MONT BLANC - 4.807,81m Highest mountain in europe
FRANÇOIS D‘HAENE UTMB champion 2012, 2014, 2017, 2021
2021 HIGHER FASTER FURTHER
In the 2010s and 2020s, LEKI kept innovating at an unprecedented pace. At the same time, the underlying technologies and materials were close to being maxed out. There are limits to the concept of higher, faster, and further – if we like it or not. LEKI’s 2023 Alphatrail FX.One Superlite might be the most extreme successor of what once was called a “trekking pole”. It’s a high-point proof of what LEKI can forge in terms of performance and weight. The question comes of what might be next for a brand so entangled in the world of racing. While testing new products François gives a hint for what might matter in the future: “I would love to see more natural materials in this kind of trail running pole. Like more sustainability even in a trail running product.” This is a remarkable statement for somebody obsessed with performance and details. This change of paradigms would set the stage for LEKIs future developments.
When François D’Haene crossed the finish line on August 29, 2021, in Chamonix, he was the first man to win the legendary UTMB four times. His customized LEKI poles were the lightest ever built, weighing in at little more than 120g, compared to 275g of the first Makalu from 1974. François’s pole was a masterpiece made from carbon, aramid, and high-precision parts. The trekking pole had fully evolved into poles designed for the extreme sport of trail running with its specific demands.
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