Outdoor design since 1870

Outdoor design since 1870

Ferrino - Outdoor Design since 1870 - fr

On June 20, 2024, Anna Ferrino, CEO of Ferrino, received the prestigious Compasso d'Oro Lifetime Achievement Award at the ADI Design Museum in Milan. Established in 1954 and considered one of the most coveted awards in the design world, it is presented by the Association for Industrial Design (ADI) and the ADI Foundation to celebrate excellence in Italian design. Anna Ferrino was honored for her continuous commitment and passion over the years, representing a prominent figure in Italian design culture.

 

OUTDOOR DESIGN SINCE 1870

On this occasion celebrating the excellence of the entire Ferrino company, a leader in outdoor design for over 150 years, this article traces the company's history from the perspective of designing its most iconic products. Founded in 1870 in Turin as a manufacturer of waterproof fabrics and tires, Ferrino has evolved to meet the growing interest in mountaineering and outdoor activities, equipping climbers, hikers, and vacationing families. This recognition pays tribute to the excellence of Italian design and the ongoing dedication of the Ferrino and Rabajoli families, who have upheld the values of innovation and quality that define Ferrino in the world of outdoor design.


 

1960s AND 1970s – CAMPING PIONEERS

In the 1960s and 1970s, recreational camping in Italy grew alongside the opening of major highways, with the peninsula's coasts and lakes becoming popular tourist destinations. In this context, Ferrino emerged as a leader in the production of camping tents, meeting the increasing demand for temporary housing solutions for families. The cottage-style tent, symbolic of 1960s camping, offered a reassuring replication of the domestic environment. Models like "Casamia" featured spacious living areas with three bedrooms and a separation between the living and sleeping areas. Ferrino's tent designs distinguished themselves with vibrant colors and geometric patterns, reflecting the pop aesthetic of the era. Tents like "Campestre," "Sirena," and "Marisa" boasted colorful verandas with optical patterns and stylized flowers, making every camping experience visually stimulating. As camping trends shifted towards more agile forms like cycle/motor camping, Ferrino introduced the "Lucciola," a lightweight and compact Canadian tent that became an icon of freedom and mobility. Ferrino thus combined functionality and design, meeting the needs of a evolving society where leisure time transformed into opportunities for exploring new forms of temporary living, with the tent becoming both a practical refuge and a symbol of freedom and adventure.



1980s – EXPEDITIONS AND MOUNTAINEERING - MESSNER

In the 1970s and 1980s, Ferrino transformed into a public company, catering to a new consumer demand linked to the culture of the Italian Alpine Club (CAI). During this period, the company launched the "Everest" tent and later the "Extreme," tested in the Pininfarina wind tunnel at speeds up to 120 km/h by Reinhold Messner, who used it on numerous expeditions including the 1982 Kanchenjunga climb. Collaborating with Messner enhanced Ferrino's international reputation, culminating in the 1986 Lhotse ascent, the last of Messner's fourteen 8,000-meter peaks climbed without supplemental oxygen. Messner influenced the design of lightweight, durable tents ideal for fast ascents in extreme conditions.

 

The "Extreme" tent was not the only one benefiting from Messner's insights. Models like the "0-8000," used on Annapurna in 1985 and Makalu in 1986, and the "Antartide 90," designed for the Antarctic crossing on foot in 1990, testify to Ferrino's continuous innovation. Even the "Groenlandia 92" tent, designed for the crossing of Greenland in 1992, demonstrates the attention to detail and reliability of Ferrino's equipment, all tested in extreme conditions. Thanks to these innovations, Messner was able to complete the ascent of all fourteen 8,000-meter peaks with Ferrino tents, confirming the company as a leader in outdoor design and mountaineering.

 

 

1990s – HIGHLAB

Ferrino HighLab is the company's flagship project for developing and testing high-quality equipment and clothing in extreme conditions. Launched by Edoardo Rabajoli, the idea materialized on July 14, 1994, on Monte Rosa, at the Quintino Sella al Felik refuge, with the inauguration of a permanent high-altitude laboratory. HighLab utilizes numerous test sites worldwide, including Lagorai, Gran Paradiso, Everest, the Argentine Andes, La Meije in the French Alps, and Naica Caves in Mexico. 

 

 

These laboratories allow testing of tents, backpacks, sleeping bags, and clothing in real and severe environments, ensuring maximum performance. The HighLab clothing line, born from these experiences, meets the highest quality standards, ensuring maximum performance in every climate condition. Products like the "XMT" backpacks with the WTS system, Stretch sleeping bags, and the "Cybersafe" backpack with an avalanche airbag system developed with Snowpulse, are the result of these experiments. HighLab represents the pinnacle of Ferrino's innovation, offering a range of items that provide reliability and superior performance.

 

ULTRALIGHT ALPINE PERFORMANCE

In the 2000s, Ferrino focused on ultralight concepts applied to backpacks and tents. This led to the creation of the Radical backpacks, ultralight and dedicated to mountaineering and expeditions. The same lightweight concept, using ultra-resistant Dyneema Composite Fabric, was applied to the Desert Kat backpack, designed for ultratrail. This 20-liter backpack received an Honorable Mention at the Compasso d'Oro International 2017 for innovation in sports design. Developed by the Ferrino team and refined with feedback from trail runners Katia Figini and Dino Bonelli, the Desert Kat stands out for its reduced weight and durability, thanks to Cubictech Dyneema® fiber. Experience with this material led to the Instinct line, currently the top collection for mountaineering and expeditions: backpacks made from Dyneema® Composite Fabric, Cordura® Nylon, and SuperFabric® reinforcements. Essential and modular, these backpacks offer a rational main compartment, a versatile external gear carrying system, and rear and hip belt pockets, ensuring an optimal balance of strength and lightness, suitable for every mountain activity: from Antarctic expeditions with Omar Di Felice to winter ascents of 8,000-meter peaks by Alex Txikon, they are true all-rounders for extreme outdoor activities.