Outdoor guru and gadget geek Kenneth Shaw had long dreamed of making his own outdoor products. After years in the industry and thousands of miles on trails and trails, his dream finally became a reality through Sarek Gear. With a focus on minimalism, they make ultralight products with care for nature and people. Everything is done by hand, in Umeå.
Although the vision has been around for a long time, it was only last spring that Sarek Gears became a company. Kenneth Shaw, known as Ken, also founder of the web shop backpackinglight.se - where Sarek began as an in-house project - had long seen the need for locally produced lightweight products.
Everything took off when it became more difficult to get supplies from outside. A dream finally became a reality. Production was brought home to Umeå and now Kenneth and the team have a thorough understanding of all stages of production, not least when it comes to quality and sustainability.
Today, Sarek Gear is in the business of designing, producing and selling lightweight outdoor equipment, mainly tents, backpacks, packing pods and thin sleeping pads.
Is all production really done in Umeå?
Yes, everything is done here. Up until a month ago, Ken and Christian (Johansson, by all accounts a sewing artist when it comes to outdoor gear) worked on the products. Right now we're also working with an outdoor designer in Finland, and a research team at RISE, to develop our next 70-litre backpack. We hope to release it in the spring of 2022," says marketing manager and co-owner Marcus Falck.
Sarek Gear has a number of ambassadors who are out testing their products. Through them they get invaluable advice and feedback.
Each product has been updated a number of times to better meet customer expectations thanks to the insights provided by users. We've also tested a lot ourselves," says Marcus.
Recycled PET bottles become tents and backpacks
The material used in the production of tents and backpacks is mainly Dyneema. Marcus explains that it is an extremely durable fibre made from recycled pet bottles and is 100% waterproof. Dyneema is said to be about 15 times stronger than steel, which means that you can use very thin fabrics and still get the same, or even better, properties than the more commonly used Silp-Poly and nylon materials.
We are also testing other materials now, including Ecopac Ultra, which has similar properties to Dyneema. We give priority to materials that reduce CO2 emissions, are recycled and, above all, weigh little,' says Marcus.
The products are developed with great care
The feedback on the products so far has been really good. Marcus says that in the past they have worked with some brands that started at the wrong end.Where they develop an idea, send them to Asia for mass production and are too quick with the launch. They don't want to make the same mistake.
If there are errors, it will be difficult to adjust as the volumes have been too high and the brands lose status quite quickly.
Marcus continues.
We've created Sarek based on what our customers want and are slowly developing our products with our ambassadors. We don't want to find ourselves in a position where our credibility is questioned. We want to produce the best and easiest products on the markets and we can't be sloppy.
A niche market makes it easier to understand your target audience
For Sarek Gear, it has been an advantage to choose a narrower track towards a clearly niche market - that is, ultra-light and durable outdoor products made by hand. The company has only been around since last spring, but the project is two years in the making, and Ken also has extensive experience of selling, using and discussing similar products with other enthusiasts. Today they have a clear picture of what is in demand and instinctively follow changes and innovations in the field.
We can follow trends and keep a dialogue with our customers in a different way than if we were too broad. It's also a fast-growing target group, as lightweighting is something that more and more people want. Our waterproof and ultralight backpacks are very comfortable to carry, even for those who are only going on a day trip. Carrying light is becoming a priority.
You are now participating in the eXpression Future Retail Lab, what do you want to develop?
We need to lift our gaze. The programme has given us knowledge of both the brand and the market and helped us to sharpen our business even more. We mainly need help to increase the speed of production, but of course there are always things to develop. Not least the brand, communication and how we will launch our products in the future. Marcus Falck.
Marcus Falck's best tips for easy hiking
Start small - you don't need to spend a fortune on completely replacing your equipment. Prioritise and update the stuff that usually weighs the most such as tents, sleeping pads, sleeping bags. Once you've got the weight of these down, you won't need such a heavy and large backpack.
You can aim for the "big three", i.e. SOVA, SKYDD and BÄRA, to weigh around 3 kg together. Then the hike will be much more enjoyable.
When you carry light, it becomes more motivating to pack more luxuries up the mountain, like a few beers, more sweets or fishing gear. Treat yourself to that luxury.
Backpacking Light has guides to help you take the first, easier step.
