Norrøna’s Norwegian heritage is steeped in creating quality products that are designed for function and suited for outdoor adventure. Function and quality are guiding principles that Norrøna continues to pursue today. Backcountry is proud to be the exclusive US online retailer of Norrøna products.

In 1929, a Norwegian outdoor enthusiast named Jørgen Jørgensen set out to create equipment that would perform in the harsh Scandinavian climate. He called the company Norrøna, and with the help of two craftsmen he began making the highest quality outdoor products possible. Production was initially focused on packs and tents, and was soon expanded to include sleeping bags and clothing.

Norrøna continued to grow and in 1970 they coupled their existing commitment to quality with a refreshed focus on developing new technologies and products. This brought about innovations like padded hip-belts on packs, the first tunnel tent, and windproof cotton anoraks. In 1977 Norrøna became the first European company to produce a Gore-Tex Jacket. Norrøna’s products were sought out by some of the world’s foremost adventurers and by the late ‘80s Norrøna jackets, pants, and equipment had been used to reach the summit of Everest, scale the Great Trango Tower, and reach both the North and South Poles.

In 1995 Norrøna designed their first ski jackets and pants, and by ‘98 the ski line included Gore-Tex outerwear as well as Polartec fleece jackets. To both articulate and define its commitment to quality, function, and innovative design, Norrøna coined the term Loaded Minimalism in 2002. As a design principle, Loaded Minimalism embraces clean, sleek looks while still incorporating function-driven features and the quality required to perform in the most challenging weather conditions. When Norrøna launched the Lofoten concept in 2004—a collection of jackets, pants, and insulation pieces designed specifically for freeride skiing—it was clear that Norrøna designers had fully embraced the idea of Loaded Minimalism.

Today, Norrøna is still run by the Jørgensen family and based in Norway. They continue to offer functional designs in their signature palette of bright colors for men, women, and kids who seek the highest quality in outdoor clothing. Norrøna’s line includes not only jackets and pants for skiing and mountaineering, but insulation pieces, gloves, shorts, and even apparel for mountain biking—categorizing concepts with names like Lofoten for backcountry skiing, Bitihorn for trekking, Trollveggen for mountain workwear, and /29 for its urban lifestyle apparel. But whatever use you’re putting your Norrøna products to or wherever you’re putting them to the test, you can count on finding smart design and impressive durability, spiced with a dash of eye-catching European style.