For over thirty years, Deuter has been a part of my outdoor life, from hiking in the Dolomites to skiing in Japan; always reliable, comfortable and innovative.
As a child, my dad carried my sister up mountains in a Deuter child carrier, and my brother and I were jealous. Our baby sister sat above Dad’s head, enjoying the expansive views over the Defreggental in Austria without breaking a sweat. And she even got Kaiserschmarrn at the Hut! Dad carried her in comfort and even had some extra gear stored away in that child carrier, so we kids didn’t need to take too much. These hikes are still a topic of conversation at family reunions.
At the age of 18, I lived in Honduras for a year and bought my first Deuter backpack. In it, I could fit everything I needed for a year of living and travelling abroad. With this backpack, I flew across the Atlantic, hiked up a Volcano in Nicaragua, visited Tikal in Guatemala and travelled to San Cristobal de las Casas in Mexico, loving the comfort and non-sweaty back I had to carry my life with me through Central America.
Only later, when I entered the outdoor industry as a young adult, I became aware of this German company's rich history and forward-thinking attitude—in the 1920s Deuter made innovative outdoor equipment, which would go on the Pamir Expedition of Willi Rickmers in 1928. Later, a dedicated line of backpacks for women considered their anatomy. Nowadays, Deuter continues to lead the pack in designing with circularity and the UN Sustainable Development Goals in mind – something we here at WideOyster applaud!
The 'Deuter Promise' encapsulates the brand’s commitment to protecting the planet. By using recycled and durable materials, fostering long-term partnerships with production facilities, and offering a lifetime repair service, Deuter minimizes its ecological footprint. The brand’s dedication to reducing waste extends to innovative product lines like the Infiniti series, crafted entirely from production scraps. Add in that Deuter is a 1% For The Planet member and you realize that this brand puts its money where its mouth is and leading with example.
In my thirties an early mid-life crisis hit and instead of buying a car I decided to take up skitouring. As a responsible father I decided to get an Avalanche Airbag, and also here I ended up with a deuter backpack after some intense research – questions of size, weight, features and which airbag system to entrust my life to made this a lengthy process which would be a story of its own! And while I never had to pull the handle to inflate my airbag (though it’s a lot of fun!) I’m happy to know that I can trust my Deuter Alproof Ride when I’m standing with a smile before a deep JAPOW ride to the onsen and a tasty ramen dinner.
As a member of the Fair Wear Foundation for over a decade, Deuter has earned the prestigious Leader Status eleven times for fostering fair labour conditions. Their adherence to the Responsible Down Standard and bluesign® environmental protocols further underscores their responsibility toward people, animals, and the planet. From rigorous material testing to initiatives like the Green Week, in which the company donates 10% of their online revenue to the Patron Plasticfree Peaks organisation, Deuter ensures that every aspect of its operation aligns with its mission of sustainability and integrity.
After experimenting with a host of different activities – from backpacking and packrafting over trail running to ski touring – I have found out again that I’m a backpacker at heart. Nothing beats the experience of walking in nature for days on end, pitching my tent in the evening and cooking a tasty meal while watching the sun set (and then often staying awake too long to photograph the Milky Way and Northern Lights!). Along is nowadays the Deuter Aircontact Ultra. It satisfies me in many ways – both its light weight of just 1,270 g, which I greatly appreciate, and the Aircontact system, which means I can carry heavier loads in comfort and don’t get a soaking wet back.
The beauty of backpacking is also that I can take my kids along. They love to spend the nights outdoors, so we make a campfire, BBQ sausages above the fire and end the day with hot chocolate and marshmallows before retiring to the tent and our sleeping bags. Speaking of sleeping bags, we also decided on a Deuter sleeping bag after much research. We got the Deuter Starlight sleeping bags for the kids, which are so light and pack up to a compact size that the kids can carry them by themselves. And they’re also easy to pack up again, which is especially important for me! And if I ever have to replace my current sleeping bag, Deuter’s offerings will be high on my list as they keep animal and human welfare and environmental standards in mind when making their sleeping bags.
By a happy coincidence, Deuter entered my life when I was young, and it has stayed in my life as the company shows with every backpack, sleeping bag, and initiative, that greatness lies not just in what you create but in how you create it - always with purpose, care, and a vision for a better, more sustainable future. Because I share these same values with Deuter, I keep returning to them.
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