The highlights of 2023

Another year is in the books, and we are already busy getting on with the new one. Let's take a brief look back at 2023 and recap what was going on last year.

Varusteleka turned 20!

In the fall, we passed the milestone of 20 years since the founding of Varusteleka, and you can read all about the key events on our history page. Throughout the year, we celebrated this gargantuan achievement with special products and rare discounts. As part of the anniversary, Varusteleka Miehistö Pilsner made a comeback, and a new addition for the holiday season was Varusteleka Imperial Stout. The actual birthday party took place here in Konala at the end of August. Check out the photos on Facebookissa.

The winner of the DIY wooden cock competition had size and presence.

Finnish Brutality 2023

The first ever 2-gun action match Finnish Brutality was on August 8, 2018, and has since gained great popularity among enthusiasts of the sport. The competition involves physically and mentally demanding stages, but always in a good spirit. People from all over Europe and North America have participated.

Tickets for the 2023 event sold out faster than you can pronounce "Varusteleka". The competition itself took place at the end of August. Among the participants were well-known figures from social media, with a special shout-out to Polenar Tactical's Ziga, who achieved victories in various categories, including the overall competition. Check out the photos on Facebook.

War Flea Market vol. 11 & 12

The first War Flea Market saw the light of day in 2013, and ten years later, it is still going strong. In the spring and fall of 2023, this event for all kinds of military gear gathered a nice crowd in the parking hall of our Konala store. Items changed hands, and the market buzz was real. The next War Flea Market is coming again in the spring! See event photos on Facebook.

Other events in 2023

REMOTE MILITARY MARCH

The Remote Military March, born during the plague years, has continued to be popular even as the contagion situation has eased. The march has been organized annually in collaboration with the Southern Karelia Military March.

SOTIMA'S 7TH BIRTHDAY

Our beloved after-work beer bar and during-work coffee spot, Sotima, turned 7! It was celebrated with cinnamon buns.

Varusteleka Night Line

The Leka Night Line, which started on April 1, 2023, unfortunately, had to be limited to only one night due to a lack of resources. Here is a recording of the event in case you missed the live broadcast or want to revisit the memories.

HALLOWEEN PARTY

The crew concocted spine-chilling special drinks, rewarded the best costume, and held a Halloween-themed pub quiz. See event photos on Facebook.

BLACK METAL FRIDAY

If you are familiar with the way we run our business, you know we don't join in on Black Friday turbo-consumerism madness. Instead, we decided to celebrate our own Black Metal Friday! The online store got a new look, and there was a bit more corpse in the physical store too.

PRE-CHRISTMAS PARTY

The pre-Christmas party was celebrated in high spirits at Varusteleka in early December. A live band entertained the audience, good drinks, and food were served, and even Santa Claus made an appearance. See event photos on Facebook.

Project MEGA

Work has been done amid the celebrations. Project MEGA (Make Europe Great Again), the initiative to move our production away from China, took significant steps forward in 2023. Milestones are in place to shift the production of currently China-made products to Europe in the coming years.

New products

New products are constantly emerging from our own production. In 2023, the following hot novelties were introduced:

1. Särmä Tactical Skinny Jeans
2. Altama Maritime Mid, M05
3. Terävä Tiny Knife, Carbon Steel
4. Terävä Skrama 200 Chef's Knife, N690 Stainless Steel
5. Särmä Hobo Stove, large
6. Carinthia Finnish M05 Sleeping Bag, M05
7. Administrative Results Blanket Shirt
8. Särmä TST Suspenders
9. Terävä Kydex sheaths for Skrama 80 and Jääkäripuukko 85

Taking discreet naps in the M05 sleeping bag.

Top sellers in 2023

A similar list has been compiled in previous years, and here's a summary of what was sold and where last year. There were no major surprises on the list, but a few new products made their way up, and some shifted positions.

This year, our world-renowned merino hoodie claimed the top spot in Euro value sales. Regarding the amount of items sold, the familiar Scho-ka-kola chocolate took the first place.

In honor of the anniversary, we released a limited edition of the merino hoodie in Petrol blue color.

TOP 10 OVERALL

Särmä and Särmä TST T-shirts saw significant growth. Balaclavas were also in high demand.

Previous year's ranking in parentheses.

Top sellers in euros

1. Särmä Merino Wool Hoodie (1)
2. Särmä Tactical Jeans (3)
3. Särmä LargeAssault Pack (2)
4. Scho-Ka-Kola, 100 g Tin Box (7)
5. Särmä Cargo Pants (9)
6. Särmä TST L1 Balaclava, Merino Wool (18)
7. Särmä Assault Pack (8)
8. Särmä Merino Wool T-Shirt (56)
9. Terävä Skrama 240, Carbon Steel (6)
10. Särmä Henley Shirt, Merino Wool (39)

Top sellers by quantity

1. Scho-Ka-Kola, 100 g Tin Box (1)
2. Särmä Merino Wool Socks (4)
3. Finnish M05 liner socks (2)
4. Särmä TST Finnish M05 Rank Insignia (3)
5. Särmä Viscose Boxers (9)
6. Särmä TST L1 Balaclava, Merino Wool (20)
7. Särmä TST M05 Name Tag w. Custom Text, 3-Pack (13)
8. Blå Band Outdoor Meal Freeze-Dried Food (5)
9. ITW Classic SR buckle, black (10)
10. Cord Lock (8)

TOP 10 IN FINLAND

Balaclavas and merino T-shirts were also big hits in Finland in terms of sales.

Top sellers in euros

1. Särmä Merino Wool Hoodie (2)
2. Särmä LargeAssault Pack (1)
3. Särmä Assault Pack (5)
4. Särmä TST L1 Balaclava, Merino Wool (15)
5. Särmä Tactical Jeans (6)
6. Särmä Cargo Pants (10)
7. Särmä TST M05 Name Tag w. Custom Text, 3-Pack(9)
8. Särmä Merino Wool T-Shirt (49)
9. Särmä Viscose Boxers (14)
10. Jalas 3322 Fantom Drylock (4)

Top sellers by quantity

1. Scho-Ka-Kola, 100 g Tin Box (1)
2. Särmä TST M05 Name Tag w. Custom Text, 3-Pack (6)
3. Särmä TST Finnish M05 Rank Insignia (3)
4. Finnish M05 liner socks (2)
5. Särmä Viscose Boxers (8)
6. Särmä Merino Wool Socks (5)
7. Särmä TST L1 Balaclava, Merino Wool (19)
8. ITW Classic SR buckle, black (10)
9. ITW Tri-Glide buckle, black (16)
10. Särmä TST M05 RES Finnish Flag Patch, 50 x 30 mm (4)

Scho-Ka-Kola still reigns supreme.

TOP 10 IN THE UNITED STATES

In the U.S., newcomers Administrative Results Blanket Shirt and our own Särmä Blanket Shirt made it to the top 10. Woolshell pants and Recon Smock rightfully earned their places on the list. However, Scho-Ka-Kola remained the ruler in sales.

Top sellers in euros

1. Scho-Ka-Kola, 100 g Tin Box (1)
2. Särmä Merino Wool Hoodie (2)
3. Särmä Tactical Jeans (7)
4. Savotta Jääkäri M backpack (3)
5. Terävä Skrama 240, Carbon Steel (4)
6. Administrative Results Blanket Shirt (-)
7. Savotta Jääkäri L rucksack (5)
8. Särmä Blanket Shirt(130)
9. Särmä TST Woolshell Pants(17)
10. Särmä TST L4 Recon Smock (14)

Top sellers by quantity

1. Scho-Ka-Kola, 100 g Tin Box (1)
2. Vaasan FDF Crisp rye bread (3)
3. Kalakalle Fish Cock, 182 g, canned (2)
4. Cord Lock (5)
5. Terävä Skrama 240, Carbon Steel (11)
6. Särmä Hiking Socks, Merino Wool (9)
7. Särmä TST L1 Balaclava, Merino Wool (20)
8. Särmä Merino Wool Socks (10)
9. Terävä Leather Sheath for Jääkäripuukko (8)
10. Swiss REX or FIX Leather Wax, Surplus (31)

Administrative Results Blanket Shirt in its natural habitat.