What Åsnes does

Åsnes is a Norwegian ski manufacturer established in 1922, headquartered in Voss, Norway, and operating as a division (avd.) of Active Brands AS. The company designs and sells backcountry and expedition ski equipment, including fjellski (backcountry skis), toppturski (alpine touring skis), turlangrenn (touring cross-country skis), ski skins, ski poles, accessories, and a small textile line (Merino base layers and anorakk jackets). Manufacturing is primarily outsourced to the Czech Republic; Åsnes functions as a lean brand and product organization with only six direct employees.

Its technology stack emphasizes materials engineering and ski geometry rather than software: Poplar and Paulownia wood cores reinforced with carbon and Kevlar, Nordic Rocker early-rise tip geometry, integrated fellelås (skin-lock) systems compatible with waxless bases, extruded waxless (smørefri) base technology developed since the early 1970s, and tapered sidecut designs for varied snow conditions. Products are co-developed with elite polar explorers (Liv Arnesen, Cecilie Skog, Børge Ousland, Marthe Brendefur) who test equipment on unassisted Antarctic and Arctic expeditions.

Commercially, Åsnes sells through authorized specialty retailers and outdoor dealers via a channel-partner model, with pricing in Norwegian Kroner ranging from NOK 199 for accessories to NOK 6,899 for premium ultra-light touring skis (e.g., Falketind 62 Xplore). Its end customers are fragmented across backcountry skiers, polar expeditioners, hunters (a dog-friendly sub-line without steel edges), trail/marka skiers, and ski-mountaineering competitors. Brand-building leans on 100+ years of heritage, the Åsnes Academy educational platform, social media (Instagram, YouTube, Facebook), and an ambassador program of world-class adventurers.

Name

Åsnes

Legal name

Active Brands AS avd. Åsnes

Website

https://asnes.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1922

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Åsnes is a 1922-founded Norwegian manufacturer of premium backcountry, expedition, and touring skis, poles, skins, and outdoor textiles, selling via authorized specialty retailers to fragmented niche end-markets under the Active Brands AS parent.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Winter Sports / Backcountry Ski Equipment

NAICS

Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing (316)

SIC

Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores (5600)

akta.pro primary industry

Ski Touring / Backcountry & Avalanche Safety Retail (AT Gear, Skins, Beacons, Probes, Shovels, Airbags) (CRAMAJAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Nordic / Cross-Country Ski Retail (Skis, Boots, Bindings, Poles, Wax) (CRAMAJAG), Outerwear & Cold-Weather Apparel Manufacturers (CRAAAAAI)

Keywords

• Backcountry skis
• Ski equipment
• Ski poles
• Climbing skins
• Winter outdoor gear

Headquarters

HQ city

Voss

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Ski Equipment Sales: Åsnes generates revenue primarily through the sale of winter sports equipment including alpine touring skis, backcountry skis, ski poles, climbing skins, and related accessories. The company also sells textile products including wool base layers, jackets, and outdoor apparel.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Åsnes designs, manufactures, and sells premium backcountry, mountain, and touring skis (fjellski, toppturski, turlangrenn), along with matching ski poles, climbing skins (mohair, nylon, and mixed X-Skin, Colltex, and Pomoca lines), pole accessories, and outdoor textiles such as Merino wool base layers and softshell jackets. Products are developed in collaboration with elite polar explorers and built using wood-core construction, Nordic Rocker geometry, and proprietary integrated skin lock and waxless base technologies for backcountry, expedition, and dog-friendly use cases.

Product overview

Åsnes is a Norwegian ski manufacturer established in 1922, offering a comprehensive portfolio of backcountry skis, ski poles, ski skins, and outdoor textiles. The product lineup includes: Fjellski (backcountry skis) such as Nansen BC, Ingstad BC, and Gamme 54 BC; touring skis including Falketind 62 Xplore and Mountain Race 48 SKIN; specialty dog-friendly skis like Breidablikk and Kongsvold for hunting; comprehensive ski pole offerings ranging from lightweight carbon/kevlar expedition poles (Polar series) to aluminum adjustable poles (Fram, Cecilie, Combat, Rabb, Explore, Free series); X-Skin and Colltex branded ski skins in various widths and materials (Mohair, Nylon, MIX); Pomoca branded ski skins and wax products; and textile products including Polar Legacy Merino wool base layers and Tinde Anorakk softshell jackets. The products are developed in collaboration with polar explorers and outdoor adventurers and manufactured primarily in Czech Republic.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• P-102 Alpine Touring Playful alpine touring ski designed for powder conditions with steel edge and trap lock feature, aimed at top-touring skiers.
• 1911 Turlangrenn NIS C3,0 Plate Super-light and extremely durable cross-country touring ski for fast adventures, with NIS C3,0 plate.
• 1879 Turlangrenn NIS Light touring ski with 3/4 steel edge, integrated skin attachment and installed NIS plate.
• Otto Sverdrup BC All-round backcountry ski for varied terrain.
• Liv BC (Liv Arnesen BC) Solid backcountry ski for women who like long tours on the plateau and in high mountains; features steel edge, skin insert, sintered base, Poplar treecore, Cap construction. Developed with Liv Arnesen.
• Gamme 54 BC Most versatile backcountry ski with longitudinal stiffness and excellent turning ability; Poplar core, Cap Nylon construction, BC binding compatibility.
• Ingstad BC Modern backcountry ski with marked sidecut and good speed and turning characteristics, designed for challenging descents and long flat stages.
• Ingstad Waxless (Smørefri) Modern waxless backcountry ski with marked sidecut, good speed and turning; features extruded waxless base with skin lock.
• Falketind 62 Xplore Super-light and playful backcountry ski with excellent turning ability, Poplar/Paulownia core reinforced with hybrid carbon.
• Amundsen Fram Waxless Longitudinally stiff and directionally stable waxless backcountry ski for long tours; fits regular touring tracks.
• Breidablikk BC Versatile dog-friendly backcountry ski without steel edge, designed for users who travel with dogs for hunting and recreation.
• Kongsvold BC Easy-turning backcountry ski with good buoyancy, without steel edge; developed for users bringing dogs on hunting and forest trips.
• Finnmark 54 BC Longitudinally stiff and agile backcountry ski without steel edge; dog-friendly with carbon and fiberglass reinforced treecore.
• Mountain Race 48 SKIN Light backcountry ski with 3/4 steel edge and integrated skin; sinter race base and Pomoca Climb 2.0 skin.
• Cecilie Alloy Pole Signature backcountry ski pole in 7075 aluminum with EVA handle, 540g per pair at 135cm.
• Polar 2-section Carbon/Kevlar V2 Premium carbon and kevlar pole with carbon over-tube and kevlar-reinforced under-tube for long backcountry tours and demanding alpine tours.
• Breidablikk Pole 2-Section V2 Light and solid backcountry pole with large basket and flexible handle; updated improved Flick-Lock for length adjustment.
• Tind BC 2-Section Alloy Pole V2 Adjustable backcountry pole in aluminum with long EVA handle, updated solid Flick-Lock and large powder basket.
• Falketind Pole 2-Section V2 Light and solid backcountry pole with large basket and flexible handle; designed as a match for the Xplore concept.
• Rabb 2-Section Top-Touring Pole Solid aluminum top-touring pole for alpine tours and backcountry skiing in steep terrain.
• X-Skin 45mm MIX Versatile short skin in 65% Mohair and 35% Nylon, 45mm width, 90g; a compromise between durability and glide.
• Colltex BC Skin Mohair 30X2000 Long skin in 100% Mohair for optimal glide and grip; 30mm wide, 2000mm long, suited for narrow touring and backcountry skis.
• Pomoca Climb 2.0 R2C 120mm Ready-to-climb skin in 70% Mohair and 30% Nylon with waterproof membrane; versatile all-around skin.
• Polar Legacy Long Sleeve (Merino base layer) Soft, warm and versatile top in 100% Merino wool (200 g/m², 18.5 Micron) for use as a base layer.
• Tinde Anorakk Wmn (Women's Softshell Anorak) 3-layer softshell jacket for mountain and ski touring with extra back length, large adjustable hood, wind and water resistant (10,000mm water column).

Quantifiable outcome

• Åsnes equipment enables polar expeditions including unassisted South Pole crossings and multi-week wilderness journeys

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• The Polar AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Åsnes entered a partnership agreement in 2018 with The Polar Academy, led by Scottish polar explorer Craig Mathieson. The academy identifies 'invisible' 14-17 year old youth struggling with confidence and gives them the opportunity to redefine their physical and mental boundaries through Arctic expeditions. Åsnes provides equipment sponsorship for expeditions to Greenland where participants must navigate some of the world's most inaccessible terrain. This partnership aligns with Åsnes's brand values of adventure and overcoming challenges.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Hagan Skis: Austrian specialty brand focused on backcountry and ski touring. Comparable premium niche positioning and similar product mix to Åsnes.
• Dynafit: Specialist in backcountry ski touring equipment (skis, bindings, boots, skins). Directly competes with Åsnes in the topptur/ski-touring category with similar technology positioning.
• Madshus: Norwegian cross-country and backcountry ski manufacturer with comparable Scandinavian heritage and Nordic touring focus. Overlaps directly with Åsnes's turlangrenn and fjellski categories.
• Movement Skis: Swiss independent backcountry and freeride ski manufacturer with a similar premium specialty positioning. Closely comparable product mix (touring skis with integrated skin systems) and target customer (serious backcountry skiers).
• Black Diamond Equipment: Backcountry ski touring equipment maker covering skis, poles, skins, and bindings. Closely comparable across product categories and target customer (expedition- and touring-focused backcountry users).

Broad incumbents

• Atomic: Global ski brand owned by Amer Sports, covering alpine, touring, and Nordic. Competes with Åsnes in the topptur (alpine touring) segment as part of a much broader ski portfolio.
• Rossignol: Historic French ski manufacturer with significant backcountry and touring product lines (e.g., Blackops, Escaper). Overlaps with Åsnes in touring/backcountry as part of a global multi-segment portfolio.
• Fischer: Major Austrian ski manufacturer with broad coverage across Nordic, alpine, and backcountry. Overlaps with Åsnes in cross-country touring and backcountry categories but operates at much greater scale across many segments.

Others

• Pomoca: Swiss climbing-skin manufacturer that supplies skins under the Åsnes brand (and to many ski brands). Comparable in skin technology and a key supplier/ecosystem partner for Åsnes's integrated ski/skin systems.

Regional players

• Alpina Sports: German/European cross-country and touring ski equipment brand with comparable Nordic heritage positioning. Competes in similar product categories but with stronger Central European distribution.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/Åsnes1922
• Facebookfacebook.com/asnes1922
• Instagraminstagram.com/asnes1922
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/-snes-sport-as

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Åsnes