The Scottish tent and outdoor clothing and equipment specialists are 40 years old this year, we take a quick look back at some of the landmarks in their history.
Seems like everyone's hitting the big '40' this year and it's many
happy returns to Vango (Scotland) Ltd which was founded back
in 1966.
That, in case your grasp of maths is particularly poor, means that
the company that launched a multitude of orange ridge tents, has been
producing kit for 40 years.
It all began with family tents back in '66, then a year later
Vango introduced their famous Force Ten design which
revolutionised the tent market and swiftly becamse standard issue
everywhere from outdoor centres to Everest expeditions. Check out
Bonington's books and chances are that you'll spot pictures of
distinctive orange Force Tens nestling at Everest Base Camp. Remember
that logo?
The no-nonsense, A-frame and ridge-pole design with its tough
proofed cotton fabrics soon became a byword for reliability in
unreliable UK conditions and we confidently predict that not a few OM
members spent their early camping nights hunkered down in one of the
distinctive orange shelters.
Other designs followed like the Hurricane and Hydra, then in 1984
the company extended its range to include sleeping bags and packs,
followed six years later by its first clothing range.
Over the years Vango has introduced some innovative designs
including the TBS - Tension Band System - for tents and adjustable
back systems for packs. Meanwhile Force Ten has been developed into a
brand in its own right with a collection of seriously engineered high
mountain tents developed with the help of wind tunnel testing - Alan
Hinkes used one on his recent Kangchenjunga expedition.
Vango is justifiably proud of its heritage and longevity, Alastair
Moodie, Marketing Director, has been directly involved with Vango for
over 25 years:
"This is a very special year for Vango and everyone associated
with the brand, past and present. There are very few brands within
this industry that can match Vango's achievements and their 40
year heritage.
"I take great pride in knowing that Vango still has a fond
place in the hearts of many thousands of people across the UK and
beyond. On a daily basis, we receive fantastic feedback from
consumers throughout the UK who are out there using our products.
This is what drives us on."
More information at www.vango.co.uk. Now who did I lend that old Force Ten ridge tent to...
