Gelert are one of the most recognised camping brands in the UK. According to their website they've sold over a 100 million tents, sleeping bags and rucksacks since 1975. I've been using Gelert products for about 20 years now and I still think they provide the best value for money of any camping manufacture. No one can write an article about Gelert without mentioning why the company is called Gelert, and this is just an excuse to retell the famous 'Legend of Gelert.'
The company started business in a small town in Wales called Beddgelert which is the home of Gelert's Grave. Gelert was Prince Llewelyn's favourite dog. One day Llewelyn went hunting, but for some reason couldn't find his faithful hound, so he went alone. When he got back from his hunt, Gelert ran out from the palace to meet him. He was covered in blood. Llewelyn panicked and went to find his son. The boy's cot was empty and the sheets covered in blood. The prince withdrew his sword and plunged it into Gelert's side, thinking the dog had killed his heir to the throne. The dog's final yelp was answered by the cry of a child. Llewelyn searched the palace and found the boy unarmed next to the body of a savage wolf that Gelert had slain. The prince never smiled again.
That always gets me choked up that story. Anyway it's a great name now that you know the background.
The business was started by Alastair and Jane Langdon, who have remained with the company up until recently.. Their exit corresponded with the closing of their Porthmadog site. One thing I respect about the company is the way (up until 2012) they've kept it local and provided jobs to an area where jobs are scarce. Obviously that long road to Porthmadog has proven too costly and they have now moved to a new centre in Cheshire where they can distribute their goods more easily.
Gelert have a number of iconic products. Their family sized tents are well respected, they are the creators of the Quick Pitch tent - if you've ever been to a festival you'll have seen hundreds of them. They have one of the cheapest trekking tents around, the Solo Tent. Their Tryfan sleeping bags are possibly the biggest value on the market.
The legend of Gelert, the company, is, luckily, not quite as tear jerking as the legend of Gelert, the dog, but what they've achieved from a small town in Wales is impressive.
The company started business in a small town in Wales called Beddgelert which is the home of Gelert's Grave. Gelert was Prince Llewelyn's favourite dog. One day Llewelyn went hunting, but for some reason couldn't find his faithful hound, so he went alone. When he got back from his hunt, Gelert ran out from the palace to meet him. He was covered in blood. Llewelyn panicked and went to find his son. The boy's cot was empty and the sheets covered in blood. The prince withdrew his sword and plunged it into Gelert's side, thinking the dog had killed his heir to the throne. The dog's final yelp was answered by the cry of a child. Llewelyn searched the palace and found the boy unarmed next to the body of a savage wolf that Gelert had slain. The prince never smiled again.
That always gets me choked up that story. Anyway it's a great name now that you know the background.
The business was started by Alastair and Jane Langdon, who have remained with the company up until recently.. Their exit corresponded with the closing of their Porthmadog site. One thing I respect about the company is the way (up until 2012) they've kept it local and provided jobs to an area where jobs are scarce. Obviously that long road to Porthmadog has proven too costly and they have now moved to a new centre in Cheshire where they can distribute their goods more easily.
Gelert have a number of iconic products. Their family sized tents are well respected, they are the creators of the Quick Pitch tent - if you've ever been to a festival you'll have seen hundreds of them. They have one of the cheapest trekking tents around, the Solo Tent. Their Tryfan sleeping bags are possibly the biggest value on the market.
The legend of Gelert, the company, is, luckily, not quite as tear jerking as the legend of Gelert, the dog, but what they've achieved from a small town in Wales is impressive.
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It can be a pain finding product reviews and information online, but if you're interested in Gelert tents or finding out more about Gelert sleeping bags in general, then these links should help.
