OUTPOST TRADE

It's a place and time where a bunch of like minded people that work for outdoors brands to get together for the weekend to camp and have an experience together. Some say it's an experiential trade show.

You use each other's gear and products in the ideal situation and get to learn more about the soul and story behind these objects. It becomes a face or personality over a brand.

In short, you make a bunch of friends that like what you like and do it for a living too.

It's one of my favorite events of the year and here's a little peak into this last one...

THE ARRIVAL

The biggest event they have held yet, around 400 people came together at Camp Navarro in Mendocino County.

We gathered under the redwoods to meet and began the experience.

The excitement was high.

MAKE FRIENDS

Different brands set up different little stations where you could interact with their gear.

Some ladies here lounging in the inflatable Chillbo Shwaggins loungers. Hydroflask had their own customizable water bottle station. Tepui tents showing you how to create a loft in the sky and a living room in your car. Revive Kombucha bringing out their cold brew infused bottle.

These were a small percent of the happenings.

ACTIVITIES

Were always happening. Ever wanted to belay a giant redwood tree?

Well, this is the place for you my friend,

REVIVE KOMBUCHA

Had an epic little VW van posted up in the middle of camp keeping everyone hydrated and caffeinated with their variety of mixtures and kombucha on tap.

We tagged along with them on a little ride through the redwoods.

FAMILY DINNER

As we wound into the night, good food brought all the people together from around the camp for one big dinner with strangers and friends.

CAMPFIRES & TUNES

Did I mention there was an endless Bulliet bourbon bar and little Don Julio truck accessible throughout the night? No? Well, it was awesome.

Did I mention there are awesome bands that play each night? No? Well, they did and it was awesome.

ANIMAL FEELINGS

The artist, but also a very accurate metaphor on the mood he created for everyone.

ALEX CAMERON

Captivated the crowd with his classic dance moves and unique dad jeans style.

B&O SOUND MEDITATION

The ideal way to start the next day.

Surrounded by Bang & Olufsen epic speakers, the sound artist Willits let everyone through some good vibrations.

WE'RE PRODUCT TESTING

I swear.

It was our job to make sure these products were living their best life.

STABILITY CHECK

It just so happens all of these situations are pretty awesome.

The Chillbo Don Poolio is made for water, so unlike other inflatable loungers we could literally surf on them while still being in the comfort of a floating water bed.

CHILLBO. CHACO. REVIVE

Were the perfect trio for this afternoon "meeting"

BREAK TIME

You know, all of this hard work can really take a toll on you. We all decided to take 30.

KOMBUCHA MAKING

These guys at Revive Kombucha dropped knowledge on processes and cultures.

WATERCOLORS

A little hike up the path led you to target range to try your hand at some color palettes.

FITNESS CONTEST

There were two kinds of people here.

The peanut gallery and the warriors. Can you guess which one's which?

CLOCK OUT

Even though our work is play too, we gotta cut lose on top of that.

This was a bunch of the photo team retiring their cameras for the night and romping around to a Tycho DJ set.

NIGHT CAP

The last bit of crew that survived the night gathered under the trees and in the Chillbo's as Tycho and friends jammed out for a late night lullaby sesh.

I slept under the trees in a Chillbo all night.

ROLL OUT

So did this guy.

We reconvened in the morning and decided the Chillbo Shwaggins could be used as a spare couch to sleep on when friends are in town. We sent the memo to the Chillbo guy Jules at breakfast the last morning.

Packing up my new Chillbo, B&O speaker and some Chaco boots on my feet I was ready to trek back into reality.

A bit more inspired than when I had arrived.

CONTENT TEAM

A big shout out to the crew I was working with over the weekend.

It was a pretty magical thing to be surrounded by other artists in my field that all had their own unique way of expressing their experience of the weekend.

So I thank them for that.

Until next time my friends.

Footnotes: Photos by: Syra McCarthy, Peter Amend, Candy Mountain Collective, Monica Semergiu & Carson Davis Brown

Camp Navarro, Masonite Industrial Road, Navarro, CA, USA

© 2018 Chillbo