Leki Cressida FX Carbon Review

The Leki Cressida FX Carbon are expertly crafted trekking poles that deliver premium comfort and quality construction. With a carbon shaft, soft cork grips, and a 5.5" cork grip extension, Leki has designed an excellent pair of “women's specific” trekking poles. Sadly, they fetch a steep price, but if you're looking for versatile poles that stash easily in your pack, you would be hard-pressed to find a better pair.

Comfort

With cork grips, carbon-fiber shafts, and soft straps, the Cressida FX Carbon is a top performer in terms of comfort.

The grips on the Cressida FX Carbon are made from a soft and pliant cork that offers some cushion for your hands. Out of the box, the grip contour is quite comfortable, although the grips did feel slightly small for our lead reviewer's large hands. As cork grips break in, they will mold to your hands, which will make them even more comfortable over time. Below the main grips, the Cressida features 5.5 inches of cork drop extension, so you can move your hands down the poles when moving up steep terrain without adjusting the length of your poles. Carbon fiber is also a shock-absorbing material, which helps reduce some of the harshness of the trail while hiking. The nylon wrist straps are minimalistic, breathable, and soft against the skin. Compared to other women's specific trekking poles, this pair delivers unbeatable comfort.

Weight

Weighing in at 17 ounces, the Cressida FX Carbon is an average weight compared to other poles in our review.

Even though the Cressida FX Carbon features carbon fiber shafts, the cork handles and cork drop extensions make these poles heavier than one might expect. Still, given that the majority of their weight is in the grip, these poles have a fantastic swing weight. They hike as well as lighter-weight poles while still boasting the comfort and usability features that position them among our review team's favorites.

Versatility

In terms of versatility, the Cressida FX Carbon is a top contender in our review. They have an average weight but fold down small, making them a good option for fast and light missions. The comfortable cork handles are great for big days in the mountains and long days on the trail. They come with mud tips and are also compatible with powder baskets, so your weather needs are covered. And while carbon is less durable, it's still a viable option for backcountry skiing, ice climbing approaches, or snowshoeing.

To determine versatility, we consider the ideal uses for each pair of poles and then put them to the test. The Cressida FX Carbon might have an average weight, but they fold down small enough to be stashed in your pack. While you could find poles that are lighter-weight or take up less space, we never noticed the weight or volume of the Cressida when we stashed them during alpine climbs. For mountain running, we might suggest lighter-weight poles; for backcountry skiing, we might suggest beefier poles. However, given the comfortable cork handles and compact packed size of the Cressida, they are great for big days in the mountains, long days on the trail, and most everything in between.

Locking and Adjustability

With 20mm of adjustment and user-friendly locking and adjustment mechanisms, the Cressida FX Carbon ranked high in this metric. Other models of Leki trekking poles feature more difficult locking and unlocking mechanisms, but our review team loved the simple release design on these.

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Packed Size

Akin to other foldable poles in our review, the Cressida FX Carbon is also among the better-performing in this category.

With a packed length of 16", these poles are on the average end of the spectrum for packability compared to other folding poles. One reason for their slightly less compact stature is that they feature 5.5" of cork grip extension. But this seems like a worthy trade-off for folks who plan to use their poles while traveling up steep terrain, as the grip extensions mean you can choke up on the pole without adjusting their length. Truth be told, we never noticed the extra inch or two of packed length in our packs, and we often appreciated the lengthy grip extensions. Finally, the Cressida comes with a stuff sack that weighs 0.8 ounces. If you value organization or like keeping your poles separate from other gear in your pack, the fairly lightweight sack is a worthy addition.

Construction Quality

As a rule, Leki trekking poles tend to score favorably in this area, and the Cressida FX Carbon is no exception. That said, while they boast high-quality materials, several design features might prove less durable over the long haul.

Carbon fiber shafts are lightweight and more shock-absorbing, but they are less durable than their aluminum counterparts. Cork grips are breathable and more comfortable than their foam or EVA counterparts, but cork chips and breaks down over time. Finally, the quick-release adjustment levers on the Cressida are plastic, which seems less durable than other flick-levers in our review. Durability and weight savings are often a trade-off with outdoor gear. However, Leki has a reputation for manufacturing quality poles, so if you want cork poles with carbon shafts, you could certainly do worse than these. The potential drawbacks aside, the dyneema core within the shaft and the overall pole construction is a league above many other poles on the market.

Should You Buy the Leki Cressida FX Carbon?

If you are looking for a comfortable, packable, versatile, and user-friendly pole, you would be hard-pressed to find a better pair than these. The price tag is steep but similar to other carbon fiber foldable poles with cork grips. The Cressida is well-designed, boasts some excellent features, and can be used year-round, depending on your preferred activities. Our review team loved these poles for their ease of use and comfort. If you came to this review looking for a pair of simple, elegant, and feature-rich poles, these are a worthy, albeit expensive, option to consider.

What Other Trekking Poles Should You Consider?

If you want a high-ranking pair of poles but do not have a strong preference for a women's specific model, check out the top-ranking MSR DynaLock Ascent Carbon. They performed similarly, but pack up slightly smaller, and they will save you a little money. If you're looking to save a few bucks, the foldable Black Diamond Distance Z are lighter and more durable, but they aren't adjustable. The Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z offers even more lightweight performance, and still cost less than the Cressida. The Trekology Trek-Z 2.0 is our favorite trekking pole for those on tight budgets, and the Black Diamond Trail - Women's is a good women's specific pole that won't break the bank.