Fabrics

Duracoat™ is a unique proprietary surface treatment that Klättermusen has developed to improve durability in high-abrasion areas. It is a coating that is applied to particularly vulnerable places such as the shoulders or elbows, increasing wear resistance by up to five times. Duracoat™ is a surface treatment, meaning that no extra seams or layers of fabric are added, while keeping it very flexible. Durability is improved without increasing the weight of the garment or weakening the fabric with seams. The cut and construction is kept intact as Duracoat™ doesn’t distort the shape or impede movement in any way, making it ideal for the agility required by mountaineers. Duracoat™ has become a symbol of both the scientific know-how and innovative thinking of the Klättermusen tradition.

A RECCO reflector built into clothing or gear provides a way to be searchable by professional rescue teams with RECCO detectors. The RECCO technology is a global standard for avalanche rescue and handheld detectors are carried by professional rescue teams worldwide. RECCO SAR Helicopter Detectors are also used from air to scan large areas fast for a missing person. The reflectors do not replace personal transceivers and companion rescue but don’t need to be turned on and provide a back-up to always be searchable to professional rescuers.

Klättermusen’s down products use Box Construction. This keeps the down evenly distributed using internal sidewalls, instead of penetrating seams. Most down products on the market are sewn through the outer and inner fabric with a single seam, resulting in thousands of tiny holes letting wind pass through the material and eliminating much of the insulating effect of the down. Box Construction creates a fully windproof layer that maximizes the insulating capabilities of goose down, resulting in down garments without cold spots or wind leaks. The Box Construction is combined with 800+ Fill Power down making it possible to achieve a superior thermal efficiency at a much lower weight than using conventional construction methods.

Ensuring Best Practice by International Standards. GRS or Global Recycled Standard is an international and voluntary product standard for the use of recycled material and fibers. Among other things, it helps to ensure the claims and practices of our certified third-party suppliers are correct as well as making sure they provide good working conditions for the workers they employ.

Durable water repellent - commonly referred to as DWR, is a treatment which creates a water repellent (hydrophobic) surface on a fabric. The water repellent prevents the fabric from becoming saturated with water which both affects the function of the garment and the user experience. All types of DWR become less effective over time, because of wear, washing and ultra-violet radiation from the sun. This degradation over time requires re-proofing the fabrics which can be performed at home using wash-in or spray-on DWR. Klättermusen uses DWRs 100% free of fluorocarbons. We were the first outdoor company to completely remove PFOA (one of the most hazardous fluorocarbons) from all garments already in 2008. Fluorocarbons are commonly used because they technically are effective – however, they are also an endocrine disruptor proven to cause reproductive harm. Fluorocarbons present a growing problem in nature and the outdoor industry which professes to care about nature.

Our four point 4-S sternum strap is a dynamic tension system that divides pressure evenly over the chest, as the sternum strap is attached by four points instead of two. It has one static side and one elastic, with attachment points spread out wide across the chest for all four straps, meaning it can be adjusted to width as well. All in all, this means the pack will be pulled close to the body, but without tension or pressure created by one single sternum strap. The user will feel like he or she is wearing a vest rather than a backpack.

The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is the worldwide leading textile processing standard for organic fibers. Both ecological and social criteria are considered and backed up by independent certification of the entire textile supply chain. The GOTS standard covers the processing, manufacturing, packaging, labelling, trading and distribution of all textiles made from at least 70% certified organic natural fibers. The final products include fiber products, yarns, fabrics, clothes and home textiles. GOTS aims to define globally and commonly recognized requirements for textiles. From the harvesting of raw materials via environmentally and socially responsible manufacturing up to labelling in order to provide a credible level of assurance to the end consumer.

Skylcoat® is our own PU coating we use on backpack front fabrics to make them water repellent. Skylcoat® has an increased abrasion resistance compared to a standard DWR treatment, making it highly suitable for backpack fabrics. Any product using a Skylcoat® coating will stay dry and protected for many years.

Butterfly Bridge is part of the Carry-On-Bones system. This is a shaped aluminum piece that sits on top of the shoulders. It is designed to transfer weight from the top of the shoulder straps to the collarbone. Moving pressure from the shoulder muscles to the collarbone reduces fatigue in these muscles.

bluesign® is a standard for environmental health and safety in textile manufacturing. The bluesign® organization provides independent auditing of textile mills, closely examining manufacturing processes from raw materials and energy inputs to water and air emissions outputs. bluesign® helps us to keep control over the supply chain and choose manufacturing partners based on their commitment to safety and environment. The bluesign® approval on our fabrics means that it complies with the highest standards of consumer safety by using materials and techniques that save resources and minimize environmental impact. Klättermusen has been a bluesign® system partner since 2007.

The V3 Pivot Harness System™ is an updated and lightweight version of the much loved Klättermusen pivoting carrying system. This lightweight implementation brings the benefits without the weight or complexity of the older versions. It is based on two features: a V-shaped aluminum frame, plus a pivoting hip belt. Two tensioners are placed at the top of the “V”, and the frame itself is divided, meaning the top will flex with your movement. At the same time, the entire pack can pivot on the hip belt, moving with the body, instead of creating pressure points. As another benefit, the weight of the pack will be centered on the lumbar at all times, as opposed to putting pressure on the hips when you move. Moving weight to the lower back means less fatigue in the hips and legs, which in turn means you will be able to carry more and walk longer, as your hips will not carry the entire weight of the pack with every step you take. In combination with curved, adjustable shoulder straps, the three-point V3 Pivot Harness System™ is a Klättermusen design which has been thoroughly developed and tested for a long time.

Carry-On-Bones is a carrying system designed to put the weight of a backpack on the bones instead of the muscles, in order to reduce fatigue. All in all, this system includes the shoulder straps, the hip belt and the lumbar support. Every part of it is shaped and designed with great care in order to do just what the name implies: put all carried weight on the bones. With the shoulder straps, the weight is directed to the collarbone. With the hip belt, it is directed to the hip bones, and the lumbar support is of course directed to the lumbar bone. To ensure maximum comfort, we place most of the foam where most of the pressure is. The Carry-On-Bones system is extremely helpful for trekkers needing to support heavy loads.