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We wanted to share with our customers a little of the history and philosophy of some of the brands we deal with to see some of the reason we choose them. It is information in the companies own words rather than our spin on it, we hope you find it of interest

About Fjallraven

Fjallraven is a classic company that has been around for a long time. For more than 40 years we have equipped outdoor enthusiasts with durable and dependable equipment. Functionality is important to us and runs like a red thread through everything we do.

Fjallraven was founded in 1950 when the founder, Åke Nordin, created a backpack frame that would later revolutionize the world of outdoors. The significance of this invention was that a broader public was able to carry heavier loads when hiking, giving more people the opportunity to experience the outdoors. This product marked the start of Fjallraven.  Since then, our product line has expanded to include not only backpacks but also tents, sleeping bags and clothing.

Fjallraven has been developing tents since the 1960’s. Thanks to our long experience in product development, Fjallraven has a wealth of in-house knowledge and a wide range of successful styles. Our product developers and technicians work together to turn new designs into functioning styles, ready for the most severe weather conditions.
We also use our event Fjallraven CLASSIC to field test our products in harsh conditions in order to get the right feedback that eventually results in a Fjallraven outdoor product.

Fjallraven is, and has been for the last four decades, the leading outdoor company in Scandinavia with a strong heritage as the foremost innovative brand among users in the Swedish mountain world. The name Fjallraven/arctic fox derives from the founder Åke Nordin’s deep admiration for the small predator which lives in the Swedish mountains in the harshest of climates. The Arctic fox is a very smart animal, equipped with the best possible fur for survival. We still see a strong connection between our products and the Arctic Fox.

The Innovation Driven Company

Innovations that have been developed by Fjallraven:

1950: The first wooden frame for backpacks
1960: The first backpack with aluminum frame
1963: The world’s first Thermo® tent
1965: The G-1000® fabric and the Greenland Jacket
1966: The first Thermo Trousers with full-length zip
1975: The Gyro® frame for backpacks where the load is balanced on your hips
1978: Release of Kånken, possibly the most sold daypack in the world
1981: Gyrosoft, IGF, the internal gyro frame for backpacks
1989: Silhuett®, the sleeping bag with comfort of movement
2002: Tent features that makes pitching a tent so much easier (Foxfoot and Easyglide) and provides more efficient ventilation to the tent (Stormwall, storm-proof ventilation)
2004: DePendler, the world’s first daypack made to sit on
2006: Hydratic® IQ – an innovative and breathable technique that reacts to heat and adapts and optimizes functionality according to temperature

About Granfors Axes

A century of Axe forging 1902-2002

We would like to thank all those whom have worked at Gränsfors Bruks through out the last 100 years and shared their knowledge that is the base on which we now grow and develop. Age is not the important factor, what one can learn and how one uses that knowledge is. We all share in the responsibility to harness, use and protect the knowledge we obtained. Now it is the future we must look towards.

What we take, how and what we make, what we waste, is in fact a question of ethics. We have an unlimited responsibility for the Total. A responsibility which we try to take, but do not always succeed in. One part of this responsibility is the quality of the products and how many years the product will maintain its durability.
To make a high quality product is a way to pay respect and responsibility to the customer and the user of the product. A high quality product, in the hands of those who have learned how to use it and how to look after it, will very likely be more durable. This is good for the owner, the user. But this is good as well as part of a greater whole: increased durability means that we take less (decreased consumption of material and energy), that we need to produce less (gives us more time to do other things we think are important or enjoyable), destroy less (less waste).
One of the goals for Gränsfors Bruks is to make high quality durable products. As proof of this goal, and to show that we have a responsibility for the product, Gränsfors Bruks gives a 20 Year Product Guarantee. An "AXE-GUARANTEE-CARD" is included in the AXE-BOOK which comes with every axe. A qualification for the guarantee is that the advice in the AXE-BOOK is followed.

About Ullfrotte

Ullfrotte Original is a technologically advanced product that has evolved over years of intensive research and development. The garments are used throughout the world for work and leisure in demanding environments with tough requirements for comfort, performance and reliability.

Wool has a unique ability to hold and transport moisture while keeping you warm in damp conditions. These properties make the material superior for warm base-layer garments.

Ullfrotte Original is made from fine merino wool supplemented with man-made fibres to increase the fabrics wear-resistance. The garments are knitted in tubular form without seams on specially made knitting machines to give exceptional comfort and good shape and fit.

Research and development

Ullfrotte Original is a total concept for thermal garments, mid-layer garments, socks, gloves, hoods and linings. Intensive product development focusing on function and comfort has positioned Ullfrotté Original on the world market.
We work with a large number of organisations, research institutes, test laboratories, universities and raw material suppliers in many different countries.

Tests and practical trials

Ullfrotte Original garments are tested regularly by SINTEF. The tests are carried out both in laboratory environments and in test groups in different fields, from forestry, fishing, road work and drivers to military and oil platform personnel. Over the years several thousand practical trials have been carried out with various test subjects in Germany, Norway, Sweden, Canada, the USA and elsewhere.

Ullfrotte Original also undergoes tests in an Arctic climate at SINTEF’s Svalbard field station. The purpose of the tests is to improve protective clothing for demanding working environments. The results from SINTEF’s tests lead our development work.

Knowledge on location

Some development work is done by acquiring knowledge on location. Expeditions have been undertaken to Australia, New Zealand and other places to study wool production. Agents and personnel are also trained each year in an Arctic climate in co-operation with SINTEF.

This is Scandinavia’s largest independent research organisation. More than 60% of its approx. 2,000 employees are scientists. SINTEF helps large and small companies, particularly in industry and the public sector, to identify their problems, carry out research projects and follow up the results. SINTEF operates in an international market and handles about 4,500 projects per year.

About Helsport

The beginning…
Helsport is a run Family company established in 1951 who introduced their own sleeping bag and tent ranges early in the 1950`s. Helsport has proved to be among the world pioneers in development of these products.

Our aim
Our aim is to develop functional high quality equipment for protection and comfort under varying weather conditions.
If you choose Helsport, we hope this will mean more
enjoyment and pleasure in the nature. To reach this aim, we have to work very hard to create new and better equipment through continually product development and quality improvements.

Product development
Product development has always been very important to us. As part of this programme we have worked on the following:
• close contact and consultation with normal  and extreme users
• co-operation with test and scientific institutes
• product testing under extreme conditions
• to have our own expertise in production and product development

Tested under extreme conditions
– with great results!
Helsport have equipped a large number of expedition over many years, some of them you find on next page. Using  products over an extended period and under extreme conditions is important, this has given us a lot of knowledge about how to develop new products. As you know, in the Mountains the weather can rapidly deteriorate from clear skies to a heavy storms.

Some highlights in product development
We are proud to show you some our innovations over the years. These products are the basis of the collection you will find in this catalogue. 

1964: Our first superlight sleeping bag for extreme conditions was tested with good results during the Norwegian Himalaya expedition.

1967: We introduced our first lightweight mountaineering tent,
awarded with the Norwegian Design prize.

1970: Helsport introduced the world’s first tunnel tent.

1996: After many years of work, we introduced a completely new range of sleeping bags in 1996, and our model Alta gained the award for the best 3- season sleeping bag in Norway.

1997: We introduced a new tent, Rondane, the world’s most compact and light 3 man tent.

1999: We introduce Svalbard 3 in 1999, our flagship and testwinner through several years. Probably the tent that has spent most time on expeditions to the North pole.

2000
The sleeping bag Arctic Super was developed in co-operation with some arctic expeditions. Used by -55°C. for weeks!!

2004
After many years of development we introduce Helsport Fjellduk. Best result in large Norwegian test in 2004.

2004
Helsport introduce new backpack collection, with a unique carrying system.

2005
As Rondane in 1997, Fjellheimen is a sensation. We have improved the weight/volume ratio by 20 %. More space, less weight.

Good service for years
If you buy a Helsport product, you will also buy lifelong service and support. It does not matter how old your Helsport product is;
we will do our up most to help you.

About Lundhag

Tradition is our soul.