About Us

The Vango Company and brand is in its 40th year, but we have been associated with tent making for much longer. In 1847 when Andrew Mitchell & Co Ltd (now AMG Group) was founded, they were canvas merchants buying cotton, flax and jute to sell on to manufacturers of sails, tarpaulins and tents. The amazing story continues.....

2006 represents a very special year for Vango as it celebrates 40 years producing the very best in performance outdoor products. 

For Four decades the designers behind Vango have had your interests at heart – COMFORT, SAFETY and RELIABILITY are all top of the list.

That is why, after 40 years, the Vango brand still has a fond place in the hearts of many thousands of people throughout the UK and worldwide.

Throughout its 40 years, Vango has remained at the forefront of product innovation and design and has produced market leading tents, rucsacs and sleeping bags to meet the demands of campers, mountaineers, climbers and walkers.

Over a 30 year period, Vango equipment was used on more or less every major expedition to leave Britain including all the Everest climbs. Legendary figures such as Chris Bonnington and Doug Scott were frequently equipped with Vango products during their extreme expedition.

For 2006 we have developed a new and innovative product range packed full of winners. The new collection promises to meet the ever changing requirements of the outdoor enthusiast. Designed to perform and built to last, every product feature introduced is inherited from over 40 years outdoor experience.

THE STORY OF VANGO

In 1966 the first Vango produced tent appeared in the shops. Vango originally started making frame tents for family camping. One year later in 1967 Vango introduced their Force Ten design which revolutionized the ridge tent market and quickly became standard equipment for outdoor centres and expeditions.

Vango’s distinctive orange ridge Force Ten tent made an immediate impact amongst camping and outdoors enthusiasts. The tents proved to be a huge success due to their high quality construction, optimal stability and unbelievable durability and soon became the tent by which all other tents were judged. With its A-Frame and Ridge pole design and touch cotton proofed fabrics, Vango led the way by producing a tent that could stand up to the severe British weather and constant abuse.

In 1984 Vango extended its product range to manufacture other unique designs in sleeping bags and rucsacs and in 1990 the brand introduced its first clothing collection.

The 90’s was a significant era in Vango’s history, seeing them go from strength to strength, experiencing massive growth as a company and becoming firmly established as a quality supplier of all kinds of outdoor products.

Over its 40 year history, Vango has successfully introduced a number of major innovations into the UK tent and rucsac markets

In 1993, Vango’s dominating position in the tent market was further strengthened with the introduction of the innovative Tension Band System (TBS). Vango also led the rucsac market with the introduction of the innovative Bi-Radial adjustable back system, which continued the success of the earlier Quick-Adjust and Self-Adjust back systems designs.

In 2000, Vango launched a brand new Venom range of down sleeping bags, classed as the ‘lightest, most compact sleeping bag’.

In 2006 Vango introduced a new and innovative range packed full of winners from the Viper and Summit sleeping bags to the Massive Vail tent.

40 YEARS OF INNOVATION

1967 – Introduction of the ‘A’ Pole
Vango introduced the ‘A’ pole as an integral part of a tent – it was easier to erect, easier to get in and out and provided greater stability. Prior to this, ridge tents had used upright poles to hold them up with the option of an ‘A’ pole, however this proved to be expensive and was less stable.

1967 - Flysheet
Continental tents did not take into account that it sometimes rains in Britain and had therefore very little covered area for cooking and storage in wet weather. Vango Force Tens solved this with bell ends and a flysheet that came down to the ground.

1967 – Hytex Fabric™
Suitable tent fabrics simply did not exist, so Vango developed their own Hytex range of cotton and synthetic fibres.

1987/8 – Tension Membrane System
Vango introduced the original Hurricane with Tension Membrane System

1993 – Tension Band System®
Vango's market dominating position in the tent market was further strengthened with the introduction of the innovative Tension Band System (TBS) wind stabilisation mechanism for hoop tents. IMAGE OF THE TBS LOGO AS USED ON THE WEBSITE

1995 – Bi-Radial Back System®
Vango also led the rucsac market with the introduction of the innovative Bi-Radial adjustable back system, continuing the success of the Quick-Adjust and Self-Adjust back systems.

1996 – PROTEX™
Vango launch their own branded waterproof/breathable coated fabrics – PROTEX.

These are premium PU coated fabric with varied Hydrostatic Head, giving increased insurance against water penetration.

1997 – OMEGA® Sleeping bag construction

This shape of sleeping bag 'hugs' the body & is engineered to give more heat retention by moving the zips or seams to the bottom of the bag, thus reducing possible loss of heat.

2002 – ASC2/ASC3 - Advanced Shingle Construction Sleeping Bag Construction

Here, a double/triple strata of overlapping layers in combination with some of the most advanced synthetic materials available to create a thermal system which retains generated heat more effectively.

2004 - TBS PRO - Lightweight Tension Band System - a version of our tried & trusted TBS system that utilises a cord system instead of webbing to stabilise tents.

2006 - TBS II - Versatile Tension band System - another version of our TBS system which now combines the cord and web together to proved more head room as well as stability.