Leki Makalu Cork Lite Trekking Poles

The Makalu line has been Leki's trekking workhorse for decades, and the Cork Lite version shows why the company still sets the standard for grip ergonomics. The Aergon Air grip uses genuine cork over a hollow, weight-saving core, with a shaped palm rest and a positive grip angle that keeps the wrist neutral on long climbs — hand comfort here is as good as trekking poles get. The HTS 6.5 aluminum shafts and Speed Lock levers are proven hardware: easy to adjust with gloves on, reliable in cold and wet, and field-serviceable. The 100-135 cm range covers taller hikers better than most rivals. Weaknesses are real but modest. At 508 g per pair it is the heaviest premium pole we rated, the 67 cm collapsed length is long for carry-on luggage or small packs, and at around $160 it sits close to the Black Diamond Pursuit, which is lighter and includes interchangeable tech tips. Buy the Makalu Cork Lite if grip comfort and glove-friendly adjustment matter more to you than the last hundred grams; it is the pole most likely to still be in service ten years from now.