A brand built on one idea: make a better pole
Karl Lenhart was a skier and aircraft mechanic based in Kirchheim unter Teck in Baden-Württemberg. Frustrated by the bamboo-and-leather poles of the 1950s, he used his precision engineering background to produce his own aluminium ski poles in 1970, selling them under the name LEKI — the initials of his surname and his town. Four years later he invented something that changed hiking entirely: the world's first adjustable trekking pole, which he called the Makalu. That name has never left the range. Today LEKI is a third-generation family business with over 250 patents, a repair rate of 93% on claims, and the world's largest pole production facility in Tachov, Czech Republic.
Three poles, three uses
The Makalu is the pole that started it all. The current version keeps everything that made the original dependable — a three-section HTS aluminium shaft, Speed Lock 2 Plus lever adjustment and the Aergon Air foam grip — and adds an extended lower grip section so you can choke down on the pole without shortening it mid-climb. The adjustment range runs from 110 to 145cm, which covers most heights and most terrain types. It is the right pole for day walks, long-distance trails and multiday treks where reliability matters more than shaving grams.
The Cressida shares the same aluminium shaft and Speed Lock 2 Plus system but is built around a shorter Aergon Air Compact grip — designed 12% smaller than the standard grip to suit a narrower hand. The adjustment range sits at approximately 90–125cm, making it the natural choice if you want a well-engineered Leki pole in a more compact format.
The Sherpa is built for the mountain rather than the trail. It comes with two baskets in the box: the standard Trekking 2.0 for paths, mud and soft ground, and the Big Mountain Binding Basket for snow, ski touring and winter approaches. A Flex Tip at the bottom of the pole allows you to swap baskets without tools, directly on the mountain. If your walking takes you onto high passes, into the Alps or anywhere that might see snow at any point in the year, the Sherpa is the right starting point.
The Speed Lock 2 Plus system
All three poles use Leki's Speed Lock 2 Plus — an external lever clamp that is TÜV SÜD-certified and designed to work reliably even with gloves on. Flip the lever open, slide the section to your preferred length, close the lever. That is it. The locking tension is adjustable by hand using a small integrated dial — no tools needed. It is 35% lighter and 27% smaller than the original Speed Lock and delivers the same holding force.
