Clima Customer Spotlight: Varusteleka

From a bootstrap idea to a company with a turnover of over €23 million, Varusteleka is a leading military and outdoor retailer in Finland and likely the biggest military surplus retailer in Europe. It started in 2003, when Valtteri Lindholm, then a University of Helsinki student, took out a loan of €1,000, coded a simple website, and acquired a used van. The latter was used as both a warehouse and a storefront, but a mere two decades later, Varusteleka is transformed. “Where once there was only me and a tired van, there now stand over 70 efficient, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic employees,” says Lindholm proudly.

Although Varusteleka remains primarily an online shop, a large brick-and-mortar facility is now open to welcome customers in Helsinki. A not-so-secret Bar Sotima, serving craft Finnish brewery products, is hidden within the store and so popular among the locals that reservations are strongly recommended.

The company is renowned not only for its vast range of products, but also for its dry sense of humor – a cornerstone of Finnish culture. And because of the main strategic goal of “total world domination,” reducing its environmental impact is one of Varusteleka’s most important policies. After all, according to an astute statement on the company’s website, it would not be particularly profitable to dominate an uninhabitable planet. Thanks to dealing in military surplus, Varusteleka keeps a significant amount of clothing and equipment out of landfills, and reselling high-quality used gear further encourages a circular economy.

Varusteleka & Climashield®

A depth of experience in military and outdoor gear, as well as the desire to further reduce its ecological footprint, led to the creation of Varusteleka’s proprietary brands: Särmä, Särmä TST and Terävä. In 2020, these accounted for 47 percent of the company’s sales. Environmental impact is accounted for at the earliest stage of the product development process and every item is designed with a lifetime warranty. In addition, used gear can be turned in for repair and resale.

Across the Särmä TST range, Climashield® insulation guarantees unparalleled durability and a great warmth-to-weight ratio. Elements of the military cold-weather layering system known as PCU (Protective Combat Uniform) developed under the Särmä TST brand include the L3 Loft Jacket, L3 Loft Pants, L5 Thermal Patrol Coverall, and more.

Retailing at ~300 EUR, the Särmä TST L5 Thermal Anorak is an insulation garment designed for wear during static pauses in cold weather. Designed for rapid don and doff, The L5 Thermal Anorak easily fits over regular clothing and gear, including helmet and body armor. At the same time, the anorak can easily function as a regular jacket worn underneath load-bearing equipment. The underarm ventilation zippers assist in managing thermal load during intense activities and provide access to the upper-arm pockets of any garments worn beneath.

Thanks to Climashield® Apex, the L5 Thermal Anorak does not feature any unnecessary quilting, allowing for the elimination of possible cold spots. In addition, Climashield® Apex maintains its properties even in wet conditions, thus radically outperforming down.

The Särmä TST L5 Thermal Anorak is made in the EU. Camouflage prints and visible accessories are fully NIR-compliant.