Finding a solid running pole that packs away easily and is still super light can be a challenging thing, but the folks at LEKI know a thing or two about building them. They have been doing it since the 70s and their history as a pole builder goes all the way back to the 40s. We had a chance to put their Micro Trail Pro running poles to the test and let us just say… that experience really adds up.
Quick Details, Specs, and Availability
- Weigh in at 195 grams per pole
- Retail at $199.95 USD
- Full carbon implementation
- Packs down to 37cm and extends to 135cm
Design of the LEKI Micro Trail Pro
The LEKI Micro Trail Pro comes in a 4 segment design which at its longest extends to between 110 and 135cm in 5cm increments. It is full carbon top to bottom and is very light whether folded/packed or while in use. They feature a trail running tip and the grip is somewhere between a glove and a strap design. The diameter of the poles start at 16mm and only taper to 14mm. Overall, they feel incredibly well designed and durable and more than anything, very well thought out.
Usage on the Trail
To really put these LEKI poles through their paces, we took them out on the trails around our nearby Mt. Hood. The variety of terrain was perfect for them and allowed us to really check that durability factor.
While stowed, the LEKI Micro Trail Pro poles are almost unnoticeable given their lightweight and at 37cm (~15in.), they fit in most bags without an issue. We have tested poles that have broken down further than this for easier stowage but prefer the durability here.
We don’t always run with poles, but the more we used the LEKIs the more we enjoyed them as they did a great job acting as an additional structure in some gnarly terrain and we found we could truly trust them. After numerous miles, we can’t find a nick or bend anywhere on them.
The glove is also a standout and while it feels awkward at first, once it is seated right it just disappears into the flex of your hand. It is also durable and shows limited sign of wear, but is probably the one only point of potential failure. We haven’t seen any issues, so again… plus on the durability side.
Overall Conclusion
The LEKI Micro Trail Pro running poles are simply put, fantastic. From the design to the durability, they stood up to everything we could throw at them and then some. Our only negative was around breakdown length in that there are smaller on the market, but pound for pound (or gram for gram) these are some of the top poles on the market.
