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 Makalu Cork Lite has its own case.
| Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork | Leki Makalu Cork Lite | |
|---|---|---|
| GearScore | 48✓ | 44 |
| Weight (pair) | 17.1 oz✓ | 17.6 oz |
| Packed length | 61 cm✓ | 66 cm |
| Max length | 130 cm✓ | 125 cm |
| Min length | 100 cm | 90 cm |
| Price | $230 | $160✓ |
| Material | Carbon | Aluminum |
| Fold style | Telescoping | Telescoping |
Highlighted cells mark the better spec: Alpine Carbon Cork in blue, Makalu Cork 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 Makalu Cork Lite is a study in priorities. The Alpine Carbon Cork wins on low weight and packability, and the Makalu Cork Lite pushes back on price.
The Alpine Carbon Cork is 0.5 oz lighter per pair, 5 cm shorter packed, and a longer reach (130 vs 125 cm). The Makalu Cork Lite is $70 cheaper. On the default GearScore the Alpine Carbon Cork leads 48 to 44.
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 Makalu Cork Lite if price matter more to you, or you are focused on getting the most for your money.
The Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork. It is 0.5 oz lighter per pair than the Makalu Cork Lite.
The Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork. It is 5 cm shorter packed than the Makalu Cork Lite.
The Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork, 48 to 44 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 Makalu Cork Lite for price. The spec table above shows exactly where each wins.