This hat supports ICE-SAR
Support Icelandic Search and rescue teams
We are proud to launch our ‘Landsbjörg hat’; an all-over-print merino wool blend hat that will be sold to raise money for ICE-SAR - The Icelandic Association for Search and Rescue.
We have been working with ICE-SAR for nearly a century, the collaboration can be traced back to 1928, when 66°North began producing protective gear for Icelandic sailors. Throughout the years, we have developed clothing for the country's rescue teams, protecting them from the harsh and unpredictable Icelandic weather.
The Landsbjörg hat is made from a merino wool blend, making it both extremely warm and soft to touch.
The inspiration for the pattern is the rugged Icelandic nature, based on an aerial photograph of a mountain range in northern Iceland. The hat comes in a limited quantity.
Svanhvít Helga Jóhannsdóttir, 31, is an active member of Kári, a Search and Rescue Team in Iceland (ICE-SAR). Born and raised in Öræfi, she has always been deeply connected to nature, understanding both its opportunities and its dangers.
Öræfi is a remote region in southeast Iceland, located between Skaftafell (part of Vatnajökull National Park) and the vast Skeiðarársandur outwash plain. The name Öræfi translates to "wasteland" or "desolation," reflecting its history—this area was devastated by the 1362 eruption of Öræfajökull, Iceland’s largest volcano.
Guiding on glaciers was her gateway into mountaineering, eventually leading her to teach in a mountaineering program and gain experience that she now applies in her volunteer work at the Search and Rescue Team.
"The life we've built here is ever-changing—perhaps much like nature itself," she says. "The conditions shift dramatically between winter and summer. In summer, you can go rock climbing, while winter offers ice climbing and skiing."
"Of course, it's incredibly rewarding to help those in need during emergencies, especially when the assistance we provide can mean the difference between life and death. But beyond that, the team embodies the mutual care we share for one another in the community."
The work of the rescue team is not only fulfilling for its life-saving impact but also plays a vital role in strengthening the community.
"We stand together and support one another," says Svanhvít.
Landsbjörg - ICE-SAR
Independent associations have an extensive role in prevention and rescue work in Iceland. Thousands of volunteers dedicate themselves to work for the ICE-SAR rescue teams, accident prevention divisions and youth sections. Their joint mission is to prevent accidents and save human lives and valuables.
In order to fulfil that role there are groups of volunteers always available, night and day, year round. The professionalism that characterizes the work of Icelandic rescue teams has brought worldwide attention.