Out of doors model Rohan pioneered the usage of trendy materials within the open air. Chris Townsend appears on the story of this progressive firm and its humble beginnings.
Rohan Salopettes in motion within the Seventies. Photograph: John Cleare
Out of doors and journey firm Rohan is 50 this yr. Now a profitable well-established model with 54 retailers, Rohan was began by simply two folks, the Skipton-based couple of Paul and Sarah Howcroft, and with little or no cash.
The Howcrofts thought that out of doors clothes, then based mostly on wool and cotton, could possibly be improved and made extra snug with trendy materials. The primary commercially made garment, mountain salopettes, was launched in 1975. The salopettes had been created from a stretch nylon cloth that was heat, fast drying and hard and a far cry from the dishevelled, itchy, slow-drying Tweed breeches that had been normal put on in chilly climate. In the present day they’d be known as softshell.
A 1982 advert for Rohan luggage
Within the subsequent few years Rohan launched breeches created from the identical cloth. Referred to as Tremendous Striders these had been a fantastic success. In addition they launched windproof jackets created from a polyester/cotton combine that had been lighter and sooner drying than 100% cotton ones. I wore Tremendous Striders and a Pampas polycotton jacket on my first long-distance journey, a spring stroll from Land’s Finish to John O’Groats, and was impressed.
Messner and Habeler on Everest
To this point Rohan’s clothes was meant for out of doors use in chilly or stormy circumstances. When Peter Habeler and Reinhold Messner made the primary ascent of Everest with out supplemental oxygen in 1978 they wore Rohan jackets. Paul and Sarah wished to broaden into extra normal out of doors and journey clothes although and shortly discovered a light-weight polycotton cloth for this. The primary Airlight jackets and trousers appeared in 1980 after which in 1982 the Baggage trousers arrived. Over half one million pairs of those have been bought and they’re nonetheless within the Rohan vary.
Polycotton Baggage and Shifting On windshirt on the Continental Divide Path
Rohan provided me with Baggage and a polycotton jacket for my Pacific Crest Path stroll in 1982 and I discovered them so superb for long-distance strolling that I wore them once more on the Continental Divide Path three years later. By then Rohan had additionally launched some artificial insulated clothes that had been far lighter and extra compact than the rest on the time.
Baggage and Sohao insulated jacket on the Continental Divide Path
Since these early days Rohan has grown into the corporate it’s right this moment. The vary of clothes for the outside and journey has expanded enormously. Different corporations have caught up and designs and materials considered too light-weight, impractical and fragile (I bear in mind being advised Baggage wouldn’t final lengthy within the wilds – after 5 and a half months on the Pacific Crest Path I disagreed) have grow to be normal. On the time Rohan’s designs and materials had been revolutionary and altered how out of doors clothes carried out.
I’ve examined and really useful two Rohan clothes within the final yr, the Helios Insulated Jacket and the Ventus Waterproof Jacket. Fifty years after it started, the corporate remains to be making wonderful out of doors merchandise.
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