In an age of video games and on-demand television, children are spending less and less time outside. A survey conducted last year showed that almost three quarters of UK children are spending less than an hour a day playing outside. Now consider that the UN guidelines for prisoners require “at least one hour of suitable exercise in the open air daily”. The comparison highlights an alarming issue.
Spending time in the outdoors will quickly become problematic without the use of your hands. However, despite the important role they play and their exposed position, the quality gloves needed to protect them are often relatively low on many people’s list of priorities when preparing for an outing.
If you look at the history of a lot of the brands we sell, you will notice a recurring theme – almost all of them were started by people who wanted to improve the clothing and equipment they used for their own adventures and activities outdoors. This compassion and desire to use the products themselves meant, and still means, that extra care and consideration of the end use is always in mind during the design process, making the products not only durable but thoughtful and functional to the.
Few pieces of your clothing will live a harder life than your trousers. Few will also be harder to adjust when you are out, or can cause as much discomfort if they don’t fit right. That’s why the trousers are where you should start building your outfit.
You’ve surely heard about Hygge. You might even have heard about Friluftsliv. They are the latest in a long line of buzzwords here in the UK. And to many that’s all they are, a fleeting trend that will soon have passed. Not to us though, being Scandinavian Friluftsliv is a way of life that goes way beyond trends.
There are a lot of reasons to like winter. Few experiences are more satisfying than stepping outside on the first really cold day of the year, and feeling that distinctive crunch of frost under your boot. It is probably only topped by the feeling of stepping inside after a day spent hiking or a couple of hours spent skiing in cold weather.
It’s that time of year. The leaves are red and yellow. If they haven’t started falling already they soon will, and the air has a bite to it when walking the dog in the morning. In other words, it is time to start thinking about winter jackets.
“Friluftsliv”. It is a widely accepted word in Sweden and the rest of Scandinavia. There is no direct translation in the English language. It encompasses much that cannot be simply put into words. The best way to describe it is perhaps a life in the free air, where nature is very much part of everyday life. It includes many activities, both big and small. At the very foundation of this notion is the right to roam, Allemansrätten.
A lot of people know that wool has terrific insulating qualities, many know of its breathability, and some even know of how it can keep you warm even when it is wet. But what few people, at least here in the UK, have realised is that this insulation and breathability works to create a natural air conditioning effect, keeping you cool on hot days.
The notion of dressing in layers is closely tied to the Scandinavian approach to outdoor clothing. It is also something that lie very close to our hearts here at Nordic Outdoor. But why.
