Outdoor education is a top priority for Matt Haigh, UK Key Account Manager for Osprey Packs and Hydro Flask—two brands synonymous with quality gear for outdoor enthusiasts.
Osprey Packs are widely used in every conceivable outdoor environment while Hydro Flask makes beautifully designed gear, particularly their reusable insulated drinking bottles.
“As a brand, we want to support education in the outdoors. It’s something we want to be part of,” said Matt, reflecting his passion for getting people outside and engaged with nature.
That commitment was on full display at Outdoor and Social 2025, a three-day experiential learning event held from March 11–13 at Newfold Farm in Edale, in the heart of the Peak District. The event brought together over 150 retail staff, 28 retailers, and 86 brands for hands-on training, product testing, and skill-building workshops.
“This event is brilliant,” said Matt. “It was a great opportunity to get retail staff out of stores and into the outdoors. We were busy! We gave out packs for testing and bottles for people to try—many of whom had never used our gear before. There was a lot of engagement and real excitement around both Osprey and Hydro Flask.”
This marked Matt’s second time attending the event since its launch last year, and he was impressed by its rapid growth.
“I think the event scaled really nicely. The number of brands possibly doubled, and the number of retail staff increased significantly. There was a great buzz around the brand village and a fantastic atmosphere at base camp.”
Looking ahead, Matt sees even more potential for the event.
“It’s only going to get bigger,” he said. “It’s not just about learning to sell products or talk about brands—it’s about using them, getting outdoors, and building confidence. There are retail staff working in cities who don’t have the Peak District or any National Park on their doorstep. We’ll be here to support that, for sure.”
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