“Ole was an amazing inventor, but realised that he needed help to make a business out of this brilliant invention,” explains Jon Gregertsen, Sales Director of the modern-day Bergans of Norway company. “He partnered with a local family, patented his design, and soon after got the product to its first commercial launch. Just a few years later in 1911, Ole’s carry system was used by intrepid explorer Roald Amundsen on his expedition to the South Pole. After that, the company started to get military contracts and the system was used by countless hunters and explorers – it really was the start of our journey and had a huge impact on the worldwide evolution of backpacks.”
“We were, in fact, one of the first-ever companies to make backpacks specifically for women,” adds Hans Simensen, Training Manager at the company. “This was in the 1920s, a time when there were very few outdoor or hunting products made specifically for women. It was very often that the Bergans brand was ahead of the curve by many years.”
This foundation set Bergans of Norway off on the path to success – people in Norway and even the UK still often refer to their backpacks as their ‘Bergans’. The company expanded over the decades and its range began to encompass outdoor products of all different types including apparel, sleeping bags, tents, and even a range of canoes.
Heritage in hunting
A strong heritage in hunting has always remained at the core of Bergans – so much so, that the company will be making a long-awaited return to the show floor of IWA Outdoor Classics this year with plenty of new hunting-specific offerings to showcase.Marcus Ehlig, Bergans’ Sales Manager for the South West explains: “We were born as a hunting brand and have a strong connection towards hunters and the military. We have had a good hunting assortment over the years, but now we are upgrading and updating what we have so that we can try to expand our reach beyond Norway. We have a strong market position in Norway when it comes to hunting, but we want to reach further, which is why it lines up perfectly for us to return to IWA this year.”
That updated collection will include products such as the new Hogna three-layer anorak that features a swathe of hunting-specific features including subtle Green Mud colourway, micro tricot brushed material for silent movement, large, zippered chest pockets designed for radios with antenna, and even loops for Garmin flip-down holders. This jacket will also be available in a women’s fit version and can be complemented by the Hogna three-layer pants, which provide impressive protection from the environment, as well as that same tricot brushed silent material.
“These new hunting products will be the start of a continued expansion of this category for us, which will start to be available from fall 2025,” says Marcus. “This hunting-specific category is complimented well by our general outdoor range, which is what we would describe as huntable. Many of our outdoor apparel is perfect for hunting and is available in subtle and dark colourways. This helps us not only target the hardcore hunters but also the more general outdoors person who may do a little hunting or similar activities in their free time.”
