LEKI Trekking Poles from Germany
Designed in Swabia, manufactured in the Czech Republic — European-made poles with more than 250 patents and a lifelong repair promise.
Developed in Germany. Made in Europe
Designed in Germany – Manufactured in Tachov, Czech Republic – VISIT BRAND →
| Price | Sustainability | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| €€€ (Premium) | ★★★★ | Online + worldwide retail |
(€ = budget | €€ = mid | €€€ = premium | €€€€ = luxe) (★★★★★ = heirloom + zero-waste preorder |
Most outdoor gear brands talk about durability; LEKI stockpiles spare parts for up to ten years so you can actually prove it. Since 1948, this Swabian family business has grown into the global technology leader for poles — not through marketing, but through more than 250 patents and a factory in the Czech Republic that makes the majority of their products in-house. At a time when “Made in Europe” is increasingly rare in the outdoor industry, LEKI is one of the few brands that genuinely delivers on the promise.
Brand Intro
LEKI was founded in 1948 in Dettingen/Teck, in the Swabian region of southern Germany, by Karl and Gertrud Lenhart. What started as a small woodworking workshop producing letters for bakeries quickly pivoted when Karl — an avid skier — began manufacturing ski pole handles and baskets. Today, operating as LEKI Lenhart GmbH from Kirchheim unter Teck, the family business employs around 350 people and develops and manufactures its products at two European sites: Kirchheim (Germany) and Tachov (Czech Republic).
Inspiring Story
In 1984, Klaus Lenhart took over LEKI at 29 years old with eleven employees and no guarantee of success. In the decades that followed, he built LEKI into the global market leader in poles through relentless technical innovation — patents, new grip systems, the AERGON ergonomic grip — always from the same Swabian base. After Klaus’s sudden death, his wife Waltraud Lenhart continued to lead the company, preserving the family character of the business. The engineering ambition that drove those years still shows up today: in 2023, LEKI launched the Hemp One Vario as a research pilot — the first trekking pole shaft made from 80% hemp fibre, with hemp grown just miles from their German headquarters, and assembled by hand in Tachov. Only 250 pairs were made, but the project won the ISPO Award 2023 and signals where LEKI’s next decade of innovation is heading.
Who is this for?
You hike regularly and your poles are an investment, not a throwaway. You want gear that can be repaired rather than replaced, with parts still available a decade after purchase. You care that your equipment is engineered and manufactured in Europe, with short supply chains and transparent production. And even if you only hike occasionally, LEKI poles are worth it for one simple reason: they take the load off your knees on descents — making longer or steeper walks accessible for anyone who feels that strain. Whether you cover 50 km or 500 km a year, the right poles make the difference between a walk you finish comfortably and one you don’t.
| Made in Europe | ✅ 100% Czech Republic (own factory in Tachov) + Germany (HQ Kirchheim unter Teck); explicitly “Made in Europe” |
| Ownership | ✅ Family-owned |
| Company size | Medium (~350 employees) |
| Durability | Spare parts stocked for 10+ years – Worldwide repair service network – 250+ patents – Designed for multi-year use |
| Charity / Impact | High Five Foundation (mountaineers after life-changing injuries) – Protect Our Winters (POW Brand Alliance) – SME Climate Hub / Race to Zero – KEFF energy efficiency label – Own photovoltaic systems (7% energy surplus) |
DISCLAIMER Sustainability score is subjective. InEurope.eu finds this crucial, but conducts no audits. Assessment based on publicly available information and brand feedback
The information on this blog has been presented to the brand but not yet been verified.
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