Owner Report: Leki Super Makalu COR TEC PA AS Trekking Poles

Product Information: Leki Super Makalu COR TEC PA AS Trekking Poles

Review Date: March 15, 2005
Manufacturer: Leki
URL: http://www.Leki.com
Year Of Manufacture: 2004
Series: Mountain Trek
Model #: 2038
MSRP: $139.95 US
Grip: COR TEC composite material with 15 degree positive angle
Shaft Material of Construction: Three Section, Anodized Aluminum
Length (manufacturer): Adjustable from 31.5 in (80 cm) to 55.1 in (140 cm)
Length (as measured): Adjustable from 30.7 in (78 cm) to 54 in (137.2 cm)
Upper Shaft Diameter (as measured): 0.8 in (2.03 cm)
Middle Shaft Diameter (as measured): 0.7 in (1.78 cm)
Lower Shaft Diameter (as measured): tapered from 0.6 in (1.52 cm) at the top to 0.5 in (1.27 cm) at the bottom
Weight (manufacturer): 21.7 oz (615 g) for the pair
Weight (as measured on Sunbeam dietetic scales): 21.3 oz (603.84 g) for the pair
Tips: Carbide “Flex Tips”
Tip Diameter (as measured): 0.16 in (0.41 cm); concave shape
Shock Absorption: SAS Anti-Shock System
Warranty: Lifetime warranty against shaft breakage


Field Information:

Hiking sticks can, in many respects, be equated to man’s best friend.  A good hiking stick can fetch (i.e., trail side trash, hot pots, etc.), roll over, stand, and even ward off pesky animals.  Hiking sticks have evolved from simple tree branches, to magnificently carved works of art, and finally to ultra light trekking poles which are constructed from space age materials.

I purchased a set of Leki Super Makalu COR TEC PA AS trekking poles in August 2004 and retired my old 3 lb (1.36 kg) hickory stick from Glacier National Park to the museum for Stone Age hiking gear.  I have used the Leki Super Makalu COR TEC trekking poles exclusively on East Tennessee trails.  My hikes with these poles have primarily been on various sections of the Cumberland Trail, Cherokee National Forest, and portions of the Appalachian Trail.  In all cases, the terrain was hilly to mountainous with occasional flat stretches along the crest of the mountains.  I have hiked through hot, dry conditions in which the ground was like concrete and also slogged through rain and mud.  These trekking poles have met the challenge superbly so far.  The trails that I hike are scattered with rocky creek crossings and beautiful waterfalls.  I have used these poles when the temperature was below freezing and the ground was frozen solid.  Unfortunately I have not had the opportunity to try these poles on snow covered trails because our climate appears to be changing and we have not had much snow in the last few years.

The 15 degree positive angled grips on the Super Makalu trekking poles actually do seem to relieve stress on my wrists and elbows when ascending steep hills.  The slight 15 degree positive angle fits the natural bend of my wrist better than a straight pole; therefore, I attribute the stress relief to the natural feel of the grips.  I’ve used trekking poles with spongy foam grips as well as hard plastic grips and the composite COR TEC material used by Leki doesn’t soak up sweat or rain like the spongy grip materials, nor do they get as slippery as the hard plastic grips.  The COR TEC grip material is advertised as a blend of natural cork and natural rubber.  I have found this material to be firm, but not slick like hard plastic.

The grips have a thumbwheel mechanism to quickly adjust the wrist straps.  The design is simple, but I have not found it to be as easy as it looks to adjust the straps.  When the wheel is rotated counterclockwise to loosen the nut, the strap is still hard to pull out to adjust the length.  The thumbwheel can also be difficult to turn with gloves on.

Adjusting the length of the Leki Super Makalu trekking poles is a simple affair.  Rotate the shaft section to be adjusted counter clockwise to loosen, push or pull the pole section to adjust to the desired length, and rotate clockwise to tighten.  It is not necessary to pretend to be Superman when tightening the pole sections as I have found that twisting the pole section until it is snug is sufficient.  After hiking approximately 100 mi (160 km) in the mountains of East Tennessee I have not had a single instance of accidentally collapsing the poles.  The incremental markings on the middle and lower pole sections confused me.  The pole sections are marked as if they are in increments of 5 cm, but I measured the distance between the “5 cm” markings and found them to actually be spaced every 1 in or 2.54 cm.  I do not know if this is simply an oversight by Leki. (Remember when incorrect unit conversions caused NASA to lose a satellite?)

Leki boasts of their anti-shock technology with the Super Makalu trekking poles.  The anti-shock feature is one that is loved by some and hated by many.  With a simple half twist the anti-shock mechanism can be locked in or out so that there is a choice of whether or not to use the shock absorber.  Unfortunately Leki does not provide much information about how to adjust the anti-shock system.  I didn’t realize that it had three different positions until I disassembled the unit to try to understand how it works.  The shock absorber has approximately 0.91 in (2.3 cm) of travel and can make an irritating clanking sound when rebounding from the compression stroke.  The clanking sound from the poles could be considered an asset to those of us who hike in black bear country and often keep a loose bell tied to our pack for making noise.  At first I was skeptical about having tiny shock absorbers in trekking poles, but with use I have decided that during ascension of steep hills they do seem to help reduce shock to my elbows.  I do not like the shock absorbers when going down hill because they flex a little and feel unstable.  On flat trails, the anti-shock system hasn’t been that noticeable for me, but overall I’m glad to have them.

All of the features described are nice to have, but perhaps the most important feature to me is the tiny carbide “Flex Tip” on the business end of the pole.  The sharp circumferential edge of the carbide tip has an amazing ability to latch on to the slipperiest of rocks.  Traversing creeks with moss covered rocks used to be a frightening but necessary endeavor, but Leki’s carbide “Flex Tips” have inspired confidence and prevented several embarrassing falls.  I’ve had many occasions to violently stab an unsuspecting, wet, moss covered rock in a panic while my feet were wildly slipping out from under me (another missed Kodak photo opportunity).  The Superman like grip of Leki’s carbide “Flex Tips” held fast in every occasion.  In the beginning I had doubts as to the durability of such small tips, but after logging over 100 mi (160 km) of hiking with these poles they show very little wear.  The carbide “Flex Tips” can be replaced when worn out or replaced with rubber boots.  Leki wisely recommends using the rubber boots on paved surfaces.  Experience has taught me that rubber boots can be quite slippery when wet.


Product Summary:

In summary, the Leki Super Makalu COR TEC trekking poles have been strong, reliable, and comfortable.   The days of carving a story stick on a seasoned hickory staff may be nearing an end, but hiking with high-tech trekking poles is much safer.  My only complaint with the Super Makalu is with the wrist strap because it is somewhat difficult to adjust with gloves on.  The only other feature I would like to see incorporated into the Super Makalu trekking poles would be a threaded stem for attaching a camera.  Overall, I am pleased with these trekking poles and look forward to many miles of hiking with them.


Features I Liked:

Light Weight
Short Collapsed Length
COR TEC Grips
Carbide “Flex Tips”
Anti-Shock Technology
Positive Angled Grip
Adjustment Markings
Easy Lock System


Features I Disliked:

Thumbwheel Strap Adjustment
Noisy Rebound From the Shock Absorber
Poor Directions


Personal Biographical Information:

Name:  Keith Riggle
Age:  44
Gender: Male
Height: 6 ft (183 cm)
Weight: 175 lb (79.4 kg)
e-mail: pocketpackers@yahoo.com
Home: Dayton, Tennessee
Occupation: Chemical Engineer


Backpacking Experience/Background:

I live in the mountains of East Tennessee and typically hike or camp two weekends each month with my son.  Temperatures in the area where I hike usually range from a high of 95 F (35 C) with humidity of 95% to a low of approximately 20 F (-7 C).  Elevations range from 730 ft (223 m) to 5,600 ft (1,700 m) above sea level.  Much of my experience has been in the remote areas of the Cumberland Trail and the Cherokee National Forest.  My typical pack weight for a 2 night trip, including food and water, is usually 35 lb (16 kg).