Kit Review: Leki Walking Poles

Over the years I've often wondered about people use walking poles, even at university a few people in the student hillwalking group were using them but I wasn't sure why they bothered. I always had the impression that they didn't give much benefit and that somehow they detracted from the hill walking experience. The various problems I've had with my ankles and knees over the last few years due to my flat feet have made me reassess walking poles. They certainly seem to be more popular than ever and I've seen numerous articles in magazines such as Trail extolling their benefits. There is now also some scientific evidence that walking poles significantly reduce muscle damage during mountain walking.

So, I have finally given in and I recently bought a pair of Leki Makalu Trail walking poles from Tisos (my favourite shop for outdoor kit and, no, they're not paying me to say that...). They cost £56 and were by no means the cheapest poles they had on sale (which I think were about £42 for a pair) but I've seen/heard more recommendations for Leki than any other brand. One aspect I particularly like about this brand is the fact that it's possible to buy replacements for the parts that typically wear out (e.g. the tips) and also the parts which might get broken occasionally (e.g. a single section of the telescopic pole).

At this point it's worth noting that this is not a comparison of different makes/models of walking poles. I've only tried a single set so I cannot say how well they compare to any others on the market. This is purely a review of my new walking poles and a summary of my experiences with using them.

Even after having bought the poles I was a little sceptical and wondered whether I would end up with them strapped to my bag for the whole day with a final consignment to the cupboard. I guess that one advantage of having spent a decent amount on them was that this gave me a certain amount of determination to give them a proper test. I decided to take them out on a 13 mile walk which included about 4900 feet of ascent, this would definitely be a good test of whether or not they improved my stamina and reduced the after-effects to my legs.

I can say that straight away I noticed a difference in my ascent of the first hill, the poles definitely did seem to reduce the amount of effort required, I also felt that I was pacing myself slightly better. They take a little getting used to and to begin with I was constantly checking the placement of the poles. After an hour or so though I found it was starting to become more natural and if anything I was looking down less than usual. Often when going uphill for long periods I find myself permanently with my head down checking my foot placement. With the poles helping me balance better I was walking more upright and enjoying the view more.

The biggest noticeable difference is with descent. Walking poles made a huge difference to my downhill walking, particularly the descent off the final hill which was nearly 3000feet over about 3 miles. Often I will come off the final hill with wobbly legs from the sheer effort of stopping my feet running away from under me. The poles helped a lot with keeping my body at the right angle and I found the descent a lot more pleasant and enjoyable where I have often felt before that I just had to "grin and bear it".

Poles can also be useful when crossing streams or bogs as they provide something to balance against whilst preparing for the next big step or jump. They're also handy for testing that innocuous looking patch of bog to find out if it will swallow your boots...

This is not to say that poles don't have their downsides. I did nearly tangle up the poles with my legs a few times although that could be down to lack of experience. They are also not appropriate for all surfaces (e.g. rocky areas) so sometimes you have to stop and put them away which can be disruptive. I found they didn't give me any noticeable benefit when walking on the level although they might be very useful with a heavy long-distance pack, I guess. I also plan to try them out when carrying my 2 stone toddler on my back to see if they help. They do also prevent easy eating and drinking on the move. I prefer not to take long rest stops for food and drink (I have a platypus water sack) but other than stopping the poles have to either be put away or carried awkwardly in one hand.

Looking at the technical aspects of the Leki poles. I found adjusting the height to be very easy. This seems, to me, to be the most crucial aspect of any walking poles since they need to be frequently altered to different heights for down-hill, up-hill and walking on the level. Whilst out walking I was able to change the height quickly and the locking feels nice and secure, it definitely didn't feel like it would slip.

Once on the hill I discovered that one wrist strap was a little too short to be truly comfortable but it wasn't at all clear how they should be adjusted. I didn't want to tinker too much in case I ended up with it totally unusable out on the hills. I guess I should have read the manual a bit more closely before heading out. I have since found this Youtube guide which provides a good demonstration on how to correctly use the straps on walking poles. Having now learnt how to do the adjustment I've no complaints, the system looks nice and secure and fairly simple. My lack of experience with them meant that quite a few times I put the straps on the wrong way but I reckon after a bit of practice it will become second nature. One thing I would quite like to have is some padding on the inner side of the straps for added comfort, this does appear to be available on some models, I found the straps rubbed a bit, I think mainly because they were brand new.

I found using the poles didn't require too much effort. I expected to end up with sore wrists and arms the following day but I've not felt any real discomfort. My arms definitely feel like they've done a bit of work but nothing beyond what I might feel from an afternoon weeding the garden. I think this shows that the anti-shock system works well.

Overall I found the poles to be excellent and they really did improve my hillwalking. I think from now on I will always be using the poles when out in the hills. If anyone has issues with ankles or knees I would definitely recommend getting a pair of poles.