Compass: Charting the Evolution of Outdoor Gear

Fjällraven History

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1950

Åke Nordin, a 14 year old Swede, makes a wooden frame rucksack

1960

Åke Nordin starts Fjällräven (Swedish for Arctic Fox)

produces the first backpack with aluminium frame?

1964

release Termo tent: waterproof polyester flysheet and inner of breathable Rutarme polyamide (nylon)

1965

developed G-1000 fabric (G for Greenland for an upcoming Swedish expedition to Greenland in 1966)

1966

The first Thermo Trousers with full-length zip

1967

launch Termo G-66 tent

1968

Greenland Jacket released in G-1000 fabric (65% cotton / 35% polyester treated with paraffin and beeswax)

1973

sell the HAP (High Alpine Polar) sleeping bag with special armholes and drawcord foot opening, so wear could walk around in it

1975/6

The Gyro frame for backpacks, where the load is balanced on your hips

1978

release of Kånken, considered by Fjallraven as “the most sold daypack in the world”

sell 400 Kånken daypacks

1979

sell 30,000 Kånken daypacks

1981

Gyrosoft, IGF, the internal gyro frame for backpacks

1989

Silhuett, the sleeping bag with freedom of movement in knee section of bag

1992

introduce the Akka tent

1993

Fjällräven Extreme Marathon commences

1994

Begin coperation wit Ander Angerbjorn on the "Save the Arctic Fox" program

1995

introduce the 8 pocket Island Trousers

1996

Sales of 133 million Swedish Kroner  (USD $20.3 million) with 71% in exports

1999

introduce the Vidda trousers, again with 8 pockets and also reinforced knees and seat

2002

introduce Foxfoot, Stormwall and Easyglide tent features improving pitching and ventilation

Introduce Kånken Mini, only 7 litres, for small children

2004

DePendler, the world’s first daypack made to sit on

hold the first Fjällräven Class, a 110 km trek on the Kungsleden Trail, in Swedish Lappland

2006

Hydratic IQ – innovative and breathable technique that reacts to, and adapts, to heat

2008

30 year anniversary of Kånken daypack

Over 3 million Kånken daypacks have been sold, with 200,000 made each year

Kånken also becomes the world's first "climate compensated' backpack

Introduce Laptop Kånken

Fjällräven now