Outdoors & Fitness · Head-to-head
Black Diamond Pursuit Trekking Poles vs LEKI Black Series FX Carbon Trekking Poles
Which should you buy? Here's the honest call, 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 genuine ruggedness in a forearm-sized package.
Black Diamond Pursuit Trekking Poles
Buy itA bombproof aluminum all-rounder that quietly does everything well.
- 7075 aluminum shafts (partly recycled) shrug off rugged, multi-season abuse - one tester ran them the length of the Continental Divide Trail without a failure
- 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
- A few owners report the FlickLock+ levers need re-tightening after a month of hard days
LEKI Black Series FX Carbon Trekking Poles
Buy itA carbon Z-folder that collapses tiny without feeling flimsy.
- Folds into three sections to roughly the length of a forearm, so they stash inside a daypack or a carry-on
- Surprisingly rugged for carbon - reviewers report they hold up to bushwhacking and winter use where lighter poles fail
- Aergon Air cork grip with an extended grip zone is comfortable over long days
- Well-rounded: independent testing rates them near the top across durability, comfort, and ease of use
- 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
| Black Diamond Pursuit Trekking Poles | 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 |
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).