HILLEBERG AMBASSADOR: Young, passionate adventurer Will Copestake

Will Copestake was young, full of a love for the outdoors, a spirit of adventure, and ambition. Born and raised in Ullapool, Scotland, he spent his childhood wandering the magnificent natural playground of the Northwest Highlands. Since then, he has trekked through renowned hiking routes in New Zealand and walked across Iceland.

Between May 2013 and May 2014, Will solo kayaked around Scotland and climbed all of the Munro mountains—a total of approximately 1,600 kilometers (994 miles) of coastline and 282 peaks over 900 meters (over 3,000 feet). "I wanted to get to know my homeland better," Will says. This 364-day adventure, which he calls "The Journey on Home," earned him the title of "Adventurer of the Year" at the 2015 National Adventure Awards, which recognize outstanding adventurers in England, Wales, and Scotland.

His tent: the Hilleberg Soulo. "I used the Hilleberg Soulo for the entire trip. While kayaking, it was my home at the end of each day. In the mountains, it was both my base and my home atop the mountain. I decided on the Soulo long before the trip began: I'd already used it during a three-month expedition exploring and traversing Iceland. I needed a tent that was lightweight but strong enough to withstand wind, rain, snow, and all the elements. I also needed a free-standing design, as I often camp on rocky islands or ice, and needed it to be easy to set up without spikes. So far, I've spent over a year in this green nylon tent in non-stop use. It may be a little dusty, but it's still as strong as the day I first bought it."

Will currently lives in Chilean Patagonia, working as a full-time kayak guide, and he "can't wait to move into a bigger home," he says. "The Allak is the perfect solution, providing more space while remaining lightweight and compact. [Patagonia] is known for its unpredictable weather, and more importantly, strong winds; on a recent trip, I experienced 80 mph gusts, and the tent remained rock solid all night—even when we had to get up to tie down the kayaks!"

(For more information, see willcopestakemedia.com )