[Credit: Brynje]

This Mental Health Awareness Week we have joined the team at high-performance clothing brand, Brynje, and its ambassador, Inge Solheim, as we explore how moving outdoors can support better mental health.

Ventile and Brynje have a shared history of outdoor expeditions, with a legacy that traces back to the pioneering days of Sir Edmund Hillary on the first summit of Mount Everest. Today, both brands keep encouraging adventurers as they reconnect with nature and push through mental challenges.

A conversation with Inge Solheim

Inge is one of the world’s leading adventurers, with experience guiding groups in some of the most extreme places on the planet. For Inge, promoting positive mental health is a cause close to his heart. We caught up with him to find out more about the challenges he has faced, and how nature has helped him re-connect.

How has being outdoors helped you?

We all go through difficult times in life when we can struggle with our mental health, and being outdoors just gives me that sense of perspective and clarity to overcome these situations.

While exploring in nature, I find the opportunity to show myself as tough enough to be vulnerable; it’s the arena that has helped me to stay healthy and reconnect with myself and therefore, change some patterns that I don’t like.

When I’m outdoors, surrounded by the beauty and vastness of mountains, I find solace and strength. It's where I can truly be myself, away from the pressures and confines of everyday life.

Do you think moving in nature is important for mental health?

Absolutely! Getting out and exploring, no matter what activity you choose, is key for maintaining a good mental health.

Being in natural environments can help with stress, reduce anxiety, and improve overall mood. It's not just about physical activity; it's about connecting with ourselves and finding balance in a world that often feels chaotic.

At home, sometimes it can feel that problems are dominant; but when you are out and moving, the beauty of nature leads instead.

For his expeditions, Inge has chosen the Explore Ventile Jacket 2.0 and the Explore Ventile pant 3.0, crafted in Ventile L24 ORG, a 100% organic cotton fabric. You can follow Inge’s journey on his account, @ingesolheim.

Let's move, breathe, and connect with the outdoors for a healthier mind, from the garments we choose to the places we explore.