karhu

Founded in a Helsinki workshop in 1916, Karhu—the Finnish word for “bear”—is a legendary running brand with an authentic heritage in sport and outdoor life. The company originally crafted birch skis and javelins before developing running spikes that would be worn by the “Flying Finns,” a generation of decorated Finnish Olympians like Paavo Nurmi. This athletic success cemented Karhu's reputation for performance, leading to pioneering innovations like the first patented “Air Cushion” midsole in the 1970s and the brand’s signature Fulcrum technology. In a notable piece of footwear history, Karhu sold its three-stripes trademark to a young Adidas in 1952 for a small sum and two bottles of whiskey.

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