
Ortovox
1980 | FORMATION OF ORTOVOX
Gerald Kampel and Jürgen Wegner develop the first double frequency transceiver, ORTOVOX F2 for searching avalanche victims. Until then all avalanche transceivers in use would send and receive in different frequencies (2, 275kHz and 457 kHz). This would often lead to fatal avalanche accidents when victims could not be found quickly enough due to differences in frequency. The F2 can send and receive on both frequencies and is received with enthusiasm. Within 2 years it became number one on the market.
1985 | 1ST POWDER BACKPACK - The ORTOVOX powder rucksack and the ORTOVOX avalanche shovel are added to the legendary F2. Even today – after more than 20 years – products from that time are still in use showing the exceptional quality they are made of.
1988 | WALK WOOL - ORTOVOX develops sophisticated sport fashion made of Walk wool. The touring jackets and sweaters, hats, gaiters, gloves and socks are made of 100% Walk sheep wool and, compared to synthetic fibers, gives “natural” advantages.
1989 | ORTOVOX F1 - Brings the introduction of a completely new type of avalanche transceiver. The ORTOVOX f1 classic with flexible belt system, integrated speakers and optional earpiece is born.
1990 | ORTOVOX F1 PLUS - The companies name is changed to ORTOVOX Sportartikel GmBH.
The ORTOVOX F1 plus, the first avalanche transceiver with LED technique is introduced. An additional LED light, and the opportunity to search for friends as well as lost equipment is a distinct development on the transceiver market.
1993 | WOOL FLEECE - The first sweaters, hats and headbands made of cosy wool fleece are added to the range. The soft wool fleece is super light, comfortable to wear and, thanks to the integrated SUPERWASH, easy to care for.
1994 | ORTOVOX F1 FOCUS - The legendary F1 focus is presented. It breaks all sales records and becomes the most sold avalanche transceiver worldwide. The idea: To make a search easier by introducing an arrow made up of the three traffic light colours. This visual search aid significantly helps to “find a victim faster and more easily”.
1995 | FUNCTIONAL UNDERWEAR - The first functional underwear made of Merino wool is being introduced: Shirts, pants and turtle-neck tops for Alpine skiing, ski touring and mountain walking mean that the need to frequently change base layers has become a thing of the past.
1996 | ORTOVOX X-LIGHT - ORTOVOX starts working together with the extreme mountaineer Hans Kammerlander and together develop the ORTOVOX rucksack model “X-light”. Made of a combination of Ripstop Cordura and Powernet Thermolight, it is extremely tough but very light, weighing only 380g.
1998 | ORTOVOX M1 - The ORTOVOX m1 – “a star was born”! It is the birth year of the first fully compatible, digital-analogue avalanche transceiver. The m stands for menu control.
1999 | ORTOVOX M2 - Development is fast – the ORTOVOX m2 is even faster.
“THE” avalanche transceiver with the fastest method of switching from send to search mode. It also features a unique innovative belt system and a function to reliably locate several victims. Until the introduction of the m2, no other ORTOVOX avalanche transceiver had ever been declared winner in as many tests worldwide.