Black Diamond

4 guides tagged Black Diamond

Comparison

Black Diamond vs LEKI Trekking Poles: Which Brand to Buy

The two brands every pole conversation ends at, compared through the models most hikers actually buy: the Black Diamond Trail Cork (about $102) and the LEKI Legacy Lite (about $110). Cork grip and FlickLock against foam grip and Speed Lock, 140 cm against 135 cm, 486 g against 17.8 oz. Neither is wrong; one is right for you.

Read the guide →~10 min read

Buyer's Guide

The Best Hiking Gear for Bad Knees (2026)

Bad knees do not end hiking careers; unmanaged descents do. We built the six-piece kit that attacks downhill load from every direction, shock-absorbing poles, compression, a patella strap, a supportive insole, and a max-cushion shoe, from a ~$14 strap to a ~$155 HOKA, and explain the load math that makes each piece earn its place.

Read the guide →~12 min read

Buyer's Guide

The Best Headlamps for Hiking (2026)

Four lamps that cover every honest use case: the AAA classic that never leaves you stranded, the hybrid that runs on either battery type, the sub-50-gram ultralight, and the flat-front design that finally killed headlamp bounce. Ranked on the things that matter at 9 p.m. on a trail: light quality, battery reality, and weight. Plus the camp lantern that lights the table while the headlamp lights the trail.

Read the guide →~12 min read

Buyer's Guide

The Best Trekking Poles (2026)

Four lever-lock poles from $30 to $110 with listed pair weights from 15.6 oz to 1 lb 4 oz. The Black Diamond Trail Cork is our pick; the table says when the $65 Cascade carbon or the $30 Cascade aluminum is the smarter buy, and why twist locks are disqualified.

Read the guide →~12 min read

← Back to the Journal