Diamond Wind Hood Gridtech / 8. Duct tape / 9. Lip balm, Climb On Lip Tube / 10. Insulated bottle, Klean Kanteen TK Wide / 11. Matches, UCO Firestarting Kit 12. Tensioning belt, Exped Accessory Strap / 13. Bag, Sea To Summit Ultra-Sil 14. Sunglasses, Oakley Latch / 15. Notebook, Internetstores / 16. Watch, Garmin Forerunner 45 / 17. Spoon, Optimus Titanium Long / 18. Pegs, MSR Blizzard 19. Multitube, Buff Lightweight Merino Wool / 20. Mug, Primus 4 Season

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@timlatte

TIMOTHY LATTE Text: Anna Kernell / Photo: Christer Myhran

…Addnature Family member, passionate photographer and surfer. After many years of competition, several Swedish Championship and National Championship titles and a number of world championships and European Championships under his belt, Tim now surfs just for the love of it. No competitions, no rankings, no points – just fun. He’s passionate about adventure, lifestyle and the pursuit of good waves.

Especially at colder latitudes.

A unique place you’ve surfed?

Kallsjön in Jämtland with David Kantermo and the gang. It’s crazy that it’s possible to surf nice waves in such a small lake.

The best way to warm up after ice-cold surfing?

Quickly change out of your wetsuit into some dry clothes, drink a coffee or two, turn the heat in the car up to max.

The best adventure of 2021?

So far, it’s been Poland. Joel Den-Besten and I flew there recently before a storm to chase waves. It was both fun and different to surf on the other side of the Baltic Sea.

The next wave you’re dreaming of surfing?

I can’t pick only one because there are so many. And then there are the ones I haven’t found yet. I’ll be driving around the Nordics this winter and checking out spots. I’m just waiting for the storms!

Scandinavia’s best surf spot?

Sweden’s best waves are in Varberg. I can’t be any more specific, but somewhere in the Varberg area.

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It’s more than a jacket.

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