If transferring quick and lightweight on the paths is your aim, then the Leki Ultratrail FX.One Superlite ($220) is the pole you need. These fixed-length folding carbon fiber poles are loopy gentle but sturdy sufficient to energy via rugged, mountainous terrain with ease. With eye-catching pink and vibrant pink colorways, these poles are standouts in additional methods than one! They’re the latest providing from Leki, whose improvement of poles has had a big impact on path working and ultrarunning at this time.
The poles are particularly designed for path runners with pared-down supplies that strike a superb steadiness between energy and weight. They will stand as much as rugged, mountainous terrain with out weighing you down. The truth is, iRunFar’s personal managing editor Meghan Hicks put them via their paces on the Hardrock 100 and the Snowman Race this yr — the latter a 200-kilometer, five-day stage race that went as much as 18,000 ft in altitude within the Himalayas of Bhutan.
These poles are provided in 105- to 135-centimeter lengths in five-centimeter increments. The distinctive Leki Path Shark grip system clicks on and off the pole, and a shortened cork grip supplies simply sufficient grip space with out pointless supplies or weight. When not in use, the poles fold into three items for compact storage.
Leki’s steady innovation is certainly on show on this latest addition to their path working pole lineup. We liked these poles a lot that we named them the most effective carbon fixed-length pole in our Greatest Path Working Poles information.
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Maggie Guterl utilizing Leki Ultratrail FX.One Superlite poles on the 2022 Hardrock 100. Picture: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
Leki Ultratrail FX.One Superlite Supplies and Options
It’s exhausting to think about that one trekking pole is that a lot totally different than another. In essence, they’re all simply sticks, proper? Whereas they largely share the identical basic construction, all path working poles are undoubtedly not created equally. The Leki Ultratrail FX.One Superlite provides some distinctive particulars to a normal three-piece folding design that helps these poles rise above a lot of the competitors.
First up, and possibly essentially the most distinctive and polarizing function of those poles, is the grip. As a substitute of a standard free wrist strap, Leki path working poles function their Path Shark grip system, a glove-like velcro mesh strap that clicks on and off the pole grip. These straps preserve your palms hooked up to the poles, permitting for a powerful pushoff and environment friendly power switch with out having to have a decent grasp of the pole. This dramatically reduces hand fatigue when utilizing the poles for lengthy intervals of time and reduces the danger of unintentionally dropping them. A easy push button on the highest of the grip releases the strap when you must use your palms. Leki has used this set off system on poles for greater than 20 years, and this iteration is the lightest and best to function. It makes use of light-weight mesh and air channels to enhance breathability whereas shedding bulk. The strap is paired with a minimalist cork grip simply lengthy sufficient to supply variable grip choices.
The Path Shark grip system on the Leki Ultratrail FX.One Superlite poles. All photographs iRunFar/Meghan Hicks except in any other case famous.
The shafts of the poles are manufactured from three carbon fiber sections that fold up for simple storage when not in use. Every part can lay parallel with out rigidity between them, so that they keep folded when not in use. Working the size of the pole contained in the hole carbon shaft is a twine coated with a versatile rubber tubing that extends to use rigidity and preserve the sections in place when the pole is prolonged. A easy push-button locking mechanism retains the pole prolonged and releases simply when it’s time to fold them.
Folded Leki Ultratrail FX.One Superlite poles.
The top of the pole has a small plastic path working basket to maintain it from sinking into comfortable floor. The sturdy concave carbide tip supplies good grip in rocky terrain. In contrast to different poles in the marketplace, the path working focus of those poles implies that extra equipment, reminiscent of snow baskets or rubber ideas, should not included. When not in use, the poles will be saved within the included mesh bag, and a detachable plastic cap will be positioned on the carbide tip to forestall it from scratching or puncturing pack materials.
Leki Ultratrail FX.One Superlite Efficiency
The Leki Ultratrail FX.One Superlite poles carry out very properly on a wide range of terrain and have glorious stiffness and sturdiness at a fraction of the burden of many different path working poles obtainable at this time. In our testing, they tackled tough terrain like a champ and stood as much as rugged mountain passes and scree fields with no downside.
The burden of the entire package deal is noticeably much less in comparison with opponents in the marketplace, and once we’re touring for hours or days at a time over difficult terrain, carrying much less weight provides as much as power financial savings.
Regardless of the poles being lighter than others in the marketplace, we’ve discovered them to be simply as sturdy. These poles have stood as much as among the most difficult terrain we traverse as path runners and ultrarunners.
Some runners discover the Path Shark grip system extra of an acquired style than love at first sight, and you may rely the iRunFar crew on this camp. To be sincere, whereas we’ve been following Leki’s progress and have examined a number of poles through the years, that is the pole that has lastly gained us over. The up to date Path Shark grip system is far simpler to function than prior variations and turns into innate after a pair dozen clicks out and in. Once you’re on the market path working and ultrarunning, time and mind energy saved on logistics like your poles is time and mind energy that can be utilized to motor down the paths sooner and farther.
The tops of the Leki Ultratrail FX.One Superlite poles.
Leki Ultratrail FX.One Superlite General Impressions
General, the Leki Ultratrail FX.One Superlite poles are extraordinarily gentle, simple to make use of, and virtually disappear when stowed away. We now have been more than happy with their efficiency in a wide range of situations.
We actually like the texture of the glove and grip in use — not having to tightly grasp the poles when mountain climbing up steep terrain has made stiff and achy palms a lot happier and actually makes the poles really feel like an extension of our arms. The draw back is the additional step wanted to launch the grip when palms are wanted for consuming, image taking, or rock scrambling. The glove-like match may also be a little bit of a hindrance in variable temperatures as they add an additional step if mittens or gloves must be taken on or off. We’ve discovered the safety and power financial savings of utilizing this grip outweigh that inconvenience, however it’s one thing to think about in case you are often taking your poles out and in of your palms or are working in colder temperatures the place gloves is likely to be wanted.
If it’s a powerful and reliable pole in an ultralight package deal you might be after, then these poles won’t disappoint. Constructed for path runners and ultrarunners, they ship simply what you want in a light-weight package deal with no overbuilt or pointless options. To study extra about these poles, see our Greatest Path Working Poles information.
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The Leki Ultratrail FX.One Superlite poles.
