The Fjällräven Classic concept is simple: to encourage and enable more people to get out and enjoy trekking. The idea came directly from Fjällräven founder Åke Nordin at the start of the 21st century. He had always been inspired by the dramatic landscapes and breathtaking scenery of the Swedish mountains. And he wanted others to explore the same landscapes and, more importantly, the same feeling of freedom from spending a few days trekking on the trail. His solution was Fjällräven Classic.
At that point, Fjällräven wasn’t the global company it is today. So the focus was on getting more Swedes out into the Swedish mountains. He chose a legendary long-distance path, Kungsleden (The King’s Trail), and by taking care of all the logistics like food, transport and safety, Fjällräven made it accessible to the masses. Well, masses is perhaps an exaggeration in the beginning. There were just 152 finishers at the first Swedish Classic in 2005. But nowadays, Fjällräven Classic really does reach the masses. There were 2136 finishes 10 years later in 2015. And in 2017 they’ll be even more. Fjällräven Classic will now take place in four different locations around the world: Sweden, Denmark, the US and Hong Kong. But the same founding concept remains the same. It’s not a competition or a race. It’s a chance to socialise with other hikers and enjoy the trek of a lifetime.