LEKI is just one of the top brands when it comes to trekking poles. Many people have different names for trekking poles such as walking sticks, hiking poles, walking staff, walking poles, hiking sticks, and many more.
Trekking poles are mainly used to assist you with balance, stability, and support while hiking, trekking, or backpacking. In fact, you can use it on any outdoor adventure that involves walking, running, and snowshoeing.
You can use trekking poles in a variety of ways. For instance, you can use trekking poles as tent poles, especially if you are using a tarp as shelter. You can also use them to clear your path while hiking or walking.
Specifically, you can use them to check the depth of water, muddy ground, or snow when hiking or snowshoeing. You can also use them as a splint for first aid.
In this post, we will dive deeper into the features of the different trekking poles from LEKI. I have also included five of the best trekking poles from LEKI.
History of LEKI Trekking Poles
LEKI is a German brand and was founded by Karl Lenhart in 1948. LEKI is one of the top brands of trekking poles when it comes to skiing and hiking. Karl Lenhart was an experienced skier and was discontented with the quality and performance of ski poles that were built during that time.
He initially started to design and improve ski pole grips and baskets. This eventually went into production in the 1960s. Karl Lenhart was well-experienced in aircraft manufacturing and he was very familiar with working with aluminum and composite materials.
He started to produce the first ski poles using durable and high-quality materials in 1970 under the brand name LEKI, which also stands for Lenhart in Kirchheim. The brand name LEKI represents the owners and headquarters in Kirchheim Unter Teck, Germany.
Benefits Of Hiking Poles
Trekking poles offer great support when going downhill especially on uneven or slippery terrain. They help keep your balance while hiking, skiing or trail running. In fact, when you are crossing rivers or streams, you can use them to guide you with the depth of the water.
As mentioned above, you can use them to set up a tarp shelter, ward off wild animals, and for emergency purposes. Overall, trekking poles offer great benefits to your outdoor adventure. When you are not using them, you can stash them easily on the trekking pole straps on your backpack.
How To Choose The Best Trekking Poles
When it comes to choosing the best trekking poles, there are many considerations such as weight, length, comfort, design, materials, and price.
Choosing the best trekking pole will also depend on the type of outdoor activity that you will be doing. This simple guide will help you decide on the type of trekking poles that you need to have.
Pole Weight And Materials
The weight of the trekking pole is extremely important and you do not want to carry around a heavy trekking pole. You will need to choose ultralight trekking poles so it will not add up to the weight of your backpack.
Ultralight trekking poles are made from durable and light materials such as aluminum or carbon fiber. However, when it comes to durability, aluminum is way much stronger and resilient.
On the other hand, carbon fiber is lighter than aluminum and is resistant to corrosion, but they tend to bend or break under extreme stress. If you intend to go on long-distance hikes, then carbon fiber is an ideal choice.
Aluminum shafts are more durable and sturdy and can withstand extreme abuse such as hiking on rocky terrain, crossing rivers, and mountain climbing. In fact, they are impact-resistant and have a low corrosion rate.
Carbon fiber trekking poles weigh from 18 up to 22 ounces and aluminum trekking poles weight is between 12 up to 18 ounces. The most important thing is that you will be comfortable carrying and using them on your outdoor activity.
Pole Length And Design
It all comes down to your personal preference when it comes to the ideal pole length. Technically, your elbow should always be at a 90-degree angle when using trekking poles. Most trekking poles have measurement markings to help you adjust the trekking poles accordingly.
Foldable trekking poles are compact and very easy to pack. In fact, they are very quick to deploy that is why this is the ideal choice of most trail runners.
Telescopic trekking poles are ideal if you like to adjust your poles many times on your outdoor adventure. Telescopic poles are commonly used as tent poles.
Fixed-length trekking poles are lightweight, sturdy, and have minimal parts. Fixed-length poles are ideal for lightweight backpacking and hiking. The only downside of fixed-length poles is that they are more difficult to carry since you cannot pack them in your backpack.
Adjustable trekking poles are more versatile and you can easily adjust them according to the terrain you are traversing. In general, when you are going uphill, you will need to shorten your poles to help you with climbing. On the other hand, when you are going downhill, you will have to extend the pole to help you keep an upright position while going down.
Shock-absorbing trekking poles help reduce stress on your knees joints. In fact, most of the shock goes to your upper body such as your elbows and shoulders. This is ideal if you have had knee injuries in the past. Shock-absorbing poles will help you stride in a stable manner on uneven and rocky terrain.
Locking Mechanisms
There are different locking mechanisms for trekking poles to help you set and lock the right length of your pole.
External lever locks are very easy to adjust and the lever has a clamping mechanism that locks the pole in the desired length.
Push-button lock is common in foldable or collapsible trekking poles. You just need to pull the pole to extend and it will automatically lock in place.
Twist locks are fairly easy to use and you just have to “twist” the lock once you have extended the ideal length of your pole.
Combination locks make it easier for you to adjust and use your trekking poles. Poles with combination locks are more stable and durable.
Pole Grips
Cork pole grips will keep your hands dry especially if you have sweaty palms. They are soft and resist moisture. In fact, it does not hold water. Cork grips provide excellent grip and comfort and help absorb vibration.
Foam grips help reduce blisters and are also soft and your hands remain comfortable during prolonged use.
Rubber grips are ideal for cold-weather adventure. It provides excellent insulation to keep your hands warm and it also absorbs shock and vibration, reducing stress on your hands.
Other Pole Features
Wrist Straps help reduce the strain on your hands and wrists. It provides proper support eliminating the need to grip the pole too tightly.
Baskets help avoid pushing your trekking poles too deep into snow and mud. Trekking pole baskets also prevents your pole tips from getting stuck on roots and rocks. You have to keep in mind that not all baskets are compatible with every trekking pole.
Pole tips interact directly with the ground. Most pole tips are replaceable and you have to avoid tips that are fixed or permanent. In my experience, the first thing that wears out is the tip of the pole. So you should be able to replace them with a new one. There are a variety of trekking pole tips and you just have to choose the best one for your outdoor activity.
Gender
Apparently, most trekking poles have a unisex design. Some brands offer trekking poles specifically for women, men, and kids. As a matter of fact, choosing the best trekking pole will depend on the type of activity you intend to use it for.
Price
The price of a trekking pole often correlates with the type of materials that were used to manufacture the product. However, expensive trekking poles do not always mean that they are the best trekking poles. In fact, there are affordable brands that provide the same comfort, stability, and support.
5 Best LEKI Trekking Poles
The LEKI Micro Vario Carbon Pole Pair features a thermo-foam grip material that provides extra comfort and insulation in cold weather conditions. The Aergon grip has a hollow-core construction designed to save weight and it allows you to have a rounded, comfortable grip at all angles and keeps your wrist in the neutral position.
The air-textured security strap provides excellent support and keeps your palms dry. The Micro Vario is equipped with a 100% high modulus carbon shaft sections. This provides an overall lightweight and reliable performance in all weather conditions.
The tension cord is made from Kevlar-reinforced material for durability. The external locking has a quick-release mechanism for easy packing. Original carbide Flextips reliable and secure hold designed for all-terrain surfaces.
The carbon sections end and the center of the shafts are protected by aluminum material for longer wear and tear. The baskets of the LEKI Micro Vario are also interchangeable and you can use a wide variety of LEKI baskets.
The LEKI Makalu Cor-Tec Trekking Pole features a built-in 8deg Positive Angle that keeps your wrist in a neutral position. Excellent grip performance provides efficient pole planting. The Aergon grip has a hollow construction that saves weight and has a rounded design for exceptional gripping at all angles.
The Cor-Tec grip is made from 80% natural ground cork and has a durable biochemical design. The air-textured straps are fast-drying. The strap adjustment is very secure even without buckles. One of the best features of the Makalu is the SpeedLock Plus lever locking mechanism.
You can adjust the length of the pole without any difficulty using the speed dial control. The upper shaft of the Makalu is made from a heat-treated 16mm HTS 6.5 ultralight aluminum series.
The original carbide Flextips provides a secure and reliable hold on all terrain and surfaces. The LEKI baskets are interchangeable and you can use compatible LEKI baskets with the Makalu Cor-Tec.
LEKI Legacy Lite Cor-Tec AntiShock Pole Pair is equipped with Evocon Cor-Tec grips with similar dimensions as the LEKI Aergon grips. This provides excellent comfort and grip and overall support. The Cor-Tec grip is made from 80% natural ground cork to keep your hands comfortable and dry.
It also has an 8deg positive angle which is present in most LEKI trekking poles. The quick-drying wrist straps are very comfortable and provide excellent support. The locking mechanism is equipped with SpeedLock Plus lever that is very easy to use.
Just like the Makalu, it also has a 14mm lower shaft and a 16mm HTS 6.5 aluminum series upper shaft. The baskets are interchangeable and can be replaced with compatible LEKI baskets. The best feature of the Legacy Lite is the innovative dynamic suspension system. It absorbs and neutralizes plant shock and vibration at the point of impact. It reduces around 40% of peak impact.
LEKI Journey Lite Antishock Trekking Pole also has a built-in 8deg positive angle which is common in LEKI grips. The PAS or Positive Angle Soft grip is very easy to adjust. It is made from a natural rubber grip material and this provides excellent support and comfort on any terrain.
The upper shaft measures 16mm and the lower shaft measures 14mm and is made from heat-treated HTS 6.5 ultralight aluminum series. It also has the original LEKI carbide Flextips that provide a secure hold on all types of terrain. The basket system is also interchangeable and can be replaced with same-sized LEKI baskets. The antishock system reduces shock by 40% upon right at the point of impact.
LEKI Voyager Trekking Poles offers a traditional 3-section pole that is equipped with a twist-lock system. The Voyager is made from durable aluminum shafts that are divided into three sections. Just like any other LEKI trekking pole, it is equipped with a Positive Angle Soft grip that has an 8-degree forward pitch. This effectively reduces wrist strain and fatigue.
The wrist strap is adjustable and is made from durable nylon material. The baskets are designed from classic trail trekking baskets. Amazingly, the Voyager can support weight over 300 pounds. If you are on a budget, this is a good choice since it is made from durable and lightweight materials at a very affordable price.
Conclusion
LEKI offers the best trekking poles that provide excellent support and comfort. Moreover, they also offer lightweight trekking poles and durable aluminum and carbon fiber trekking poles. Trekking poles provide stability and balance while trail running, hiking, or snowshoeing. Although for some, this may not be an important piece of outdoor gear.
On the other hand, you can use trekking poles to ward off wild animals, use them as tent poles, and as a splint for emergency purposes. When choosing the best trekking pole that you can use, keep in mind to select the best material and you should be able to use them comfortably during prolonged outdoor activities such as long-distance hikes.
It helps lessen hand and wrist strains and it is extremely important to adjust the length of your pole according to your height. Learn the proper technique on how to use trekking poles and you will feel more confident traversing different types of terrain.
