The new Leki Hemp One Vario trekking pole is the first to be made from hemp, a sustainable organic material used throughout the product.
This limited-edition series consists of 250 pairs of poles manufactured by hand in Europe. The hemp is grown and harvested in the Swabian Alb region a few miles from Leki headquarters in Kirchheim, Germany. Assembly is conducted in Leki’s factory in the Czech Republic.
The Hemp One Vario 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 Leki CEO Matthias Hatt. “With this project, we have taken a big step forward in developing sustainable technologies through fundamental research. We see a lot of development potential for the future.”
About Hemp
Raw hemp fibers are twice as strong as steel. 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 area and nourishes the soil, enabling more secure and renewable harvests.
The Hemp One Vario weighs more than carbon and aluminum poles by just a few ounces. Its 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 in May and won the ISPO Award 2023. The ISPO Award Jury said: “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. It will expand to U.S. distribution summer 2024.
Hemp One Vario (MSRP: $275)
- Shaft: 100% hemp fibers with resin
- Grip: Core 25% hemp fibers / CorTec surface with natural cork content
- Strap: 100% natural linen flax fibers (made in Germany)
- Basket: 25% hemp fibers
- Length: 110-130cm
- Adjustment: SpeedLock Plus
- Shaft Segments (2): 18/16 mm
- Weight: 290g / 10 oz per pole
