From tents for beer festivals to the top of Mount Everest. When he founded his mailbag and exhibition tent company in 1898, Hans Deuter could not have imagined that it would one day become one of the world's most influential and pioneering backpack and sleeping bag brands.
The driving force behind this resounding success is deuter's passion for the mountains and the inspiration drawn from nature to make the best and most sustainable products for mountain enthusiasts.
Over the years, the brand has produced countless innovations that have revolutionised the backpack market. For the first ascent of Nanga Parbat in 1953, Herman Buhl chose the deuter Tauern, a backpack developed in 1930. What was undoubtedly the biggest revolution happened in 1984. The Aircomfort, ventilating backpack system featuring a mesh back panel, which made deuter's competitors sweat. Why? Because mountaineers were spared that very same unpleasant feeling.
In 1990, when Bike Transalp pioneer Andi Heckmair needed a backpack to take with him on his way through the Alps, he teamed up with deuter to design the first backpack specifically for cyclists. In 1996, Bernd Kullmann designed a prototype for a child carrier for his own daughter. The deuter Kid Comfort lived up to its name and was the first TÜV/GS certified child carrier, and also remained the only one for quite a long time. Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner's request for material that would fit her body perfectly was the beginning of the current SL models, which are specially designed for women.
With such an endless list of developments and innovations, deuter can look back on its corporate history with pride. But, as deuter CEO Robert Schieferle explains: 'Nowadays, it's not about listing all our achievements. It's about celebrating our shared passion with our retailers and customers.'
Protecting the environment and sustainability are central to deuter's philosophy. The 'deuter Promise' focuses on taking responsibility over a product's whole life cycle, right from the outset. From using recycled and sustainable materials to manufacturing high-quality durable products and offering a lifetime, worldwide repair service.
To keep this promise to customers, employees and the planet, deuter maintains the highest standards for environmental protection, occupational safety and consumer protection. Since 2008, deuter has been using the bluesign® system to make the entire production cycle more resource efficient and ecological. Thanks to the implementation of fair working and production conditions, deuter achieved the coveted Leader Status of the Fair Wear Foundation for the ninth time in a row in 2021. In addition, in 2021 the brand achieved Grüner Knopf (Green Button) certification, the world's first state-run seal of approval that sets standards for sustainably produced textiles. All deuter backpacks and sleeping bags are PFC-free since 2020, helping to protect the environment and health. The German brand is also actively involved in various organisations. For example, deuter is a co-founder of the European Outdoor Conservation Association (EOCA), a group of European companies in the outdoor industry that directly finances nature conservation projects around the world. Deuter's contribution to the '1% for the planet' global movement also helps support environmental projects worldwide. And to achieve its own climate goals, the brand also works closely with the experts of ClimatePartner.
