Quechua Through The Years
For over 20 years, we’ve been rambling through countryside, climbing snow-topped mountains and uncovering new spots to pitch our tents all over the world and that passion, understanding and experience is what makes us so adept at creating the right clothing and equipment for you. We work from within the community, employing enthusiastic experts to create and test our products, giving a platform to inspiring hikers and devising initiatives to make outdoor activities accessible to all.
As well as being enthusiastic hikers and walkers who use Quechua products ourselves, we’re dedicated to testing and innovation. We draw on feedback from experts and customers alike in order to keep improving our diverse offering. And we do all this with sustainability at the front of our minds, so that the environment we all love exploring is around for future generations to enjoy too.
Story
To better understand our brand, let’s look a little closer at where ‘Quechua’ comes from and what it means...
Our name is inspired by the Quechua people, who live in the Andes in Peru, South America. They have adapted to their high-altitude mountain setting (many studies have been done to explore how!), living and working on the beautiful but sometimes difficult landscape, while also protecting and preserving it through thoughtful, sustainable actions.
The pillars of Quechua society are community, sharing and listening, which are the same characteristics that drive our brand. The Quechua people work together, drawing on the expertise of diverse and different groups – from farmers to miners, the young and the old – to achieve their goals.
We are inspired and motivated by the Quechua people and our shared connection to the mountains and rely on our own community of colleagues and customers to help pave the way for hiking - and the planet - in the future.
Philosopy
Quechua is dedicated to making sport accessible for all.
Walking is an activity everyone can get involved in, no matter how fit you are, your age or the contents of your wallet. At a very basic level, all you need is a good pair of walking shoes, but we want you to be able to enjoy your pursuit beyond that.
We want you to feel safe (hello clever GPS and compact head lamps!), comfortable (moisture-wicking, stretchy clothes as well as cosy layers) and inspired (outdoor stoves mean tasty meals in beautiful settings when you’re camping, while waterproof boots and convertible trousers allow you to try new routes).
And we don’t want you to be put off because you’re not a pro or buying on a budget. Our products are designed with every ability in mind and our website is full of advice, plus we have a wide range at various price points.
Our key products
Tents
After 18,730 hours of research and development, the Two-Second Tent was born. Inspired by the feedback of customers who said pitching was the worst bit about camping, our team trialled a model you could throw into the air and it would land, unfolded. It’s challenges like these – and the creativity and commitment they entail – that really set Quechua apart. Whether you want a clever design that does all the hard work for you, or a home-away-from-home, big enough for the whole family, we’re here to help.
Backpack
Alongside Forclaz, Quechua creates backpacks that can handle the heat (and cold, and rain!). Our leaders spend weeks trekking in the French Alps, Morocco and the UK, to see which backpack features work and which need to be refined or lost. Durability, weight, comfort and number of pockets are all assessed, and then prototypes are made and re-tested, before inviting customers to give them a go and share their insights. It’s only then that our backpacks make it into store with a 10-year warranty that means if it doesn’t last, we’ll repair or exchange it for free.
Sleeping Equipment
We want you to be excited to sleep in the great outdoors and extend your hike over a few days, not dread the bad dreams ahead. With the right sleeping equipment - think a squishy mat and cosy but breathable sleeping bag, pillows that won’t hog all your backpack space and an all-important sleep mask and earplugs - catching zzzs is a breeze. If you’re looking for a thicker mattress than the standard, opt for this quick-to-inflatable and super squishy design. The soft-to-touch surface is a great extra!
Camping Equipment
We believe in creating great-quality camping furniture that’s affordable for every kind of camper. From single chairs that can be carried on your back to big camping tables complete with stools like this set here, as well as stoves and all the pots, pans and plates the extended family will need, we’ve got you covered. If it feels like you’re eating, relaxing, plotting and planning in the comfort of your own home - with the bonus of nature all around you - we’re doing our job right.
Hiking Clothing
Simple, stylish, and technical hiking clothing is our aim. Everything we design for the hiking community is rigorously tried and tested in a thermal chamber, and then in real-world situations. Whether you need to stay warm or cool, pack light or switch from climbing mountains to crossing streams in the same trip, Quechua has the solution. This men’s parka is a classic example, ideal for the city and trips to snowy mountains thanks to warm wadding, an anti-blizzard hood and water-tight seams.
Hiking Shoes
Arguably the most important part of your kit, hiking shoes can make or break your trip. Our in-store experts pride themselves on being able to walk you through the right pair for you, but if you’d rather shop online, you’ll find key info on grip, cushioning, stability, breathability and waterproofing in our descriptions. This pair of women’s waterproof hiking shoes are made with six-hour excursions in mind and will keep you comfy the whole time thanks to EVOFIT technology which means they adapt to your feet.
Hiking Gear
Consider all the extras you’ll need for a hike taken care of by Quechua. We make it possible for the whole family to join you safely with our baby carriers and walking poles – these are a great pick for regular trips thanks to their shock-absorbing ability and high-density foam handles – as well as help you stay in contact via walkie talkies and able to explore at night thanks to reliable headlamps and torches. Essentials like insect repellent, plasters and batteries are all in the collection too.
Story
The roots of our brand are in the name. Etymologically, forclaz means ‘little fork’. Today, it can be used to describe the gap between two mountains, or a mountain pass.
Look a little closer at our logo and you’ll see our cornerstones reflected there too. We’ve highlighted the strength and durability of the ‘F’, the streamlined ‘R’ and our ‘A’ forms a tent, to remind us of our focus on trekking.
Our ongoing mission is to design and create products for fellow enthusiasts, as well as making the world of backpacking and trekking a welcoming and accessible one for the many.
Through our core values – humility, solidarity, commitments, vitality, and responsibility – we allow ourselves to be ambitious but accountable and dedicated to always improving.
In addition to this, we’re driven by the long-term durability, reliability and repairability of our products, and in turn reducing our environmental impact.
What we make
Trekking backpacks
With all the essentials on your back, there’s little you can’t overcome, which is why having a good backpack is essential. Take this design for example. It has a generous 50L capacity, plus an optional 10L expansion, and will carry up to 15kg. Multiple pockets spread across the front, sides and interior make it easy to organise the contents and access them quickly, and the ventilated, contoured back means you’ll be cool and comfortable on the move.
Trekking Clothing
Part of the joy of backpacking is not knowing what your route (or more likely, the weather!) will throw at you. Always be prepared with the right clothing, from breathable layers to convertible trousers, and of course, a jacket. This quilted, zip-through style is the perfect combination of warm and lightweight with a water-repellent coating and multiple pockets. It’s compact enough to stuff into your bag if needed too.
Trekking Boots
Long-distance treks require reliable boots. For guaranteed durability, we recommend a pair like this, which are crafted from 100% leather that has been waterproofed and shaped with a high, ankle-supporting upper. The sole is designed to provide grip on all sorts of ground, whether dry or wet, and is rigid to improve the precision of every step. Concerned about comfort? We worked with a chiropodist to ensure your feet feel good all-adventure long.
Trekking Tents
We design and develop our tents in the French Alps, so we know they can withstand the realities of the outdoor environment. This two-person tunnel-style tent is suited to spring, summer and autumn, as well as a little light snow, and has mosquito nets and waterproof panels. It’s quick to pitch and take down – the flysheet and bedrooms are already assembled – and lightweight for ease of carrying. The porch has enough room for two backpacks.
At Decathlon, our users are at the centre of our approach. The process begins with listening, watching and asking customers about their practice.
For us, there’s no product without you, so from the sales assistants in our stores to engineers on location in the mountains, we all look to our users to inspire and imagine the designs of tomorrow. And even once a product is made and on the shelves, your feedback is what matters most. We’ll pull anything that doesn’t have a rating higher than 3.5 and aim to make it better in the future.
To make sure our products can keep up with you, we test their resistance to time, wear and tear using machines in our labs and out in the wild.
We have high expectations for quality, so our products are dropped, thrown, scuffed and scraped to measure their durability. When you’re on a hike or camping overnight, you need to know you can rely on your jacket to protect you from rain and tent to stay up, and that if something is damaged, it can be repaired. Our prices aren’t just a way of providing access to sports no matter your budget or background – we want you to be able to buy once and trust your product will last, meaning Decathlon is better for you and the environment.