LEKI, an innovative in skiing, trekking and trail running poles has introduced the Hemp One Vario, a trekking pole made from sustainable organic material.
The pilot program consists of 250 pairs of poles manufactured by hand in Europe, with the hemp grown and harvested in the Swabian Alb region, a few miles from the LEKI headquarters in Kirchheim, Germany, and assembly in LEKI’s factory located in the Czech Republic.
The pole concept is designed with organic materials across multiple components from grip to shaft to basket.
“The Hemp One Vario is the first pole that consistently pursues the use of organic materials as a replacement for aluminum and carbon,” said Matthias Hatt, CEO of LEKI. “With this project, we have taken a big step forward in developing sustainable technologies through fundamental research and we see a lot of development potential for the future.”
Raw hemp fibers are twice as strong as steel and hemp bends and mends approximately six times better than steel. The sustainable aspects of hemp are tremendous compared to other natural ingredients: it requires little water or land, and it nourishes the soil, enabling more secure and renewable harvests.
While weighing slightly more than carbon and aluminum poles by a few ounces, the Hemp One Vario’s sustainable properties and strength-to-weight ratio offset this and are groundbreaking in terms of responsibly replacing materials and components used in the traditional manufacturing of hard goods.
LEKI introduced the Hemp One Vario at ISPO last month and won the ISPO Award 2023, quoting the ISPO Award Jury: “LEKI is embarking on an exciting new path with the Hemp One Vario. The consistent sustainable approach, incorporating regionally renewable raw materials, can be described as a flagship project. Such innovations enrich the outdoor market on its way towards a resource-efficient and more sustainable future.”
The Hemp One Vario will be sold this year as a limited series program through Globetrotter stores in Europe and will expand in 2024 to distribution in the United States.
For more information, visit https://www.leki.com/us/.
Photo from IPSO
