A close look at two trekking poles buyers cross-shop. The Legacy Lite leans on low weight while the Traverse answers with packability, so the pick comes down to which you value.
| Leki Legacy Lite | REI Co-op Traverse | |
|---|---|---|
| GearScore | 42✓ | 38 |
| Weight (pair) | 18.0 oz✓ | 19.2 oz |
| Packed length | 66 cm | 64 cm✓ |
| Max length | 135 cm | 140 cm✓ |
| Min length | 100 cm | 105 cm |
| Price | $110✓ | $119 |
| Material | Aluminum | Aluminum |
| Fold style | Telescoping | Telescoping |
Highlighted cells mark the better spec: Legacy Lite in blue, Traverse 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.
Put the Leki Legacy Lite next to the REI Co-op Traverse and the trade-offs are clear. The Legacy Lite wins on low weight and price, and the Traverse pushes back on packability and reach.
The Legacy Lite is 1.2 oz lighter per pair and $9 cheaper. The Traverse is a little shorter packed and a longer reach (140 vs 135 cm). On the default GearScore the Legacy Lite leads 42 to 38.
Pick the Legacy Lite if you care most about low weight and price, which makes it the better call for counting grams on long miles. Pick the Traverse if packability and reach matter more to you, or you are focused on saving space in your pack.
The Leki Legacy Lite. It is 1.2 oz lighter per pair than the Traverse.
The REI Co-op Traverse. It is a little shorter packed than the Legacy Lite.
The Leki Legacy Lite, 42 to 38 on the default algorithm. You can re-weight the factors to match your trip.
It depends on your priorities. Go with the Legacy Lite for low weight, or the Traverse for packability. The spec table above shows exactly where each wins.