Leki Skysolo FX.One Carbon trekking poles: ridiculously light, superbly supportive

Leki should need little introduction. Few outdoors brands have managed to gain such a monopoly on its principal area of expertise. Since founder Karl Lenhart invented the Leki Fix in 1963, the brand's domination of the trekking poles market has been such that poles are often referred to as ‘Lekis’, even when they’re not Lekis. It’s the brand’s reputation for innovation and quality that has led to this position at the forefront of the market.

When Reinhold Messner and Peter Habeler, two of the world’s greatest ever mountaineers, became the first people to summit Everest without supplementary oxygen, they did so with Leki poles. Fast forward to today and the brand has over 250 patents due to its continuous innovation.

As exemplified by Messner and Habeler, Lekis have long been a favorite of mountaineers and the Skysolo FX.One Carbon is designed to continue this tradition. Lightweight, yet offering trademark stability, it’s part of the Skytera series, developed alongside leading alpinists, including Italian high-altitude mountaineer Tamara Lunger and Swiss guide Dani Arnold. I was thrilled to have the opportunity to test a pair this year, taking them on my hiking adventures in Britain’s modest but challenging uplands.

First impressions

I’d previously tested the Leki Makalu FX Carbon and the Cross Trail Lite Carbon poles and the first thing that struck me about the Skysolos was how light they are. I was testing the 44in (110cm) versions and weighed them at just over 6oz (177g) per pole, as opposed to the Makalus, which are 8.5oz (243g) each, and the Cross Trails, 7.5oz (213g). In fact, the Skysolo weighs less than many running poles.

The Skysolo (perhaps someone at Leki is a Star Wars fan and decided to merge character names here) features the same clever ELD (external locking device) folding system as the Makalu, which makes assembling and folding the pole away an absolute doddle. It seems the force is strong with this one.

However, a key difference between the Skysolo and both the Makalu and the Trail Lite, as well as its sister model – the Skytera FX Carbon SL – is that the Skysolo is fixed length, so it’s important to get the right size from the off. If you’re unaware of your ideal pole length, try before you buy. The Skysolo comes in 2in (5cm) increments between 43 and 53in (110cm and 135cm).

Aesthetically, the pole has a clinical, modern look. Its off-white body contrasts with the black grip and bottom section, with orange detailing on the shaft. At various points on the pole are little feature descriptions, as if the pole was an advert for itself: 'Shaft Material PRC 1000 Carbon' and 'Last Segment W/O Design for Fast and Easy Exchange'. It feels great in the hand and I really liked the fuss-free grip and strap.

Fast folding

Back in the day, trekking poles were all one big piece – tip, shaft and handle. This was fine for doing Gandalf impressions but less than ideal for stashing into a small daypack or attaching to a hydration pack. Telescopic poles were one answer to this. These were poles made of several segments that slotted neatly into each other, just like a classic telescope. Ahoy there!

However, these days, foldable poles are all the rage and here Leki uses an innovative ELD locking system to achieve a super straightforward assembly and folding process.

There are four segments: the handle and upper shaft are telescopic, with the upper section sliding into the handle when the locking mechanism is released. The other segments are tethered together by a flexible wire and, when separated, fold into a compact 14in (36cm) package.

This is impressively small and will delight the kind of outdoor enthusiasts who count every gram, measure every item and do an expedition-style kit lay on their bedroom floor for the benefit of their Insta followers – even if they're just walking the dog.

To assemble the pole, all I had to do was pull the handle segment away from the upper shaft. This tensions the internal locking system, bringing everything into place and snapping the segments together. It's a design that's been doing the rounds for a while, but to this day it still seems like magic.

To release the pole and fold it back up, it's simply a case of pressing in the locking clamp and voilà! Done. The speed at which all this can be achieved will please FKT hunters and trail runners alike.

Other features

Carbon is the key ingredient when it comes to the Skysolo's light weight. The main segments are all crafted from this featherweight but immensely strong material, while the durable tips are also forged from carbide.

The grippy handle is made from a lightweight foam that's soft to the touch, designed for long-lasting comfort. There's a relatively straightforward strap here too, which can be adjusted with a strong pull. This opens up the strap's plastic housing, which you can then click back into place once you've got your desired loop size. I like the simplicity of the strap and it seems to shed moisture well, too.

The Skysolo poles come with standard baskets above the tips. These aren't the widest, though they can be exchanged for others if you decide to take on more challenging, snowy terrain.

On the trails

I've been testing the Skysolos throughout the spring and summer on my various hiking escapades in England's Southwest and the Lake District National Park, as well as in Welsh national parks Eryri (Snowdonia) and the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons). Their portability and featherlight design made them an easy choice for my adventures.

Their light weight doesn’t necessarily mean a compromise in performance or durability, though time will tell how they compare to heftier poles in the long-run.

Nevertheless, I found the Skysolos were just as capable as the many more beefy poles I've tested in the past. The Verticon grip is comfortable for mile after mile and I much preferred the fuss-free strap to the golf glove complexity of Leki's Cross Trail Lite. The carbide tips provided decent grip on various terrains and I'm yet to see any signs of significant wear.

The ease with which the poles can be transformed into action mode and then stashed away again is a huge plus. It's so easy that I can do it with my eyes closed, assembling the pole and then folding it up again in less than 10 seconds.

The disadvantage of a fixed length pole is the inability to shorten it slightly for long uphill slogs and lengthen it for the downhills. I'm generally not someone who is too fussed by this, but I know some trekkers who like to make these micro-adjustments when faced with changing gradients. It does, however, make the Skysolo a little less versatile than its slightly more expensive sibling, the Skytera FX Carbon SL. Of course, you also need to make sure you buy the size that best suits you.

Leki has prioritized weight and portability here, so it's unlikely to be quite as bombproof as heftier aluminum poles. Time will tell how long the Skysolo continues to serve me as well as it has so far.

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