Lex – Haglöfs' most advanced backpack
Haglöfs long tradition of making backpacks started in 1914. The company's classic backpack construction, which utilizes an external frame, served as the inspiration behind Haglöfs Lex backpack that will be launched in the spring/summer of 2013.
When Haglöfs started to develop Lex, it looked back on its soon-to-be 100-year history and into the future to find the right features for the ultimate modern expedition backpack. A fundamental goal of this development project was to push the boundaries for not only modern backpack design but also how far out in the wilderness a person can come with a single backpack. To find inspiration, Haglöfs' development team headed out into the forest.
It all started with a trip
The Lex project started with a trip to Rogen, a fantastic outdoors recreational area with extraordinary nature - low mountains, craggy peaks and a labyrinth of lakes, capes, islets and islands. After hiking and kayaking throughout the day, the team discussed what was important when hiking long distances and carrying heavy loads. Many ideas emerged and the discussions were long. One thing that came out was that today's soft backpacks do not always offer the stability that is required.
After returning from the wilderness, Haglöfs started to search through old files to identify functional solutions from its history. Two of Haglöfs' classic backpacks, Grönland and Alaska, which use the same framework construction, illustrated what was needed to achieve the desired level of stability. Their basic construction was also simple, yet still contained many features. However, given their age, 42 and 38, respectively, they were a bit awkward by current standards. One of Haglöfs' designers, Jacob von Matern, was assigned the task of developing a new, modern frame backpack.
Development of Lex
Inspired by Grönland and Alaska, Jacob started to develop a new frame. Using a heat gun, Jacob bent conduit pipes into different shapes and after a number of attempts he found a shape that he thought worked well. A number of prototypes were created and tested. Using the frame as a base, work continued to develop a new support system. A new, extremely durable fabric was introduced and Haglöfs' most advanced expedition backpack slowly emerged.
"Lex is proof that we have a lot to learn from history and our 100 years of combined experience gives us plenty of material to work from. Lex combines modern fabrics and innovative solutions with a classic, well-tested construction to produce a product with the exact features we were looking for," says Håkan Nyström, business area manager Hardware.
Lex – for professionals
The Lex backpack is ideal for big adventures - for serious outdoor enthusiasts who need to carry heavy packs over long distances, often well off the beaten path and far away from shelter and civilization. The backpack offers a number of advanced solutions that combine simplicity with flexibility, low weight with durability and comfort with stability. Lex distributes the weight across a homogenous aluminum frame, which provides optimal weight distribution with a high level of torsional rigidity and serves as the base for Haglöfs' new support system, Solid™ Adjustable System.
Haglöfs is also introducing a new fabric with Lex, X-PAC™, which was originally developed for the sails of ships in ocean races. The result is a very lightweight and durable material that offers extraordinarily good protection from moisture.
For further information please contact:
Sara Skogsberg Cuadras
PR & Media Manager
+46 8 584 40 014
sara.skogsberg-cuadras@haglofs.se
Haglöfs is one of the world’s leading outdoor suppliers and offers a responsible brand that meets modern day demands for products with a high level of functionality, good design and value for money to people who invest in an active outdoor lifestyle. Sales for 2011 amounted to SEK 626 million and the company has over the last five years achieved an average growth of 10 percent. Haglöfs is owned by ASICS Corporation since 2010. www.haglofs.se
CONTACTS:
PR & Media Manager: Sara Skogsberg Cuadras, sara.skogsberg-cuadras@haglofs.se
CEO: Nicolas Warchalowski, nicolas.warchalowski@haglofs.se
Tags:
