The Leki Micro Vario Ti Cor-Tec is a foldable bomb-proof aluminum trekking pole with an awesome cork handled grip and outstanding adjustability. That is why these trekking poles are my top choice for thru-hiking and multi-day backpacking.
While on the Coast-to-Coast, I met a woman who turned up her nose at the Alicoop – my Tarptent that requires trekking pole support – because she simply never hiked with poles. I stifled a rude response on the lines of, “Well, you must never have really hiked, then,” and simply shrugged my shoulders, knowing she had no idea what she was missing.
I bought my first pair of Lekis – Makalu – after walking the Superior Hiking Trail. Steep, rocky, and slippery, I vowed to never walk a trail again without the option of becoming a four-legged creature. That was twelve years ago, the beginning of a beautiful friendship with Leki.
I purchased the Micro-Vario Ti Core-tec because I wanted something that would fold down small and fit in my pack easily. I am simply amazed by the care Leki used in designing these poles, which break down to just over 15 inches, held together by a snazzy plastic coated wire.
It takes a few moments to get the hang of it, but the single locking mechanism is combined with a “push-pin” adjustment that locks all three pieces in place. There’s a wide range of adjustment and the locking mechanism doesn’t require any hardware to tighten, just an easy-to-use dial.
I have always shied away from carbon when it comes to trekking poles after I watched a hiker snap an ultralight pole in a steep rocky section of a recent hike. While the Micro Varios weigh 20 oz – a bit on the heavy side for an ultra-light backpacker – they have proven incredibly durable when I needed to toss them off small cliffs to await my eventual downclimb, put all my weight on them leaping over streams, or when I’ve needed to boulder-hop, crack up scree or plunge overland down a steep gully.
Meanwhile Leki focuses on making their poles some of the most comfortable I have ever tried. The cork-handled grips fit beautifully in the hand and remain inviting even after seemingly endless days. Leki has also updated the straps since my Makalu days with a softer but tough fabric.
Specs at a glance
- Weight: 20 oz.
- Minimum length: 15.5 in.
- Shaft material: aluminum
Disclosure
alison young purchased her Micro Vario trekking poles from Leki.
4 Responses