Leki Ultratrail FX.One Poles Review

LEKI Ultratrail FX.One Trail Running Poles Review

When you're 60 miles into an 100 mile ultra in the Lake District or powering up the relentless climbs of the Spine Race or UTMB, your equipment choices cease to be about "nice-to-haves" and become strictly about survival and energy conservation. Trail running poles are no longer a niche luxury in the UK ultra scene, they are standard kit for anyone looking to save their quads on steep ascents and maintain rhythm through long night legs.

The Leki Ultratrail FX.One carbon running poles have rapidly earned a reputation as a benchmark setup on the start line. Designed specifically for competitive trail and mountain runners, this 4-section folding carbon pole balances minimal weight with rigid power transfer.

Leki sent us a pair to put through their paces on UK trails, to see if they truly hold up under pressure and whether their massive popularity in the ultra community is actually justified.

Build Quality

Out of the box, the first thing you notice about the Ultratrail FX.One is just how light and nimble they feel in the hand. Tipping the scales at roughly 170g per pole + strap (for the 125cm length), Leki has managed to trim meaningful weight while maintaining structural stiffness using high-grade HRC max Carbon across all four sections.

Unlike traditional trekking poles that can feel cumbersome, these feel engineered purely for speed. The build quality is top-tier, with tight tolerances at every joint. When deployed, the pole snaps together with a reassuring click, creating a rigid unit with minimal flex or wobble, critical when you are driving full bodyweight through them on a 20% incline on wet limestone.

LEKI Ultratrail FX.One Running Pole Spec:

• Construction: Fixed-length, 4-section FX folding pole
• Material: HRC max Carbon (16 | 14 | 14 | 14 mm section diameters)
• Weight: ~167g per pole (at 120cm)
• Pack Size: 37cm folded length
• Grip System: Trail Trigger Shark (1K Foam contact surface)
• Strap System: Shark Frame Strap Mesh (Click-in / Click-out interface)
• Tip & Basket: Carbide Trail Running Tip & minimal Trail Running Basket
• Sizes Available: 110cm to 135cm (in 5cm increments)

Leki Trigger Shark System

If there is one feature that sets Leki apart from its competitors, it's the Trigger Shark system. Instead of a standard wrist loop that requires you to thread your hand through while on the move, Leki uses a breathable, glove-like mesh strap (Shark Frame Strap Mesh) that stays secured around your hand or running glove.

A small loop between your thumb and forefinger clips directly into the top of the pole grip:

1. Instant Power Transfer: Because the strap wraps firmly around your hand, you do not actually need to squeeze the foam grip tightly on ascents. You simply push through the back of your hand, transferring force directly through the pole shaft with minimal forearm fatigue over 12+ hours.
2. Lightning-Fast Transitions: When you hit a flat section or need to reach for a gel, a quick thumb-press on the release button at the top of the grip releases the pole instantly. The strap remains comfortably on your hand, ready to click back into place in less than two seconds.

For ultra runners who frequently transition between stowing poles in a vest quiver and deploying them on climbs, this system eliminates the fiddly annoyance of taking off traditional wrist straps while moving at speed.

Pro Tip: Over a long, wet ultra season or after accumulating trail grit, you might occasionally feel the small cord loop on the mesh strap getting slightly stiffer to click into the top lock. A quick dab of Vaseline or silicone lube applied directly to the loop reduces friction, making locking and releasing as slick as day one.

LEKI Ultratrail FX.One Trail Running Poles Performance

1. Ascents & Power Hiking

On steep, technical climbs, think the rocky paths of Snowdonia or the relentless, boggy ascents of the Peak District, the Ultratrail FX.One truly shines. The carbon construction offers exceptional longitudinal stiffness. There's no flex when pushing hard, which means every joule of energy you expend goes directly into propelling you upward.

2. Deployment & Stowing

The Push-Button folding mechanism is smooth and intuitive. A single press releases the tension cord, allowing the four sections to collapse neatly into a compact 37cm pack size. They slide easily into front or rear pole loops on most modern running vests or into a dedicated pole quiver.

3. Stability & Traction

The small carbide Trail Running Tip bites aggressively into mud, wet granite and slick fell grass. Combined with the low-profile trail basket (which prevents the pole from sinking too deep into boggy terrain without snagging on heather), traction is precise and predictable. 

Things to Consider Before Buying

While the Ultratrail FX.One is easily one of the best trail running poles on the market, there are a few practical considerations:

• Fixed Length Only: Because these are fixed-length folding poles (available from 110cm to 135cm), it's important to measure correctly before buying. 
• Sizing the Strap: The Shark Frame Mesh straps come in size-specific options depending on pole length (e.g., S-M-L for 110–115cm; M-L-XL for 120–135cm). If you plan to wear thick winter gloves during cold UK winter ultras, verify that your hand size fits comfortably within the strap setup.
• Care with Carbon: Carbon fibre provides incredible strength-to-weight performance under normal downward force, but like all ultra-light carbon poles, it can snap if jammed deep between rocks and twisted laterally. Precision placement on technical scree is key.

LEKI Ultratrail FX.One Pros & Cons

Pros:

✅ Lightweight at ~170g (per pole + strap) without compromising stiffness.
✅ Trail Trigger Shark strap system provides good efficiency and forearm relief.
✅ Fast, fail-safe Push-Button collapse mechanism.
✅ Good power transfer on steep mountain climbs.

Cons:

❌ Premium price (£185 RRP), though well justified by performance and materials.

Final Verdict: Are LEKI Ultratrail FX.One Running Poles Good For Ultra Running?

Yes, there are certainly cheaper running poles available on the market, but the Leki Ultratrail FX.One sets the standard for what a dedicated trail running pole should be. For ultra marathon runners looking to optimise energy efficiency, protect their knee joints on long descents, and speed up transition times on variable terrain, these poles are a masterclass in ergonomic design.

If you’re lining up for a technical mountain ultra where every gram on your back and every second at an aid station counts, you’ll struggle to find a better pair of poles to take to the start line.

Leki Ultratrail FX.One Trail Running Poles

Leki Ultratrail FX.One - £185.00 £133.52

Meet Ash

Ash is an ultra runner from England's east coast and the creator behind GB Ultra Runner. Having tackled everything from 50k and 50 milers to demanding 100k mountain races, he pairs his drive for personal endurance with a mission to support and connect the UK ultra community.