40 YEARS

MARKED BY THE WILDERNESS

This year marks the fourth decade of Jack Wolfskin. It has been a truly rewarding and crazy ride, that we would love to share with you here.

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1981
ULRICH DAUSIEN
HOW IT ALL BEGAN
1981
THE PAWPRINT LOGO
1983
THE MULTIFUNCTIONAL JACKET
REINVENTED
1987
CHRISTOPH PROMBERGER
PROTECTING THE WOLVES
1996
ARVED FUCHS
POLAR EXPLORER
1997
WIND TUNNEL TESTS
1999
FIRST SHOE COLLECTION
2001
THE MUSIC FESTIVAL
WOLFSTOCK
2003
WIM WENDERS
A CINEMATIC VERSION
FOR JACK WOLFSKIN
2017
#GOBACKPACK
OUR GOBACKPACK
JOURNEY BEGINS
2021
SUSTAINABILITY IS
PART OF OUR DNA
1981

“I was looking for a name that sounded gritty, strong and worked internationally.”

How it All Began

A business-savvy student and former boys scout supplied Frankfurt’s university community with affordable outdoor gear from Taiwan. He advertised his tents and sleeping bags as adventure gear and a real alternative to what was available on the German market in the early 80s.

1981

Ulrich Dausien
JACK WOLFSKIN FOUNDER

From flea market merchant to large-scale manufacturer: Ulrich Dausien talks about how he founded Jack Wolfskin in 1981 and why he quit the company 13 years later.

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1981

1983

1988

Christoph Promberger Guardian of the Wolves
and Woods

In 1988, a handwritten letter with a request for top-rate gear to embark on a grand adventure led to the first contact between Christoph Promberger and Jack Wolfskin. It was the start of an extraordinary relationship…

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A Journey Through 40 Years of Product Development at Jack Wolfskin

Long-standing product developers Gerold Ringsdorf and Dirk Hondrich take fashion editor and model Veronika Heilbrunner on a tour through the brand’s archives. What did the product range look like when the brand was founded in 1981? How did the process of product development change over the years and what role does vintage design play today?

1991

Fans in Action

Decades before the concept of “social media” even existed, we included a section in our catalogs called “Fans in Action” where customers shared their special travel moments. So-called “Friends of the Paw” were asked to send in a photo (or slide) of themselves in Jack Wolfskin gear and thereby make it into the catalog, our most important communication tool at the time.

1996

ARVED FUCHS
Adventurer and Polar Explorer

When it comes to developing functional equipment, input from experienced outdoor enthusiasts is essential. Arved Fuchs is one of the great adventurers of our time and a longtime friend. His expertise has been invaluable to Jack Wolfskin.

1997

Wind Tunnel Tests

This stunt was widely reported: In 1997, Jack Wolfskin tested polar tents in the luxury car manufacturer Porsche’s high-tech wind tunnel. During the test, the enthralled engineers gathered and watched in awe, waiting for the breaking point. The insights from the test were the basis for our REAL TUNNEL SYSTEM, which we patented and won a red dot award. The test set new standards for tents and – although it was meant for extreme conditions – uplifted the whole product category.

Read the Full Report

1999

THE FIRST SHOE COLLECTION

In the late 90s, Jack Wolfskin launched the first shoe collection. Developing an entirely new product category was no easy feat and required years of research and preparations to meet the high-quality standards. The first model to hit stores was the Volcano, a classic mountain boot. Lighter hiking shoes and sandals were introduced the following year. Over time, the product category grew and improved, and today, “shoe” is among the most searched terms in our online shop.

2001

THE WOLFSTOCK FESTIVAL MARKS THE 20TH ANIVERSARY

We celebrated Jack Wolfskin’s 20th anniversary with the three-day Wolfstock Music Festival. Brand founder Ulrich Dausien and the staff have always had a great passion for rock music and used song titles like “Born to be Wild”, “Purple Rain,” or “Perfect Day” for slogans and products. It came as no surprise when Manfred Hell, CEO at that time, announced a big, family friendly campout with music performances, outdoor activities, and workshops. Many employees and customers still talk about this experience that brought so many people together. The Wolfstock festival laid the foundation for Jack Wolfskin as a music sponsor for many other festivals and events such as Rock am Ring.

Festival Recap

2003

WIM WENDERS
A CINEMATIC VISION FOR JACK WOLFSKIN

Wim Wenders is one of the few German filmmakers who achieved a highly respected career in Hollywood. In his films, the landscape is not just a backdrop; it’s the star. In 2003 Wim Wenders worked with Jack Wolfskin and let Montana’s breathtaking nature play the leading role in the brand’s cinema advertisement.

2017

2021

SUSTAINABILITY – ROOTED IN JACK WOLFSKIN’S DNA FROM THE VERY BEGINNING

A deep respect for the environment has always been just as important as the desire for sustainability, decades before it became marketable. Protecting nature and being in close connection with nature still represent the successful company’s philosophy today. Find out about the many steps we have taken in the last 40 years to protect our planet.

Blast from the past

1981
1985
1989
1991
1994
1996
1999