1. The King Of Tents
Influencing Every Corner of the Tent Industry
Jake Lah grew up surrounded by tents. His mother, a pioneer of the Girl Scouts in Korea, led summer campouts with Jake following closely along. Those early experiences were rooted in connection and curiosity. Long before he became a founder or innovator, Jake was immersed in a lifestyle that shaped his approach to design.
Though he studied humanities—not engineering—Jake was drawn to the challenge of building something world-class. When he discovered high-strength aluminum, he knew it was a material worth mastering. That drive led to the creation of DAC Poles, a company dedicated to designing and manufacturing high-performance tent poles, furniture frames, and trekking poles. Known for their commitment to innovation, DAC developed their own proprietary aluminum alloy, TH72M, and a more sustainable anodization process. Jake spent years refining what would become DAC Poles—lightweight, exceptionally strong, and trusted by the world’s top outdoor brands. Once the tubing was perfected, he asked: What’s next? That question led him to tent poles—and ultimately, to reshaping modern outdoor shelters.
Jake never stopped questioning how tents were made—or how they could be made better. That mindset sparked a breakthrough. Bulky family tents inspired the idea of lighter, more accessible shelters. Then ultralight backpackers pushed him further, inspiring the Featherlite pole. That single innovation prompted a full reconsideration of tent structure, fabric, and pack weight. A 5kg tent became a 2kg shelter—with no sacrifice in strength—setting a new standard for performance and portability.
“Ideas start with a need. Bringing ideas to life is the challenge.”
- Jake Lah
2. Innovation
From Field-Tested Extremes to the Factory Floor
At DAC, quality isn’t outsourced—it’s built in-house, refined down to the gram. Under Jake’s leadership, precision, control, and pride define every step, with each detail shaped by hands that know exactly what they’re building. That’s why DAC poles are trusted by the world’s leading outdoor brands—and why Helinox furniture performs wherever you take it.
Jake even built a wind lab to test shelter performance against extreme conditions. He wanted real answers: How strong should a tent be in high winds? And how do you know when you've built it right?
One of DAC’s greatest differentiators: we own our factory. That gives us complete control over quality, speed, and ethics. Craftsmanship stays consistent. And our responsibility—to both the product and the people—is something we take seriously.
“Our environmental policy started with bringing nature into the factory.”
- Jake Lah
Jake’s vision extended to the factory itself—planting trees, installing skylights, and transforming a gray industrial space into something alive. The biggest challenge came later: removing toxic chemicals from the aluminum anodising process. DAC spent nearly a decade creating a safer alternative, with no roadmap to follow. Today, the work continues through our (re) collection where poles are crafted using aluminum reclaimed from factory scraps. For Jake, true sustainability isn’t a slogan—it’s quiet, persistent work that becomes the new standard.
Chair One (re) Series
3. Enduring Past
A Legacy of Asking Why
Jake has always asked the hard questions: Why does this exist? How could it be made better? What’s next? That mindset turned tent poles into a movement, and outdoor gear into a lifestyle. Our equipment is designed to be structurally sound, tension-balanced, and field-proven in addition to being aesthetically pleasing.
Jake Lah’s legacy isn’t just in products—it’s in the culture of engineering, ethics, and curiosity he’s instilled at DAC Poles and Helinox. As the industry continues to evolve, his influence is everywhere: in the gear we carry, the comfort we expect, and the belief that better is always possible. And even now, Jake sees the work as just beginning.
Lighter. Smarter. Stronger.
Featherlite poles revolutionised backpacking—setting a new standard for weight and performance.
Comfort, anywhere.
Chair One redefined outdoor furniture, making lightweight comfort part of every adventure.
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