Outdoors & Fitness · Head-to-head
Black Diamond Pursuit Trekking Poles vs LEKI Black Series FX Carbon Trekking Poles
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full The Best Trekking Poles: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
The Black Diamond Pursuit is the pole most people should buy: durable aluminum, glove-friendly locks, and a field-adjustable hex tool make it a true do-everything option. If packability is your priority, the folding LEKI Black Series FX Carbon is the runner-up, trading a little weight for a carbon pole that folds to under 16 inches.
Black Diamond Pursuit Trekking Poles
Buy itA bombproof aluminum all-rounder that quietly does everything well.
- 7075 aluminum shafts (30% pre-consumer recycled aluminum, per Black Diamond) built for rugged, multi-season use
- FlickLock+ soft-touch levers are large, glove-friendly, and easy to cinch
- Built-in hex tool lets you re-tension the locks in the field without carrying a multi-tool
- Comfortable cork grip with a foam extension for choking down on climbs
- Heavier than carbon rivals and bulky - they do not pack down small
- Some reviewers on Black Diamond's page say the lock can slip under weight
LEKI Black Series FX Carbon Trekking Poles
Buy itA carbon Z-folder that collapses tiny without feeling flimsy.
- Folds into three sections to under 16 inches, so they stash inside a daypack or a carry-on
- Carbon shafts with an internal CLD folding lock and a Speed Lock 2 Plus lever for adjustment
- Aergon Air grip with a natural cork surface and a rubberized grip head for descents
- Adjusts only between 110 and 130 cm, a narrower range than the Black Diamond poles here
- Heavier than the lightest dedicated carbon poles
- Folding designs add joints and moving parts, which is more to eventually wear or replace
- Sits at the top of the price ladder here
Side by side
The 7 criteria below are the ones our full comparison judged every product on, narrowed to these two.
| Black Diamond Pursuit Trekking Poles Our pick | LEKI Black Series FX Carbon Trekking Poles | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Hikers and backpackers who want one durable, low-fuss pole for rough, year-round terrain. | Backpackers, travelers, and mountaineers who need real packability without sacrificing toughness. |
| Price tier | $$$ · premium | $$$$ · flagship |
| Material & durability | 7075 aluminum | Carbon |
| Pack style | 3-section telescoping | 3-section folding (Z-pole) |
| Weight (per pair) | 495 to 535 g | 228 g per pole |
| Locking system | FlickLock+ levers + hex tool | Speed Lock 2 Plus + CLD fold |
| Grip | Cork + foam extension | Aergon Air cork |
| Packability | 3-section telescoping | Folds to under 16 in |
| Best use | Rugged all-around | Backpacking & travel |
Which one is right for you?
Pick the Black Diamond Pursuit Trekking Poles if
hikers and backpackers who want one durable, low-fuss pole for rough, year-round terrain.
Know before buying: heavier than carbon rivals and bulky - they do not pack down small.
Pick the LEKI Black Series FX Carbon Trekking Poles if
backpackers, travelers, and mountaineers who need real packability without sacrificing toughness.
Know before buying: heavier than the lightest dedicated carbon poles.
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the Black Diamond Pursuit Trekking Poles - A bombproof aluminum all-rounder that quietly does everything well. Choose the LEKI Black Series FX Carbon Trekking Poles instead if backpackers, travelers, and mountaineers who need real packability without sacrificing toughness.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Trekking Poles: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).