Fjällräven

Fjällräven began in 1960 in the Swedish town of Örnsköldsvik, when a young Åke Nordin, unhappy with the backpacks of the day, built his own frame to spread the load better. The idea has held ever since: practical, durable outdoor gear that ages well.

The label's signature is G-1000, a densely woven polyester and cotton blend that is tough yet breathable. Pair it with Greenland Wax, a mix of beeswax and paraffin wax, and you can add wax for more weather protection or wash it off for summer. Keb and Vidda Pro trousers and jackets use this system.

Then there's the Kånken backpack, first made to prevent back pain in Swedish schoolchildren.