MISSION
The goal of our company is to produce maximally functional products capable of withstanding even the extreme conditions of the world’s highest mountains, while at the same time fully adapting them to the needs and requirements of the customer so that the necessary equipment is ‘tailored exactly’ to the conditions and purpose for which it will be used.
COMPANY PROFILE
For almost 50 years, Sir Joseph has been producing quality outdoor equipment. Feather and wool clothing, feather sleeping bags, waterproof clothing and leisure clothing.
We provide clothing and equipment to the world’s best high-altitude climbers who conquer 8,000 meters, climbers who scale rock walls on all continents, polar explorers, trekkers, tourists and children exploring the world. We take advantage of experience from dozens of expeditions to the world’s highest mountains and are inspired by the world’s best climbers today. Quality, reliability, long life. Intelligent technical solutions, practical details, highly functional materials, the best European goose down, top quality processing of all our products, our own production facilities. Attractive design and colors, perfectly fitting cuts and sophisticated accessories. That’s the mix we use to create the best outdoor gear and apparel.
We wish you intense experiences and happy returns home. Your Sir Joseph team
COMPANY POLICY
Detail
All the details of our products are aimed at maximum functionality and durability. The functionality of the details is constantly verified by the world’s best climbers during many expeditions. User feedback helps develop details.
Quality
The quality and reliability of our products is constantly checked by our customers during many expeditions in various conditions. All our products are made in such a way that their quality and functionality correspond to the needs and requirements of our customers, to reliably protect them from adverse weather on a hike in the Giant Mountains as well as in the extreme conditions of the world’s highest mountains and help them achieve even the most daring goals.
Service
We provide our customers with an extensive service. Services include: purchase advice, warranty and post-warranty service, information service, catalogs at dealers, discounted purchases for bulk customers, services related to maintenance and cleaning.
Reliability
We use only high-quality materials that meet European standards and whose quality and properties are verified by the manufacturer’s certificate. We place particular emphasis on thorough processing according to clearly defined and verified production procedures, which guarantees a long service life and long-term preservation of functional properties and parameters, especially the optimal ratio between thermal comfort, weight and conformity of the product.
As the first manufacturer in the Czech Republic, our company met the requirements of the EN 13537 standard for sleeping bags and already in 2005 received a certificate for most models of its sleeping bags. (The European standard EN 13537, issued by the Europian Outdoor Group, specifies the requirements for testing temperature ranges for sleeping bags).
Comfort / Weight
The greatest emphasis is placed on the ratio of thermal comfort and total weight. Only a product with sufficient temperature comfort and minimal volume and weight is predestined for use even on the most demanding expeditions.
TEAM SIR JOSEPH
JOSEF RAKONCAJ – FOUNDER AND OWNER
Joska is the founder and face of Sir Joseph. His knowledge, experience and ideas are still used in the development of new products. Climbing and expeditions are interwoven throughout his life, after the period of eight-thousanders and conquering the highest mountains, he devotes himself more to flying on his own machines and discovering new climbing corners, e.g. he was one of the first Central Europeans on the island of Kalymnos.
Among his most popular jackets are the Terag III , the Atol Man II and the Rimo III 600 sleeping bag.
LUKÁŠ RAKONCAJ – DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCTION
He is the main driving force of recent years, he is in charge of the complete area of development and production.
His main hobbies include climbing, ski mountaineering and running. He spends a lot of time with his daughters.
Of the products, Sir Joseph particularly liked the Looping III 900 sleeping bag, jackets Trivor Man and Lotus Hooded Man and Spike Pants.
LUCIE ROSOVA (RAKONCAJOVA) – PAM, ACCOUNTANT
Lucka has been sporty since she was little. She likes to spend her free time with her daughter and son cycling, hiking, climbing or in the ski Alps.
The family wardrobe includes Atol Hooded Lady II, Safir jackets, Atol Lady II vests, a light sleeping bag Koteka 500 , a winter frost breaker Looping III 900 and universal sleeping bag Paine II 600.
HISTORY OF THE SIR JOSEPH COMPANY
Josef Rakoncaj’s Himalayan odyssey began in 1977. Equipping the expedition with high-quality clothing that would protect the climbers in the freezing conditions of the world’s highest mountains, and at the same time enable them to move freely during demanding mountain climbing ascents, was practically impossible and, moreover, very financially demanding. Climbers often had no choice but to help each other.
Josef Rakoncaj never relied on unguaranteed quality, that’s why in 1971 he started sewing his own climbing clothes. At first only for myself, later for my fellow climbers and friends. He used his rich experience from expeditions, adjusted cuts and invented practical details facilitating movement in demanding climbing terrains and looked for new functional materials while staying at high altitudes.
In 1974, he unofficially founded the company Rakoncaj, which was one of the first to exclusively focus on the production of special expedition mountaineering clothing and accessories. Immediately after the Velvet Revolution in 1990, as soon as the political situation allowed, he officially launched his business activity with a new company name, Sir Joseph. He started producing in small production spaces and with seamstresses working at home.
Thanks to their quality, functionality and affordability, his products quickly became a bestseller among Czech and Slovak high-altitude climbers, and gradually foreign expeditions became interested in Sir Joseph equipment. Production began to develop rapidly, and Josef Rakoncaj was soon able to build a production workshop. In 1994, Josef Rakoncaj’s son, Lukáš, joined the company, and in 2001, his daughter, Lucie, also joined the company.
Sir Joseph is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of feather expedition equipment. It has its own development and production facilities in the Czech Republic. In the specialized expedition segment, it fundamentally influences gear trends.
Although the size of the Sir Joseph company cannot compete with the multinational giants, thanks to its unique products, which arose from the invaluable expedition experience of Josef Rakoncaj, thanks to the highest quality materials and production components and traditional production, which takes place almost entirely in the Czech Republic, it has won its place among the world’s most important manufacturers outdoor equipment.
PS.: And how did the name of the company come about? In the base camp, under one of the eight-thousanders, a native cook was preparing food for the members of the expedition in a dining tent. With each climber’s meal he attached a note with his name on it: Sir Peter, Sir Jiri, Sir Joseph, etc.
Thus the Sir Joseph brand was born.
FOUNDER
Josef Rakoncaj (*1951) – Czech Republic
- Founder and owner of the family business Sir Joseph.
- He climbed 8 eight thousand meters and made countless ascents to mountain peaks and rock faces all over the world.
- He was the first person in the world to climb the most feared 8,000 K2 peak twice.
- As a matter of principle, he avoided ascents supported by oxygen devices and ascents by normal routes. He always prioritized quality over quantity. When he could no longer make a new path, he chose challenging paths and tried to push the limits of his possibilities.
- It has been producing outdoor equipment and clothing since 1974.
- He published 5 books and made several films about his climbing ascents and the climbing successes of his friends and colleagues.
- He also devotes himself to his second biggest hobby – flying ultralight aircraft, which he builds himself.
Highlights
- 1971 – Piz Cengalo, North Pillar, Bergell, Switzerland
- 1972 – Matterhorn North Face, Zermatt, Switzerland
- 1973 – Elbrus, the highest mountain in Europe, Caucasus, Russia
- 1974 – Triolet North Face, Chamonix, France
- 1975 – Travers Koshtan – Tau Dych – Tau, Caucasus, Russia
- 1976 – Rimon’s journey, first winter ascent, Trollrygen, Norway
- 1976 – Schara, first ascent of the South Wall, Caucasus, Russia
- 1977 – Kalanka, 6931m, first ascent of the North Face, Garhwal Himalaya
- 1978 – Pik Oshanin, 6400m, first ascent of the East Face in alpine style, Pamir, Russia
- 1980 – Mt. Agner, North Face, first winter ascent of the Messner route, Dolomites, Italy
- 1980 – Yerupaja, 6630m, first ascent of the West Face, Peru
- 1981 – Nanda Devi, 7816m, first ascent of the North Face, Garhwal Himalaya
- 1982 – Petit Dru, Northwest Couloir, first winter ascent, Alps
- 1982 – Mont Blanc du Tacul, Super couloir, Alps
- 1982 – Jagnob, Western Wall, Fanskie Gory, Western Pamir
- 1983 – K2, 8611m, second ascent of the North Face, China
- 1984 – Lhotse Shar, 8400m, first ascent of the South Face, Nepal
- 1986 – K2, 8611m, Abruzzi Rib Alpine style, first person to summit twice
- 1986 – Broad Peak, 8040m, solo ascent of the West Wall, Karakorum
- 1988 – Annapurna I, 8092m, South Face, Bonnington Route, Nepal
- 1989 – Manaslu, 8163m, South Face, Nepal
- 1990 – Cho Oyu, 8200m, West Face, Nepal
- 1990 – Shisha Pangma central, 8016m, first ascent of the North Face, Himalayas
- 1990 – Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa
- 1991 – Mt. McKinley, solo ascent of the Messner Couloir, the highest mountain in North America
- 1991 – Aconcagua, Argentina, the highest mountain in South America
- 1991 – ski crossing of the upper part of the Hielo del Sur transcontinental glacier, Patagonia
- 1991 – Mera Peak, 6400m, snowboard expedition, Nepal
- 1992 – Nanga Parbat, 8125m, Diamir Wall, Pakistan
- 1998 – Mt. Asgard, East Wall, Baffin Island, NW Territories, Canada
- 2000 – discovery of the island of Kalymnos, Greece
- 2002 – Lotus Flower Tower, NW Territories, Canada
- 2011 – Moses, Canyonlands, Utah; Castleton Tower, Moab, Utah; USA