Good Company
The brands, gear and friends we've come to trust out there — every one quality-driven, and worth knowing. You're in good company.
These are companies that may benefit you — and your experience out there. Every one has given us pleasure, added safety, and proved to be quality-driven. That's essential for every explorer.
Since you've clicked, and your curiosity brought you here, we owe you a few words on what makes each of them stand out for us. But be 100% sure: we don't force any product on anyone. Everyone is different. We all need different things — and we love different brands, colours and solutions. The main thing is that the quality is up to the task, that you stay safe — and happy :-)
As you'll see, several of these could be considered competitors. But all we see is great Norwegian quality that, over the years, has added real value to our beloved polar world.
We hope you find a few gems and some useful tips going through this page — and yes, they're in alphabetical order ;-)
Antarctic Heritage Trust
AHT — or rather the Antarctic Heritage Trust. Everyone going into polar regions becomes (or already is) fascinated by the history, and especially the Heroic Age.
We've been fortunate to work with AHT for many years, and have even done two big expeditions with them — over Greenland and to the South Pole. Their mission is to conserve the "relics" in Antarctica, share their unique history, and encourage the spirit of exploration among the next generation.
Dive into their world and support them if you like!
Alfa shoes
Alfa has been on our feet since the dawn of the new generation of polar explorers that began to emerge in the mid-eighties. From the beginning they were super enthusiasts on mixing history and modern thinking. As skiers, we've always wanted a system built not to restrict progress or technique.
Together with Rottefella bindings, they've always been at the forefront and always looked to progress. They're the go-to boots today.
Brynje
Brynje is that archetypal small, resilient company that sticks to what it does and does it well, putting functionality and quality first.
For us it's their synthetic mesh — the backbone of their philosophy — that is a must on polar trips. We use it, recommend it to everybody, and believe it is the safest inner layer available. If you sweat a lot, or are new to the game, this is the way to go. We doubt any underwear brand has made more Greenland and South Pole trips than Brynje.
But they also have a wide range of high-quality outdoor gear, so go visit!
Devold
Devold is not only known for their superb wool quality — they've also been around since the middle of the 19th century, all through the amazing Heroic Age, and have been one of Børge's supporters throughout his time at the forefront of the Modern Polar Age.
Their love and continuous effort to be better and keep to the highest standard have made them a favourite for both mountaineers and polar explorers.
Drytech / Real Turmat
Drytech has been like a mother to us. Ever since we found out that not every meal needs to be the same every day, they've been on the menu. They've really proved that food is not only immensely important for nutrition, but also a motivator and a highlight of the day.
The way they've consistently evolved with variety and taste to meet today's demands is such an important factor when we set up every team for a new adventure.
Fjellboms
Fjellboms are dear friends of the family and the best sparring partner you can find on safety — and on enhancing the skills that make all travel in snow, ice, mountains and glaciers better.
They are delightful people with an infectious passion. They're based and work 100% in Norway, and offer a great variety of courses.
They were the ideal partner for us when we — as the first — started glacier and avalanche courses for polar explorers and everyone venturing out there with a sled behind them.
Helsport
Helsport has sheltered us all the way since we started. They were super playful, and we all became testers of ideas and new ways of thinking about extreme shelter that last to this day.
What makes them important for us is that they still listen. They always help out. Their tents can withstand a 40+ m/s storm (everything done right). They come with snow mats as standard. They have the best ventilation. And they've refined the tunnel tents, so we can push on and set up safely even when fatigue and wind make conditions marginal.
It doesn't hurt either that we think they're the prettiest tents — great in photos and easily spotted in an emergency. Great sleeping systems, too.
HK-lab
HK-lab — or the full Holmenkollen Treningslab (Training Laboratory) — is a new and very exciting addition. Together with them, we've completely transformed polar training. By giving you better ski technique and a more correct way of training, you'll save energy, last longer, and probably enjoy the trip more. And it goes without saying: we're all running out of time, so we make sure that when you train, it's in a direction that gives you the most gains.
Norrøna
Norrøna. We have a very long history with Norrøna — ever since they were a tiny, specialized company hardly reaching one million US$ in sales. But they've always supported and pursued quality to tackle the world's biggest expedition challenges. Their philosophy of functionality, quality, design and sustainability makes them long-lasting partners for any adventure, setting lofty goals.
Today, both Børge and Vince are Norrøna ambassadors and an integral part of their development team – so no wonder many choose the Arktis Gore-Tex Pro Ousland Edition setup ;-)
Piteraq
Piteraq is an integral part of polar travel, and thus part of our setup. We've worked with those guys forever, and together we've developed an understanding of the balance between quality, functionality, cost and freedom of choice.
Almost everybody who goes with us ends up with a great relationship with them, and very often we see people go straight to Piteraq — and even fly in for a visit!
So, we trust them; you will trust them. They give very fair prices, and help you get the VAT back if you're from another country.
SNØ Oslo
SNØ is a surprise and a wonderful addition to Norwegian polar possibilities. Who would have thought an outdoor company would fall in love with an indoor skiing arena?
Well, we did. SNØ has played beautifully into us doing the bulk of technical polar training in summer in Oslo. In combination with HK-lab, we can teach you an enormous amount in the off-season, so you're ready when winter comes.
SNØ is impressive and varied — the perfect place to ski and train under perfect conditions and really advance. Many come here to train and ski on their own.
Åsnes
Åsnes. Many may believe Norwegian polar explorers are born with Åsnes skis. And even though 9 out of 10 mothers may dispute this, Åsnes has grown into being the no. 1 choice for polar travel — that is, if you want skiable skis (a treat many ignore) and not platforms.
Their constant drive to develop and broaden their range to match the ever-evolving needs of ski explorers is down to Frank at the helm in their Voss headquarters.
We really loved being allowed to help develop our own "Børge Ousland" ski, but we always use and choose according to conditions — and our heart :-)
