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Leki Micro Vario Carbon Hiking Poles

£9.9£99Clearance
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Much of it also comes down to preference. Some people prefer the smoothness of a cork grip while other prefer the textured nature of foam. Weight There is no exact science about the absolutely correct pole length and as you become used to using them you’ll want to experiment with the length. But to get you started stand nice and upright and hold the poles (correctly) with the tips on the floor. Your elbows should now be at an angle of about 90°. When you adjust the length please ensure that the overall length is divided equally between the sections. Avoid having one section all the way out and one section all the way in. How much can I say about a pair of poles? They’re just poles right? Well, quite a bit where there’s good design and functionality. The handles, called Aergon Thermo Long Grip by Leki, are super comfortable to use. I find cork handles, which are ubiquitous on a lot of brands these days, quite irritating and abrasive over time. The foam construction on the Vario Carbon allows use without gloves and the long section with added grips means you can vary the pole height instinctively depending on your body position, without the need to stop and adjust the length. Walkers can really benefit from a version of the skiing technique used by Nordic walkers and skiers; if you saw cross country skiing you’ll be aware of this technique. The simplest way to learn is to find a flat piece of ground large enough to walk comfortably, a football pitch or park is ideal.

Adjustable length: Size really matters. You should be able to hold your elbow at a 90-degree angle when holding the pole by its hand grip. Either make sure you choose the right length for your height (specialist retailer Alpinetrek has an interactive guide to help you) or buy a fully adjustable pole. Not only can you adjust it to suit your height, but also for different needs – for example, downhill stretches need a longer pole than uphill treks. The Leki Skin Strap is an ultra-lightweight, highly breathable strap offering maximum comfort with minimum weight that is simple to adjust.The ‘Skin’ strap is very forgiving and slides on the wrist without much friction. Being wide these offer support if you like to be tied to the pole, although personally I don’t. Tough, fairly lightweight and with no fiddly bits, these durable aluminium poles from Austrian manufacturer Komperdell do exactly what you would expect from a walking pole. The ‘batons’ don’t have wrist straps, which can also be safer if you take a slip on a trail. And of course, you can ski with them come winter.

The poles consist of five sections which compress and fold into three sections with a tidy length of 40cm. The lower four sections are joined by a tough plastic-coated cable with the top two sections retracting inside the handle. So far no difference from the Micro Vario Carbon; but this is where it all changes. The Leki Micro Vario Carbon is one of the few poles to feature foam grips, as opposed to the tried and tested cork. We found the foam to be very comfortable and great to use, with the grips easily moulding to your hand shape after use. Leki also include an extended portion of foam below the grip for situations when you need to grip down the shaft or utilise a shorter pole. Comfort is something that doesn’t necessarily reveal itself right away when you’re talking about trekking poles. At first handle, you tend to notice how your hand mates with the pole handle, how adjustable the poles are for your particular height and use, and maybe how they absorb vibration. What you can’t immediately discern is how that’s going to translate over time, or in my case, over many miles.

The humble walking stick is now an essential part of any hiker's kit – discover the best poles for you with our handy buying guide

Here are some useful tips and advice on how to get the most of your walking and trekking poles so you can enjoy your adventures more, be safer and improve your fitness. The use of walking and trekking poles has become much more popular, and acceptable, and will provide huge benefits if they fit you properly and you understand the techniques required.

Other important design features to consider are the hand grips. Most are made from foam, cork or rubber. Look for ergonomic grips that feel comfortable in the hand, with a good strap or sling. Nordic walking poles: Poles designed specifically for Nordic walking tend to be fixed-length without folding mechanisms, and combine extreme lightness with super-strength to support your weight. Specialist walking pole maker Leki has a great guide to selecting the length of your Nordic walking pole.Leki decided to use a short Flex Tip results in precise pole placements and perfect grip in nearly and terrain.

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