Hiking poles Archives - Kilimanjaro Uncovered

I used the LEKI Micro Vario Carbon Trekking Poles. They were an absolute hit on my hike. I loved them, and also everyone else thought they were really cool.

Now I admit this selection was not based on my own research, but on expert advice. So here is why they are so cool, or what to watch out for in similar products:

Foldable: can be stored easily in your daypack/carry-on luggage
Carbon: ultra-light and cannot break
Extended grip: easy to quickly grip up or down when the terrain changes (no need to adjust the total length)
Adjustable length: for your height (your elbows should be roughly at a 90 degree angle)

Unfortunately, the LEKI Micro Vario Carbon Trekking Poles are also amongst the most expensive poles (if not the most expensive), but they seemed like a worthwhile investment to me. As they are carbon (which also makes them so expensive), they cannot break. So unless you lose them, they will last for a lifetime.

LEKI Micro Vario Carbon Trekking Poles

I spent an enormous amount of time organizing my gear. A complete gear list and packing checklist is available for you here. However, the list is only the first step, and it needs to be filled with specific product choices. Of course I only wanted the best of the best, and that’s why every option had to be researched to the last detail.

Here are some of the products that I used and would highly recommend. This is not an exhaustive list of your options, of course, but my own shortlist based on my own exhaustive research and conclusions, for my own use.

Note that my objective was to optimize for quality, not for price. Unfortunately, with outdoors gear, you are really paying for quality (more than just the brand), and quality has its price!

Hiking boots

I used Lowa Khumbu II GTX Trekking Boots and they were perfect for me. However, selecting the best hiking boots is a very individual affair and depends on the shape of your feet. Read more about what to watch out for when buying your own boots.

Hiking poles

I used LEKI Micro Vario Carbon Trekking Poles and they were the absolute hit on my trip. I loved them, and also everyone else thought they were really cool. Read more what makes them so great and what to watch out for.

Gloves / mittens

I was so scared of freezing during summit night that I spent the better half of a day doing nothing but researching the warmest possible gloves on the entire planet. My conclusion: Hestra Army Leather Mitt. This was time well spent! Read more here how to keep your fingers warm.