A 17-Year Expedition: Fram — Experience That Became a Brand
This is the day we couldn’t pinpoint for a long time… but one moment we remember very clearly: the night of March 7, 2009, somewhere between Uman and the turn to Holovanivsk. Nastya Volkova and Oleksiy Kelin were driving from Kyiv to the Globus Travel Club sports camp in Crimea, and that’s exactly when the name "Fram" came to Nastya’s mind.
Why "Fram"?
We are quite systematic people: technical education, careers in IT, many years in competitive sports tourism at both championship and coaching levels. We were inspired by Roald Amundsen’s book "The South Pole" — specifically the pragmatism and foresight in expedition planning. The concept shared by Nansen and Amundsen — to create equipment that eases the journey — resonated perfectly with our systematic experience.
The First Expedition and Gear
The gear we created ourselves had a massive impact on our first challenging sports expedition to the Pamir Mountains in 2008. A 100L backpack weighing under 1kg that could be modified into a 30L summit pack. Ultralight gaiters, anoraks, stuff sacks, snowshoes, tents, full-zip pants, and lightweight wind pants allowed us to move through the wilderness autonomously and tackle technical obstacles with minimum weight. After the trip, the line of friends wanting our gear grew so long that it became clear: we couldn't keep doing this "on our knee." We needed to build a system. That’s how the first production batches began.
The Beginning of Fram-Equipment
March 7, 2009 — the name "Fram Equipment" was born. By spring, it was clear this wouldn't be a one-off story; we could do more and do it better. Production of the first gear and clothing models began.
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Summer 2009: First hired employees.
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December 2009: The website
fram-equip.comwas launched. -
2010: Marked by our first gear warehouse, the first time a backpack survived a 500m fall down the rocks with no damage, and reaching the milestone of over 200 backpacks sold.
Growth 2011–2016
In 2011, the first sales through Ukrainian outdoor stores took place, and in 2012, the first sales to mountaineers and participation in alpine expeditions and camps. 2013 brought the creation of our first climbing jeans, and in 2014, we introduced a warranty system based on the principle: "Gear must survive 90 days in the high mountains." On October 2, 2014, the Fram Equipment Facebook page was launched. August 2015 saw the "highest corporate event" in the history of Ukrainian companies: all three employees reached a summit of 7,495m. September 7, 2015 — launch of the Instagram page. October 2015 — creation of gear for the Ukrainian expedition to Talung in the Himalayas. In 2016, we presented the Talung 60L and Murkvam 50L backpacks, hired our first seamstresses, and opened our own workshop. That same year, we received the first Ukrainian "Piolet d'Or" (Golden Ice Axe) for the Talung ascent.
Culture and Expeditions 2017–2019
By 2017, the Fram Equipment brand was no longer just about things and sewing; it was about culture. We became a top organizer of traveler meetups in Kyiv and sponsored competitions. This was also when our gear first appeared on Everest— the Ice-C softshell jacket.
2018 — almost every athletic or technical Ukrainian expedition involved the brand's gear. That year, we introduced our own custom prints and headwear. 2019 was marked by the Lukla and MyPeak backpack series — proving gear could be both functional and beautiful. We also supported the longest sports trek in the Himalayas: 249km around Dhaulagiri, and broke our own "high-altitude corporate" record at 7,550m.
Innovation and Major Ascents 2020–2021
In 2020, we launched Fram School, which turned into a massive online hub during the lockdown. That same year saw the first 8,000m ascent by athletes fully dressed in Fram Equipment. In 2021, we introduced the first backpacks made of Dyneema Composite Fabric, and the Ukrainian expedition to Annapurna III took place, with two athletes fully equipped by Fram.
2022–2023
2022 — a somber chapter in our history due to the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. However, it was also the year of our first participation in the Outdoor by ISPO exhibition, our first order for 5,000 units, and the first backpacks and gear designed for the military, primarily tactical medicine (TacMed). In 2023, we saw our first international B2B sales.
2024–2026
2024 — first sales of backpacks made from Ultra fabric. 2025 — the most challenging year: the 4th year of the war and no participation in major expeditions. Yet, we continue to develop the Ukrainian outdoor community by sponsoring over 45 events. 2026 — life goes on…
Want to congratulate us?
Order something from our shop or support our fundraising campaign. The backpack is already eager for new adventures, and we need to raise funds for a CASEVAC (Casualty Evacuation) vehicle.
