Two seasons ago, I bought a pair of Leki Helicon Ski Poles because they came with large powder-ready baskets and could be easily adjusted in length while skiing. My previous, non-adjustable ski poles were great on groomers but a bit long when I wanted to venture off-trail. If I happened to crash in deep snow, the small groomer-ready baskets on my old poles simply punched through the snow, leaving the poles so deep below my skis that I struggled to get back up.
I prefer not to go down while skiing, but I still crash every now and then.
Why Did I Choose the Helicon Lite Poles?
I needed new poles with bigger baskets to make getting back up — and getting around in deeper snow — easier. Plus, I wanted to be able to adjust the length so that I could shorten them for off-trail runs but lengthen them for days with long lift lines to ease shuffling around on flat ground.
I chose the Helicon Lite Poles because they were lightweight and affordable. Once I had them in hand, I wasn’t disappointed. I’m a big fan of the grip, which has a slightly tacky rubbery texture that my trusty leather-palmed Hestra Army Heli Ski Mitts don’t slide around on. The grips work well with other gloves, too, both fabric and leather.
Length Adjustability
Once you set the length you want, ranging from 110 – 145 cm, the Leki Speed Lock Plus adjustable locking mechanism stays closed while you ski down slopes. Each season, I tend to ski off-trail about 70% of the time with 30% of my ski days on the groomers. I’ve banged these poles into frozen aspen shoots and high-mountain evergreen tree branches and they’ve never popped open.
In addition, on packed weekend holidays where the lift lines are long, I’ve leaned on these poles hard, stretching and waiting and they’ve never slipped out of my set length.
I weighed each pole at just 9.25 ounces each, and while some carbon poles are lighter, these poles are pleasantly light. I’m a big guy, and of course I’m super strong and all, but I must say, I do appreciate lightweight gear.
Strap Adjustability
In addition to the adjustable poles, I’m a fan of the easy strap adjustment system. Instead of using a buckle on the strap itself, which is common on inexpensive ski poles, Leki has a pop-up mechanism in the top of the handle that is very easy to use. When I popped it up, I could simply pull on the strap to create the size of opening I wanted to match my gloves, mittens, or tension desired.
It’s a sweet system that I could adjust even while wearing gloves. Buckle-based systems usually require me to take my gloves off. When it was cold, wet or windy, I appreciated the Leki system.
Who Are These Poles Great For?
I think the Helicon Lites are great for resort skiers who like to venture off groomers into deeper snow. If you’re looking for poles with baskets that are much larger than typical baskets used on groomer-focused skis, you’ll likely be pleased. Do the large baskets bother me on groomers? Nope.
I also believe that adjustable poles are a great option for growing kids and teenagers because they’ll let you fine-tune the length to fit the skier, season after season. Instead of buying poles kids will grow out of, you can buy poles they can grow into that will last more than a season.
For those who climb mountains to earn their turns, Leki’s Big Mountain Binding Baskets have backcountry ski touring features like a flat section for scraping snow from skins or skis and a section that makes it easy to adjust bindings without bending down. Some other backcountry skiers have reported broken baskets, but I haven’t seen any issues for resort skiing. The baskets are surprisingly supple.
If you do manage to break them or lose one on a run, Leki makes replacement Big Mountain Binding Baskets.
Durability
Because they are lightweight poles, I wasn’t sure if they’d hold up under my relatively tall frame and 220-pound weight, but the Helicons have held together remarkably well over two seasons skiing at resorts in Idaho. Surprisingly, I haven’t bent them. I often bang the lower sections against my ski boots to knock off snow before stepping into my bindings, and this hasn’t affected them at all, either.
In fact, I bought a second pair and turned them loose with a growing teenager who has a tendency to fly down the slopes with great speed and generally abuse gear along the way. The Helicon Lite Poles have survived two seasons with a teenager, and as he’s grown, he’s been able to increase the length of the poles easily.
What makes these poles tough but light?
Leki is a German company with a manufacturing facility in the Czech Republic, and the company has a special aluminum processing and hardening method, which is indicated by the company’s HTS 6.5 name for its type of aluminum shafts. The company says its poles are less susceptible to impacts and edge cuts from errant skis, and in our experience, that seems to be true. Many slightly lighter, more-expensive ski poles use carbon fiber in the upper shafts but still use aluminum in the lower sections. For most recreational skiers, I believe fully aluminum poles will offer the best blend of durability for the weight and cost.
The Helicon Lite Verdict
All-in-all, myself and family members have put hundreds of runs in with two sets of Helicon Lite Ski Poles. They’re still going strong. At full price, I think they’re a good deal. If you happen to find them on sale, I think they’re hard to beat for most recreational skiers who ski powder and through trees off the groomers. I wouldn’t hesitate to buy them again, and I can easily recommend them.
