Ferrino’s Highlabs and Treklabs gets a makeover
FERRINO’S PROJECT DEDICATED TO THE TESTING OF MOUNTAINEERING AND HIKING PRODUCTS AND THE PROMOTION OF THE MOUNTAIN REGION, UPDATES AGAIN.
The initiative launched in 1994 with the now historic camp installed at the Quintino Sella Refuge at Monte Rosa’s Felik Col, will from this year involve new refuges from the Western Alps to the Dolomites and from the Modena Apennines to the Julian Alps, with proposals for new fixed camps and daily experiences for all mountain enthusiasts
Summer 2023 marks the major relaunch of the program for testing its mountain equipment, with direct and free involvement of enthusiasts and end users.
Last year saw the return of the camp set up since 1994 at the Quintino Sella Refuge at Monte Rosa’s Felik Col, where people can test and give feedback on the use of tents, sleeping bags, mats and backpacks from the Turin-based company’s HighLab line, dedicated to technical mountaineering and high altitude. This historic location continues to be joined by that of the Toesca refuge in the Susa Valley, which for more than 5 years has been the ideal place for testing products from Ferrino’s line intended for trekking and hiking activities.
This year, in an effort to wink not only at hiking enthusiasts but also at families who hike in the mountains, Ferrino baby backpacks will also be available for testing at the Toesca hut, picking them up at the Paradiso delle Rane refreshment stand, the starting point for the hike to the Toesca hut.
Main news this summer, is the expansion of the project HighLab & TrekLab all over Italy, with the activation of new fixed camps and some weekend-long TrekLab Experience events, with the philosophy of bringing the public closer to Ferrino products and giving everyone, enthusiasts and not, a bivouac experience at high altitude in complete safety. The new partner refuges in these initiatives are located in the Western Alps, the Dolomites, the Julian Alps and the Modena Apennines.
The Quintino Sella and Toesca refuges will be joined by the Remondino Refuge, which will host a fixed camp to test the features of HighLab products, dedicated to high-altitude bivouac and mountaineering, and the Celso Gilberti Refuge at the foot of the Canin mountain range, home to a new TrekLab camp, or rather designed to test equipment designed for the most demanding trekkers.
They are also joined by Rifugio Duca degli Abruzzi at Lago Scaffaiolo in the Apennines of Modena and Rifugio Roda di Vael in Val di Fassa, which will offer interesting TrekLab experience, a new experience format offered by Ferrino ideal for activities in mid-mountain environments, such as tents, sleeping bags, and sleeping mats in which to spend a night under the stars, to astronomical observations, concerts at high altitudes, and guided hikes organized by refuges.
Marco Chiaberge, product manager who coordinates Ferrino ‘s R&D team , explains the value of the HighLab and TrekLab projects: “The philosophy that guides the realization of our products is that of a constant process of research and development, which, to be truly effective, cannot be based only on the skills of the professionals directly involved in the realization phase. The “road test” of equipment, repeated over time in the most diverse environments and conditions, along with the observations of those who actually use it, is a key element in raising quality standards, gathering an extraordinary amount of data that allows us to modify and improve performance. That’s why at the end of each high-altitude experience at a fixed camp or mountain hut promoting an ‘experience,’ participants are asked for feedback on the products tested through a questionnaire, which cross-references the subjective parameters of the testers with the objective parameters of the weather detectors placed next to the camps and allows for important insights into the refinement of our product range.”
“The HighLab and TrekLab program,” adds Anna Ferrino, CEO of Ferrino. was born with the main intention of integrating the product development process by going to add to the laboratory tests carried out in the research phase and the field tests operated by professionals, final tests open to “non-professional” testers, who in fact represent the majority of our target audience. However, it should not be forgotten that participating in a HighLab or TrekLab camp or experience represents a unique experience in beautiful places, so the enhancement of this program aims to offer more and more outdoor enthusiasts the opportunity to live this experience and become a tester for a day, becoming part of a real Ferrino community and accessing exclusive benefits and information. Therefore, we want to thank the partners, old and new, who support us in this important adventure and with whom we are happy to contribute to the promotion, knowledge and protection of the extraordinary places that are the scene of our passion for the mountains and our small and big adventures.”
For information and to book participation in the HighLab and TrekLabexperiences visit the official website
ferrino.com.au
