Our History
On July 8, 1935, in Munich, Germany, a middle-aged man named Josef Liebhart performed a seemingly insignificant act: he registered a company named Sa-Le-Wa. These three syllables were derived from the German words for "saddlery," "leather," and "wares"; the company's initial aim was simply to produce high-quality saddles and leather goods for Munich’s equestrian enthusiasts. No one could have predicted that this brand—born in a saddlery workshop—would one day ascend to Europe’s highest and most treacherous peaks.
Following the end of World War II, Salewa underwent a rapid transformation, shifting its core business to ski poles and mountaineering backpacks. In 1955, Salewa sponsored West German mountaineer Hermann Huber on an expedition to the Andes Mountains in South America, designing a unique "Andes" backpack specifically for the journey. This expedition to the snowy peaks not only earned the brand a reputation for professional excellence but also forged an inseparable bond between Salewa and the high mountains.
In the 1960s, Salewa introduced fully adjustable lightweight crampons and tubular ice screws—two innovations that revolutionized ice and snow climbing gear and remain industry standards to this day. In 1979, a soaring eagle became the brand’s official emblem, symbolizing the unparalleled strength and performance of its products in the harshest environments.
In 1990, the Oberalp Group—based in South Tyrol, Italy—acquired Salewa, and the company’s headquarters were relocated to Bolzano, situated in the heart of the Alps and serving as the gateway to the Dolomites. "PURE MOUNTAIN—Engineered in the Dolomites" subsequently became Salewa’s defining credo. In 1994, the brand established "Half the Weight, Double the Strength" as its R&D motto, leading to the development of products such as the 33-gram Sub 33 carabiner and the Ultra Jacket, which weighs less than 350 grams.
Today, Salewa conveys a promise—rooted in the Alps—to climbers around the globe: not to conquer the mountains, but to engage with them with lightness and resilience—"soaring like an eagle, in pure harmony with the high mountains." Above every rock face and snowline, the truly trustworthy gear consists of those tools born for the sole purpose of—coming back alive.