Leki Trekking Poles
By Steve Mann

Hiking staffs or poles sales are on the increase in the US market. The big question for most hikers seems to be one pole or two?

Leki, a leading manufacturer of trekking/hiking poles, recommends the use of pairs on varied terrain and while carrying a load for stress reduction. The heavier the load the more the advantage in using two poles rather than one. They claim a single staff can lead to one-sided security and imbalance.

Leki compares using a pair of poles to four-legged travel–greater stability and balance. The poles also greatly reduce the stress and fatigue on your knees and lower back especially when walking downhill. Most of the load will be transferred from your body to the poles. Personal performance is increased because poles encourage an upright posture making breathing more efficient. Two poles also help with winter activities such as snowshoeing.

Our field testers tried Leki's poles under various conditions–more on the specific poles in just a minute. First, we address the one-two question. Our preference is for a single pole when hiking on rough terrain when some scrambling or boulder-hopping is required. A single pole keeps one hand free, while the pole helps with big steps up, or for support when lowering yourself down when your foot can't reach.

We prefer two poles when hiking on more even terrain, such as developed trails. The trail conditions might vary–across rock, sand, snow, or mud–but if you are walking at a more even gait the majority of the time, two poles allows your arms to help push you uphill, or absorb stress and hold you back on the downhill. As mentioned above, the benefit increases as your load increases.

Our tester tried several Leki poles, all featuring an antishock spring system, carbide flex tip, and an interchangeable (removable) basket. The Makalu Antishock, Leki's best selling trekking pole, retails for 109.95 per pair, and offers a rubber handle (called the Ergo soft grip).

The Super Makalu CoreTec Antishock PA differs in the handle construction and positive angle of the grip and sells for $129.95. We slightly preferred the CoreTec (cork-like) grip over the rubber one, but all testers strongly preferred the positive angle poles over straight poles. Positive angle refers to a 15 degree bend in the pole just below the grip, allowing the wrist to remain extended (the normal position) when gripping the pole, rather than flexed upward when gripping a straing pole. All testers felt this gave a more natural feel when using the poles

Our final pole was a single hiking staff, the Sierra Antishock FS, which features a built-in camera mount, foam grip topped with a wooden knob, and antishock spring system at $69.95.

Conclusion: All testers felt they would use poles in the future, choosing either one or two poles under the conditions outlined earlier. The most-liked features of the Leki poles were the positive angle grip and the antishock, or spring action of the poles. The testers agreed that for the money the best value was the Super Makalu CoreTec Antishock PA -for $20 more you get the angled grip.

Contact Leki at www.leki.com or 800-255-9982.