Relying on trekking poles when backpacking, hiking, or backcountry skiing is a smart decision. If you’re searching for a new pair of poles to aid in your upcoming adventures, I’ve taken the time to detail a few of the best Leki trekking poles.
Article Overview
What Are the Best Leki Trekking Poles?
I used to think that those who used poles for hiking or backpacking were showing a sign of weakness in some way. Thankfully, I have grown up and replaced those childish sentiments with more practical sensibility. So let’s talk trekking poles made by Leki.
Black Series FX Carbon Leki Trekking Poles
The newest member of Leki’s extensive selection of trekking poles includes a revamped push-button release mechanism that provides an even friendlier knock-down experience.
These trekking poles are perfect for adventures of all shapes and sizes, although they are primarily designed for backpackers and thru-hikers. They even come with a portable stow bag to make traveling with them even easier.
Specs
Series: Unisex
Construction: Foldable | Adjustable
Grip: Aergon Air
Strap: Lock Security Strap Skin 4
Shaft Material: 100% Carbon
Shaft Diameter: 16|14|14|14 mm
Locking Mechanism: Speed Lock 2 plus
Antishock: N/A
Length/Size: 110 – 130 cm
Weight: 228 grams per pole
Pack Size: 40 cm
Best Features
Aside from the redesigned external locking devices that make deconstructing these poles as simple as the push of a button, the best features of these trekking poles must be the grips.
The Aergon Air grip is ultralight and features a genuine cork surface, making it comfortable for long trips or casual day hikes. The poles also collapse into three sections (none longer than 16 inches) to make them easy to stow in your pack when you aren’t using them.
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Makalu Cork Lite Leki Trekking Poles
An upgrade from Leki’s original Corklite trekking poles, the Makalu Cork Lite is engineered as “the best pair of trekking poles in its class.” Your outdoor explorations will be much easier with trekking poles of this caliber. They’re easy to set up, super comfortable to use, and lightweight to avoid adding unnecessary fatigue on longer trips.
Specs
Series: Unisex
Construction: Adjustable
Grip: Aergon Air
Strap: Lock Security Strap Skin 4.0
Shaft Material: Aluminum
Shaft Diameter: 16|14|12 mm
Locking Mechanism: Speed Lock plus
Antishock: N/A
Length/Size: 100 – 135 cm
Weight: 254 grams per pole
Best Features of these Leki Trekking Poles
What features help the Leki Makalu Cork Lite trekking poles achieve that “best in class” distinction?
Genuine cork grips that wick away moisture and provide a secure grip in wet or sweaty conditions.
Speed lock lever system for infinite adjustments with ease.
Collapsible sections for easy pack storage and at-home storage between trips.
These poles also offer extremely comfortable, ultra-lightweight security straps and are still highly durable to handle anything you throw at them.
Sherpa FX Carbon MAX Leki Trekking Poles
Leki effectively super-sized their “micro-folding” trekking poles specifically to suit taller and larger hikers. But the Sherpa FX Carbon MAX Leki trekking poles are also great for anyone looking for extra pole length and those interested in touring. In addition to the extra pole length, Leki also increased the diameter of the shafts to bolster more secure and rigid support.
Specs
Series: Unisex
Construction: Foldable | Adjustable
Grip: Aergon Air
Strap: Lock Security Strap Nylon Neoprene
Shaft Material: Carbon | Aluminum
Shaft Diameter: 20|18|16|16|16 mm
Locking Mechanism: Speed Lock 1 plus
Antishock: N/A
Length/Size: 120 – 140 cm
Weight: 317 grams per pole
Best Features
The Carbon MAX trekking poles are a true 4-season hiking pole. They come with interchangeable big mountain baskets to optimize their usefulness in snowy conditions. Another standout feature is their hybrid carbon-aluminum design, which makes them incredibly light while still maintaining the durability you’re looking for in a touring pole.
Cressida FX Carbon Leki Trekking Poles
These women’s-specific LEKI trekking poles are ultralight, super compact, and fully functional, making them a trusted choice for thru-hikers, backpackers, and mountaineers. A recent update now means that these poles boast Leki’s Speed Lock 2 locking mechanism, which making them even lighter and more durable.
Specs
Series: Women’s
Construction: Foldable | Adjustable
Grip: Aergon Air
Strap: Lock Security Strap Skin 4.0
Shaft Material: 100% Carbon
Shaft Diameter: 18|16|14|14|14 mm
Locking Mechanism: Speed Lock 2 plus
Antishock: N/A
Length/Size: 100 – 120 cm
Weight: 245 grams per pole
Pack Size: 40 cm
Best Features of these Leki Trekking Poles
The best feature of the women’s trekking poles is their folding design, allowing for ample versatility and easy storage. Their comfortable grips are specifically designed for hikers with smaller hands and the built-in handle angle provides strategic ergonomic support while making it easier for you to guide pole placement on more technical terrain.
Legacy FX TA Leki Trekking Poles
One of the most affordable items on our list of the best LEKI trekking poles, the Legacy FX TA still brings plenty of value and technical performance. It’s a folding version of LEKI’s iconic Legacy trekking pole built with lightweight, durable aluminum. The Speed Lock mechanism makes these trekking poles the true “legacy” of Leki’s 60+ years in the trekking pole industry.
Specs
Series: Unisex
Construction: Foldable | Adjustable
Grip: Evocon
Strap: Lock Security Strap Nylon
Shaft Material: Aluminum
Shaft Diameter: 18|16|14|14|14 mm
Locking Mechanism: Speed Lock plus
Antishock: N/A
Length/Size: 110 – 130 cm
Weight: 291 grams per pole
Pack Size: 38 cm
Best Features
The Legacy FX TA trekking poles are the perfect blend of versatility, easy storage, and affordability. When collapsed, no section measures longer than 16 inches and the inclined grip angle provides ideal wrist support. The push-button folding system is super easy to use and the performance baskets are a universal standard size for ski and trekking poles, making them super easy to replace if lost or broken.
Sherpa Lite Leki Trekking Poles
Another great option for mountaineering or demanding mountain touring, the Sherpa Lite trekking poles are designed to provide excellent support and additional stability across various terrains. They also contain Leki’s Aergon air grip, which improves your grip for maximum control on more technical descents.
Specs
Series: Unisex
Construction: Adjustable
Grip: Aergon Air
Strap: Lock Security Strap Skin 4.0
Shaft Material: Aluminum
Shaft Diameter: 16|14|12 mm
Locking Mechanism: Speed Lock 2 plus
Antishock: N/A
Length/Size: 100 – 135 cm
Weight: 255 grams per pole
Pack Size: 68 cm
Best Features of these Leki Trekking Poles
The aforementioned Aergon Air grip has to be a cooler feature of these trekking poles. The hollow core keeps the poles lightweight while the grip delivers a supportive surface and a built-in positive angle for added ergonomic support.
That inclined grip angle gives you more active wrist support than you’ll find with other trekking poles. It also enables easier pole guidance and placement on more technical terrain. Plus, the Sherpa Lite trekking poles come with binding baskets and trekking baskets for year-round use.
User Reviews
One of the best aspects of researching user reviews is seeing the types of people that products work for best. In this case, one user wrote, “I can imagine why guides and Sherpas might actually prefer this model.”
Another user noted the pros of these poles while pointing out one of their potential downfalls in comparison to the OG poles they were modeled from: “Right off the bat, the new poles felt noticeably lighter than the Super Makalus and in pack mode they also seemed shorter. Both of these were welcomed attributes. My enthusiasm dwindled when I extended the poles to their maximum reach and applied my weight on them (I’m 5’9″, 174 lbs). I was disappointed on how easily the poles bowed.”
Legacy Lite AS Leki Trekking Poles
Today’s version of the Legacy Lite AS trekking pole is lighter and more durable than the original and also features the reinvented locking mechanism to make adjusting the pole’s length quick and easy. In comparison to some of the other poles that Leki offers, these poles are more affordable and represent what is quite possibly their best value.
Specs
Series: Unisex
Construction: Adjustable
Grip: EVOCON
Strap: Lock Security Strap Soft 2.0
Shaft Material: Aluminum (HTS 6.0)
Shaft Diameter: 16|14|12 mm
Locking Mechanism: Speed Lock plus
Antishock: Dynamic Suspension System (DSS)
Length/Size: 100 – 135 cm
Weight: 261 grams per pole
Pack Size: 68 cm
Best Features of these Leki Trekking Poles
Similar to their cousin, the Legacy Lite, these poles boast a continuously adjustable, one-size-fits-all security strap and all-aluminum construction. The best features of the Legacy Lite AS poles, however, are the quick and easy-to-use locking mechanisms and a dynamic anti-shock suspension system.
The DSS pole tips with carbide spikes are designed to improve pole placement and allow for better use in a wider variety of terrains. The pole’s upgraded, aluminum HTS construction makes them super stable and extremely robust.
User Reviews
On one platform I researched, 84-percent of reviewers gave these trekking poles 5 stars. The major disadvantage to these poles that I found was that they were “a bit heavy and cumbersome to adjust.”
The benefits of these poles included “incredibly reliable,” “HIGH quality metal and adjustable parts,” “Great for hunting in the mountains,” and “hand straps are easy to adjust and padded while possessing a proper width.” One reviewer even went so far as to say that purchasing these Leki trekking poles was “The BEST investment ever!!!”
Journey Leki Trekking Poles
Leki’s Journey trekking poles are the most affordable model included in this review. They are a reliable, stable pair of poles that are functional on steep descents as well as long, extended climbs. For fans of Leki’s older generations of trekking poles, these poles include Leki’s original Speed Lock mechanism.
Specs
Series: Unisex
Construction: Adjustable
Grip: PA Safety (Soft)
Strap: Lock Security Strap
Shaft Material: Aluminum
Shaft Diameter: 16|14|12 mm
Locking Mechanism: Speed Lock
Antishock: N/A
Length/Size: 100 – 135 cm
Weight: 282 grams per pole
Pack Size: 67 cm
Best Features
The best features of these trekking poles are their soft, comfortable grips and the ease and convenience of the original Speed Lock adjustment mechanism.
The PA Safety soft-touch grips include an easily adjusting strap with a safety release and the OG Speed Lock offers a high holding force and fast adjustment on the fly.
User Reviews of these Leki Trekking Poles
As might be expected when an “upgraded” model is available, users tended to harp on the locking mechanism of these poles the most. One user said that the “lower telescoping part would frequently collapse back in upon impact with the ground, even when I tightened the fastening.”
When compared with some other brands, however, the reliability of Leki seems to shine through in reviews like this one: These are my first good quality trekking poles. I have been using Mountainsmith poles for the past two years and I can say that the build quality of the Leki poles is exponentially better. These are awesome poles for the price.”
How To Choose The Best Leki Trekking Poles For You
When it comes down to deciding which pair of poles are right for you, there are several major factors you should consider. I’ll mention each briefly in this article, but you can also learn more about the pros and cons of hiking poles or some hiking pole tips by checking out the other content on my site.
Height and Weight
Your size will dictate the type of hiking pole that’s best suited to you. That’s why I’ve provided the information on the exact sizes and adjustability of each of the poles mentioned above.
Intended Use
Some poles are better for ski touring. Some are designed specifically for ultralight backpacking. Others are built for another specific purpose. Consider how you plan to use your new poles before settling on a pair that doesn’t fit your intended use.
Injury History
Your injury history plays a major role in how much you rely on trekking poles. If you haven’t experienced many injury issues, you’ll most likely fare better with lightweight poles. If you may need to put a considerable amount of your weight on the poles, however, you’re going to want something a bit more sturdy.
Ready to Trek?
Also, if you decide to purchase any of these Leki Trekking Poles after reading this review, I’d love to know how you like whichever you acquire after you’ve had a chance to put them to use for a few trips or travel excursions!
Do you have experience with any of these trekking poles? If so, I’d love to know which exact models you’ve used, what your favorite features are, and what you’d do differently if you manufactured your own. If you’ve compared these models with models from other brands, how do they stack up against each other?
Comments
Hi there, this is a really great list and review of some seemingly very good trekking poles.
I am 18 and I do a lot of walking, however the terrain is not too bad- not too steep etc.
Is there a certain threshold on when it is beneficial to start using trekking poles or is it totally down to personal preference? I don’t feel like they will help me too much but maybe that’s because I have never tried? Any help would be great!
Author
I don’t believe there is a “hard-and-fast” threshold for when you should consider trekking poles. Like I mentioned towards the end of the article, it really depends on your intended use, height and weight, and injury history. Some young folks that are recovering from serious knee or ankle injuries find hiking poles to be extremely useful when getting active in their recovery. I’ve also known plenty of healthy 25-year olds that swear by them on long thru-hikes. So it’s really up to you when you’re ready for them. Hope that’s helpful!