Best LEKI touring pole

[scotchipman]

What is the best LEKI touring pole? https://www.LEKI.com/uk/product-area/touring/poles I'm looking mainly at LEKI since I can get a good deal on them, I have been using LEKI for 20+ years in the resort.

I'm new to touring and will be mostly touring around northern Utah, I don't think I need one that folds up. What things should I consider in a touring pole? So far I like the Guide Lite V and the Aergonlite 2 with the difference being that one has the removable trigger system and strap and the other a traditional strap. I know using a pole strap on the downhill is frowned upon for safety but what about the uphill? Will a strap be beneficial on the uphill or not?

 

[markojp]

Downhill no, uphill, yes... though not all the time. (Uphill traverses, you grab the uphill pole shaft rather than dinking around with adjust pole height.). Pushing/skating on flats, rolling terrain, straps are great.

 

[James]

Some people’s best would be one piece and aluminum.
I guess you would need experience with the strap systems to say. I could see the fancy strap possibly getting in the way when not used. Though I guess you can unclip it for the down?

Personally, I’d probably go for the non lite versions with the 18/16mm shafts over the 16/14mm.
I wonder if one could shorten them to save weight. Does one really need a 150/59 inch pole? That is frickin’ huge. Maybe it’s just there to make it stiffer in the low to sub 50 in range.

 

[Noodler]

What is the best LEKI touring pole? https://www.LEKI.com/uk/product-area/touring/poles I'm looking mainly at LEKI since I can get a good deal on them, I have been using LEKI for 20+ years in the resort.

I'm new to touring and will be mostly touring around northern Utah, I don't think I need one that folds up. What things should I consider in a touring pole? So far I like the Guide Lite V and the Aergonlite 2 with the difference being that one has the removable trigger system and strap and the other a traditional strap. I know using a pole strap on the downhill is frowned upon for safety but what about the uphill? Will a strap be beneficial on the uphill or not?

Like you, I've skied with LEKI Trigger grips for eons. However, for touring, the Trigger system is not advised. I took a pair of adjustable LEKI poles I already had and replaced the grips and baskets with these:

LEKI AERGON COR-TEC Grips Pair

LEKI Big Mountain Binding Basket

I used the poles for the first time today and loved them. The grips are really light and super comfortable. The baskets use a harder plastic (the black section) so that you can easily use the baskets to kick up binding heel risers (and knock them back down).

Edit P.S. - I just looked at the LEKI site and remembered just how many touring poles they have in their line-up. It's kind of crazy.