Before becoming a cornerstone of British outdoor culture, Berghaus was born out of a need for gear capable of tackling the most demanding conditions in the UK’s mountains. Mountaineers and longtime friends Peter Lockey and Gordon Davison couldn’t find products durable enough for their needs, and instead of accepting the limitations of available gear, they decided to develop something new.
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Today, Berghaus is a brand that evokes the first jackets worn as children, family hikes, and those days characterized by weather so challenging they remain etched in the memory. Since its founding in Newcastle in 1966, the brand has developed clothing and equipment designed to accompany those who choose to experience the outdoors regardless of the weather.
“For nearly 60 years, we’ve been learning from nature and the people who use our products. Partnering with Polartec gives us access to materials and expertise that help us constantly improve the performance of our garments, while staying true to the quality, durability, and character that have always distinguished Berghaus,” says Mark Upshall, Global VP of Product Management at Berghaus.
Charting a new path
Berghaus grew up in a region where rain, wind, and cold are integral to the outdoor experience. Engineer Gordon Davison was analytical, inventive, and highly technically oriented, while Peter Lockey brought a more creative and intuitive approach to the project. The meeting of these two personalities gave birth to Berghaus’s practical, yet distinctive and playful, character.
While Gordon and Peter designed the products, sold the gear, and built the company, their wives were responsible for choosing quality materials and colors that would stand out in an outdoor market still characterized by rather conservative palettes and solutions.
Sixty years of success
Six decades after selling the first emergency bivouac, Charlie Pym, global senior vice president, identifies the people who have grown alongside the brand as one of Berghaus’ key strengths.
“Since 1966, people have chosen Berghaus for their first jacket, for challenging hikes, and for their children’s first walks. This trust is everything,” he says. “A lot has changed since then, but our commitment to truly effective products and the people who use them remains unchanged.”
Across the UK and beyond, entire families continue to wear the brand. Many still remember the name of the jacket they wore as children or the Berghaus gear they brought with them on a memorable trip. It’s precisely this shared experience that has built a loyalty that spans generations, as the brand continues to reach new audiences, enter new categories, and develop into new markets.
Built to last
Charlie and his team understand the expectations associated with the reputation Berghaus has built over nearly six decades. That’s why each product undergoes 200 hours of testing, after which it can be modified and re-tested if necessary.
It’s a rigorous process, designed to ensure Berghaus jackets, footwear, and gear maintain the required performance even in particularly severe weather conditions. For Charlie, Mark, and the entire team, protecting the trust they’ve earned over the years means continuing to improve their products without losing sight of what makes the brand recognizable.
A look to the future
Today, Berghaus retains a profoundly British identity, linked to Northeast England and the generations of people who have worn its products over the years. At the same time, the brand continues to strengthen its presence in Europe and the United States.
For Charlie, this evolution represents above all an opportunity to look forward by continuing to develop products that perform in the most challenging climates, capable of earning the trust of those who use them and, at the same time, to build new stories for the next generation to associate with the Berghaus name.
