2022 CLIMBING IS THE NEW EVEREST
For 28 years, Eberhard Heim has been in charge of engineering and development at LEKI, and was part of every major innovation that shaped the modern LEKI. In 2022 he stood in the middle of a hemp field at the top of the Swabian Alb. It was late summer, and the 2,50m tall hemp stems swayed in the wind, ready to be harvested for one of LEKIs most ambitious projects. Hemp offers enormous advantages over other alternatives for natural fiber reinforced materials, as it is a natural fiber with excellent strength values. For this reason, the hemp for a new product is grown only about six kilometers away from the LEKI headquarters at a farm in the Swabian Alb. Since the area already has a long tradition of hemp cultivation, it was a natural decision to grow locally. From sowing to harvesting, processing of hemp fibers, shaping to further processing and final assembly in Tachov. To build the Hemp One Vario, the worldâs first trekking pole made from hemp. The shaft is constructed of a biobased composite, the LEKI Hemp Tec. The grip is a CorTec technology made of LEKI- proven grip material with a natural cork share of 27%. The grip core also consists of a quarter of hemp fiber. It is complemented by a natural linen strap made in Germany. The basket is also made from a quarter of hemp. A pole made of hemp should only be the
ASSEMBLY
PROCESSING
SHAPING
beginning and a step in the right direction. Also, in the future, we want to make our contribution to a sustainable world with sustainable products. We live and love what we do and want to do it with all of you for a long time. Our piece of a tailwind for a shared sustainable future. The LEKI vision is still the best pole and glove in the world for everyone - but the parameters may have changed. For some people, the best may be the pole that strikes the best balance between performance and sustainability.
SOWING
HARVEST
Made with FlippingBook interactive PDF creator