JERVEN

The arctic lifesaver, the Jerven Bag. A multipurpose cover and bivy bag.

Arctic protection since 1982

Since 1982, Jerven has made multifunctional protection against cold, wind, and rain, developed for Arctic conditions and used for more than forty years by hunters, outdoor enthusiasts, and emergency services.

The principle is simple: one sheet, multiple uses. The Jerven Bag serves as a poncho, wind sack, tarp, shelter, one-person tent, bivy bag, or sleeping bag cover. Windproof and waterproof, with water-repellent zippers. In a Norwegian winter test at -25 °C, the inside remained at +14 °C, with the user as the only heat source. All products are built to last and come with a 10-year warranty.

Jerven’s story begins with Audun Melkeråen, a hunter and outdoorsman from Odda, Norway. During a reindeer hunt on the Hardangervidda, he was caught in a snowstorm. Turning back was not an option and there was hardly any shelter, so he took cover behind a boulder and wrapped himself in a canvas sheet from his backpack. It was enough to retain body heat and keep the moisture out. That was where the idea for the Jerven Bag was born, known in Norway as the Fjellduken: a single sheet that is windproof and waterproof, provides insulation, and also serves as a tent, sleeping bag, and poncho. After years of experimenting with materials and designs, the first Jerven Bag came off the production line in 1982.

From hunting grounds to operational use

What began as equipment for hunters quickly found its way to users operating in higher-risk environments. The Jerven Bag is standard equipment on Sea King rescue helicopters and with all Norwegian emergency services, and is used by Norwegian elite units and the US Navy SEALs. The Norwegian Red Cross has also been using the sheet for years during rescue operations, where hypothermia is one of the greatest risks for both victims and rescuers.

That is no coincidence when it comes to military and tactical use. Anyone who remains lying or standing still for extended periods — on watch, during observation, in a hide, or during a forced halt — loses heat without exerting themselves. The Jerven Bag solves that problem without requiring you to set up a tent or unpack a sleeping bag: within seconds, you are out of the wind and just as quickly ready to move again.

One sheet, multiple applications

Its strength lies in its versatility. You can wear the same sheet as a poncho while moving, pitch it as a tarp or shelter, use it as an emergency bivouac or one-person tent, and pull it over your sleeping bag as a bivy bag. This allows one item to replace several pieces of equipment, immediately reducing weight and bulk. The Jerven Bag is produced in seven variants, tailored to different use profiles and available in camouflage and winter versions, among others.

Performance in the cold

The outer material is waterproof and wind-resistant, with water-repellent zippers. In a test under Norwegian winter conditions at -25 °C, the temperature inside remained at +14 °C, with the user as the only source of heat. That difference is critical, because hypothermia begins with heat loss that you often notice too late yourself — especially during static work or after an injury, it can happen quickly.

Quality that lasts

Jerven builds its products to perform for years, not just to last a season. This is reflected in the choice of materials, the finishing, and the 10-year warranty. In addition to the Jerven Bag, the brand develops hunting jackets and trousers according to the same principles. More than forty years after that storm on the Hardangervidda, the brand still stands for the same principle: protection that works when it matters.