User Review: Leki Super Makalu COR-TEC PA

Leki Super Makalu COR-TEC PA
Above: The current Super Makalu COR-TEC PA, which may differ slightly from the version reviewed.

Reviewed August 3, 2007 by JTroxell

Rating:
Price Paid: $129

I've had these poles now for over 5 years, and I am totally sold on the advantages of hiking poles. They provide stability and reduce fatigue when hiking with them. However the Leki Super Makalus have definite room for improvement.

I have one main complaint which is that tightening mechanism on the lower sections of both of my poles have gotten to the point where they spin freely when I try to tighten the poles to set the length. I will be the first to admit that I have not done any maintenance on these poles, but this still seems like a flaw in the design of the poles to me.

Another thing which I have come to accept as a limitation of these poles is that they are very hard to adjust with heavier gloves or mitts on. This was not a factor in my decision-making when I bought the poles, but on several mountaineering trips this has proven to be a difficulty.

I am going to look into repairing my Leki's so that I can continue to use them for backpacking, but I would strongly recommend the Black Diamond poles with the flick-lock mechanism for anybody who might be using their hiking poles in colder climates.