First major customer – knapsacks, rucksacks, mess tents and stable tents are produced for the army.

An army horse with deuter saddlebags.

Hans Deuter expands the company remit to include suitcases and leather goods. Sack production is divested as a public limited company. Marquee rental stock hits 10,000 sqm. Deuter marquees are now used for the Munich Oktoberfest. 

The company is now called Hans Deuter. The backpack / tent and freight canopy production is now expanded to include suitcases and leather goods. 

Explorer Willi Rickmer sets off on expedition to the Pamir Mountains – deuter backpacks, bags, tarpaulins and tents accompany the team. From the beginning, deuter places emphasis on real-world experience in its product development and becomes the main outfitter for German expeditions up until the late 1970s. 

The deuter TAUERN backpack proves its worth. Expedition member Fritz Bechtold writes: “With the substantial demands placed on man and equipment during this expedition, we came to value the TAUERN backpack as a piece  of high-quality alpine equipment.”

July 22-24 Heckmair makes the first ascent of the Eiger North Face, equipped with a deuter backpack. Accompanied by Ludwig Vörg, Fritz Kasparek and Heinrich Harrer in the rope team.

Equipment and tents are manufactured for the German armed forces. Almost all of the production capacity is used up by this. 

An attempt is made to utilize existing capacities for new products. 

the marquee / pavilion construction becomes a separate business: ‘deuter Hallenbau GmbH, Augsburg’.

And also: One of the many deuter-equipped expeditions successfully climbs the extremely difficult Diamir face of Nanga Parbat.

deuter introduces the first ever nylon backpacks to the market. Synthetic materials are quickly adopted as the number one material for backpacks. 

deuter is Germany’s leading manufacturer of backpacks, suitcases and bags. 

The manufacturing and storage facilities almost double in size to 40,600 sqm. deuter supplies the Germany Olympics team with sports bags and travel bags for the 4th time. 

The original deuter back system is born.

This form of suspended mesh back is wholly new and revolutionizes the backpack market.

01.01.1989: The luggage and rucksack segments are split off from ‘deuter AG’ to form ‘deuter Sport & Leder GmbH’. 

In August, Andi Heckmair sets off on his bike and covers 315 Kilometers and 11,000 vertical meters over 4 days, establishing the Transalp route. And since none of the current offerings were suited to biking, he also helps develop the first ever bike-specific backpack.

The original BIKE 1, with AIRSTRIPES back system is launched. 

it’s no longer possible to manufacture complex, technical textile products in Germany at a competitive price. In 1991, deuter teams up with manufacturing partner Duke. What started out with just 35 sewing machines is now a highly specialized backpack factory in Vietnam, with around 5,400 employees exclusively making all of deuter’s backpacks and accessories. 

deuter explores another essential outdoor product: the sleeping bag. 

The start of a close collaboration with the Association of German Mountain and Ski Guides. These mountain guides, who spend 200 days a year out guiding clients in the mountains, give deuter valuable feedback, the equivalent of several years’ worth through ‘normal’ use. 

The best-selling backpack series lands, with updated AIRCOMFORT mesh back system. 

deuter once again recognized as Germany’s market leader in technical backpacks. Focusing on what’s important, its heritage, and its highly experienced team is the key to its success. 

The sleeping bag range is now complete: from kids’ sleeping bags through to 4-season expedition-grade down sleeping bags. 

deuter develops the SHIELD system, a new backpack concept, with a built-in, TÜV/GS inspected back protector that offers mountain bikers and skiers improved safety. The ATTACK bike backpack wins the Eurobike Gold Award for Innovation. 

deuter is acquired by the Schwan Stabilo Group.

Bernd Kullmann, deuter product developer for 20 years, takes the helm. 

deuter is proud to welcome the extreme high-altitude mountaineer into the product development team for its SL range. She brings with her invaluable experience from her expeditions and Alpine training which helps in developing the SL women’s line of products. 

deuter is one of the founding members of the European Outdoor Conservation Association. The E.O.C.A. is a non-profit organization for the European outdoor industry that funds nature conservation projects worldwide. 

deuter signs up to the bluesign® System, the world’s strictest standard for environmental protection, occupational safety, and consumer protection in the textile industry. Together we work on improving our manufacturing processes. 

Tall people can now find a backpack that fits, with the new EL models. The back length on these models is somewhat longer than on regular fit models. The Aircomfort Flexlite System is the name of the new AIRCOMFORT system, specially developed for the lightweight SPECTRO series. 

The Exosphere and Neosphere sleeping bags hit the market. These groundbreaking sleeping bags have stretchy seams that make them even more comfortable and easy to warm. 

deuter is now a member of the Fair Wear Foundation (FWF). As a member of this independent initiative that champions fair working conditions and social standards, we take a systematic approach to assessing and improving working conditions in our manufacturing partners’ sites in Asia and at our headquarters in Gersthofen. 

deuter launches the new Ypsilon school backpack that’s designed for the anatomy and requirements of growing young children.

Since moving to Gersthofen in 1997, deuter has grown 800%. A new headquarters is built, offering more space, and using the latest building technology such as geothermal power to make it a greener building. 

Martin Riebel becomes CEO of deuter Sport GmbH. 

deuter produces its first bluesign® accredited products: the KIKKI children’s backpack (bluesign® approved fabric) and the DREAMLAND children’s sleeping bag (bluesign® product). 

In April, deuter receives the Fair Wear Foundation ‘Best Practice Award’ for its “bold investment in its manufacturing sites and headquarters” to cut overtime hours worked. deuter is awarded top marks, and with it ‘Leader Status’ in the independent organization’s annual assessment. 

The textile partnership is an initiative set up by the German government to improve social, environmental and economic conditions along the textile supply chain. 

The Gravity Series is the culmination of many years of experience and expertise in the fields of climbing and bouldering. Developed by competition climbers, boulderers, mountain guides, expedition leaders and other top athletes, deuter’s climbing collection covers anything from the gym to the highest peaks and rock faces in the world. 

The Attack, the original protector backpack, gets a new look and feature set. With the lightest and latest back protector from SAS-Tec, protective gear attachments, a new-style helmet holder, goggles pocket and cell phone pocket, and a brand-new downhill-oriented back system, the Attack is ready to take on anything. 

Starting with the Attack, deuter introduces a dedicated cell phone pocket to most of its bike backpacks, positioned against the back for on-the-move access without having to take off the pack. 

The new PowerBox innovation prevents down slippage in sleeping bags, with its waffle-like structure that uses vertical baffles and stretchy horizontal seams across the top of the sleeping bag, from the knees down. 

A new back system adjustment allows for precision adjustment to various back lengths and therefore a tailored fit for the wearer.

More than 20 years of experience and design expertise is built into the Aircontact. VariFit-Slide adjustment, 3D hip fins, and pivoting shoulder straps: these trekking backpacks are now more comfortable than ever to carry.

deuter has held the Fair Wear Foundation (FWF) Leader Status since 2013, its highest member status. The FWF works to improve working conditions in textile and garment factories, particularly on the ground in production countries. deuter has been a member of the FWF since August 2011 and is committed to its stringent employment guidelines. Thanks to its conscientious implementation of fair working and manufacturing conditions, this year we again achieved the Fair Wear Foundation’s coveted Leader Status. 

To help protect our environment and health, deuter eliminates all PFAS from its products, while maintaining equally high quality. To ensure water and dirt repellent performance, we now only use DWR (Durable Water Repellent) finishes that are PFAS free and not harmful. This special kind of finish causes water to bead off the surface of textiles, keeping the fabric dry and the natural environment clean. 

Our UP series uses resource-efficient production to make it more sustainable. All fabrics are 100% recycled and manufactured according to bluesign® standards. And they’re cool and stylish, too.  

On July 1, 2020, Robert Schieferle, previously Deputy Managing Director, takes over as sole Managing Director of deuter Sport GmbH, replacing Martin Riebel. 

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