USM Haller vs Vitsoe 606, Montana & String Furniture

Choosing between USM Haller, Vitsoe 606, Montana and String comes down to one question: do you want freestanding steel storage furniture, or wall-mounted shelving? USM Haller is a steel ball-and-tube system that stands on the floor and builds into sideboards, cabinets and room dividers. Vitsoe 606 and String are wall-mounted shelving systems, and Montana is a colourful MDF cabinet system. This guide compares all four honestly — and shows where Klackjoy fits as a USM-compatible, far cheaper option.

In short: USM Haller is heavy-duty steel modular furniture (chrome ball connectors, powder-coated steel panels, freestanding). Vitsoe 606 is a wall-mounted aluminium E-Track shelving system by Dieter Rams. String is a lightweight Swedish wire-and-shelf system, also wall-mounted. Montana is a made-to-order Danish MDF cabinet system in dozens of colours. None of the three is physically compatible with USM. Klackjoy is — it reuses genuine USM hardware 1:1, adds a 3D configurator, and costs 60–70% less than new USM.

Which modular system is right for you?

The right system depends on what you are actually furnishing. For freestanding storage — sideboards, media units, office storage, room dividers — USM Haller (or the USM-compatible Klackjoy) is the natural fit. For light, airy book and display shelving mounted on a wall, Vitsoe 606 or String are purpose-built. For colourful, made-to-order cabinets with a softer, warmer look, Montana stands apart. They are not really the same product category, so "which is best" depends on the job.

USM Haller — and where Klackjoy fits

USM Haller is the reference point: a Swiss steel system built from 25 mm chrome-plated brass ball connectors (M8 thread) and steel tubes in standard lengths of 100, 150, 175, 250, 350, 395, 500, 595 and 750 mm, closed with powder-coated steel panels. It is freestanding, extremely rigid, and carries a 10-year structural warranty — but new USM is expensive.

Klackjoy is built to the same USM measurements and is physically 1:1 compatible with genuine USM: the same 25 mm chrome-plated brass ball connector (M8) and the same standard tube lengths, so parts mix directly with an existing USM unit. It adds a browser-based 3D configurator with live pricing, ships factory-direct, and costs 60–70% less than new USM with a 10-year structural warranty. Of every option here, it is the only one that physically connects to USM.

Vitsoe 606 Universal Shelving System

The Vitsoe 606 was designed by Dieter Rams in 1960 and is still made only by Vitsoe. It is a wall-mounted (or floor-to-ceiling tension) system built around an aluminium E-Track: shelves, cabinets and tables hang from the track on pins, without tools, and can be repositioned easily. Materials include anodised and die-cast aluminium, powder-coated steel and lacquered fibreboard, in a deliberately restrained palette (typically black, off-white and beech). It is a beautiful, minimal, wall-based shelving system — a different construction category from USM's freestanding steel boxes, and it is not compatible with USM. Vitsoe prices each configuration individually, so ask Vitsoe directly for a quote.

Montana

Montana is a Danish system, founded in 1982 by Peter J. Lassen, and made to order in Denmark. Its modules are 12 mm MDF finished in water-based lacquer, and the signature draw is colour: Montana offers a large palette (around 40 finishes) so you can build expressive, personal combinations, freestanding or wall-hung. Compared with USM's cool industrial steel, Montana reads warmer and more playful, and it is closer to a "cabinet" system than a structural frame. It is not physically compatible with USM. Pricing is made-to-order and varies by configuration and finish — check an authorised Montana retailer for current prices.

String Furniture

String was created in 1949 by Nisse and Kajsa Strinning in Sweden and is a Scandinavian design icon. The system pairs slim metal wire side panels ("ladders") with metal or wooden shelves; it is lightweight, wall-mounted, easy to ship and simple to expand in any direction. String Pocket, the small starter shelf, is an affordable entry point, while larger configurations cost more. Like Vitsoe 606, String is fundamentally wall-based shelving rather than freestanding steel furniture, and it is not compatible with USM. It is an excellent choice if you want light, elegant open shelving rather than closed storage.

All four side by side

Each has its place: Vitsoe 606 for museum-grade wall shelving, String for light Scandinavian display shelving, Montana for colourful made-to-order cabinets. If what you want is USM's freestanding steel look — closed storage, sideboards, room dividers — then USM Haller, or the USM-compatible and far cheaper Klackjoy, is the closest match.

How to choose

Start from the furniture, not the brand. Need open, wall-mounted display shelving? Look at Vitsoe 606 or String. Want warm, colourful cabinets made to order? Montana. Want the freestanding steel Haller system — with the option to buy new at 60–70% less and even extend an existing USM unit? That is exactly what Klackjoy is for.

Configure your unit and see your price in the 3D configurator →

Frequently Asked Questions

USM Haller vs Vitsoe 606 — what's the difference?

USM Haller and Vitsoe 606 are different types of system. USM Haller is a freestanding steel ball-and-tube system (25 mm chrome-plated brass connectors, powder-coated steel panels) that builds into sideboards and cabinets. The Vitsoe 606, designed by Dieter Rams, is a wall-mounted aluminium E-Track shelving system where shelves hang from tracks on pins. Neither is compatible with the other. If you specifically want the USM look at a lower price, Klackjoy is USM-compatible and 60–70% cheaper than new USM.

USM Haller vs Montana — which should I choose?

Choose USM Haller (or USM-compatible Klackjoy) if you want a rigid, freestanding steel system with a cool industrial look and closed storage. Choose Montana if you want warm, colourful cabinets made to order in Denmark from 12 mm MDF, with a large palette of finishes. They are not physically compatible with each other, and Montana is a lacquered MDF cabinet system rather than a steel frame. Klackjoy is the only one of these that physically connects to genuine USM.

USM Haller vs String Furniture — how do they compare?

USM Haller is heavy freestanding steel furniture; String is a lightweight, wall-mounted Swedish shelving system of wire side panels and metal or wooden shelves. String is ideal for open, airy display and book shelving and can be very affordable to start; USM is built for substantial closed storage and room dividers. They are not compatible. If you like the USM steel look but not the USM price, Klackjoy is physically 1:1 compatible with genuine USM and 60–70% cheaper.

Are Vitsoe, Montana or String compatible with USM Haller?

No. Vitsoe 606, Montana and String each use their own construction and connectors — an aluminium E-Track, MDF cabinet modules, and wire side panels respectively — so none of them physically connects to USM Haller. The only system compared here that is physically 1:1 compatible with genuine USM is Klackjoy, which reuses the same 25 mm chrome-plated brass ball connector (M8) and USM standard tube lengths.

Which is the cheapest way to get the USM Haller look?

To get the USM Haller look specifically, the most cost-effective route is Klackjoy: it is physically 1:1 compatible with genuine USM, fully configurable in a 3D configurator, and costs 60–70% less than new USM with a 10-year structural warranty. Vitsoe 606, Montana and String have their own (often premium) pricing, but they deliver a different look and are not USM-compatible. Used USM can be cheap too, but you are tied to the listing and usually get no warranty.

Which system is best for a beginner on a budget?

For a low-cost start with open wall shelving, String Pocket is a very accessible entry point. For freestanding, closed storage in the USM style, Klackjoy lets you start small in the 3D configurator and grow the unit over time, at 60–70% below new USM. Montana and Vitsoe 606 are made-to-order, design-led systems that typically sit at a higher price point. The best beginner choice depends on whether you want wall shelving or freestanding storage.