Started as a spin-off from the company Teck in 1948, which previously produced wooden components for bakers and butchers. Leki's unique development started from a complaint: Karl Lenhart, an experienced skier, was dissatisfied with the quality and functionality of existing ski poles. From there, he began using the company's machines to produce grips and baskets for his poles. In 1960, they started mass-producing grips and baskets for other companies. Lenhart had aircraft construction experience, where he had worked with aluminum. He directly transferred this experience to ski pole production.