Gear Guide: Adjusting and Maintaining Your Trekking Poles

1) Adjusting the Height of your Leki Trekking Pole

2) Taking Your Poles Apart

3) Cleaning Your Trekking Poles

4) Replacing the baskets on Leki Trekking Poles

5) What To Do If Your Leki Expander Poles Won't Lock

I’m assuming the pole is a 3 section, telescoping trekking pole of the type favoured by most users such as the Leki Makalu Ultralite Poles.

1) Adjusting the Height of your Leki Trekking Pole:

Before you start make sure you’ve fitted, usually by screwing or clicking it on, the basket around the walking pole tip (pointy end!) so that the pole doesn’t sink too far into soft ground!

Your walking pole it set at the right height when you have the pole handle in your hand and the tip touches the ground and your elbow is at an approximate 90 degree angle. Everyone has their own preference so experiment until you are happy.

[NB: set them too long and they will get in the way, too short and they will not provide any kind of support or propulsion].

Adjust the height of your pole by twisting the locking mechanism so that it tightens and locks (usually clockwise) for each of the two adjustable sections. Note the height of the setting for future use. Don’t be frightened to pull the poles apart to see how the expander mechanism works – just make sure not to bend them as you do so as this could damage the components. They all work on a rawlplug theory.

TOP TIP: If the section fails to “Lock”, it’s probably too loose and you’ll need to pull the pole apart to tighten it by hand a bit before starting again.

2) Taking Your Trekking Poles Apart

You may want to take your poles apart for cleaning, to dry them or to adjust or replace the expanders.

With your hands on the pole shafts, loosen your pole section, by keeping turning the section anti-clockwise until it moves freely then in one quick swift movement simply pull the section from the pole.

3) Cleaning Your Trekking Poles

Maintain your trekking poles by regularly examining your poles for wear and tear, replacing things like baskets, tips and expanders on a somewhat regular basis and, most importantly, cleaning your poles. Never use any type of lubricant on your poles. LEKI locking system needs friction of the expander against the section inner wall.

To clean simply wipe off dirt with a damp cloth. Maintain your poles by pulling your poles apart to dry them or remove mud and debris. Simply wipe or brush the poles free from dirt and debris.

4) Replacing the Baskets on Leki Trekking Poles

Whilst using a downward pressure unscrew the pole basket turning it clockwise.

Replace the with another basket by pushing the basket onto the tip with an anti-clockwise motion. Ensure the basket is pushed completely to meet the stopper with no gaps.

Accessories available include Leki Trekking Baskets, Nordic Walking Baskets and Leki Snow Baskets.

5) What To Do If Your Leki Expander Poles Won't Lock

Pull your poles apart and hold the expander (usually the coloured plastic component) between your thumb and forefinger.

Turn the pole section whilst holding the expander. You'll notice the expander 'expands' whilst it moves along the thread.

You only need a small turn try a 1/4 turn and replace the pole section into it's upper section.

Turn the pole section until resistance is met.

(If resistance is not met and the pole section does not grip, simply pull the poles apart again and 'expand' the expander a little more with another turn ).