The same enthusiasm that created the pack frame led to the conception of the world’s first thermal tent. Back in 1964, this created a sensation. The reason? Well, up to that time, almost all tents had been made from one-layer cotton.

The early tents
In the 1960s most tents were made from one-layer cotton. The cotton tents were heavy - really heavy. However, Fjällräven backpacks with an aluminum frame meant that more people could carry a tent with less effort. The cotton tents worked relatively well as long as the impregnation lasted, but if they were not impregnated, they became even heavier and absorbed any and all moisture. Not exactly something you would look forward to carrying, or sleeping in, for that matter.

The only available alternatives were simple tents made of synthetic fabric. This fabric either was so waterproof that all condensation remained in the tent or so poorly sealed that moisture readily leaked through. Not really a better option.

A new type of tent is born
This simply could not go on. Åke knew that getting a good night’s sleep was essential after being out on the mountains all day. Nature was simply not as enjoyable if you woke up cold in a soaked sleeping bag or too warm in a tent that felt like a rainforest. It was once again time to go down to the basement in Örnsköldsvik and try to find a solution.

After several prototypes and tests, Åke seemed to have found a solution to the problem. The combination of a waterproof outer tent and a breathable inner tent seemed to extract moisture from the living area of the tent and allow it to condense on the inside of the outer fabric. After several different versions, he was happy with the solution and began production of Termo, the first thermal tent.

Termo – the first thermal tent
The outer tent was made of strong, waterproof polyester and the inner tent of breathable Rutarme polyamide fibers. And this is how, in 1964, Åke created Termo, the first fully functional outdoor living environment - a thermal tent that retained heat and stayed dry, even after a day of downpour.

Continuous improvement
The Termo tent created a sensation. In fact, such a sensation that the team behind the Swedish Greenland Expedition in 1966 asked Åke to create their tents. During the expedition the tents were fully tested under conditions of “extreme severity”, as described in the report.

The expedition generated ideas for further improvements and the following year Fjällräven launched the Termo G-66 tent. The rest is history and now Åke’s solutions can be found in most tents on the market.

Just as we did in the 1960s, we still continuously evaluate and improve our tents in order to keep our position as a leading tentmaker. But Åke’s solution remains unchanged. An outer and an inner tent. The thermo solution.