Review of the Leki Makalu FX Carbon Trekking Pole

The Leki Makalu FX Carbon trekking pole is a foldable pole designed for mountaineering and trekking, combining lightness, robustness, and advanced technologies to provide support and stability on demanding terrains. With a compact and adjustable design, it stands out for its durability, the ergonomics of the Aergon Air grip, and the Speed Lock 2 Plus locking system, ensuring a safe and efficient hiking experience.

Recommended Uses for the Leki Makalu FX Carbon Trekking Pole

Ideal for mountaineering, trekking, and hiking, the Makalu FX Carbon is suitable for both experienced adventurers and beginners looking for a reliable pole for support on various terrains. Its foldable and lightweight design makes it an excellent choice for those who want to optimize weight and space in their backpack without compromising safety and comfort.

About Leki

Leki’s history is a journey of passion, innovation, and commitment to quality since 1948. Founded by Karl and Gertrud Lenhart, the company started as a manufacturer of wooden and metal items but quickly evolved into producing sports equipment. Dissatisfied with the quality of ski poles at the time, Karl Lenhart decided to manufacture his own grips and baskets, kickstarting Leki’s revolution in the market.

In 1974, Leki launched the first adjustable trekking pole, the Makalu, which soon became a benchmark for mountaineers. Four years later, Reinhold Messner and Peter Habeler climbed Everest without oxygen using Leki poles. Over the decades, the company introduced several innovations, including the Trigger system for skiing (1998) and foldable poles for trail running (2013).

My relationship with Leki began in 2002 when I discovered the brand at the OutDoor trade fair in Friedrichshafen, Germany. At the time, we were already distributing Deuter in Brazil and looking for new brands to import. However, due to the high cost, bringing Leki to the Brazilian market was not feasible. Still, believing in the importance of trekking poles, we decided to introduce the Dyno brand in Brazil, thus starting the work of raising awareness about the relevance of this equipment for trekking and mountaineering enthusiasts.

A few years later, I started using Leki poles again, both for trekking and for snowshoeing and trail running.

Me using Leki poles in different situations

Experience Using the Leki Makalu FX Carbon Trekking Pole

With over two decades of experience using trekking poles, I can confidently say that the Leki Makalu FX Carbon delivers exceptional performance. Its Aergon Air grip provides comfort and security, especially on technical descents, while the Speed Lock 2 Plus adjustment system allows for quick and firm length adjustments without the risk of slipping. Throughout various trails on different terrains, the pole has proven to be stable and durable.

Due to these characteristics, the Leki Makalu FX Carbon was chosen as the trekking pole for participants selected by the Aconcagua Campaign to climb the highest mountain in the Americas.

Technical Specifications of the Leki Makalu FX Carbon Trekking Pole

• Material: PRC 1000 Carbon.
• Folding System: External Locking Device (ELD), a mechanism that allows for quick assembly and disassembly of the pole.
• Adjustment System: Speed Lock 2 Plus, ensuring fast and secure length adjustment.
• Grip: Aergon Air with foam extension.
• Strap: Lock System Strap Skin 4.0.
• Basket: Trekking Basket 2.0.
• Tip: Short Flex Tip (carbide).
• Adjustable Length: 110 – 130 cm.
• Segments: 5 sections.
• Diameter: Ø 18 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 14 mm.
• Folded Size: 40 cm.
• Weight: 254 g.

Aergon Grip with foam extension, allowing for quick grip adjustments when needed.

Lock System Strap Skin 4.0: individually adjustable strap. It is ultra-lightweight, highly breathable, and provides optimal comfort during use.

ELD (External Locking Device): the system allows the foldable pole to be opened and closed quickly with a simple button press. The special construction around the activation button provides greater stability, ensuring safe and efficient use.

Speed Lock 2 Plus: the adjustment system works through an external locking mechanism, allowing quick and easy adjustments while providing maximum safety and stability during use.

Trekking Basket 2.0: a compact trekking basket that prevents the pole from sinking into soft terrain and can be easily replaced without the need for tools. For specific terrains such as snow, other Leki models are available separately.

Technologies Used in the Leki Makalu FX Carbon

To better understand why Leki stands out in the international market with its trekking poles and other outdoor activity gear, below is an explanation of some of the key technologies applied in the Leki Makalu FX Carbon:

FX – Foldable & Exchangeable

The term FX, present in the name of the Leki Makalu FX Carbon pole, refers to Leki’s **Foldable and Exchangeable** technology. This indicates that the pole is both foldable and interchangeable, allowing users to disassemble and replace the lower segment and the next one in just a few minutes. This feature increases durability and makes repairs or replacements easier without the need for specialized tools.

Leki developed this patented technology to enhance the longevity of trekking poles and provide more convenience for mountaineers and trekking enthusiasts. With this system, in case of wear or damage, only the affected parts can be replaced, avoiding the need to change the entire pole.

Additionally, Leki offers almost all spare parts for its poles, ensuring that any damaged or worn component can be easily replaced, guaranteeing continuous efficiency and longevity of the equipment.

PRC 1000 Carbon: High-Performance Technology for Trekking Poles

Leki’s PRC 1000 (Performance Racing Carbon 1000) poles are manufactured using one of the most advanced composite technologies, ensuring a perfect balance between lightness, strength, and structural rigidity.

The Manufacturing Process of PRC 1000 Carbon

Carbon fibers are produced through a carbonization process of synthetic polymer fibers, resulting in an extremely fine but highly resistant material. These fibers are woven into a carbon mesh and bonded with resins, creating a lightweight, rigid, and simultaneously flexible carbon tube.

Leki employs the pre-impregnation (prepreg) technique to manufacture its carbon tubes, a method that ensures maximum precision and quality. During production, layers of carbon fiber are arranged in a laminated structure and subjected to controlled thermal treatment, creating a **resilient, durable matrix with excellent vibration absorption.

What Does the “1000” in PRC 1000 Mean?

The number “1000” in PRC 1000 Carbon indicates the quality and strength level of the carbon fibers used in the material.

In carbon composite nomenclature, numbers generally represent the number of individual filaments per fiber bundle (tow count). PRC 1000 uses ibers with 1,000 filaments per bundle, resulting in higher filament density and, consequently, greater **structural strength.

Benefits of PRC 1000 Carbon

• Maximum stiffness with minimal weight: offers a high stiffness-to-weight ratio, ensuring strength without compromising lightness.
• Extremely lightweight: reduces user effort, making long hikes more efficient.
• Greater stiffness compared to aluminum: with the same tube diameter, PRC 1000 carbon provides a much higher stiffness level than aluminum.
• Excellent vibration absorption behavior: minimizes impact on uneven terrain, providing more comfort and reducing muscle fatigue.
• Customized construction: Leki employs different lamination techniques to adapt PRC 1000 carbon to various needs and pole types.

What does this mean in practice?

• PRC 1000 carbon offers high tensile strength, making the pole rigid and durable.
• This type of carbon maintains its lightweight properties, reducing fatigue during prolonged use.

Aergon Air Grip: Ergonomics, Control, and Comfort for Trekking and Mountaineering

The Aergon Air Grip is the latest generation of grips developed by Leki, designed to provide maximum comfort, control, and ergonomic support during outdoor activities. This evolution enhances every detail of the previous design, offering a more secure and efficient grip for mountaineers and trekking enthusiasts.

Main Features of the Aergon Air Grip

• Hollow Core Technology: combines lightweight construction with large support surfaces, ensuring a perfect hand fit and reducing fatigue.
• Guiding Nose: the grip shape provides maximum control and comfort during descents, increasing safety and stability.
• Diamond Shaped Surface: fully rubberized rear surface for superior grip, even in adverse conditions.
• Correction Angle: designed with an ergonomic wrist-supporting inclination, allowing a more natural and comfortable pole positioning.

The construction of the Aergon Air Grip follows the concept of lightweight yet strong materials, providing a secure, comfortable grip adaptable to various situations. This technology is particularly useful for long hikes and technical crossings, where comfort and precision in pole handling make all the difference.

In the Leki Makalu FX Carbon trekking pole, the Aergon Air Grip ensures optimized performance, offering absolute control and fatigue reduction during prolonged use on varied terrains.

Carbide: The Material for Technical Pole Tips

Carbide is a chemical compound formed by combining carbon with a metallic or semi-metallic element, such as tungsten (WC), titanium (TiC), or silicon (SiC). In the context of trekking and hiking poles, tungsten carbide (Tungsten Carbide) is the most commonly used due to its exceptional strength and durability.

Why is carbide used in trekking pole tips?

Tungsten carbide is extremely hard and wear-resistant, making it ideal for trekking pole tips as it provides:

• High durability: far more wear-resistant than common steel tips, ensuring long-lasting equipment.
• Excellent grip: improves traction on rocky terrain, ice, and hard surfaces, providing greater safety.
• Greater precision: the fine and sturdy tip ensures a firm and secure placement, essential for technical terrains.

Comparison with Other Materials

• Steel: more affordable but wears out quickly and loses grip over time.
• Tungsten Carbide: significantly more durable and ideal for trekking and technical mountaineering, providing superior durability and performance.

Carbide Flextip Technology – Short / Long

Carbide Flextip technology was developed to maximize the performance of trekking and hiking pole tips, offering benefits such as:

• Extreme durability: made from an ultra-hard material, resistant to wear and impact.
• Optimal grip on any surface: provides reliable traction on rugged terrain, mud, ice, and rocks.
• Concave hard metal tip: enhances grip in all directions, increasing user safety.
• Flexibility: can bend up to 30° without losing its original shape, absorbing impacts and reducing the risk of breakage.
• Unmatched robustness: designed to withstand intense use in any environment.
• Long version available: the long tip offers optimized year-round use, adapting to different weather conditions and terrain types.

This combination of technology and materials makes Carbide Flextip tips one of the best options for adventurers seeking durability, safety, and maximum performance in their trekking poles.

What Comes in the Leki Makalu FX Carbon Package

In addition to the pair of poles, the package includes an ultra-lightweight and practical carrying bag, baskets as previously described, and tip protectors.

The included tip protectors serve exclusively to protect the tips during transport and storage, preventing damage to the equipment and other items in the backpack. They are not designed for use while walking.

If the poles need to be used on paved, rocky, or sensitive surfaces, Leki offers specialized protectors such as the Rubber Pad Trekking. These separately sold accessories are designed to reduce tip wear, prevent slipping, and minimize impact in conservation areas like the Inca Trail.

Tip protector included with the pole (left), intended only for transport and storage, and Rubber Pad Trekking protector (right), recommended for use on hard surfaces such as asphalt and rocks.

Field Test: User Testimonials on the Leki Makalu FX Carbon

This pole was chosen as a prize in the Aconcagua Campaign, organized by Gear Tips, Grajales Expeditions, and Deuter, and was used by selected participants during their ascent of Aconcagua.

Giane Triches used the pair of poles every day during the Aconcagua expedition and stated that they were essential for providing stability and comfort on various types of terrain. “I’ve used other poles before, but this Leki model is extremely lightweight. It was also my first experience with a foldable model, and it was very positive. The padded section on the grips provides a perfect fit.”

The mountaineer recalled that the equipment was also very useful during descents. “We ran down a steep section, doing what the expedition team calls ‘skiing on the rocks.’ The poles gave me stability and proved to be very firm. The material is of excellent quality. I believe the poles I used before would have either broken or bent.”

Mack Willison always uses trekking poles for mountain activities and was impressed by the Leki Makalu FX Carbon poles during the Aconcagua expedition. “They are very lightweight, and assembly and disassembly are quite intuitive. They helped me a lot on the ascents.”

The mountaineer and tour guide also highlighted the design as a positive feature, emphasizing the performance of the adjustment system, which provided stability during use, as well as the locking mechanism.

Pros and Cons of the Leki Makalu FX Carbon Trekking Pole

Pros: List of the Product’s Strengths

• Lightweight and durable carbon construction;
• Foldable design for easy transport;
• Ergonomic and grippy Aergon Air handle;
• Reliable and easy-to-use Speed Lock 2 Plus system;
• Replacement parts available for almost every component of the pole.

Cons: List of the Product’s Weaknesses

• Higher price compared to basic market options;
• Difficulty finding the brand in Brazil.

Where to Buy

The Leki Makalu FX Carbon trekking pole can be purchased on the official Leki website at the following link: Leki Makalu FX Carbon – Official Site.

In Brazil, the Alta Montanha store sells some Leki models, which can be found at this link: Leki Trekking Poles at Alta Montanha.

Learn More

If you want to deepen your knowledge about trekking and hiking poles, check out our content on Gear Tips, including articles, videos, and complete guides:

Blog Articles

• Poles for Trail Running – Complete Guide

Lecture on Gear Tips Plus

• Everything About Trekking Poles

YouTube Videos

• How to Adjust the Grip of a Trekking Pole
• How to Hold a Trekking Pole the Right Way
• Discover How to Use a Trekking Pole in Rainy Conditions

These resources help you better understand the features, technologies, and benefits of trekking poles, assisting in choosing the ideal gear for your adventures!

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