Ferrino HighLab at Rifugio Quintino Sella and TrekLab at the Toesca mountain hut

After a two-year forced break due to the Covid emergency, the exclusive programme designed by Ferrino to test its best performing equipment is back in summer 2022, ready to directly engage mountain enthusiasts and experts. In the past few weeks, a new camp was set up near the Quintino Sella mountain hut located on Colle Felik in the Monte Rosa massif, at 3,585 metres above sea level. This is where, since 1994, technical field tests have been carried out on the brand’s prototypes of tents, down sleeping bags, mattresses, backpacks and other high-altitude equipment, designed by the research and development team led by product manager Marco Chiaberge for the HighLab range, which includes top-performance Ferrino products intended for alpine mountaineering, suitable to withstand the most extreme conditions. “After two years where we were forced to interrupt the programme, we are eager to resume our collaboration with Ferrino and thus to contribute – with the mountaineers who visit us – to the development of increasingly high-performance equipment for the outdoor adventures experienced by people who love nature and sports,” says Corinne Favre, Head of Ferrino HighLab at the Quintino Sella mountain hut.     At the Quintino Sella mountain hut, climbing enthusiasts will have the opportunity to contribute to the development and constant improvement of equipment in the HighLab range, by freely testing it directly on the field and providing their feedback. “Starting this year, users’ feedback,” explains Marco Chiaberge, Product manager at Ferrino, “will be collected through a simple and convenient form uploaded on dedicated digital devices, in order to process and compare data integrating the information we have on the weather and environmental conditions in which tests were carried out.”   In addition to the high-altitude camp, this summer Ferrino will also open a testing camp at the Toesca mountain hut, which is nestled at 1,710 metres in the wonderful mid-mountain environment of the Susa Valley: an ideal location to test Ferrino products designed for trekking, hiking and biking fans. Testers will have the chance to stay overnight in the best Ferrino 3- and 4-season tents and to try the products in the Lite range. The camp will be open throughout the summer as well as during the next winter season, to allow for tests on the HighLab products in winter conditions. The HigLab and TrekLab programmes are not only an R&D project, but also an opportunity to promote the local mountains and the accommodation facilities hosting the camps; furthermore, they present the work that lies behind high-quality products by giving end users a great outdoor experience that they can share with friends and mountain enthusiasts, by posting the memories of their participation in Ferrino’s tests using hashtags #Ferrino and #FerrinoOutdoor on social media. Once the user feedback process will be completed, all participants in the HighLab experience will also receive a personalised “HighLab Member” patch they can add to their favourite backpack and will enter the exclusive community dedicated to Ferrino testers, who have access to special discounts and dedicated previews.   THIS YEAR’S CAMPS HIGHLAB Location: Quintino Sella mountain hut (3,585 m) - Colle Felik - Monte Rosa - Gressoney Valley (rifugioquintinosella@gmail.com - +39 0125 366113 - +39 348 8107793) When: Ferrino’s HighLab camp at Quintino Sella is open only during the summer, usually in July and August. Booking is required. Equipment available for testing: You can test the best HighLab tents, designed to provide comfort at high altitudes and resist in extreme conditions, and top-of-the-range sleeping bags and mattresses. Starting this year, a selection of mountaineering backpacks and the entire line of Ferrino products in Dyneema – including ultra-light Instinct backpacks and the new Blizzard 2 tent, weighing a mere 1.5 kg – will also be available. All HighLab equipment represents the best of Ferrino’s research and development, and is designed for professional mountain climbers, guides and explorers. TREKLAB Location: Toesca mountain hut (1,710 m) - Pian del Roc - Susa Valley (Bussoleno, Turin) (rifugiotoesca@gmail.com - +39 346 2247806) When: Ferrino’s camp at the Toesca mountain hut is open in both the summer and the winter. During the summer, you can sleep in tents from June to September, while during the winter the camp is open from November to March. Booking is required. Equipment available for testing: During the summer, you can test the best 3-season and Lite tents by Ferrino, as well as a selection of mattresses and sleeping bags specifically designed for trekkers, suitable for mid-altitude bivouacs. There will also be poles and backpacks for trekking and hiking, including the unisex and women’s version of the Finisterre – Ferrino’s iconic backpack, which recently underwent a restyling that made it more sustainable with the use of recycled materials, as well as more functional and comfortable in terms of design. During the winter, HighLab products will be available for testing. Info: www.ferrino.it