Everything you ever wanted to know about the Fjällräven Expedition jacket but didn’t know enough Swedish to ask…
OK so it’s something of a given that if a jacket is made in Sweden then it’s going to be very strong on all counts when it comes to outdoor performance, durability and looking pretty amazing. Though when it comes to longevity and iconic status then the Fjallraven Expedition jacket really does take some beating. Currently celebrating its fiftieth year in production, this big beautiful beast of a down parka has seen various trends and technological discoveries come and go whilst retaining its status as an icon of classic design. Given this incredible achievement and also being one of our favourite ever jackets here at Outdoor Licence, we decided to compile a little list of facts about this legendary piece of kit, along with some eye-pleasing pics from the Fjällräven archive, enjoy!
IT STARTED WITH SURVIVAL
Like all great superheroes, the Expedition jacket has a dramatic origin story that starts back in 1974 when Fjällräven founder Åke Nordin nearly froze to death on a winter expedition out in northern Sweden. Driven by this close call, when he finally arrived back home he sat down determined to design a jacket that would keep him alive in the coldest places on earth. The result being a beloved jacket that’s still being worn around the world to this day.
TAKEN TO THE LIMIT
Not ones for messing about when it comes to Research & Development, Fjällräven tested out the jacket on Sweden’s highest peak. Early prototypes were literally pushed to the limit up on Kebnekaise, where temperatures of −30°C are perfectly normal, with only the toughest designs surviving this unforgiving R&D process.
SAFETY FIRST
The original yellow colour of the Expedition jacket was chosen so as to provide optimum visibility in order to ensure explorers would stand out against the snow even in white-out conditions. Whilst the more recent ‘UN Blue’ colour the jacket is now available in, was also chosen for safety reasons as it’s even more visible against the snow than the OG yellow.
ROOM FOR A COCOON
The entire shape of the Expedition jacket was engineered with warmth in mind. Which is why the jacket’s long and boxy silhouette is cut to create a cocoon of air around the body that delivers more insulation and less heat loss. Whilst also allowing space underneath for more base/mid-layers to be added depending on the climate.
TWO COATS FOR THE PRICE OF ONE
When you take a peak under the surface of the Fjällräven Expedition jacket then you’ll see that the down has been doubled up. It features two full layers of premium down stitched together to keep the howling winds at bay as well as providing an unrivalled warmth-to-weight ratio.
TOGGLE-TASTIC
As with all icons it’s often the clever little design details that have made them last the distance and won their way into our hearts. On the hood of the Expedition jacket you’ll find that the hood toggles are made so as they can be adjusted without having to take your mittens off, a small feature that makes a massive difference in Arctic conditions.
TOTALLY TRACEABLE
As well as being a game changer in terms of performance, the Expedition jacket has proved to be something of a pioneer in terms of the use of traceable down too. Having spearheaded the use of ethically sourced or recycled down decades before sustainability became the industry norm.
SUCCESS = SUCCESSION
The real mark of just how good a product is can be measured by the amount of products where its influence can clearly be traced. With that in mind, over the past fifty years we have seen the OG design behind the Expedition jacket get evolved and adapted into lighter parkas, hoodies and vests, all of which carry the same Expedition DNA but reimagined for different types of activities and adventures in the 21st Century.
FORM FOLLOWS FUNCTION
Though born through pure Arctic performance, over the years the Expedition jacket has also become a bonafide icon of style too. Wander any of the world’s most fashionable cities and before long you’ll soon see someone wearing one of these beauties from Stockholm to Shinjuku, as much for its aesthetic value as its warmth. In fact uber cool Swedish fashion brand ACNE even did a collaborative, reversible version of the Expedition jacket which now go for big bucks on eBay (if you’re lucky enough to find one).
STILL GOING STRONG
Like all the best outdoor gear, original versions of the Expedition jacket are still in use fifty Winters later. Aging over time like a fine wine and still providing some serious heat to their loyal owners, it’s hard to think of another piece of outerwear as hardworking and good looking as this one.
Get yourself an iconic piece of outdoor outerwear history from Fjallraven HERE.
