I recently hiked a trail near Conifer, Colorado, called the Legault Mountain Trail. I hiked it without trekking poles or ICETrekkers and I ended up falling 4 times, with one being a hard fall that caused my left shoulder to pop.
After that trip, I researched the best trekking poles on the market for hiking and headed over to Amazon and placed my order for Leki Trekking Poles | Micro Vario Carbon.
I have hiked several trails since then that were snow and ice packed and have not fallen since I bought them.
Leki Trekking Poles | Features
- Lightweight
- Smallest Pack Size
- Edgeless Thermo Grip
- Lock Security Strap
- Thermal Grip Extension
- Speed Lock 2 (Extremely Fast Adjustment)
- Reduction of Peak Impacts by Approximately 40%
- Trekking Basket 2.0 Compatible Flextip
- Flex Tip Short for the Perfect Grip
Leki Trekking Poles | Personal Experience
The Leki Trekking Poles were the first I have ever purchased or used so it took me a few minutes after opening the package to see how easy it was to lock the poles into place and then I spent 30 minutes watching YouTube videos on how to use the trekking poles correctly.
The Leki Micro Vario Carbon AS trekking poles are beautifully constructed. They area easy to lock into place, quick to adjust and just as fast to break down and put into my pack.
Everyone I have shown these to have been extremely impressed by how lightweight they are and how easy it is to adjust them for different heights and various uses on the trail.
I have heard about problems with poles hat don’t have adjustments or if they do, the locking mechanism has problems after a while. The Leki trekking poles have only 1 locking mechanism and plenty of adjustment at the flick of a lever. I have been very impressed with the solid construction so far.
The strap and strap locking mechanism is easy to use and adjust, and my hands and wrists feel relaxed when hiking.
I researched trekking poles thoroughly before making my purchase and it was obvious they had some great features. After the Leki trekking poles were delivered and after using them on several trails, I couldn’t be more happy with my decision to purchase them.
The only downside is, everyone in my family now wants to use them. I guess I will be buying more of them.
Bottom Line
After reading and watching how to properly use Trekking poles, I have taken them out on at least three hikes, and I have not fallen since. I have hiked on gravel, mud, snow and ice and I have had much more confidence on the trail, especially when it comes to hiking in mud and snow.
There have been several hikes where I wanted to hike on the edge of the trail where there was more packed snow and less ice or mud and the trekking poles allowed me to walk on the slope and use the trekking poles to steady myself.
The trekking poles have also been a great help when hiking down steep trails which make my legs feel better after the hike and has helped to me keep from slipping many times.
I use to think that trekking poles were useless and spent 30 years hiking without them, until moving to Colorado. It quickly became abundantly clear that trekking poles were essential here with the steep slopes and when hiking on snow and ice.
Checkout my video of the Leki Trekking Poles on the trail.
The Leki Trekking Poles are lightweight, adjustable and easy to store. I highly recommend them to anyone looking for quality trekking poles.
- Exclusive AERGON grip features a hollow core construction to save weight and create an edgeless, rounded grip for comfortable gripping at all angles especially for "palming" on steeper terrain. Thermo foam grip material for extra comfort, light weight and insulation in colder weather. Built in 8deg Positive Angle in LEKI grips keeps wrist in neutral position and provides more efficient pole plants.
- Air-textured "no bulk" security strap maintains design dimensions of grip; efficient wicking and fast drying; adjusts and secures strap adjustment without buckles. Extended foam grip for traversing and climbing. SPEEDLOCK 2 lever locking mechanism is simply THE strongest external locking system in the world as rated by TUV, and the only locking systems to meet the minimum holding force recommended by TUV.
- 100% High Modulus Carbon shaft sections for reliable, lightweight performance in all conditions. PE coated, Kevlar reinforced tension cord for long term reliability. ELD (External Locking Device) gives easy access to release the assembly tension of the pole for quick knock down and packing. Maximum tension between shaft sections made possible by internal (serviceable) spring in lower shaft.
- Carbon section ends are protected by machined Aluminum sleeves for extra long wear. Machined Aluminum connectors help to center shaft sections for quick, snag free assembly. LEKI's original Carbide Flextips provide secure hold on all terrain and surfaces for years of adventure; easily replaced in the field.
- Interchangeable basket system allows a variety of different sized LEKI baskets to be easily screwed on/off for different seasons/uses thanks to offset threads that keep the baskets securely in place.
Please leave a Comment Below or send me an Email if you have any questions or opinions about these Leki Trekking Poles.
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- 【Package Included】This package includes 2 aluminum alloy collapsible hiking poles, 1 carrying bag, 2 rubber tips, 2 mud baskets, 2 snow baskets, and 2 boot tips, providing you with a complete hiking pole kit for various terrains.
- 【High-Quality Materials】Crafted from aircraft-grade 7075 aluminum alloy, these poles are exceptionally lightweight at just 10.3 oz each, yet incredibly sturdy, durable, and resistant to extreme temperatures, making them suitable for challenging terrains and heavy loads.
- 【Enhanced Stability】The joints of the poles are fortified with added metal caps, ensuring extra security and stability during your outdoor adventures, allowing you to tackle challenging terrain with confidence.
- 【Comfortable Grip】Designed for both performance and comfort, the poles feature a natural-feeling cork grip that reduces vibrations from rugged terrain, providing increased comfort. The cork grip also wicks away sweat from your hands, keeping them dry during your adventures.
- 【Ultra-Compact and Lightweight】These trekking poles are easy to transport due to their ultra-compact design, folding down to just 15 inches. Without accessories, they weigh only 1.25 pounds, and with accessories, only 1.75 pounds, making them a convenient addition to your gear for activities like Nordic walking, hiking, camping, backpacking, and trekking.
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Leki Trekking Poles | Micro Vario Carbon AS
Pros
- Lightweight
- Locks Into Place Quickly
- Easily Adjustable
- Comfortable Grip & Straps
- Quality Construction
Cons
- Price
I’ve been thinking about purchasing trekking poles for my hiking but didn’t know which ones would suit me best. Thank you for this very informative review and sharing of your personal experience with Leki Trekking Poles. They look like a good buy for the price offered. I only would like to ask what the thermo grip and thermal grip extension mean?
The Thermo Grip is an edgeless, ergonomic grip that is comfortable to hold, even though most of your weight should be on the straps without having to grip tightly.
The Thermal Grip extension is a longer grip that some people like to use to grip the poles differently, which can come in handy for changing terrain on a trail or possibly if you’re trail running.
Thanks for stopping by and feel free to ask more questions. These trekking poles are some of the most highly rated on the market these days and I love using them.
Rick
Thank you for your explanation, Rick!
You are very welcome. Please don’t hesitate to ask any other questions and I will do my best to answer quickly
Rick
Thank you so much for the explanation, Rick, now I know. These trekking poles seem to be a really great thing worth buying.
They are great. I like how easy they are to pack away and adjust quickly. They were some of the top ranked trekking poles in several reviews I checked out and they have lived up to those reviews.
The only problem now is I need to buy several more pairs as some of my family really like them also.
Rick
Sorry to hear about the shoulder. Hope it is much better. I have not tried the Leki trekking poles before. The pictures on the poles show an attractively designed product. I like the lightweight feature and the ease of use. Adjustability and easy locking is an excellent feature. Not much you can crammed into a pole but your description suggest that this is a great product. Will definitely evaluate this before I buy one.
Hi Stanley. The Leki Trekking Poles have been my first purchase of this kind and I have been really happy with them. As I said in the article though, I have a feeling I will be buying more pairs for my family and my sister who visits at times. She still uses a stick but I’m sure after she tries out my poles, she will want to use them on the remainder of the trail.
My shoulder is finally feeling back to normal but it took a good week for the pain to subside. I was shocked that I did not dislocate my shoulder, considering how hard I fell.
I haven’t fell since then.
Rick