Paul and Sarah Howcroft created Rohan with customer needs at the heart of everything they did. This is as true today as it was then. Their passion for designing outdoor clothing started with the activity, before incorporating relevant fabric technologies for comfort and protection in Britain’s varied climate.
Their first product, a pair of quick-drying mountaineering salopettes, launched in 1975. This was followed by the Windlord Gwalhir Jacket, worn by Messner and Habeler on the first ascent of Everest without oxygen. The jacket was pioneering, as it was a combination of super lightweight, windproof, and breathable, creating a barrier against the harshest elements. It put Rohan on the map.
Over 50 years later our expansive range includes outdoor, travel and city clothing and consists of everything from waterproofs, jackets and trousers to jeans, skirts and suits.
Five Principles
At Rohan we pride ourselves on our five principles; protective, lightweight, packable, easy care and versatile. The focus on constant innovation in these five areas ensures our range is ready for any challenge you throw at it. Although our branding and style are subtle, we ensure an uncompromising approach to all of our gear design with fabric technology at the heart of everything we do.
The five principles of our clothing can manifest themselves in different ways - from a jacket and trousers that protect you from the elements, to reduced carry weight through lightweight materials. From the packable convenience of zipping your jacket up into a build-in Packpocket, to how quickly a shirt dries in your hotel room or the wide range of uses that piece of clothing may have. It ensures that there are a vast number of benefits which are passed on to you, the wearer.
Protective
Rohan clothing will be your shelter. It will keep you dry in the rain and warm in the coldest winds. It will keep you cool and comfortable in the heat. It will protect you from the sun and biting insects. And it will help keep your important stuff safe when you are far from home.
Lightweight
We were the original lightweight revolutionaries. Back in the 1970’s we realised that cutting weight without losing performance meant that you can take less and do more. Everything we make is engineered to achieve this.
Packable
Low pack size is a benefit whether you’re packing for a day’s walking or for the trip of a lifetime. We continually scrutinise fabric specification and garment construction to minimise the packed size of our clothing. The actual pack size is tested and listed.
Easy Care
There’s rarely any need to iron Rohan clothing. With a little body heat, gentle creases will drop out. Everything is a cinch to wash and it will dry in a fraction of the time of ordinary clothing.
Versatile
Performance outdoor gear can look simple and urban clothing can be technical. This simple truth means that you can take half as much with you.
Award Winning Service
You’re always guaranteed a warm welcome at Rohan. Whether it’s in one of our 53 stores throughout the UK, or calling our dedicated Customer Service team based at Rohan’s Head Office, we’re always on hand to help you with recommendations and assist you with expert advice.
As a testament to our offering, we were recently awarded No.1 Which? Recommended Outdoor and Sports Retailer 2022, after more than 10,000 shoppers rated their experience with the UK’s biggest and best-known retailers. We’re proud to say that we have won the Which? Award for the second year, which underlines our continued commitment to deliver top quality clothing and service. Customer needs will always remain at the heart of what we do. As more people discovered the benefits and beauty of nature through the pandemic, we welcome them all to the Rohan family.
Our Technologies
Rohan clothing uses the world’s most advanced fabric technologies. These technologies are hidden and will enable you to thrive in the harshest conditions Mother Nature can throw at you – wherever in the world you’re heading. Rohan clothing is protective, versatile, fast drying, tough, light and highly packable. It offers pure function and reliability, pared down and stripped out. And because Rohan clothing doesn’t look overtly technical, you can wear it for the everyday, taking the rough with the smooth.
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2-Layer Barricade
The Barricade standard gives you reassurance of a high level of waterproof protection. All of our waterproofs must meet our Barricade Standard to be ten times the British standard for waterproofing.
The waterproof fabric of the garment has two layers. The water-repellent outer fabric and the PU hydrophilic membrane are bonded together. In addition, a loose lining protects the membrane from the inside.
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2.5-Layer Barricade
The Barricade standard gives you reassurance of a high level of waterproof protection. All of our waterproofs must meet our Barricade Standard to be ten times the British standard for waterproofing.
The water-repellent outer fabric and the PU hydrophilic membrane are bonded together and then protected by a print to be very lightweight. This added 0.5 layer helps to keep you comfortable and the membrane protected.
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3-Layer Barricade
The Barricade standard gives you reassurance of a high level of waterproof protection. All of our waterproofs must meet our Barricade Standard to be ten times the British standard for waterproofing.
The water-repellent outer fabric, the PU hydrophilic membrane and a protective liner are bonded together to form a single fabric. As a result, these jackets are lightweight whilst maintaining great durability.
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Drop-Liner Barricade
The Barricade standard gives you reassurance of a high level of waterproof protection. All of our waterproofs must meet our Barricade Standard to be ten times the British standard for waterproofing.
The garment has a non-waterproof outer fabric with a waterproof inner fabric that is stitched to the garment. These waterproof walking trousers can look just like your regular trousers.
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Durable Water Repellency
Our DWR finish is an advanced treatment which dramatically increases the water repellency of our fabrics. On its own, it offers a useful level of shower resistance; used in conjunction with our Barricade technology, it reduces the tendency of the face fabric to wet out and maximizes breathability.
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Dynamic Moisture Control
DMC is a wicking technology that rapidly spreads the moisture our bodies create across the surface area of a garment. This can be achieved through the technical construction of the garment or by a performance coating and ensures that the garment dries more quickly, encourages evaporative heat loss and helps you stay cooler and more comfortable for longer.
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Insect Shield®
Insect Shield® technology converts clothing into convenient, comfortable and effective protection against biting insects. Each garment is treated with permethrin – an invisible and odourless ingredient that helps protect against insects such as mosquitoes, ticks, ants, flies, chiggers and midges.
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Insuloft
Insuloft is an advanced synthetic wadding that offers a better warmth-to-weight ratio than polyester fleece and better performance when wet than conventional down. It’s durable, compressible, lightweight, easy to wash and fast drying – it’s the perfect choice for cold-weather protection.
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Packpocket
Clever design is more often than not about what to take off rather than what to put on. It’s about giving one feature multiple functions. That’s why many of our garments feature a Packpocket. This handy addition converts pockets into space-saving storage by compressing the garment into itself. You could use it as a travel pillow when it’s all packed down too.
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RFID
RFID stands for radio frequency identification. These are small chips found in passports, ID cards and credit cards which help with transactions. RFID readers can be used to steal personal information and card details. RFID blocking technology blocks these readers and can be incorporated into wallets, bags and jacket pockets to protect the contents from identity theft.
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Secure Pockets
Losing possessions when you’re close to home is frustrating, but losing your car keys, passport, phone or wallet while you’re travelling can really spoil your adventure. That’s why we put lots of thought into developing safer pockets – deeper, zipped and hidden.
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Sun Protection UPF 40+
This garment has been tested in accordance with recognised international standards for ultraviolet radiation protection – and has been awarded a rating of UPF 40+. The protection offered may be significantly reduced with extended wear or if the garment is stretched or wet. Any associated UV risks will vary according to individual skin type or medical history.
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Anti Odour Silver
Garments treated with our FreshWay; Anti Odour Silver technology benefit from the natural antimicrobial properties of silver. Tiny traces of silver, distributed evenly throughout the garment, inhibit the growth of bacteria reducing mould and odour. This treatment is permanent – it will never wash or wear out.