After a run of Australian film festivals, Mont’s portrait of its enigmatic founder Andrew ‘Monty’ Montgomery is free on YouTube. Softly Spoken traces the story of one of Australia’s OG outdoor gear companies and the determination behind its enduring products.

 

I see brand videos all the time in this job. Outdoor companies pump them out, stitching together old footage or thinly-veiling product placement. Fair call, not everything can be Free Solo. But Softly Spoken is different. It’s thoughtful, slow, and beautiful. Its name is perfect because it’s about a brand that’s rarely pushed itself out there, preferring to create products that endure and inspire a cult-like devotion from those who know.

What strikes me most is just how much a company’s attitude can reflect its founder. Monty comes across as wise and thoughtful. He tears up on mountaintops and takes product failure personally. He’s the kind of businessman who shows that there is another way, at least in the outdoor industry.

It’s also filmed and directed by Hayden Griffith, a longtime friend of We Are Explorers and the eye behind some classic We Are Explorers films like My Wild Home and LIMITLESS.

Have a watch and if you dig it, make sure you’re subscribed to Unpacked, a weekly newsletter where I break down what’s new and what’s good in outdoor gear.

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