Makalu Cork Lite (Pair)

Built for heavy use and demanding thru-hikes

Leki made their first telescopic trekking pole in 1974, so there’s not much they don’t know about this particular game. Exhibit A: these robust Makalu Cork Lite hiking poles. The Aergon Air handles are specially shaped for a range of comfortable hand positions, with a built-in positive angle and a rubberised back that makes a huge difference on steep descents. For this model, they’ve switched out the usual foam grips for comfortable and absorbent cork ones that offer exceptional traction in wet hands. Constructed in rugged HTS 6.5 aluminium for longevity on demanding long-distance routes, they’ve kept the weight down to a very respectable 254g per pole by opting for a slim tube diameter. The Makalus use a lever lock system which – in our humble experience – is much more reliable and durable than the twist lock favoured by some other brands.