Fjällräven Classic: trekking for everyone

Fjällräven’s mission is to inspire the world to spend more time in nature.

In 1960, Åke Nordin founded Fjällräven in his basement, in the small Swedish town of Örnsköldsvik. Today, the brand’s functional, durable, and timeless gear is sold in over 70 countries and includes clothing and accessories for both women and men, backpacks, tents, sleeping bags, and much more. With the ongoing mission of enabling more people to experience nature, Fjällräven makes every effort to act responsibly toward people, wildlife, and the environment. The company also inspires thousands of people every year to embrace the outdoors through events such as Fjällräven Classic and Fjällräven Polar.

But the brand’s enthusiasm for encouraging people to discover nature goes beyond just equipment. Fjällräven believes that the more time people spend in nature, the more they will appreciate and respect it.

Fjällräven fulfills this mission through a series of trekking events, the Fjällräven Classic, which encourages even more people to explore nature—while providing space for inspiration, new experiences, knowledge, and community. During the Fjällräven Classic, participants carry their gear, set up their tents, cook their meals, and walk at their own pace to experience nature on their own terms. A distinctive feature of this event is the presence of many checkpoints along the trail, where hikers can receive encouragement and support, a helping hand to take care of blisters or fix a shoelace, and the chance to refuel with gas, food, and snacks. In addition to the checkpoints, Fjällräven staff and volunteers travel the trails ready to assist anyone in need. There is also a vibrant and welcoming community of participants eager to strike up a conversation or form lifelong friendships.

In short, the Fjällräven Classic is more than “just” a hike. It is the gateway to the outdoor life, an event for those who dream of multi-day treks but are not ready to do them on their own. It is a fun experience during which anyone can forge new friendships, share stories, support others, and eventually plan new solo or group adventures. It is also an opportunity for participants to take this sense of confidence home, starting their own trekking adventures and passing on their knowledge and inspiration to others.

A brief history of an iconic event

The far north of Sweden is a vast, rugged wilderness. Stretching over thousands of kilometers, the terrain is harsh, the weather is variable, and signs of civilization are few and far between.

The dramatic landscapes and breathtaking scenery have always been a source of inspiration for Fjällräven’s founder, Åke Nordin. As a young nature enthusiast, he spent all his free time in the forest and often went on week-long hikes heading north. There, he developed ideas and made plans to create outdoor equipment that was better and more functional.

Åke always wanted others, who didn’t have immediate access to nature, to experience what gave him so much purpose. More importantly, he wanted people to experience the feeling of freedom offered by trekking, even if just for a few days. So, in 1979, Åke started what was then called the ‘Fjällräven Weeks’. It was the first step in bringing curious beginners into nature, lending them gear, and showing them how to use it.

In 2005, Fjällräven took a step further and removed many of the logistical and emotional barriers of the legendary long-distance trail Kungsleden in Sweden. This long-duration trekking style gave birth to the Fjällräven Classic as we know it today. Soon, Swedish hikers were joined by people from all over the world, and the success led Fjällräven to expand the Fjällräven Classic and Swedish trekking culture to other countries. The rest is history.

1979 – To spark interest in trekking (and outdoor life in general), Fjällräven starts the ‘Fjällräven Weeks’. Planting the seed for what would become the Fjällräven Classic. It takes curious beginners into nature, lending them gear and showing them how to use it.

2005 – In the first Swedish Fjällräven Classic, 152 adventurous participants cross the finish line. Ten years later, the number grows to 2,136.

2014 – The first Fjällräven Classic event outside Sweden takes place: the Fjällräven Classic Denmark, on the island of Funen. Along its 75 kilometers, the trail offered participants coastal landscapes and a pleasant atmosphere.

2016 to present – Inspiring even more people to explore trekking and outdoor life, the Fjällräven Classic expands beyond Scandinavia, including events in Germany, the USA, the UK, Korea, and Chile.

The Swedish Trekking Goes Global

How the Fjällräven Classic grew and transformed into a global series of local events.

The success of the Swedish Fjällräven Classic proved that people want to spend more time in nature doing multi-day treks with a little support. Whether on another continent or close to home in a familiar setting.

Currently, the Fjällräven Classic takes place in seven countries across four continents. The events share a common thread: multi-day trekking through stunning landscapes. Additionally, each one offers something unique. Hikers are free to find the trail that best suits their needs. Whatever the goal, there is a Fjällräven Classic for everyone.

Leave Nothing But Footprints

Educating and empowering hikers to walk with care.

Fjällräven believes that the more time people spend in nature, the more they will come to appreciate and respect it.

The Fjällräven Classic creates a culture and environment that educates people about respecting the outdoors, so that natural spaces can be enjoyed for many years to come. This includes showing hikers how to manage their waste, where to walk to allow nature to thrive, how to set up a tent to avoid damaging the flora, and the importance of picking up trash along the trail. In some Fjällräven Classic events, participants are given their own Fjällräven-branded trash bag, and there are competitions to see who can remove the most trash from the trails.

Fjällräven also partners with local organizations, ensuring that hikers have the knowledge and tools they need to leave a minimal impact on the trail.

As more people venture out to experience the benefits of nature, it is also important to have clear guidelines that help people engage with nature in a responsible and sustainable way. Fjällräven’s partner organization in the USA, Leave No Trace, has gathered a simple guide in The Seven Principles of Leave No Trace. These principles are vital guidelines, both for individual hikes and for events like the Fjällräven Classic.

The Seven Principles of Leave No Trace

1. Plan ahead and prepare. Learn about the area, check maps, read literature, and plan trips that will have the least possible impact.

2. Travel and camp on durable surfaces. Use trails whenever possible and follow regulations related to camping locations. It’s a good idea to camp in areas that have already been impacted by use.

3. Dispose of waste properly. It is the responsibility of every visitor in nature to leave a place clean when leaving. This includes planning meals that generate little waste and bringing a trash bag to collect any waste.

4. Leave what you find. The sense of discovery is one of the most satisfying aspects of being in nature, so it’s important to leave rocks, plants, archaeological artifacts, and other objects as they are.

5. Minimize campfire impact. Build a campfire only if local regulations allow it, if there is enough wood in the area to support a fire and regenerate afterward.

6. Respect wildlife. The best way to learn about wildlife is through quiet observation, rather than disturbing or approaching animals just to get a “better view.” Animals should never be touched or captured.

7. Be considerate of other people. Excessive noise, uncontrolled pets, and damage to the environment all take away from the appeal of nature, so be respectful to others.

About Fjällräven

Fjällräven? Fuell raiven? Fyell rehven? The name Fjällräven [ˈfjɛ ̂lːˌrɛːvɛn] can be hard to pronounce, but no matter how it’s said, it’s synonymous with functional and timeless gear that lasts a lifetime. Everything is made by saying no to harmful chemicals, animal abuse, resource-draining materials, and short-lived trends.

Founded in 1960 in the small Nordic Swedish town of Örnsköldsvik by entrepreneur Åke Nordin, Fjällräven became the leading provider of outdoor clothing and gear in Scandinavia. Along with the Swedish Tourist Association and the Swedish Outdoor Activities Association, its products played a key role in encouraging more Swedes to embrace the outdoors.

Today, Fjällräven’s mission is to enable more people to enjoy nature. Its range of products includes all the gear needed to make people feel at home outdoors. Sold in over 70 countries, some Fjällräven products have even become classics. The Greenland Jacket from 1968 and the Expedition Down Jacket from 1974 remain popular and virtually unchanged to this day. The Kånken backpack, introduced in 1978, is one of Fjällräven’s best-selling products of all time.

Fjällräven also inspires thousands to embrace the outdoors in all conditions (even Arctic weather) with Fjällräven Classic and Fjällräven Polar.

Fjällräven is part of the Fenix Outdoor Group, which includes Tierra, Hanwag, Royal Robbins, Naturkompaniet, Friluftsland, Partioaitta, and Globetrotter.

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