This summer our ambassadors are taking over. Adventure awaits.
In the Nordics, we have a long tradition of cherishing our summer holidays. Our regular routines are replaced by days at the beach and quality time spent in hammocks.
However, our ambassadors never rest. Even during a time of the year when we are accustomed to taking it slow, they persistently explore and seek new memories. While a lot of people at Haglöfs’ headquarters may be on vacation, one thing remains certain: our ambassadors will continue to run the show. They are your Summer Substitutes.
This summer, let our team of four ambassadors guide you through their experiences and uncover the hidden treasures that await.
Tom-Oliver Hedvall’s parents put him in skis at three years old, and you might suspect he’s never taken them off. Since then, he’s gone on to compete in freestyle and freeride skiing around Europe and pursue unique climate-conscious adventures he shares through his films.
Ada Dranger grew up exploring the mighty mountains near her hometown of Tromsø in the far north of Norway, and hasn't stopped since. When she isn’t seeking out the best snow for her ski adventures, you can find Ada climbing, hiking or navigating the seas in the family sailboat.
When Henna Palosaari was 23 years old, she switched from competitive track and field sports to freedom-seeking activities outdoors. Now, with a van as her base, she spends her free time adventuring in Finland and beyond by means of surfing, free riding, trekking and bike packing.
With his home base in Austria’s Tux Valley, Domi Tauber combines his love of the mountains and snowboarding with a passion for photography. Lucky for all of us who get to vicariously experience epic moments and breathtaking alpine landscapes through his adventurous lens.
What are your plans for this endless summer?
My criteria list for a good summer isn’t terribly long, but it should preferably include a lot of time off, friends, and spontaneous adventures.
I'm a fan of spontaneity. When the opportunity comes, I take it. It can be anything from a run in the mountains to a week of skiing on some Norwegian glacier.
This summer might offer some chances to sleep outside. What do you usually think about when looking for a place to sleep?
Important things to think about when sleeping outside are to find a dry place to sleep that’s protected from wind, but preferably with an epic view.
It’s important to remember to respect nature and leave no trace.
Then it's important to have a nice friend along, who you can hang out with in the evenings.
What are you packing for your summer adventures?
If you want to be spontaneous, you need light equipment. So I’m a big fan of the L.I.M Series. Light, flexible and ventilated products. Then I can bring along everything I need, everywhere for every occasion.
So there will probably be a lot of spontaneous nights outdoors. When going on a mountain trip, I pack my bag full of goodies and snacks (it’s the most important thing after good clothes). And when good clothes take up little space, I bring extra snacks.
What are your plans for this endless summer?
I spend most of my summers in Norway and Sweden. I like to stay flexible and have climbing and hiking plans ready for many different locations. This makes it possible to travel to wherever the sun is shining. Clear weather is completely necessary for climbing and makes it possible to maximize the climbing days. I usually travel by car, but occasionally I sail to the locations, and I try to combine my travels with visiting friends and family. This makes the summer great.
This summer might offer some chances to sleep outside. What do you usually think about when looking for a place to sleep?
I sleep outdoors a lot during the summer, in a tent either on the car roof, by a climbing hut or at a scenic location. The most important requirement is evening sun and a lack of morning sun. It is really nice to watch the sun go down, but it’s not so nice to have a super hot tent early in the morning.” In the north, the sun sets a bit lower on the horizon. Therefore a west-facing spot near the sea is the best if you ask me. I really enjoy preparing for outdoor sleeping as I like going super light, it gives me more energy for other activities on the same trip, such as hiking and climbing.
What are you packing for your summer adventures?
For summer activities, such as climbing and hiking, I prefer to have lightweight clothing. You want your backpack to be as light as possible when you’re up on the climbing wall tackling hard routes.If the weather forecast says there’s a chance of rain, I'll bring a light shell jacket like the ROC Explore Proof jacket. Another important piece of gear for me in the summer is a good pair of stretchy, durable and lightweight shorts or pants for climbing that don’t limit my mobility, as climbing requires long leaps and funky movements.
Last but not least, a good fleece jacket that can cover my climbing helmet, is super durable, and packs super light in my backpack. The ROC Flash Mid Hood has therefore become a favorite for summer as well as winter. It is super light, stretchy, and also warm because of the mesh-like integrated inner material.
What are your plans for this endless summer?
Simply being outdoors. Being outside in the summertime is so easy and requires less planning than during winter, which I love. All in all, I’m not a big fan of planning so I try to only have a rough plan of where to go and then leave a lot of room for things to happen. For me, summer is the time when you should empty your calendar and do what you feel like most.
This summer might offer some chances to sleep outside. What do you usually think about when looking for a place to sleep?
I like my camping spots scenic because for me the best part of camping is falling asleep and waking up to amazing views. Thus, my favorite camping spots are either by the water or on the mountain top.
Sleeping by the water makes life easy, because I can have a swim after a sweaty day on the trails and have plenty of water for cooking as well as for the next day’s adventure. On the other hand, nothing beats the views from a mountain top. If I’m headed up to a mountain camping spot, I fill up my water bottles at the last possible place so I don’t need to carry them up the whole way.
Besides just looking around to see what looks nice, the best tools for finding great camping spots are different maps and Google. Especially, while bikepacking, googling the area’s nature trails or hiking paths often shows the nicest locations, lean-tos and fireplaces which work great for camping.
What are you packing for your summer adventures?
A lightweight and packable waterproof and windproof jacket is a must-have during the summer when the rain showers or cold wind can surprise you during your ride or hike in the fells.
Despite it being summer, a down jacket is still my go-to for an overnight trip because it’s lightweight and keeps you warm even in chillier temps.
I like to have a multifunctional pair of shorts just because in the winter you can’t. It’s summer and it’s time to give those legs some love and a break from long pants. I prefer wearing shorts and then layering up from the top if I start getting cold.
I like to have a multifunctional pair of shorts just because in the winter you can’t. I prefer wearing shorts and then layering up from the top if I start getting cold…it’s summer and it’s time to give those legs some love and a break from long pants.
What are your plans for this endless summer?
I definitely prefer winter, but what I like about summer is that I do not have to bring so much stuff to be comfortable because of the warmer temperatures.I do not really prepare for the summer, I take what I can get :).
This summer might offer some chances to sleep outside. What do you usually think about when looking for a place to sleep?
If I plan to sleep outdoors I like to be there a bit early to look around for the best spots. I prefer wind protected sleeping spots, I really don’t like the sound of the wind all night long. I also prefer a spot up high so I can have a great view during the blue and golden hour. So it’s important to check this out beforehand so that I can enjoy the sunset at its fullest.
What are you packing for your summer adventures?
For me the most important things for summer are a down jacket and a shell jacket. I really like to go out to get photos in the perfect light—that means early or late in the day—so it’s always good to have backup in my backpack in case it gets colder than expected.