Discover how the technologies in our outdoor clothing have evolved since 1972.
Five Decades of Rohan Innovation
8/28/2025
For over fifty years, we’ve designed with purpose, building technical clothing that supports real-world adventures. Founded in Yorkshire by explorers, Rohan was built on the belief that gear should never let you down.
From those early breakthroughs to the advanced technologies of today, our focus has remained the same. Purposeful design, quietly brilliant performance, and clothing built to go the distance.
Rohan's Design Manager, Alex Delong, tells us how our heritage guides the design decisions made, and how innovation shapes our range today.
Watch the video here:
Technology at Our Core Since Day One
From our humble beginnings in Skipton, Yorkshire over fifty years ago, we've always embraced technology as central to what we do. Throughout this time, we’ve been crafting gear to be the solution for adventuring further, for longer - facilitating freedom through expertly engineered, technically capable clothing that simply just works.
Our founders were explorers themselves, understanding that when you're miles from anywhere, your gear cannot let you down. This explorer's mindset has driven our relentless pursuit of innovation, ensuring every piece we create enables those incredible moments in both challenging environments and more causal ventures alike. We've never chased trends. Instead, we've quietly focused on developing clothing that performs when it matters most – clothing that we’re proud to offer.
Technology isn't just a passing thought in the production process; it's embedded into our DNA. Every fabric choice, every construction detail, every innovative feature exists for the single desire to make your adventures possible. We're here to offer you the safety, comfort and ease you demand to embrace every incredible moment on your journey, and technology is how we deliver on that promise.
Building the Foundation
In our early years, we pioneered solutions built for adventurers, by adventurers. Our original walking trousers revolutionised outdoor comfort with their lightweight, quick-drying fabrics, vastly different to the heavy, restrictive clothing that dominated the market at that time. We were among the first to recognise that serious adventurers needed clothing that could handle multiple climates and activities in a single journey.
Our early waterproofs challenged conventional thinking. While others focused solely on keeping water out, we understood that breathability was equally crucial. Spending hours in stuffy, sweaty waterproofs is miserable, and we knew there had to be a better way. Our commitment to finding superior materials and construction techniques set us apart from the beginning.
The success of these early innovations was shown in the real-world adventures they enabled. Our early adopters were pushing boundaries and returning with stories of gear that had performed flawlessly – gear that has reached the top of Everest and every corner of the globe.
Designed to Last a Lifetime
We're designing gear to last a lifetime, and the emotional connection people develop with their Rohan garments goes far beyond typical clothing relationships - it's about trust built over decades of shared adventures.
"I have worn it since it came out and wear it every day. I love it all, they are all such comfortable, stylish, hard-wearing clothes that to choose one over another would be like trying to choose a favourite child."
"I love Rohan for the quality and reliability. I love the fast dry items, so invaluable when travelling. I can dry my whole outfit overnight."
These stories aren't unusual, they're typical of what we hear from our community. Customers regularly tell us about Rohan pieces they've owned for 20, 30, even 40 years that are still going strong.
This longevity isn't accidental. It's the direct result of our commitment to quality materials, expert construction, and timeless design that exceeds seasonal trends.
Innovation Built on Legacy
Our founding principles remain as relevant today as they were fifty years ago, continuing to inform every new innovation and technology we develop. The same explorer's mindset that drove our early breakthroughs now guides our latest technical advances, ensuring each innovation serves a real purpose in the field.
This philosophy has led to some remarkable recent innovations being inserted into our outdoor gear. Using Cohaesive® hood adjusters, our gear represents the kind of thoughtful engineering that defines us – a simple yet ingenious solution that allows precise adjustment even with gloves on. Our partnership with premium Japanese mills ensures we have access to the world's finest technical fabrics, while our inclusion of YKK zips on certain gear guarantees reliability in every fastening.
Our storm gutters demonstrate our attention to often-overlooked details, with carefully engineered channels directing water away from vulnerable areas, keeping you dry when others might fail. The integration of hydrophilic membranes in our waterproofs shows how we continue to push breathability boundaries and maximise comfort, while our use of PrimaLoft® insulation reflects our commitment to sourcing the best materials available.
Each innovation builds upon years of field-tested experience, ensuring new technologies integrate seamlessly with the durability and reliability our community expects.
The Valen Jacket featuring YKK zips, Cohaesive® adjusters and premium Japanese Polyamide.
The Brecon Jacket featuring storm gutters down the front opening.
The Oslo Jacket featuring PrimaLoft insulation in a baffle construction.
Five Decades of Trust
As we look beyond 2025, our approach remains unchanged, We're here for every journey, proudly enabling your adventures through gear you can trust completely. Our top innovations – from storm gutters to Japanese technical fabrics, from Cohaesive® adjusters to advanced membrane technologies – all serve the same fundamental purpose our founders established.
Our proven track record spanning generations sets us apart from the rest. Our community has, travelled the world in our gear, and we're honoured that seasoned travellers still reach for garments they bought decades ago. Confidently, we deliver what we promise to deliver - quality for any journey.
