LEKI
LEKI is a German maker of ski, trekking and Nordic walking poles and sports gloves, based in Kirchheim unter Teck. Founded by Karl Lenhart in 1948 and still owned by the Lenhart family, it is frequently described as a world market leader in ski and trekking poles.
| Founded | 1948 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Karl Lenhart |
| Headquarters | Kirchheim unter Teck, Germany |
| Company | Leki Lenhart GmbH |
| Ownership | Lenhart family |
| Website | leki.com |
What is LEKI?
LEKI, operated by Leki Lenhart GmbH, is a German sports equipment company headquartered in Kirchheim unter Teck, Baden-Württemberg. It is best known for poles used in skiing, trekking, trail running and Nordic walking, and is frequently described as a world market leader in that category.
History
Karl Lenhart founded the business in 1948 as a woodworking workshop in Dettingen unter Teck. In the 1960s the company was among the first to use fibreglass in pole production, and in the 1970s it developed adjustable trekking poles. Reinhold Messner and Peter Habeler used LEKI poles on their 1978 ascent of Mount Everest. The company took the name Leki Lenhart GmbH in 1997, opened production in Tachov, Czech Republic, in 2000 and introduced foldable poles in 2013. The Lenhart family's third generation now owns the business.
Products and positioning
- Alpine, cross-country and ski touring poles
- Trekking, trail running and Nordic walking poles
- Ski, outdoor and touring gloves
- Bags, headwear, sunglasses, protectors and spare parts
In 2023 its hemp-fibre Hemp One Vario trekking pole won an ISPO Award.
Why it matters
LEKI is a family-owned specialist that has turned a single product category into an international outdoor brand.
Frequently asked questions
Who founded LEKI?
LEKI was founded by Karl Lenhart in 1948 as a woodworking business in Dettingen unter Teck, Germany.
What does LEKI make?
LEKI makes ski, trekking, trail running and Nordic walking poles, as well as ski and outdoor gloves and related accessories.