There's something brilliant about a bag that refuses to be pigeonholed – equally happy hauling climbing gear to the crag or laptops to the coffee shop. The Gand nails this balancing act perfectly, transforming from a sleek tote to a proper daypack depending on what your day demands. At just 293g, this ultralight Swedish design packs an impressive punch with 23 litres of storage that compresses down into its own pocket when you don't need it. The padded 16" laptop sleeve means your tech stays protected whether you're bouncing down mountain bike trails or navigating city pavements. Those ventilated shoulder straps disappear into the back panel when you want that clean tote aesthetic, whilst the large front mesh pocket keeps the essentials organised and visible. It's the sort of bag that adapts to your lifestyle rather than forcing you to adapt to it – ready for whatever combination of urban and outdoor adventures your day throws up.
The mountain town of Åre is kind of like a Swedish Chamonix. It’s home to the country’s biggest ski area, and the rugged terrain is criss-crossed by long-distance hiking paths, snowmobile trails and downhill biking tracks.
It’s from this gnarly outdoor playground that cult Scandi gear brand, Klättermusen, emerged back in 1975. The company started out as a bunch of local climbers turning out DIY technical gear from a small workshop, and within ten years they’d already built up a rep for innovative and impeccably designed kit.
These days outdoor manufacturers love to shout about their environmental credentials, but sustainability is nothing new for Klättermusen. It’s been part of their ethos since those early days of flares and prog rock, and they’ve always believed that good gear should be made to last. Their packs and clothing are designed to hold up reliably year after year in full-on Alpine and sub-Arctic conditions – and this is even more impressive when you consider that many of their fabrics incorporate recycled materials like discarded fishing nets and worn-out carpets.
Pretty much no-one else is making outdoor gear of this quality, but somehow 'the Climbing Mouse' continues to scuttle slightly under the radar. Mention Klättermusen’s packs to any serious Swedish mountaineer and they either have one or want one, but outside Scandinavia it's still very much an ‘if you know, you know’ sort of a brand.
