The jury is no longer out on walking poles. They add a great amount of stability over rough and snowy terrain as well as saving a few bumps on the knees and hips. In winter, stability becomes much more important, and that’s what these poles are designed for. Good poles need to strike a balance between strength and durability on the one hand, and being lightweight on the other. This is one of the reasons carbon has become such a popular material for poles.

Leki’s pedigree couldn’t be better when it comes to making poles for walking and skiing. It wasn’t until 1970 that ‘Leki’ became a brand in its own right, but they’ve been in the business for far longer – since 1948 in fact. In 1960, the company became the first to use a fibreglass composite for the shafts of ski poles. Today, it’s their carbon fibre poles that have become much sought after for their lightness and durability.

“Leki’s pedigree couldn’t be better when it comes to making poles for walking and skiing.”

Leki’s Tour Stick Vario Carbon poles are exceptionally lightweight at 253g each, easily light enough to throw in the backpack and they come in a handy bag that can be strapped to the outside. The folding mechanism means these poles can be broken into three parts. To assemble, simply thread the poles together and pull the lower sprung segment until a push button pops out.