Bergans in Outside Magazine's Most Influential Gear of All Time List

Bergans of Norway’s Inaugural Framepack Named

in Outside Magazine’s Most Influential Gear of All Time List

LONGMONT, Colo. – June 14, 2012 – In a recent Outside Magazine online cover story, Bergans of Norway’s ergonomic framepack was listed among the top 100 “Most Influential Gear of All Time.” What started out as a bent juniper branch to provide support to a canvas rucksack in 1908, is now mirrored in every anatomical backpack produced today.



The Bergans of Norway framepack was the brainchild and invention of company founder, Ole Ferdinand Bergan. Well-known for devising quick and original solutions to problems he ran into while outdoors, Bergan held 45 separate outdoor gear patents.



During a hunting trip, Ole cut and shaped a juniper branch to match the curve of his back and attached it to his heavy, loose-fitting rucksack. As a result, he could carry heavier loads more comfortably and for longer distances. From this “prototype” he replaced the branch with light tubular steel and straps. The basic idea was that rucksacks should be shaped to match a person’s form and height, and that the frame should sit snugly against body while supporting a loaded pack. Competitors quickly emulated the design innovation and concept after the company’s patent expired 25 years later.



“It’s incredibly rewarding to have a publication like Outside recognize the Bergans framepack as a historic and category-changing product,” said Keith Patterson, Bergans USA’s vice president of sales and marketing. “Ole Bergan’s invention has directly influenced how outdoor enthusiasts carry gear into the outdoors, and symbolizes the inventive and problem-solving spirit behind all of Bergans’ products.”



Bergans and its packs have a longstanding reputation with history-making expeditions. Adventurers include first conqueror of the South Pole, Roald Amundsen who travelled with Bergans equipment, Mount Everest pioneer Sir Edmund Hillary who used the Bergans carrying frame for transporting oxygen bottles, and Cecilie Skog, currently a Bergans-sponsored athlete and is the only person in the world to both successfully top the “The Seven Summits”, “The Three Poles”, and to cross Antarctica unassisted and unsupported, which she completed with explorer Ryan Waters.



Today, Bergans of Norway continues to be one of the most recognizable and respected outfitters worldwide producing backpacks, tents, foldable canoes and a broad range of technical and fashionably functional outdoor clothing.



To read the Outside Magazine article in its entirety, please visit www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-gear/bags/backpacks/The-Most-Influential-Gear-of-All-Time-Bergans-of-Norway-Rucksack.html.



For more information about Bergans of Norway and its products, go to www.bergans.com. For North American sales questions, contact Keith Patterson at keith.patterson@bergans.com.



About Bergans of Norway

Bergans was established in 1908, when Ole Ferdinand Bergan invented the first anatomical backpack. Today backpacks, functional outdoor clothing and tents are part of the portfolio of Bergans of Norway, as well as the ALLY brand of packable canoes. Adventurers such as South Pole conqueror Roald Amundsen, Mount Everest pioneer Sir Edmund Hillary, and Heroes of our time such as Polar exlorers Rune Gjeldnes or Cecilie Skog trust Bergans equipment on their expeditions.



The headquarter of Bergans Fritid AS is situated in Hokksund, Norway, 60 km southwest of Oslo, where 90-plus employees work in development, research, design and sales. Bergans is a market leader in Norway and steadily growing in several export markets in Europe and North America (www.bergans.com).

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MEDIA CONTACTS:

Bergans USA, LLC

Chip Smith, o: 801.656.0472 x1, c: 801.597.7515, csmith@soarcomm.com

Beth Cochran, c: 406.579.7909, cochran@whatsuppr.com



Bergans of Norway

Christoph Centmayer, o: +47-40 62 40 99, christoph.centmayer@bergans.no