Fjällräven Polar is a winter expedition that gives everyday applicants the chance to travel through Arctic Scandinavia behind a team of huskies, guided by expert mushers rather than relying on previous expedition experience. This post explains how the event works, how the application process tends to operate, and what our buyer Tom Jacques-Milner learnt during Fjällräven’s “A Taste of Polar” experience. If you want to browse the sort of outerwear used for this kind of cold-weather layering, the Fjällräven jackets collection is the most relevant place to start.
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What Fjällräven Polar is
Fjällräven Polar is an annual dog-sled expedition across Arctic Scandinavia. The headline numbers are simple: roughly 300 kilometres of travel in extreme winter conditions, with temperatures that can drop to around −30°C. The aim is also straightforward: to show that ordinary people can learn the skills needed for safe winter travel when they have the right training, guidance and kit.
| Distance | Approx. 300 km (main expedition) |
|---|---|
| Where | Arctic regions of northern Norway and Sweden |
| Season | Typically early spring |
| Conditions | Snowfields, frozen lakes, forests, high winds and deep cold |
| Who it is for | Non-professional applicants, supported by an experienced team |
Why Fjällräven created it
To understand the Polar, it helps to understand the brand behind it. Founded in 1960 in the Swedish town of Örnsköldsvik, Fjällräven began as a problem-solving label. Ten years earlier, a 14-year-old Åke Nordin was already sketching a more comfortable backpack than the options he could find, and that mindset stayed central as the brand grew.
Over the decades, Fjällräven’s fox logo has travelled far beyond mountains and forests, gaining a wider fashion following along the way. Even so, the core idea remains the same: gear should work in real conditions. Fjällräven Polar sits squarely in that tradition, putting winter travel, teamwork and practical knowledge at the centre of the story.
The route, conditions and daily rhythm
The expedition crosses wide-open tundra, frozen lakes and tree lines that change from day to day. Travel is done on the runners of a sled, with a team of huskies pulling and a musher guiding the route. The cold is not the only challenge; wind, visibility and fatigue can make simple tasks slower and more demanding.
Evenings bring a different pace: camp routines, hot food, checking kit and preparing for the next day. When the sky clears, the Northern Lights can appear overhead, turning a tough day into something unforgettable.
How selection works
Fjällräven Polar is designed for everyday adventurers, so the organisers look beyond race results or expedition CVs. Applicants are often judged on enthusiasm, their ability to tell a story, and the support they can gather from their community. Depending on the year, the process can involve a written or video entry, tasks set by Fjällräven, and public voting, with a final decision made by a Fjällräven panel.
Preparation and training
Participants do not need previous dog-sled experience, but they do need to turn up ready to learn. Training typically covers dog-handling basics, working with a musher, cold-weather routines, and the fundamentals of staying comfortable and safe in low temperatures.
Clothing is part of the preparation, but it is best thought of as a system: base layers to manage moisture, insulating layers to trap warmth, and shells to handle wind. If you want to see the sort of outerwear this kind of layering is built around, our Fjällräven jackets range and latest coats and jackets collection are both useful reference points.
A Taste of Polar: Tom’s 90 km story
Before someone signs up for the full 300 km expedition, Fjällräven also runs “A Taste of Polar” experiences that offer a concentrated view of life on the trail. We were delighted to be offered a place on this trip, and our buyer, Tom Jacques-Milner, returned with a fresh perspective on what the far north demands.
Tom joined 20 people from across the globe for a 90 km dog-sledding experience across the Arctic tundra. Over three days, the group drove their own sleds across the vast landscapes of northern Scandinavia, experiencing a world far removed from home. On his back, Tom carried everything needed for the journey, while his own pack of sled dogs did the heavy lifting in every sense.
We will document Tom’s journey, showing a side of Fjällräven that many customers never see first-hand. That link to real outdoor use is part of what keeps the brand credible, regardless of trends.
What participants take home
The Polar is more than a long-distance challenge. Participants often come home with a clearer sense of how to manage discomfort, work as a team under pressure, and appreciate the importance of planning in cold environments. Many also return with a renewed respect for remote landscapes and the responsibilities that come with travelling through them.
How to apply
If the Fjällräven Polar has sparked your interest, keep an eye on the official application guidance. The entry requirements and timelines can change year to year, but the core idea stays the same: tell your story clearly, show genuine motivation, and follow the steps Fjällräven sets for that season.
Apply to the Fjällräven Experience Hub
Further reading and kit reference
If you want to understand Fjällräven’s wider world beyond the Polar, start with the broader Fjällräven collection. For colder-weather outerwear specifically, the Fjällräven jackets collection offers the clearest next step.
