Vertical was founded in 1984 as part of the Francital textile and clothing brand, when its parent company decided to develop a specific range for climbing, mountaineering, and hiking.

Led by Patrice Dheu in the early 2000s, Francital became a benchmark for innovation and research, particularly with the launch of the MP+ hydrophilic membrane.

Raidlight joined forces with Vertical in 2010 to bring together the expertise of these two outdoor specialists. Interestingly, Vertical, through Patrice and Claire Dheu, were co-founders of Raidlight in 1999.

The brand was acquired in 2024 by the DARINDA group, marking a new stage in its development and influence in the outdoor sector.

For almost 40 years now, Vertical has been a key technical player in the field of ski touring, mountaineering, and hiking equipment.