LEKI Makalu Cork LiteTrekking Poles Overview


Backside Line

The Leki Makalu Cork Lite trekking poles are a terrific mid-tier choice for mountaineering and backpacking. These poles carry out effectively throughout varied areas with out being overly specialised in a single class. 

We like that these poles are sturdy and quick to develop or collapse. A number of options, each for consolation and common use, present worth on the path. Specifically, we like that these poles have cork handles to soak up sweat and stress adjusters on the flick locks. 

Whereas day mountaineering with these poles round Durango, Colorado, we discovered that they don’t shine tremendous brightly in any space, and there aren’t any overly annoying or unhealthy options. They’re dependable at an honest value, providing a superb bang on your buck. For a side-by-side comparability of the Makalu Cork Lites to our different favorites, head to our greatest trekking poles gear information.

Fast Specs

LEKI Makalu Cork Lite

Best Telescoping Poles


CleverHiker Ranking:

4.4/5.0


Value:

$150


Weight (Pair):

1 lb. 2 oz.


Shaft Materials:

Aluminum


Grip Materials:

Cork


Collapsed Size:

26 in.

Execs

  • Nice worth
  • Very sturdy
  • Comfortable cork grips
  • No instruments required for adjusting locks

Cons

  • Lengthy collapsed size
  • A bit heavy

Sturdiness

The Makalu Cork Lite strikes a terrific stability between aluminum sturdiness and low weight. These poles solely had a small quantity of beauty injury from our sturdiness testing. We threw and dropped them on a boulder to verify they might stand up to fundamental put on and tear. They proceed to function usually, simply had just a few scratches. We additionally subjected them to a bend-stress check to find out how simply they might snap. 

The Makalu poles have ample flex however didn’t really feel like they might break simply. On our hikes round Durango, they did effectively sufficient. We primarily used them in well-trafficked areas, the place they carried out as anticipated. These poles will maintain up effectively sufficient for rugged terrain, but when a second got here the place we had some momentum and our physique weight got here crashing down on these between a rock and a tough place, they could snap at one of many joints.

LEKI MAKALU LITEs on the Arizona Path. – PHOTO CREDIT: CASEY HANDLEY (CLEVERHIKER.COM)

Weight

The burden of the Makalu is so-so: it’s in direction of the underside of our record general, however is the second lightest aluminum pole (1 lb 2. ozfor a pair). Aluminum is thought for being extra sturdy but in addition heavier than carbon fiber. Due to this fact, it’s unsurprising that it might rank decrease on our record for weight when stacked in opposition to carbon poles. 

The burden isn’t noticeable whereas mountaineering with it or when it’s the solely pole being held. The one time it’s evident is once we are holding one of many ultralight poles in a special hand. The advantage of the added weight is that it doesn’t really feel flimsy. We didn’t really feel the should be overly cautious whereas mountaineering with this pole round Durango.

Hikers holding their Black Diamond Pursuit and LEKI Makalu Lite trekking poles up in the air while looking out over an expansive view of mountains and lakes
Whereas they aren’t the lights at simply over a pound, they really feel nice on the path. -Picture Credit score: Heather Eldridge (CleverHiker.com)

Consolation

We love that the Makalu trekking poles have cork handles, however we want the wrist straps had been a bit extra snug. As a result of we get to check trekking poles side-by-side, consolation is extra obvious to us. However for the common purchaser, the consolation of those sticks is enough.

The Makalu acquired consolation factors for having cork handles and a deal with form of enough consolation. We choose cork over foam as a result of it’s usually higher at absorbing sweat. Whereas utilizing the Makalu on backpacking journeys, our fingers stayed cleaner. 

One factor we might have favored to have seen on the Makalu is a padded wrist strap. The present wrist straps work positive for brief quantities of time. The material is considerably smooth, however the skinny width is much less snug. Total, the Makalu has common consolation options.

A close up of a hand holding the cork grip of the Leki Makalu Cork Lite pole with a forest in the background.
Leki Makalu Cork Lite have actually comfortable cork handles. -Picture Credit score: Bailey Bremner (CleverHiker.com)

Ease of Use

We discovered the Leki Makalu simple to make use of, due to easy-to-use flick locks and shafts that slide at a user-friendly pace. To check how simple every trekking pole is to make use of, we measured the time wanted to set them up. The Makalu Cork Lite got here in third place as soon as we in contrast the occasions of the totally different trekking poles. 

There are a number of attributes of those poles that contributed to the Makalu’s taking bronze within the ease-of-use metric. The primary is the easy-to-use flick locks. The locking mechanism on these poles is simple to entry, and the flipping piece has a small lip that makes it simple to seize. We additionally like that the mechanism’s stress may be simply adjusted utilizing the nobs on the aspect of the pole. 

The telescoping portion of the pole may impression ease of use. The center shaft is comparatively simple to break down and develop. Nonetheless, there may be sufficient friction to maintain it from flying out. The decrease shaft takes extra effort to maneuver. The shafts even have measurements on them to assist rapidly regulate them to the proper top.

A close up of a hand closing a flick lock with trees in the background.
Simple flick locks and linear graduations on the shaft. -Picture Credit score: Bailey Bremner (CleverHiker.com)

Packability

Packability isn’t a robust space for the Makalu: it has the longest poles in our lineup. When collapsed, the Leki Makalu got here in at 26.5 inches. For reference, the shortest collapsed trekking pole in our lineup is 14.25 inches (this was a folding pole). One upside to that is that the pole has longer, steady shafts, so they’re much less more likely to break.

In comparison with the opposite telescoping poles we examined, the outcomes usually are not fairly as drastic. They’re nonetheless in final place, although. We didn’t discover this distinction in collapsed size to be a difficulty when toting the poles round to totally different trails or within the automobile. Nevertheless, this can be a extra vital drawback when flying or quick packing. For the common hiker who doesn’t usually must stash them for scrambling, it gained’t make an enormous distinction.

The Leki Makalu Cork Lite pole is laying on the ground in some leaves with a measuring tape next to it.
Leki Makalu Cork Lite packability check. -Picture Credit score: Bailey Bremner (CleverHiker.com)

Options

The Makalu has the essential options wanted to be usable, plus just a few extras. They’ve wrist straps and one pair of baskets. We additionally admire that the ideas may be changed once they put on out. The 2 greatest options of those poles are the built-in tensioners and grip extension. The tensioners are simple to make use of and don’t require any instruments. They make adjusting the pressure wanted to open every flick lock simple. We admire that the grip extension is giant sufficient for our hand to carry and has a sample for a greater grip. There may all the time be extra add-ons, resembling winter baskets, that might be included. Nevertheless, general, the Makalu performs effectively and retains its general weight low.

A close up of the Leki Air Grip wrist strap tightening system with a forest in the background.
adjusting the wrist straps on the Leki Makalu Cork Lite. -Picture Credit score: Bailey Bremner (CleverHiker.com)

Ought to You Purchase The LEKI Makalu Cork Lite Trekking Poles?

Our gear analysts have been longtime followers of the Makalu trekking poles. They’ve been trusted on the CDT, Arizona Path, and numerous hikes.

As a result of these poles have respectable sturdiness, consolation, and ease of use, they’re a implausible selection for any path. These poles could be a superb improve choice from some extra reasonably priced however lower-performing fashions. That mentioned, they don’t seem to be fairly as versatile as a number of the different poles on our record. These poles will work greatest for mountaineering and backpacking, however aren’t probably the most compact or ultralight when you’re contemplating them for quick packing or path working.

A close up of a person's hands holding two trekking poles at hip height with their torso in the background. There are trees behind the person.
Leki Makalu Cork Lites are a purchase in our opinion. -Picture Credit score: Bailey Bremner (CleverHiker.com)

What Different Trekking Poles Ought to You Contemplate?

We just like the Leki Makalu, however understand it is only one of many nice trekking poles we examined on our gear information. Listed here are just a few extra to think about:

Black Diamond Pursuit Overview: The Pursuit is a good various to the Makalu. It’s also an aluminum trekking pole with cork handles and an identical price ticket. Whereas the flick locks usually are not fairly as simple to make use of and regulate, we love that these poles have unbelievable sturdiness and an abundance of options that make them very versatile. These poles can be utilized for each mountaineering and snowboarding.

MSR DynaLock Discover Overview: We simply love how simple it’s to arrange the MSR DynaLock Discover. The flick locks on these trekking poles are extraordinarily simple to make use of and regulate. They don’t seem to be fairly as sturdy because the Makalu or as mild, however the packability and options are very comparable for each poles.

Black Diamond Path Again Overview: The Path Again trekking poles are one in every of our favourite price range buys, making them nice for freshmen. They’re one other aluminum pole however with foam handles as a substitute of cork. Considered one of our favourite issues about them is that they’ve wonderful sturdiness—an enormous enchancment over the Makalu. Whereas they don’t seem to be as fast to arrange because the Leki poles, lots of their different options, resembling consolation and packability, are very comparable.

A person is walking down a trail in the forest using some trekking poles.
The Makalu lites are one in every of our favorites. -Picture Credit score: Bailey Bremner (CleverHiker.com)

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