In 1974 Albrecht von Dewitz took a long hard look at his surname and decided to weave it into the name of his business. Pronounce 'V' and 'D' in German and 'fau´day' is the phonetic result. Von Dewitz aimed to produce mountaineering goods of an exceptional standard, something he did so successfully that Vaude has grown into an internationally renowned name.

Vaude is all about addiction, addiction to life outdoors and creating better ways for interacting with the elements. Family owned, Vaude's passion for improvement is reflected in their modern design and continual innovation. Hell they even have a giant deep freeze (okay, they call it a climate chamber) in which employees test their latest wares at -25 degrees Celsius.

With Vaude head-quarters hidden in the lofty heights of a German mountain village, the product is inspired by its surroundings and every improvement heralds from experiences straight off the slopes. Hailing from the origin of backpacks that are guaranteed to have you licking your lips with product lust, Vaude have expanded over the years to manufacture everything from tents to top-end mountain biking goods.

The people behind Vaude are those who will not settle for second best, they are always revelling in the elements and this reflects in the feel of the brand - "Our vice is our products' virtue". Vaude is for the outdoor enthusiast who will not compromise on quality and needs their equipment to blend in comfortably with life outside.