Leki Detect S

The Detect S is LEKI's all-mountain workhorse — a fixed-length alpine pole built around a 16 mm HTS 6.0 aluminum shaft. That's a heat-treated aluminum that's stiffer and tougher than the entry-level alloy on a budget resort pole, so the swing weight feels neutral and the shaft shrugs off the dings that bend cheaper poles, without the fragility of carbon. The Trigger S ProG grip is the headline feature: the system lets you click in and out of the strap with a gloved hand in a second, and in a fall the strap releases cleanly through a 220-degree arc rather than torquing your thumb into something painful. The Trigger Frame Strap Mesh is wider than older LEKI straps, transfers power well, and breathes in high-output conditions. Two baskets ship in the bag — a Cobra alpine basket for hardpack and groomers, and a Big Mountain basket for soft or powder snow — and you can swap them without tools on the hill.

These are a strong choice for intermediate to advanced all-mountain skiers who spend most of their days at a resort and want a genuinely reliable strap system without paying carbon prices. The dual-basket setup means one pole covers most conditions you'll encounter on and off the groomed. That said, if you ski deep powder consistently, a dedicated lightweight touring pole with a larger powder basket will serve you better than swapping baskets in the lift line. And if you want an adjustable-length option for sharing between skiers or for touring crossover use, LEKI makes the Detect S Vario in the same family — worth a look before you commit to a fixed length.