As the crisp winter air sweeps across the Arctic tundra, a select group of adventurers will embark on a journey unlike any other—the Fjällräven Polar. This Annual Event is a rare chance to travel through Arctic Scandinavia behind a team of huskies, guided by expert mushers, with everyday applicants rather than professional explorers. This post explains how the expedition works, what the organisers look for, and what our buyer Tom Jacques-Milner learnt during Fjällräven’s “A Taste of Polar” experience.
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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: prove 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 a moment that feels unreal.
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 layers people build around, our Fjällräven collections are a useful reference point, including men’s Fjällräven jackets built for winter travel and women’s Fjällräven jackets for cold conditions.
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 much-coveted place on this trip, and our buyer, Tom Jacques-Milner, has 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.
Tom Jacques-Milner wearing full protective Fjallraven gear With dog sled in the Frozen Arctic
We will document Tom’s journey, showcasing a side of Fjällräven that most customers never see firsthand. That commitment to real-world experience is part of what keeps the Swedish 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 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 Fjällräven clothing and equipment to see the categories people often build their cold-weather systems around.
