Finland’s forests Inhospitable Iceland Sustainable solutions NORDIC NOUS

Finland is renowned for its pristine lakes and vast forests, with an estimated 13,000 trees for every citizen. It also boasts 35 national parks, over 7000km of marked trails and thousands of islands. Fittingly, Finnish outdoor brands produce tough and hard-wearing kit, built for life in the woods. But in addition, Finland has long been one of Europe’s technology powerhouses (remember Nokia phones?). In Suunto, the country has one of the world’s leading manufacturers of precision navigational instruments.

The land of fire and ice. And that’s not just tourist board marketing – 11% of the country is covered in glacial ice, while the country is also famous for its volcanic lava fields, hot springs and steaming geysers. A coastline of bays and fjords gives way to snowcovered plains and a remote, mountainous interior. This spectacular, wild and richly varied landscape has made it a mecca for adventurers from hikers and kayakers to ice climbers and mountaineers. It’s a brilliant testing ground for seriously warm, adventure-ready outdoor kit.

Nordic outdoor gear has a well-earned reputation for innovative design and highquality craftsmanship, both of which are cultural hallmarks. But another key feature is sustainability. Though this is now the biggest buzzword in the outdoor industry, it’s a practice that has long formed part of many Scandinavian and Nordic brands’ approaches. This often entails using responsibly sourced or organic natural fibres rather than man-made synthetics, and often reclaimed or recycled fabrics and fills too.