Ten years ago, Detlev Hoppenrath, founder and CEO of Bushcraft Essentials, laid the foundation for the worldwide success of the Bushbox, an outdoor stove which is as simple as it is ingenious. Quickly, the Bushbox, which in the early days became known mainly via social networks, has become a must-have in the outdoor industry and today delights adventurers all over the world.
"You'll never sell more than 1,000 of these stoves in the whole of Germany, then the market will be saturated," were the prophecies from those around Hoppenrath about his idea to develop outdoor stoves. Forced by a serious illness to take time off work and thus spend a lot of time in nature, he pondered over a stove system that would allow him to quickly and easily prepare a hot drink or a small meal on the go. The idea for the original Bushbox was born.
Consistently pursuing his goal, the inventor and entrepreneur launched the first mini-series of the Bushbox just a few months later, initially dispatched from the kitchen table at home. From then on, the stove rapidly gained popularity and is now used on all continents and in over 80 countries, from Europe to Africa to the small Pacific island, especially in Germany, Great Britain and the USA.
From the "original Bushbox" to the Bushbox stove for every adventure
In addition to survival tools and other outdoor-relevant articles, our range now includes a total of eight stoves and multifunctional accessories - from the world's smallest functioning hobo, the EDCBox, to an ultra-light model made of spring steel weighing just 60 grams, to the large Bushbox XL for longer trekking tours. Whether made of stainless steel or titanium, for folding or plugging, whether for a micro adventure behind the house or the round-the-world trip by bike, Bushcraft Essentials has the right stove for every adventure. What's more, all products are subjected to the endurance test before they are launched on the market to ensure that they deliver what they promise in an emergency. Not without reason have they already been used in the Arctic and with special commandos, most recently Bushcraft Essentials equipped special forces in the Ukraine with Bushboxes.
Quality, craftsmanship and sustainability - the recipe for success of the original Bushbox
Bushbox owes its good reputation above all to the high quality standards that have run like a red thread through our entire value chain since the company was founded. All stoves are produced exclusively in Bavaria, using high-quality raw materials and state-of-the-art technology. As recently as 2021, in the midst of the Corona pandemic, a state-of-the-art laser cutting facility was put into operation near our Erding headquarters in our own production company BE Feinblech & Laser GmbH to meet the ever-increasing demand for outdoor products. But even though Bushcraft Essentials is much more modern ten years after it was founded, one thing has remained the same: the high proportion of manual work. Every item still goes through many hands before a product is delivered to our customers in its final packaging.
Sustainability has also always played an important role at Bushcraft Essentials: products that are designed for a lifetime, short transport routes, long-standing business relationships, fair payment, as little plastic as possible - respectful cooperation in the sense of customers, employees and the environment. Only a few weeks ago, we switched to a new process for deburring, edge rounding and surface finishing, from whose more beautiful appearance our customers benefit, while at the same time the employees in production, the environment and its resources are protected. It also supports a perfect circular economy and further reduces Bushcraft Essentials' ecological footprint.
The future of Bushcraft Essentials
Detlev Hoppenrath is optimistic as usual about the future of Bushcraft Essentials: "The challenges of the Corona pandemic, the war in Ukraine, the current overall situation, all of these have prompted us to invest considerably in the company and to position ourselves even more stably for the coming years. We remain true to our line and our values. We want to help other people to go into nature, to feel safe through the products, to have food, warmth and protection. Every Bushbox we send out makes someone happy or makes someone's life easier, that's what drives me."
On our campaign page you can find the full interview with Detlev Hoppenrath as well as a lot more information about our 10th anniversary.
