Compass: Charting the Evolution of Outdoor Gear

Norrona History

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1929

Jorgen Jorgenson establishes the Jorgen Jorgenson Norrona company

Makes leather products, backpacks, tents, sleeping bags and clothing

Viking logo first used

1940

Jorgen’s son, Bjarne, becomes CEO

1950’s

develop garden furniture

1960’s

develop camping equipment

1971

third generation of the family, Ole, becomes Managing Director

Tomas Carlstrøm, founder of Skandinavisk Høyfjellsytstyr mountaineering store employed as freelance product developer

focus shifts to backpacks and mountain tents, plus clothing

1972

lay claim to first double tunnel tent with entrance at both ends (Ravenskar)

Introduces padded waist belt on frame packs

1974

Ringstind tunnel tent introduced

1975

launch wind-resistant Arktis cotton clothing collection

1976

Skarstind tunnel tent introduced

1977

first European company to prototype the use of Gore-tex rainwear

1980

Stetind backpack with anatomic carrying system (carrying system 2000) launched

1987

first hunting collection introduced

1988

head office moved from Nydalen in Oslo to Hvalstad, Asker, 15 minutes from Oslo

Viking logo simplified

2000

receives “merket for god design” design award for Synkron II backpack and carrying system

logotype font established to identify company origins

2002

launches the multi sport concept OffTrack, including the world’s lightest PacLite jacket

first Gore-tex PacLite generation 3 is developed in cooperation with Norrøna

2003

receives the “merket for god design” design award for the Synkroflex backpacks.

launch the Vestveggen Gore-Tex XCR jacket with glued zips.

2005

fourth generation family takes over management of the company

new graphic profile is launched in the summer 2005. Designed by Ole Sletten and Levi Bergstrøm.

receives the SOG Design Award for the Lofoten 35 backpack.

Norrona now