Hunting With Heritage

The Origins of Harkila

A brand full of rich history and heritage, Harkila has quickly become Europe’s leading brand for specialist hunting clothing, footwear and accessories. The story began in Västra Götaland in Southern Sweden at Harkila farm, which had been family owned since the 17^th century. In the 1950s, Harkila Kennel was founded by a man named Lennart Davidson, who had accumulated family knowledge of hunting through the wilderness of Scandinavia for many generations. Harkila Kennel quickly became renowned for its breeding of prized hunting dogs throughout Sweden and Scandinavia. One generation later, Lennart’s son Kjell had a vision to create waterproof and silent hunting clothing, initially designed for hunting wild moose in the harsh climates of Scandinavia.

In the early 1980’s, Kjell contacted GORE-TEX® and created a small batch of clothing using for him and his father. After testing the clothes out in the field, together they agreed that the products produced were worth selling. In 1985 Kjell’s vision became a reality and Harkila Clothing was born. By 1992 the brand began exporting its revolutionary hunting apparel into Norway, later followed by Denmark, Germany, United Kingdom, France and Russia. Harkila Clothing is now internationally recognised as a market leader in­­­­­ crafting high quality and innovative hunting gear.

Relationship with GORE-TEX®

Innovation and investment in technology have been key to Harika’s huge international success. Harkila Clothing became the first brand in Scandinavia to produce hunting clothing using GORE-TEX® membranes and later began developing their own innovative weather protection technologies. GORE-TEX® is world renowned for its best-in-class waterproof protection, but what is GORE-TEX® and why is it so revolutionary in the production of outdoor clothing?

GORE-TEX® was created in 1969 by father and son duo Bill and Bob Gore. The accidental discovery came about when Bob Gore rapidly stretched out the synthetic material polytetrafluoroethylene (abbreviated to PTFE also known as Teflon) under intense heat and particular conditions. The result was an incredibly strong and microporous material with low water adsorption that prevented condensation from forming inside, thus creating an exceptional waterproof and breathable material, perfect for crafting practical outdoor clothing.

The relationship between the two companies has remained strong to this day. GORE-TEX® membranes have become a staple part of the production footwear and clothing, used in almost all Harkila’s extensive portfolio of high-performance shooting gear.

Development of Harkila Technology

Continual technological development in Harkila has seen the creation of their very own HWS® membrane system, designed for protection against the elements specifically when hunting. Harkila Weather System (HWS®) is waterproof, windproof, lightweight and breathable membrane that has been carefully tested and created for high performance in the field. HWS® uses hydrophilic membranes that draws moisture out and keeps your garment dry by rapidly absorbing and removing perspiration. The moisture is wicked through the membrane and distributed over the surface, where it rapidly evaporates and stabilises the temperature inside the garment. This innovative technology is a robust construction that enhances performance and protects you from the elements. The HWS® membrane has a high waterproof rating of 20.000 mm and a breathability rating of 20.000 mm.

Shortly after the success of Harkila Weather System (HWS®), Harkila developed their Harkila Storm Pro (HSP®) membrane, which compliments HWS® perfectly in creating elite hunting gear. HSP® is a 3-layer membrane designed to provide ultimate protection against harsh and cold winds. HSP® is lightweight, fully windproof and highly breathable. The compound make-up of the HSP® membrane ensures that powerful winds cannot pass through the material, while allowing the fabric to breath and ensure that excess heat is transferred away from the body. The HSP® membrane adds durability along with maximum ease of movement and flexibility with built-in stretch.

Shoot In Style

Our collection of shooting jackets and shooting clothing come in a variety of styles, designs and materials, using the best high-performance technologies to create exceptional hunting apparel. Harkila have built a portfolio of different collections to suit the needs of individual hunts based on the terrains and challenges that the hunter will face in the respected environments.

Here at Philip Morris and Son, the Pro Hunter Endure Jacket and Pro Hunter Endure Trousers are our best-selling hunting combination. Although the suit isn’t the most lightweight, it is by far the most durable and hardwearing, enduring just about any obstacle in the field from thorns to barb wire. Not only does this suit feature the quality GORE-TEX® membrane, it uses CORDURA® and AIRTECH™ fabrics in the creation of this elite quality hunting combination. CORDURA® is a synthetic material produced using nylon that is both waterproof and water repellent, it’s designed to last and withstand long term wear and more durable than other synthetics such as neoprene. AIRTECH™ is unique textile that combines extreme durability with great comfort. It’s soft, breathable, wind-resistant, water and dirt repellent fabric that compliments CORDURA®, it is used in both canvas material and mesh lining. The GORE-TEX® membrane is attached to the inner fleece liner but not joined to the outer fabric (constructed from a combination of CORDURA® and AIRTECH™). If the layers were joined together, it would make the fabric very thick and noisy. By not joining the membrane to the outer fabric, it makes the canvas very quiet, almost silent, which exactly what you need from high performance stalking apparel. Every minor detail of the Pro Hunter Endure Jacket has been carefully thought through, with practicality and comfort at the forefront. The jacket arms are designed to be wider, with a raglan sleeve at the back to allow for greater freedom of movement when shooting. The Pro Hunter Endure Trousers pair perfectly with the jacket, and for the more traditional hunter, you opt for the Pro Hunter Endure Breeks.

Another excellent combination is the Driven Hunt Flannel Shirt and Driven Hunt Insulated Waistcoat, ideal for cooler autumn months when the temperature begins to drop. These items come from the Driven Hunt range, designed to provide exceptional protections in harsh, cold winter temperatures. The Driven Hunt Insulated Waistcoat is a warm, padded gilet is filled with thick Thermo Poly Shield™ wadding along with a wool inner lining. Thermo Poly Shield ™ Fill has been specifically tailored by Harkila for the Driven Hunt range to provide maximum warmth retention, designed to retain body heat yet still be lightweight and silent when stalking. The Driven Hunt Insulated Waistcoat makes an excellent outer layer during the autumn paired with the Driven Hunt Flannel Shirt. This classic checked flannel shirt is crafted from a soft polyester and wool blend, it’s hardwearing and naturally temperature regulating. The shirt is designed in a classic fit and finished with a suede collar trim detail. The Driven Hunt Flannel Shirt is quality investment that not just functional for hunting, it can also be worn for casual leisure purposes too.

When it comes to investing in a quality jacket, another best seller is the Retrieve Jacket. A traditional yet stylish shooting jacket, that uses both HWS® and Thermo Poly Shield™ technology. Not only is the Retrieve Jacket exceptional for hunting, it looks great and can be worn as winter jacket for day-to-day casual wear during the winter months. The Retrieve Jacket is crafted from a hardwearing cotton blend with a soft-touch peached finish. The inner lining is styled in classic Prince of Wales check, with a layer of lightweight Thermo Poly Shield™ padding, providing warmth insulation while maintaining high breathability. Waterproof, windproof, insulating, breathable, durable and stylish, the Retrieve Jacket really does tick all the boxes when it comes to investing in a core shooting jacket that doubles as a casual country jacket.

Introducing Harkila Footwear

In 2008 Harkila created its own line of footwear after being licensed to produce fully waterproof boots with built-in GORE-TEX® membrane. One of our favourite and versatile models of Harkila footwear is the Pro Hunter Ledge GTX Boot, also part of the remarkable Pro Hunter collection. These high-performance hunting boots are lightweight and breathable, with a shock-absorbing midsole so you can wear them for long periods of time with ease and comfort. The upper is made from genuine nubuck leather, they’re easy to wipe clean and keep looking fresh. We recommend using the Harkila Mink Oil Leather Care when treating your boots to help soften the leather and prevent cracking. The boots have a Vibram XS TREK® sole which is engineered for stability, comfort, durability, and wet traction, designed to be responsive on unpredictable terrain. The combination of the GORE-TEX® membrane and Vibram XS TREK® sole make these boots fully waterproof with strong wet traction grip. Not only are they suitable for wearing on a hunt but ideal for other outdoor activities such as hiking in tough terrain and gorge walking. No matter the environment you’re in, the Pro Hunter Ledge GTX Boots are incredibly durable and built to last.

Responsibility, Sustainability and Respect for Nature

Corporate Social Responsibility lies at the heart of Harkila’s values, with protecting the environment and sustainability at the core of these values. Over 60% of Harkila products are crafted using sustainable materials and Harkila are continuously seeking more sustainable alternatives that still provide the exceptional quality and durability that they are so renowned for. Harkila products are designed to last for many years and the longevity of their products means that they save on natural resources, reduce their chemical waste and decrease emissions on transpiration.

“While it is almost impossible to be perfectly sustainable, at Härkila we want to take responsibility and be as honest and as transparent as possible.” – Harkila Official Website

The conservation of the natural world lies at the heart of Harkila’s ethics, with the Scandinavian company taking the lead on sustainability within the industry through a respectful knowledgeable approach to the natural world that has been passed down from generation to generation. Harkila has a blossoming partnership with Growing Trees Network, having planted over 500 balsa trees to help reforesting, carbon capturing and sustainable development in the Amazonas, Brazil. The partnership between the two has three main purposes:

-To safeguard the nature, we know and love

-To protect our passion and way of life

-To build a better foundation for future hunters

Harkila is a proud member of FACE, the European Federation for Hunting and Conservation. The organisation represents over seven million hunters from 37 countries and works closely with the European Union and European Parliament, making the organisation the largest representative body for hunters globally. FACE was founded in 1977 and their role is to ensure that the different hunting cultures of Europe are always fairly represented, offering evidence-based advice on hunting policies across the continent. Harkila actively and financially support the work of FACE as it works in the best interest of hunters and the future of the hunting industry.

A Brand We Believe In

Here at Philip Morris and Son, we are proud stockists of Harkila’s remarkably well designed and specialist hunting clothing and footwear, a strong partnership that began almost two decades ago. The continuous growth and development from within their portfolio never fail to impress us and our customers, the attention to detail in every piece from their collection is really something quite special. Harkila clothing and footwear really is designed to last and withstand the toughest of environments and weather conditions, its outstanding quality is what makes Harkila such a stand out and highly respected brand within the industry.