What pole is best for you?

Winter Edition

Aluminum vs Carbon Fiber

There are two main types of construction in ski pole shafts: heat-treated aluminum and carbon fiber. Aluminum shafts are lightweight, durable, and economical, while carbon fiber shafts are featherweight, stiff, more fragile, and come at a higher price. Both materials provide a high-performance shaft, so the decision usually comes down to weight. If you want to minimize weight at any cost, carbon is the best option, but aluminum is ideal if durability and price are your main concerns. If you are skiing at the resort, carbon fiber poles tend to be better for frontside/groomer skiing, while all-mountain aggressive skiing pairs better with a beefier aluminum shaft.

Fixed Length vs Adjustable

Fixed-length poles are made from a single piece of material, resulting in a stiffer and lighter pole shaft. They are ideal for lift-served skiing, where skiers rarely adjust their pole length. On the other hand, adjustable poles are perfect for skiers in the backcountry, as the pole length can be modified during the day to accommodate skin tracks, bootpacks, and various skiing options. If you are searching for a single pole that can be used for resort skiing, sidecountry, and backcountry, you will likely find an adjustable pole to be the ideal tool.

Folding vs Collapsible

Traditional “collapsible” poles have levers that allow them to be shortened, like a telescope, so they can be adjusted as needed to meet changing needs while climbing and skiing. As the name implies, folding poles fold into three sections, allowing them to be stored outside or inside your pack when not in use. This is especially beneficial for snowboarders who are using a split board for the uphill and need to stow their poles for the down.

Four Season poles

If you are looking for a versatile pole that can be used for all your adventures year-round, consider choosing a four-season pole with interchangeable baskets. These poles allow you to switch out the snowflake basket, which is used in winter for skiing or snowshoeing, with a trekking basket for when the snow melts. For a year-round four-season pole recommendation, we suggest the SHERPA series.

Grip and strap Options

LEKI is at the forefront of innovation, and we believe that one grip doesn't fit all when it comes to ski poles.The flagship of LEKI’s grip engineering is the Trigger system, which allows users to click into the pole using a loop sewn into either the breathable mesh strap that comes with our Trigger poles or the Trigger loop sewn into most LEKI gloves and mittens. The pinnacle of the Trigger collection is the Trigger 3D, which provides a 220-degree release angle, offering exceptional security. The Trigger 3D collection includes the Trigger 3D Pro G with its low profile, individual finger channels, and a tacky grip ideal for power transmission and precision pole plants. The LEKI World Cup ski racing pole collection features our Trigger 3D SL grip ideal for unrivaled power out of the starting gate. LEKI also offers the Pro G grip with a traditional loop strap called the Pro G PAS. The EVOCON grip system is a traditional grip with an adjustable loop strap. The Aergon Air grip ican be found on most of our backcountry pole series, offering all-day comfort from the skintrack to the steep and deep. The straps on the Aergon Air grips, as well as most of our other poles with loop straps, are fully adjustable, allowing skiers to cinch them down as needed to ensure a solid grip on their poles. Our SkiMo racing pole, the Mezza Race, and most of our Nordic ski poles feature the Trigger Shark system, which is similar to the Trigger system mentioned above but on a much smaller, minimalistic grip specifically designed to save weight and maximize speed.

Activities

Alpine Skiing

When it comes to lift-served alpine skiing, poles are typically made from either Aluminum or Carbon Fiber. Aluminum poles are a bit heavier than carbon, but they are also more durable. Since gravity is working in your favor when skiing downhill, the weight of ski poles isn't as critical as it would be with hiking or backcountry ski poles. The best pole for alpine skiing is one that has a comfortable swing weight for your particular skiing style. For skiers who spend most of their time on groomed terrain, both aluminum and carbon poles will work fine. However, those skiing more aggressively in all snow conditions and terrain will find that aluminum poles offer significantly more durability. For skiers who prefer an adjustable pole for in-bounds skiing or who spend some time in the side country, we recommend an adjustable freeride pole like the Spitfire Vario.

Ski Racing

Ski racers benefit from specialized poles, and LEKI offers a range of poles designed specifically for high-performance racers. With decades of experience, LEKI leads the way in race pole technology, constantly innovating with advanced materials and designs. Most LEKI racing poles are made from heat-treated aluminum for a strong and durable yet lightweight shaft. Our Venom race poles combine aluminum and carbon for a solid upper section to withstand gate hits and a lightweight lower section for quick and precise pole plants. All LEKI ski racing poles feature the innovative Trigger 3D grip system, ensuring a seamless glove/pole interface and excellent power transfer from hand to pole. Additionally, most LEKI ski racing pole grips allow for the installation of gate guards to protect racers' hands.

Backcountry Skiing

If you enjoy earning your turns, LEKI offers a broad selection of poles designed specifically for backcountry skiers. Most poles in our backcountry collection feature the ergonomic Aergon Air grip for all-day comfort. All our backcountry poles come with adjustable loop straps and an extended foam grip, providing multiple locations for grasping the pole when skiing in steep terrain or climbing a boot pack to reach your objective. Thanks to our patented Speed Lock lever system, all our backcountry poles are easily adjustable on the fly without the need for tools. Most of our backcountry poles are constructed from lightweight yet durable aluminum, but we also offer a couple of models of folding poles crafted from carbon fiber. Folding poles are ideal for split boarders as they make it easy to stow the poles inside your backpack when it's time for the descent.

Ski Mountaineering

When choosing ski mountaineering poles, weight is the most important factor for many skiers. LEKI offers two lightweight SkiMo poles: the Guide Lite 2 Carbon and the Mezza Race. The Guide Lite 2 Carbon is adjustable from 105-150 cm, while the Mezza Race is a fixed-length pole weighing just 6 ounces, available in 5-cm increments from 110-150 cm. Both poles are made of carbon fiber and have contour binding baskets designed to quickly shed snow, making them easy to extract from deep snow. Skiers seeking sturdier poles may prefer those in the SHERPA collection.

Nordic Skiing

Whether you are looking for the dependability and value of an Aluminum shaft or the featherweight responsiveness of a carbon fiber shaft, LEKI has something for all your Nordic needs. From the entry-level XTA 5.5, all the way to the flagship HRC Max, LEKI Nordic poles include our innovative Shark Grip system, which provides unrivaled power transmission and precision pole plants. Whether your passion is skate skiing or classic, LEKI has the right pole to help you reach your personal finish line faster and feeling fresher than ever.