Wanted Rohan Olfio!
“For those of you who have never owned a Rohan Olfio jacket, let me enlighten you. When I was a teenager I wanted a set of clothes I could travel anywhere with. I saved up and bought an Olfio Jacket and a matching pair of light blue bags. Little did I know that I would end up skiing in them in Colorado (layered up a bit with some thermals underneath) sleeping in them in the Atlas mountains in Morocco and canoeing in the same kit in northern Maine on the Allagash waterway. Why was this such a great combination? The weight was good. Not too heavy, so in hot climates, just right to put on at night. The sealed cuffs were excellent (elasticated to stop midges getting in) and a draw string waist meant you could wear it tucked up or hanging loose. Feeling a bit hot? You could open up side bellows to allow more movement of air around the body. Still too hot? Open up the v neck down to chest level and you had great freedom of movement.
Very fast drying, quite shower proof, it was the ultimate lightweight jacket. A single large pocket across the front was ideal for stowing bits and bobs in or warming your hands in if you wanted to. With matching Rohan bags it passed muster as a ski suit. With the bags tucked into socks, it was practically total body protection against “no see ‘ums” and mosquitoes when canoeing in places filled with bugs.
I am so disappointed that we cannot persuade Rohan to reproduce this garment. I am sure it would sell well. Please help me! If you have one (I am a medium size) I will happily buy it from you. Mine lasted around 15 plus years and I loved it. Eventually there were too many holes in it and it had to go, but it is a great loss. Does anyone else out there remember this jacket? What must we do to persuade Rohan to bring it back? I am a medium size in case you ask. I now live and work in Malawi and would use it here even”.
A message from Malawiman on the Rohantime Forum
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23 Comments
I bought mine circa 1985 in olive with lovat inserts. Looked great with my lovat bags. If I remember correctly, it had pen holders and a kangaroo pocket. I particularly like tops with kangaroo pockets and few designs include them these days except for Buffalo tops and Montane Extreme smocks. It felt very soft and I liked the yellow Insuflex(?) lining. It packed up wonderfully small and while the outer appeared to wet out, the insulation remained good. It also rolled up very small. There is an increased popularity in Primaloft type tops and it seems a fitting time to reintroduce it, even if it is a slightly updated version – there should still be an emphasis on the soft touch of the fabrics used rather than shiny nylon/pertex alternatives. Sadly, I lost mine on Quinag in the mid nineties, still with plenty of wear in it. I did not notice that it was missing until I got to the car park. I wonder if somone found it and used it or if it just slowly rotted away on the hillside. I did go back to the carpark the next day to see if someone had picket it up and left it somewhere around the carpark but sadly not. I’d love to own one again, especially in that colourway.
I forgot to add how much I liked the gusseted sides. In terms of temperature control, it probably made little difference, but it was as though you could adjust the size a little making it more flexible in terms of wearing it over other layers (or post Christmas waistline).
NEW Medium Olfio for sale on e-bay. August 3rd 2010. thanks
Hi Stuart
Good to hear from you! No problem at all!
I wondered if you had found another option or if technicalities were a problem.
I still have the Olfio and would be glad to let you have it. Good to let someone make use of it after so long!
Cheers to you – Paul
Olfio, best bit of kit by miles, bought mine way back, longer than I care to remember. Only time it ever came off was to wash it, sadly now a bit torn, worn and battered. SWMBO says I am not allowed to wear it in public, but it will go with me to Valhala.
Is it ever likely to return? Mine was the nice light grey, with just the two tunnel pockets, lined in yellow Insuflex, and yellow side panels. Boy was I smart!
Still got lots of vintage Rohan, much of it still fits and still looks in good condition, despite trying to wear it all out. Only suceeded with the Olfio and a pair of khaki Bags, although a few of my Bags have that lived in look.
My 1985 Olfio is getting thin & worn on the seams but is still alive & kicking down here in New Zealand. My wife won’t allow me to wear it in public but it still goes out in the rucsac in the hills and was worn on the World Classic “Tongarario Crossing” a few years ago.
The Olfio was a great companion to a pair of Hot Bags for many years in the Peak District walking & climbing with Scouts & Derby Mountain Rescue Team. Sadly the Hot Bags were savaged & torn apart climbing a barb wire fence during a night search for a missing person.
I agree with others – BRING BACK OLFIO.
See http://www.flickr.com/photos/30292560@N02/4280533335/ for the demise of two pairs of 12yr old shorts that have been around the world three times.
I bought an Olfio 1978 in navy & red with gold in the side inserts, also a pair of hot bags in navy with gold bellows, at the same time. My daughter is still wearing them. Bring back the Olfio Rohan and in decent colour combinations. I may be a senior Citizen but i still love bright colours.
I have a Moving-On. It is mainly grey with a red yoke. Also 2 Olfios–both red and blue–one bought years ago and one bought on ebay last year. The Moving on has been brilliant for summer walking when a little wind proofing is needed–getting a bit tight now so replaced with Paramo top.
Hi Stuart
I was wondering if you are still interested in the Olfio!
I have just measured the distance across the shoulders and under the arms-seam to seam. The first is 17 inches or 435mm at the shoulder seams.Underarm it is 23 inches or 585mm. I have a 39 inch chest and am able to wear a 200 weight Icebreaker under a 260 weight top also.It is mildly restrictive across the back with these on however! There are 2 pen slots plus a handwarmer tunnel pocket above the waist cord and below the kangaroo pocket. Hope this is helpful to you!
Hi Stuart, I have a red and blue Olfio, lined in Gold, zipped chest pocket, in unused condition. Size medium. I will have to dig it out from the depths of my wardrobe to look up the codes. My wife has or had a similar colour in small. Let me know what you want to know/do.
Hi Paul Size BS was actually Tall Small We did A and B fittings. A regular, B Tall. BS would have been about 37/38″ chest, which would in today’s sizing be nearer to a medium. I hope this helps.
Hi Stuart
I have the Olfio Pullover next to me and wanted to confirm with sarah from the label the exact size! I am sure it is a medium! Its in a mid green like the old Pampas and a pale colour on the sleeves and shoulders down to the front Kangaroo pocket!
The code is A-650852D and a BS 1/88. Anyway it is too tight for me as I take a large not a medium now.
I hope Sarah sees this and can confirm the size from the information I have given you. I thought I could reply to her Email to me but alas not!
Hope this is helpful to you and look forward to your reply!
Yes, I would dearly like to get hold of the medium Olfio that Paul mentions in the post above (need to check on sizes). That sounds like a better size for me than the large that Bruce mentions, but I would be keen to check out both please. What a great network that we can link up like this. Thanks for putting this site together Rohan. Best wishes, Stuart Palmer
By the way it is in perfect condition as new!
Hi
I don’t know your name but you are in luck!
I have a medium I believe in two tones of pale green you are welcome to as it is too small for me! I will send as much detail as I can if you are genuinely interested in the product. I don’t use it and it hangs around in a cupboard!
2nd hand ones occasionally turn up on e-Bay UK. Sadly they tend to be on the small side. Although if you’re prepared to compromise on the design i.e. forego the front pocket and have side pockets, or take a look at the unlined Moving On, which is similar then you may be more successful. Good luck! D
I have a 20 year old Olfio -blue and red, lined in yellow- most durable bit of clothing I have ever owned. Worn and worn now used in garden. My husband has a similar vintage in green which still goes dry stone walling. Would be very happy to have another one.
Olfio photo in bottom of post. Watch out for next post on Olfio and Sohao
Photo?
Yep, a fine top, I have one of the originals, two of the later ones with the zipped chest pocket, and a later synthetic one with a pile lining.
They remade them a couple of years ago and I missed out, they had sold them all before I could buy one.
All mine are getting a bit threadbare. That they have lasted this long is amazing, the old ones are well over 20 years old, nothing else (other than other Rohan clothes) have lasted a tenth of that time.
I wear them continuously from October to March
I still have two Olfios. Probably the best piece of clothing I have ever purchased. One is an ancient blue one which is as battered as can be but still gets worn whenever possible (when it doesn’t matter that I look like a scarecrow!). The other is delightful two tone grey affair which has rarely been worn as it is frankly too small for me – I can only wear it with nothing underneath! I could probably be persuaded to part with it if it is going to a good home. It is a large.
I had one too but it wore out and was thrown away many years ago. It sounds like you had the blue / green colour combination, mine was the grey / gold and I had matching Hot Bags (before the release of Warm Bags or Winter Bags).
Bring it back!