LEKI Makalu FX Carbon Review

Testing the Makalu FX Carbon

I took the Makalu’s straight from the box to the Laugavegur Trail in August and hoped they would live up to the hype I’d been reading about, as I didn’t have time to test them at home before heading out. They did even better than I expected! When we hiked the trail, we had some wild weather: snow, wind, rain, and a little bit of sun – just what you’d expect. So, as I had packed a bit heavier than usual to account for the weather, I needed the poles to carry me the 53 kilometers. They’re really lightweight, about 250 grams, but super sturdy since they’re fully made of carbon.

One good example is river crossings. I was a bit afraid for one of the river crossings we needed to do, as I knew I would be leaning on them more than I normally do when I hike. The water was super fast, and we were in our underwear to keep our pants dry, which meant I wanted to move fast through the water to get dressed and warm again. All that to say, I needed the poles to hold strong. And they did! In other times when my lightweight poles have snapped, these didn’t even bend. I was really pleased with them.

About the Makalu FX Carbon

This pole has been in the company since 1974, when it was designed with the help of Reinhold Messner for his 1978 Everest summit, the first recorded summit without artificial oxygen. Since then, the pole has been one of the most important poles in the company and what LEKI measures excellence by.

Comfort and control are key design factors for the Makalu Pro FX Carbon. The poles feature LEKI’s signature ergonomic Aergon Air grip, which is shaped to support natural wrist positions to improve your movement on both climbs and descents. The extended foam grip then also allows you to quickly change your hand position on steep terrain without adjusting the pole length, while the Skin Strap system gives you lightweight support on your wrist. Combined with the Speed Lock 2 Plus adjustment mechanism and durable carbide Flex Tips for reliable traction on varied surfaces, the poles are designed for stability and efficiency as you hike. They also fold down with a 5-segment design so they can get super small, just 40 cm, for traveling.

Conclusion

All in all, I was impressed with the LEKI Makalu FX Carbon poles. The poles did really well and were exactly what I needed. I’d rather they be slightly heavier (though they’re not actually heavy) to feel secure in their sturdiness. They were easy to use, easy to travel with, and reliable for the entire trek, just like I needed them to be. I’ll be keeping these for my upcoming long-distance treks this season as well!