Buying Guides
Ferrino: outdoor gear from Turin, tested on Monte Rosa
Ferrino has been making expedition gear in Turin since 1870. Now it is at SportFits too: sleeping bags, rucksacks and clothing for demanding mountain tours.
Key facts at a glance
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Ferrino was founded in Turin in 1870 and is now run by the fifth generation of the family.
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Since 1994, Ferrino has tested its gear on Monte Rosa at 3,585 metres, in real extreme conditions.
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In 1986, Reinhold Messner became the first person to climb all 14 of the world's eight-thousanders, equipped by Ferrino.
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Available at SportFits: the Lightech and Nightec sleeping bag ranges, rucksacks and clothing.
New at SportFits: Ferrino
Ferrino is now available at SportFits. That brings one of Europe's most traditional outdoor brands into our range, with sleeping bags, rucksacks and equipment developed for real mountain conditions over generations.
1870: how a paint workshop in Turin changed the outdoor world
In 1870, Cesare Ferrino opened a painting workshop in Turin and developed a process for waterproofing fabrics on an industrial scale. Making textiles waterproof in a systematic way was new at the time. What started as a craft business soon became the place to go for expedition teams, the army and the Alpine pioneers around 1900.
In 1910, Ferrino brought out the Cervino tent, named after the Matterhorn (Cervino in Italian) and one of the first industrially made trekking tents ever.
From the mid-1980s, Ferrino worked with Reinhold Messner. The South Tyrolean mountaineer wanted to climb all 14 eight-thousanders on Earth in Alpine style, with minimal kit. Ferrino developed tents and sleeping bags for him that worked in extreme conditions and were still light enough to fit his approach.
In 1986, Messner became the first person to stand on all 14 of the world's highest peaks. The partnership carried on: in the 1990s, Ferrino also equipped him for his Antarctic and North Pole expeditions.
Today the fifth generation of the family runs the company from Turin, with part of the manufacturing still done in-house at the same site.
HighLab: real-world testing at 3,585 metres
In 1994, Ferrino set up a permanent high-altitude test lab at the Rifugio Quintino Sella on Monte Rosa, at 3,585 metres. Sleeping bags, rucksacks and tents are tested there for months in real conditions: minus 20 degrees, UV exposure, wind loads. What passes the HighLab goes into production. What fails never makes it into the range.
Ferrino in numbers
- Year founded
- 1870
- HighLab Monte Rosa
- 3,585 m
- Wind tunnel test
- 150 km/h
- Worldwide distribution
- 50+ countries
Sleeping bags, rucksacks, clothing: the Ferrino range at SportFits
The Ferrino range at SportFits focuses on three categories: sleeping bags, the brand's core strength, rucksacks for trekking and freeride, and weatherproof clothing and gloves. The sleeping bags come with RDS-certified down and are tested in Ferrino's own HighLab on Monte Rosa before going into production.
Sleeping bags Sleeping bags
Down & synthetic · 3-season to expedition · RDS-certifiedFerrino's core strength: down sleeping bags from the Lightech series with RDS-certified filling cover everything from three-season use to expeditions. If you prefer synthetic fill or often sleep in damp conditions, go for the Nightec Pro series. It dries quickly and still insulates when wet.
Rucksacks Trekking & freeride
Mountaineering · Trekking · TrailFerrino builds its rucksacks around how you use them: high-strength fabrics, attachments for skis and ice axes, ergonomic carrying systems. The Agile 35 is a light trekking rucksack, the Dry Hike 40+5 offers more volume for multi-day tours.
Clothing & accessories Equipment & clothing
Jackets · Gloves · SnowshoesRounding off the core range: weatherproof jackets, gloves, gaiters and ponchos made for alpine conditions. Since Ferrino took over Baldas in 2008, snowshoes have been part of the portfolio too.
Discover Ferrino sleeping bags and rucksacks at SportFits
From the Lightech down series to technical trekking rucksacks: find the full Ferrino range here.
Discover Ferrino ↗Who is Ferrino for?
Who is Ferrino the right choice for?
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If you need a sleeping bag for demanding mountain and trekking tours
Ferrino has a proven choice with the Lightech series (down, RDS-certified) and the Nightec series (synthetic, insulates even when damp), from three-season models to expedition versions
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If you want a versatile trekking rucksack with alpine DNA
Ferrino's rucksacks score with ergonomic carrying systems, robust materials and attachments for mountain gear, for day tours and multi-day stages alike
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If European manufacturing matters to you
Ferrino still makes part of its range in its own factory in Turin, where the company was founded in 1870: a family business for five generations, with short supply chains and direct quality control
Right for you if …
Mountaineers, trekkers and alpine enthusiasts who want technically mature sleeping bags and rucksacks with an expedition history behind them.
Probably not for you if …
Parents who want to kit out their children as well: Ferrino has no children's range.
Frequently asked questions
How well known is Ferrino in Europe?
In German-speaking countries Ferrino is less visible than the Scandinavian outdoor brands, but it has a good reputation in the alpine community. In southern Europe, especially Italy and France, Ferrino is one of the best-known outdoor manufacturers.
What does HighLab mean at Ferrino?
HighLab is Ferrino's permanent high-altitude test lab on Monte Rosa (3,585 m), running since 1994. Tents, sleeping bags and rucksacks are tested there in real extreme conditions before they go into series production.
What is the Tent-Set concept?
Ferrino's Tent-Set principle allows modular tent set-ups: inner tent, flysheet and accessories are combined to suit the season and your needs. One basic system can cover several seasons.
Which conditions are Ferrino tents made for?
Everything from light trekking tents for summer and autumn to high-altitude tents for expeditions above 6,000 metres. The EXTREME 2 is designed for extreme alpine conditions. Other models cover everything from family camping to trail running bivouacs.
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