Leki Corklite Review

Performance Comparison

Comfort

The Leki Corklite had our favorite handle in this review, even more than the overall higher scoring and Editors' Choice award winner the, Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork or Black Diamond Trail Ergo Cork. We thought the Corklite's handle shape just plain had the best ergonomics, and was the unanimous Top Pick in this category. The cork handle was also well treated and even after 28 days of use in mostly mountainous terrain it still wasn't absorbing water. On top of having superior ergonomics, it also had a marginally smaller diameter grip that nearly all of our testers enjoyed and we think that all but the biggest folks (bigger than 6'5" or dudes with monster hands) will like the slightly smaller diameter. Its oversized palming surface was also the largest and had the best shape for people who use trekking poles more like canes. It was easily noticeable for “palmers” and they loved it more than any other pole.

Locking Mechanism

The Leki Corklite uses what Leki calls the Speedlock system, it's an external lever lock style closure similar to the Black Diamond Flicklock system. We really liked the Speedlock and thought it was as good or nearly as good as the tried and true Flicklock in terms of durability and ease of use. We did think the Speedlock was better than Komperdell's Power lock system in most ways, and thought the Speedlock was far better than all the internal traditional twist lock mechanisms.

Weight

The Leki Corklites weigh in at 19 ounces making them on the lighter side of the aluminum traditionally designed telescoping poles in our review. The Corklite is still three ounces heavier than our carbon fiber Editors' Choice, the Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork, but the Corklite is a little more durable. The Corklite wasn't even close to as light as any of the folding “tent pole” style trekking poles like the Leki Micro Stick or the Ultra Distance.

Packability

The Leki Corklite packs down to 26" (67 cm) and has a maximum length of 53" (135 cm) The minimum size of 67 cm is, along with the Black Diamond Trail Ergo Cork, the longest minimum length among poles that don't have an anti-shock mechanism. With those poles still packing down an average of 103" longer. The Corklite does still pack small enough to fit onto the outside of most backpacking packs, so for most trekkers and hikers the Corklite's packability is okay and won't be an issue, but they don't fit inside most alpine packs or medium to smaller sized luggage pieces making them less ideal for frequent travelers or climbers. Similar to our weight comparison, the Corklite's compactness isn't even close to many of the folding “tent pole” style trekking poles like the Black Diamond Ultra Distance, Distance FL or the Leki Micro Stick.

Durability

The Leki Corklite despite its repetitively thin shaft and the fact that it is sporting one of the narrowest grips in our reviews, is easily one of the most durable poles we tested. We think the Corklite is more durable than any of the carbon fiber poles we tested like the Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork or the Komperdell C3 Carbon Powerlock Compact, and appears to be more resistant to bending than the Black Diamond Trail Back and its cork grip was more durable than all the foam grips.

Versatility

The Leki Corklite is one of the most versatile poles in our review and this was another one of the leading factors contributing to helping it win our Top Pick award for the best heavier duty all-around pole. We think the Corklite is beefy enough for off-trail adventures, but light enough for most trekkers and day hikers. We also think the Corklite is light enough and the grip is versatile enough, that it could be used for cold weather mountaineering or hot weather desert hiking.

Bottom Line

The Corklite has the nicest grip in our review and while its grip wasn't way, way better than the Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork, or Black Diamond Trail Ergo Cork, it was better. Most users liked the shape a little better and appreciated its slightly smaller diameter. We also thought Leki's grip was a little more durable and less prone to chipping than either of the above mentioned poles. The Corklite is one of the least compact poles, but as we talked about in our overall review, that feature matters less to most people. While it isn't super light, it isn't that heavy either for a durable aluminum pole, and you at least get a lot for a little extra weight.