Our History

For almost 40 years, Vertical has been a key technical player in ski touring, mountaineering and hiking equipment — built by enthusiasts, for enthusiasts.

1984
Founded
40+
Years of expertise
15K
MP+ membrane rating
1984

The beginning

Vertical was founded as part of the Francital textile and clothing brand, when its parent company decided to develop a dedicated range for climbing, mountaineering and hiking.

2000s

An era of innovation

Under the leadership of Patrice Dheu, Francital became a benchmark for innovation and research — most notably with the launch of the MP+ hydrophilic membrane.

2010

Joining forces

Raidlight joined forces with Vertical to bring together the expertise of two outdoor specialists — a natural alliance, as Vertical's founders had co-founded Raidlight in 1999.

2024

A new chapter

The brand was acquired by the DARINDA group, marking a new stage in its development and influence across the outdoor sector.

From the summit to the trail, every product we make carries four decades of field-tested expertise.