Vango marks its 60th anniversary, using safety and education.

As Vango marks its 60th anniversary, the brand is using the milestone to reinforce a long-standing commitment to safety, education and responsible adventure across the outdoor community.

Through partnerships with Glenmore Lodge, Sandstone Training, and initiatives supporting The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award alongside local schools, Vango continues to invest in the skills that make time in the mountains safer, more accessible and ultimately more enjoyable.

To bring this to life, Vango hosted a traditional media activation in the Cairngorms, working with Sandstone Training to take a group of leading outdoor journalists on a multi-day experience built around its “Save a Life” training. The trip combined practical learning, real mountain environments and the realities of decision-making in the hills, giving attendees the chance to experience the course first-hand.

The trip began at Glenmore Lodge, where the group undertook the full “Save a Life” course in true Highland conditions, quite literally as snow fell steadily throughout the day. It set the tone perfectly: immersive, realistic and a timely reminder that conditions in the mountains can change quickly and without warning.

We then continued up Cairngorm Mountain, taking the mountain railway from the base station to the top station. It was a beautiful journey, although it did come with a fair amount of FOMO as we watched skiers and families making the most of an incredible day on the slopes.

At the top station, we joined a short mountain safety briefing led by the Cairngorm Mountain Ski Patrol, including a practical demonstration of key emergency response skills and the use of a ski sledge in a rescue scenario. Afterwards, the group had some free time to explore and enjoy the mountain, with a few heading up to the summit and ticking off a first Scottish Munro.

As the trip came to a close and everyone headed off in different directions across the UK, what stayed with the group was not just the experience itself, but a shared understanding that small changes in knowledge, kit and mindset can genuinely save lives in the outdoors.

Being based at Glenmore Lodge really anchored the whole experience. It felt like stepping back into the best kind of learning environment, with a brilliant range of courses available, excellent food, and a cosy bar with views out across the Cairngorms. It is the kind of place that leaves a lasting impression, and one we would be keen to return to again with Vango.