DEUTER CELEBRATES 20 YEARS OF SL WOMEN’S FIT -A MILESTONE IN THE OUTDOORS
Women are helping to shape the future of outdoor sports, by bringing their experience directly to deuter products
In line with International Women’s Day this month, deuter celebrates 20 years of the Slim Line (SL) women’s fit. deuter has been providing the outdoor industry with backpacks developed by women for women since 2006, catalysing more diversity, equality, and participation in mountain sports.
The development of the SL range serves as a clear statement of product fit. It has been deliberately chosen to be neutral; it describes a cut not a target, because fit remains individual. Men with a slimmer build or shorter back also benefit from the SL construction. Prior to development of the SL packs, deuter found that the straps on men’s backpacks tended to slip off the shoulders, the hip fins didn’t sit right, and the sternum straps were too low on the chest.
A group of female athletes and mountaineers joined a team of women at deuter, to overhaul the construction based on anatomical findings. As such deuter became the first outdoor manufacturer to adopt a systematic approach to women’s outdoor equipment, marking a significant shift away from an historically male-dominated outdoor market.
The SL women’s fit focuses on translating anatomical differences into functional product design, resulting in a body-hugging fit, better load stability and more freedom of movement:Tailored Back Length: Shorter back lengths in consideration of the average woman’s shorter back.Contoured S-Shaped Straps: Narrower shoulder straps to allow space for the chest, creating a snug fit and eliminating pressure points.Specifically Designed Hip Fins: Shaped to wrap securely around a woman’s hips for maximum stability.Comfort-First Chest Area: Softer materials in the chest area for better comfort.
For 20 years, deuter has worked closely with female athletes for its SL line, including Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner and Alix von Melle, Melissa Le Neve, Tamara Lunger, as well as Sanna and Lina El Kott. They all bring a wealth of experience and feedback from expeditions, rockfaces and trails, that goes directly into product development.
Today, the SL women’s fit encompasses backpacks to support women across a wide range of outdoor uses. Specially designed for women undertaking longer self-supported backpacking and thru-hiking trips, the Aircontact Core SL is designed with precision adaptable back length and ergonomic load distribution. For trail runners, the SL version of the ultra-light Traick vest offers a garment-like fit with stow options for fuel and kit.
This philosophy extends to deuter’s sleeping bag range, which utilises a specialised cut and construction for narrower shoulder areas, and wider hip and thigh areas. They are designed with increased insulation in foot and kidney areas to address physiological differences in heat regulation, and due to the adapted proportions, are reduced in overall weight, with better insulation efficiency.
Equality doesn’t just start at the summit. It starts with development.
With women playing an integral part in product development and branding, focussing on fit has always represented an underlying ethos for deuter. This manifests itself in the support of programmes like the Lowa Matterhorn Summit Scholarship 2026, which gives 14 women and girls from different backgrounds the opportunity to access mountain expeditions, such as the Matternhorn, together.
Whilst deuter takes pride in celebrating 20 years of the SL women’s fit, this is by no means the end of a chapter, rather a work in progress. Fit, participation, and diversity remain central to the brand’s evolution, for years to come.
For more information on the full collection visit https://www.deuter.com/uk-en/backpacks/sl.
