About Silva

Three entrepreneurial brothers. One great invention. In 1933, Björn, Alvar and Arvid Kjellström invented the first ever liquid-filled compass, and our story began. Not only was it the first compass of its kind, but is also set the global standard for how navigation works. The SILVA brand was born. 

A few years later, in 1935, we expanded our business to our new invention, and the first headlamp, Zeiler. We have since then continued to evolve and set trends for outdoor equipment.

Since 1933, our goal has been to develop outstanding outdoor equipment and to always keep moving forward.

We highly value the opinions of our users, because without them, we wouldn’t be able to create, invent and develop the way we have, and still do today.

 We put great trust in our ambassadors, who use our products with pride and grant us a terrific source of valuable input. Our Scandinavian climate varies quite drastically, and offers us loads of different weather types and environments. We cherish the contrasts of our homes different locations and seasons, and they are our source of inspiration. The dark and snowy winters, warm and sunny summers and rainy falls, are putting our outdoor equipment to the greatest of tests: the constant variety of our weather conditions. Our development of outdoor equipment has made history. In recent years, we’ve won awards for our innovative and attractively designed headlamps, and we continue to push ourselves to evolve and deliver great outdoor equipment.

Today, we focus on three main user areas; Sport, Adventure and Work. Each one of these areas are constantly evaluated and updated, for you to enjoy high quality products and always feel prepared and ready with SILVA.

Timeline

2018 – we celebrate 85 years as SILVA

2017 – we won the Swedish marketing Award as “Sponsor of the year”, for sponsoring Nattvasan

2016 – we launched our first global compass

2016 – we won ‘Best in test’ by the Trail Running Magazine for SILVA Trail Runner

2015 – we launched Flow Light Technology in all SILVA headlamps

2011 – we won the OutDoor Industry Award for SILVA Tyto Visibility lamp

2010 – we won the OutDoor Industry Award for SILVA Ninox headlamp and ISPO Award for SILVA Cross Trail headlamp

2009 – we won the OutDoor Industry Award  for our Trail Runner headlamp

2008 – we launched Intelligent Light Technology in all SILVA headlamps

1992 – we launched the world’s first handheld GPS with an integrated digital compass

1981 – we launched our marine electronic navigation instrument

1971 – Björn Kjellström co-founds the United States Orienteering Federation

1939 – we introduced the first mirror-sight, liquid-damped baseplate compass

1935 – we launched our first headlamp, Zeiler.

1933 – the first liquid-filled compass was invented and the SILVA brand was founded. The name SILVA means “forest”.