The Khumbu are a 3-piece aluminium telescoping trekking pole from Leki which offer a speed lock adjustment system, have lightweight aluminium shafts and house an anti-shock system to reduce shocks to your joints.
The speed lock adjustment system is quick and easy to use and allows you to adjust the pole length from 72cm for easy storage right up to a towering 145cm which we found to be the perfect length for pitching a tarp on a recent wild camping trip! The lengths in between are of course ideal for walking on varied terrain. We didn't experience any problems with the locking mechanisms during sustained and heavy use and prefer them to twist lock style locking mechanisms overall.
The ergonomically shaped Aergon CorTec grips (cork handles) are super comfy and will eventually form into the shape of your hand, they soak up a bit of moisture but not as much as a foam handle would.
The anti-shock system, which is claimed to reduce impacts by 40%, seems to work well on downhill sections although you aren't able to lock it out for uphill use or aggressive walking where you don't want to lose your power through the pole.
The poles weigh 307g each, which is heavy in comparison to a carbon, and in fact a lot of aluminium poles so consider that if you tend to suffer from fatigue in your arms and shoulders.
The Khumbus come with trekking baskets which are designed to stop your poles sinking in to soft ground, these can be swapped out for more suitable baskets depending on the terrain.
Our overriding impression of the Khumbu trekking poles are that they're a great all-rounder and a robust, durable offering. At £60 a pair they're reasonably priced and will appeal to the general all-round walker who isn't too bothered about weight.
Buy Leki Khumbu Trekking poles: £63.97 at Amazon.co.uk
