LEKI

What LEKI does

LEKI Lenhart GmbH is a third-generation, family-owned German manufacturer of outdoor sporting goods specializing exclusively in poles and gloves. Founded in 1948 in Dettingen/Teck and headquartered in Kirchheim unter Teck, the company operates the world's largest pole manufacturing facility through its wholly-owned subsidiary Novasport in Tachov, Czech Republic, and employs roughly 350 people. Its portfolio spans ski poles, trekking/hiking poles, trail running poles, Nordic walking poles, cross-country poles, and ski touring poles, complemented by a matched glove line (ski, outdoor, cross-country, touring) under brands including the flagship Makalu trekking series and the newly launched Montera backcountry collection.

The company's competitive position rests on a patent estate of more than 250 filings, anchored by the 1998 Trigger System that uniquely couples poles and gloves and the 1974 SLS adjustment system that created the world's first adjustable trekking pole. LEKI monetizes this technology base through a dual distribution model: direct-to-consumer e-commerce across European markets and a global specialty dealer network, supported by a B2B Media Portal for distributors and ambassadors. Pricing spans from approximately €7 for accessories to €300 for premium carbon racing poles and $170-$210 for premium backcountry gloves. The brand is reinforced by sponsorship of more than 1,000 professional athletes across alpine, Nordic, trail running, and climbing disciplines, and by long-tenured partnerships such as the Protect Our Winters Brand Alliance and the SME Climate Hub Race to Zero commitment. The current management team — Managing Directors Matthias Hatt and Martin Rominger alongside third-generation owners Friederike and Markus Lenhart — was installed in 2021 following the death of Waltraud Lenhart.

Name

LEKI

Legal name

LEKI Lenhart GmbH

Website

https://leki.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1948

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

LEKI is a third-generation, family-owned German manufacturer of premium outdoor poles and gloves, operating the world's largest pole factory in the Czech Republic and serving ski, trekking, trail running, and Nordic sports consumers globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Outdoor Sporting Equipment (Poles and Gloves)

NAICS

Sporting Goods Retailers (45911)

SIC

Sporting & Athletic Goods, Nec (3949)

akta.pro primary industry

Ski & Snowboard Equipment Retail (Skis, Boards, Boots, Bindings, Poles) (CRAMAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Nordic / Cross-Country Ski Retail (Skis, Boots, Bindings, Poles, Wax) (CRAMAJAG), Ski Touring / Backcountry & Avalanche Safety Retail (AT Gear, Skins, Beacons, Probes, Shovels, Airbags) (CRAMAJAD), Climbing & Mountaineering Gear Retail (CRAMAAAB)

Keywords

• Ski poles
• Trekking poles
• Trail running poles
• Outdoor gloves
• Winter sports equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Kirchheim Unter Teck

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Product Sales - Poles: LEKI generates revenue primarily through direct sales of trekking poles, ski poles, trail running poles, Nordic walking poles, and cross-country skiing poles through its e-commerce platform and dealer network.
2. Product Sales - Gloves: Revenue from ski gloves, touring gloves, outdoor gloves, trail running gloves, Nordic walking gloves, and cross-country gloves with integrated pole systems.
3. Accessories and Replacement Parts: Sales of accessories including straps, tips, baskets, bags, protectors, and clothing items, plus replacement parts for long-term product maintenance.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

LEKI manufactures and sells high-end sport-specific poles (ski, trekking, trail running, Nordic walking, cross-country, ski touring) and integrated gloves (ski, touring, cross-country, outdoor, backcountry) under its own brand, leveraging proprietary technologies such as the patented Trigger System, SLS adjustment, and carbon shaft materials. Products are sold directly through leki.com and through a global dealer network across 30+ countries, with a 75+ year German engineering heritage and wholly-owned production in the Czech Republic.

Product overview

LEKI is a German outdoor equipment manufacturer specializing in poles (stocks) and gloves (handschuhe) for various sports. The core product portfolio centers on two main categories: (1) poles including ski poles (Skistöcke), trekking/hiking poles (Wanderstöcke), trail running poles, Nordic walking poles, cross-country ski poles (Langlaufstöcke), and ski touring poles (Skitourenstöcke); and (2) gloves including ski gloves (Skihandschuhe), outdoor gloves (Outdoor Handschuhe), cross-country gloves (Langlaufhandschuhe), and touring gloves (Tourenhandschuhe). Supporting these core offerings are accessories (Zubehör) and proprietary technologies such as the Trigger System. The company operates its own e-commerce platform alongside a B2B media portal for partners. Notable product lines include the Makalu trekking series and the newly launched Montera backcountry gloves collection.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ski Poles (Skistöcke) Alpine ski poles covering Racing, Piste, and Freeride disciplines; available in aluminum to carbon fiber constructions for skiing in varying conditions.
• Trekking and Hiking Poles (Wanderstöcke) Adjustable (telescoping) and folding trekking poles for hiking, multi-day trekking, and high-alpine use, including the flagship Makalu series with the SLS adjustment system and carbon/aluminum shaft options.
• Trail Running Poles (Trail Running Stöcke) Ultra-lightweight folding poles for trail running, including competition, training, and cross-trail variants; feature carbon shafts, minimal pack weight, and ergonomic grips such as the D-Loop Mesh Strap.
• Nordic Walking Poles (Nordic Walking Stöcke) Nordic walking poles in fixed-length and adjustable (Vario) variants, with ergonomic grips, rubber buffers, and gait-tuned tips for urban and off-path walking.
• Cross-Country Ski Poles (Langlaufstöcke) Lightweight carbon and aluminum poles for cross-country skiing, including Racing and Loipe variants, plus Ski Roller poles for off-summer training; feature specialized Nordic grips and the Nordic Trigger Shark System for power transfer.
• Ski Touring Poles (Skitourenstöcke) Durable aluminum and carbon ski touring poles engineered for ski mountaineering, featuring compact folding systems, adjustable lengths, and binding-compatible baskets for touring and alpine ski mountaineering.
• Ski Gloves (Skihandschuhe) Ski-specific gloves including Racing (Rennhandschuhe), All Mountain, Mittens, Ladies, Men's, Kids, Waterproof, and Extra Warm variants, integrated with the Trigger System for optimal pole control.
• Outdoor Gloves (Outdoor Handschuhe) Multi-sport outdoor gloves for Trail Running, Nordic Walking, Trekking, and Multisport use, designed for varying weather conditions and outdoor activities.
• Cross-Country Ski Gloves (Langlaufhandschuhe) Lightweight gloves designed for cross-country skiing, balancing breathability, grip, and warmth, including Lobster-style options for colder conditions.
• Touring Gloves (Tourenhandschuhe) Specialized gloves for ski touring, including waterproof, mitten, and lightweight variants engineered for ascending and descending in variable mountain conditions.
• Montera Backcountry Gloves and Mittens First-ever LEKI backcountry glove and mitten collection - four models (Montera Pro GTX, Montera Base, Montera Storm, Montera Prime and mitt variants) for backcountry skiing and mountaineering, using goatskin, merino wool, PrimaLoft insulation, and GORE-TEX membranes; available in men's and women's sizes at $170-$210 per pair.
• Accessories (Zubehör) Supporting products including protectors, bags, clothing, headwear, glasses, and replacement parts (straps, tips, baskets, leather balm) for LEKI poles and gloves, available to extend product life.
• Makalu Series Trekking Poles Flagship trekking pole series named after Mount Makalu, featuring the world's first adjustable trekking pole via the SLS adjustment system (1974); used by Reinhold Messner on his 1978 Mount Everest summit without supplemental oxygen.
• Skytera FX Carbon SL Trekking Pole Premium carbon folding pole for high-alpine tours featuring Speed Lock Plus adjustment, Core Locking Device (CLD) folding system, Verticon foam grip, and D-Loop Mesh Strap, priced at EUR 185 per pair.

Quantifiable outcome

• 33 tonnes CO2 saved annually through photovoltaic energy generation exceeding total consumption by 7%
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• High Five FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLEKI supports the High Five Foundation, an organization that helps mountain athletes with life-changing injuries in their rehabilitation. This reflects LEKI's social responsibility values.
• Protect Our Winters (POW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLEKI is part of the POW Brand Alliance. POW unites the outdoor sports community, raises awareness for climate protection, and drives positive change in society, economy, and politics.
• SME Climate Hub / Race to Zero InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLEKI committed to the SME Climate Hub and global Race to Zero initiative, pledging to reduce its ecological footprint and make the company more sustainable long-term.
• WINTRUST Project (Ski Equipment Recycling)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustrian research project involving manufacturers including Atomic, HEAD, Fischer, Blizzard-Tecnica and LEKI alongside recycling companies, working to extend recycling solutions to skis and bindings which present greater technical challenges due to bonded composite materials.
• Grassroots Outdoor AllianceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIndustry organization for specialty outdoor retail. LEKI participates in Grassroots Connect buying shows and specialty awards recognizing retailers and vendors in outdoor retail.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Roeckl Sports: Bavarian-made specialist glove maker for cycling, equestrian, running, and winter sports; directly comparable on the glove side of LEKI's product mix.
• Komperdell: Austrian manufacturer of ski poles, trekking poles, and protective gear for skiing and mountaineering, sharing LEKI's pole-focused heritage and Central European production base.
• Black Diamond Equipment: US-based outdoor equipment company producing trekking, ski, and trail running poles plus gloves and headlamps, with comparable premium technical positioning and athlete-led marketing.
• Hestra: Swedish premium glove maker specialising in skiing, mountaineering, and outdoor gloves - directly comparable to LEKI's glove portfolio and pole-gloves integration offering.
• Reusch: Italian specialist in ski and outdoor gloves, including racing and backcountry models - competes with LEKI's ski and touring glove lines including the new Montera backcountry collection.
• Ski Trab: Italian ski-pole specialist focused on racing and freeride poles, comparable to LEKI's racing (HRC Team) and freeride/freeride pole SKUs at premium technical price points.

Broad incumbents

• Swix: Norwegian winter sports brand with a broader portfolio spanning ski wax, poles, gloves, and apparel - competes with LEKI in cross-country and alpine poles and gloves as part of a wider range.

Emerging players

• KV+ (KV+ Poli): Swiss premium pole brand focused on cross-country, ski mountaineering, and trail running poles - emerging competitor in LEKI's highest-ASP carbon pole categories.
• Toko: Swiss cross-country specialist with poles, gloves, and wax - overlapping with LEKI's Nordic pole and glove lines from a smaller, regionally concentrated base.

Others

• Madshus: Norwegian manufacturer of cross-country skis and poles; adjacent competitor in Nordic ski poles ecosystem comparable on the cross-country pole category.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/Leki_ski_outdoor/playlists?view=50&sort=dd&shelf_id=12
• Xx.com/lekiusa
• Facebookfacebook.com/LEKIUSA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/leki-usa-inc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about LEKI