Here is how these two trekking poles compare on the numbers. The Alpine Carbon Cork takes a modest overall edge, led by low weight, but the Legacy Lite has its own case.
| Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork | Leki Legacy Lite | |
|---|---|---|
| GearScore | 48✓ | 42 |
| Weight (pair) | 17.1 oz✓ | 18.0 oz |
| Packed length | 61 cm✓ | 66 cm |
| Max length | 130 cm | 135 cm✓ |
| Min length | 100 cm | 100 cm |
| Price | $230 | $110✓ |
| Material | Carbon | Aluminum |
| Fold style | Telescoping | Telescoping |
Highlighted cells mark the better spec: Alpine Carbon Cork in blue, Legacy Lite in amber. A blank spec is never counted as a win. Min length is shown for context and is not scored. GearScore is the overall rating (0 to 100); re-weight it on the full trekking-pole comparison. Prices are current MSRP.
The Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork against the Leki Legacy Lite is a study in priorities. The Alpine Carbon Cork wins on low weight and packability, and the Legacy Lite pushes back on reach and price.
The Alpine Carbon Cork is 0.9 oz lighter per pair and 5 cm shorter packed. The Legacy Lite is a longer reach (135 vs 130 cm) and $120 cheaper. On the default GearScore the Alpine Carbon Cork leads 48 to 42.
Pick the Alpine Carbon Cork if you care most about low weight and packability, which makes it the better call for counting grams on long miles. Pick the Legacy Lite if reach and price matter more to you, or you are focused on your priorities.
The Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork. It is 0.9 oz lighter per pair than the Legacy Lite.
The Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork. It is 5 cm shorter packed than the Legacy Lite.
The Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork, 48 to 42 on the default algorithm. You can re-weight the factors to match your trip.
It depends on your priorities. Go with the Alpine Carbon Cork for low weight, or the Legacy Lite for reach. The spec table above shows exactly where each wins.