12 Best Trekking Poles

Product Comparison Table

Key Factors To Consider When Choosing

Weight

What is a good weight for trekking pole? A good weight for a trekking pole is between 8 and 18 ounces per pair. Poles made with carbon fiber are the lightest followed closely by aluminum.

The lightest ultralight trekking poles:

• Black Diamond - Distance Carbon Z
• Locus Gear - CP3

Price

Price is influenced by weight and durability. Inexpensive poles can be as cheap as $60. They tend to be either strong and heavy or lightweight but less durable. Premium trekking poles can cost $200+ but are both strong and lightweight.

Trekking poles that provide the greatest value:

• Black Diamond - Distance Carbon Z
• Zpacks Carbon Fiber Trekking Poles
• Fizan Compact
• Helinox - Passport Tension Lock

Affordable trekking poles:

• Cascade Mountain Tech - Carbon Fiber Quick Lock
• Zpacks Carbon Fiber Trekking Poles
• Fizan Compact

Premium trekking poles (most expensive):

• Leki Makalu FX Carbon Trekking Poles
• Gossamer Gear - LT5

Packability

Depending on the terrain, poles can be unnecessary or cumbersome to use. Because of this, it’s important trekking poles can be stowed easily. Folding poles pack down like tent poles and are the smallest at just over one foot in length. Telescoping poles, the most common type of trekking pole, fold down to around two feet in length. Fixed poles can’t fold down at all making them the least practical to pack away.

Most packable trekking poles:

• Helinox - Passport Tension Lock
• Leki Makalu FX Carbon Trekking Poles
• Black Diamond - Distance Carbon Z

Comfort

After a long day of hiking with trekking poles your arms, wrists, and hands can become fatigued. To counter this look for a pole with comfortable grips. Cork, foam, and rubber are the most common materials used. Cork is the most popular for its combination of natural feel and ability to mold to the shape of your hand. Grips are largely a matter of personal preference and we cover them in more detail later in this article. Carbon fiber shafts can absorb shock better than aluminum.

Most comfortable trekking poles:

• Black Diamond - Distance Carbon Z
• Gossamer Gear - LT5

Other Things to Consider

TYPES:

TELESCOPING, FOLDING, FIXED

Telescoping: These poles “telescope” to get longer or shorter. This is the most common kind of trekking pole and they are the most adjustable since there are usually two places to shorten or lengthen these. Telescoping poles are great for hikers who are going to use their trekking poles most of the day. They don’t pack down quite as short as folding poles, though. So if you don’t plan on using your trekking poles for the majority of the day, there is a more packable option.

Telescoping poles are usually the lightest type of trekking pole, too. So even though they might not pack down as small, they are going to be the lightest option for carrying around in your pack.

Folding: These trekking poles fold down similar to how tent poles collapse. They break down into three sections that are held together by a wire. The top section of folding trekking poles is often adjustable in length, but only the top section. Since they break down into several small sections, folding trekking poles are usually the most packable kind of pole. And, they’re often quite light since they have only one or no adjustable points.

Folding trekking poles are usually not as adjustable, so if you’re getting this kind of pole be sure the range of length will work for you as you hike and for supporting your shelter if you’re using a trekking pole tent.

Fixed: These trekking poles are not adjustable in length. Fixed-length poles often break down into three sections, so they’re usually also folding poles, technically. But, the fact that they’re not adjustable in length is the most relevant here. Fixed-length poles are usually the lightest because they have no extra materials. But unless you happen to use the same height trekking pole as your shelter does, you can’t use fixed-length poles with a trekking pole tent.

DURABILITY:

CARBON FIBER VS. ALUMINUM

This might be surprising to some people, but carbon fiber trekking poles tend to be more durable than aluminum poles. Carbon fiber is considered fragile in the outdoor world, but it is really very strong. We’ve seen more bent aluminum trekking poles than we’ve seen broken carbon fiber poles. That being said, carbon is more prone to breaking from lateral impacts.

LENGTH

What is the correct height for a trekking pole? To find the correct length for a trekking pole adjust the pole length to form a 90-degree angle with your elbow when your pole tip is on the ground. Some people prefer their trekking poles to be slightly longer or shorter than this, but this is a good place to start for figuring out how long your poles should be.

LOCKING METHODS AND MECHANISMS

Trekking poles use a variety of methods to adjust and lock that length in place:

Unfold-and-Slide Lock: These are typically less flexible in length and potentially more fragile, but they don’t collapse inside themselves unexpectedly. This type of locking method is common on folding trekking poles. It uses an internal cord to hold the sections of the trekking pole together and a push-button lock to keep it secure just like tent poles. To set up these poles, line the sections up and slide in one pole into another to put tension on the internal cable and lock all the pieces into place.

Flip-Lock: Flip-locks are easy to use and generally last longer than twist-locks. However, the flip lever can break if you tighten the tension nut too much and press too hard on that lever. A flip-lock, or external lever lock, operates like a quick-release lever on a bike. You flip the lever open to adjust the trekking pole length and flip it closed to secure it in place.

Twist-Lock: With a twist-lock, you twist individual pole sections in opposite directions until an expanding mechanism locks the two sections in place. Though easy to use and cheap to manufacture, this locking mechanism has a tendency to loosen over time and collapse when you least expect it. If you over-tighten the lock, then you risk not being able to loosen the poles, forcing you to hike with fully extended poles.

GRIPS

Make sure they feel comfortable in your hand.

• Cork: Cork grips are the most popular grips found on trekking poles. It molds to the shape of your hand and has a comfortable, ‘natural’ feel. It's the middleweight option of the three types of grip and is not often found on ultralight poles.
• EVA Foam: Foam is the lightest material used in grips and feels comfortable in your hand. It absorbs rain, sweat, and dirt. So, it can get spongy when wet but dries quickly. Foam is less durable than cork or rubber as well.
• Rubber: Rubber is the heaviest on the list but is well-liked by hikers. Unlike foam, it does not absorb water or any oil from your hands. It also provides some insulation for your hands, which makes it better for winter sports like snowshoeing or skiing.

Some trekking pole handles have other useful features like an ergonomic shape and choke-up extensions.

Ergonomic grips are nice because they let your wrists stay at a more comfortable angle while using your poles. Some people prefer a standard, non-ergonomic grip, though. This ultimately comes down to personal preference.

Other poles come with choke-up extensions, which are great for hiking uphill. They let you move your hands down below the main grip area and still have something to grip other than a skinny trekking pole shaft.

SHAFT MATERIALS

As mentioned above, most trekking poles are made of either carbon fiber or aluminum. What is better aluminum or carbon trekking poles? Both of these materials work very well for trekking poles. Carbon fiber will absorb shock better and be slightly lighter. Aluminum is slightly more resistant to lateral impact and is generally less expensive. But, aluminum bends and carbon doesn’t. The overall best material, aluminum or carbon, trekking poles is a hotly debated question –we recommend getting a well-made trekking pole that suits your needs.

POLE TIPS

All poles have metal carbide or steel tips about twice the size of the lead tip of a pencil. The sharp point is helpful to grip small contours of a rock or stab into a slick surface. Most metal tips last about 2,000 miles before needing to be replaced.

Some poles provide mini rubber tips that are used to protect sensitive alpine areas or gear when the poles are stowed inside a pack. Multi-use poles may include angled, shoe-like rubber tips that are useful on the pavement.

GENDER-SPECIFIC TREKKING POLES

While there are gender-specific trekking poles, the only difference between a “women’s” trekking pole and a “men’s” trekking pole is that women’s poles tend to be slightly shorter. Get a trekking pole that is the right length for you. Don’t worry about the gender that manufacturers intended their poles to be used by.

OTHER FEATURES

• Wrist Straps: If you slide your hand under the wrist strap and then grab the grip around the strap, it will keep you from needing to grip your trekking poles as tightly. Plenty of people remove the wrist straps on trekking poles because they don’t use them.
• Baskets: Baskets keep your poles from sinking into snow as far. They’re useful for winter activities and early-season alpine hiking, like in the Sierras on the PCT. The wider the basket, the more they prevent you from stabbing into the ground. Big baskets are great in the snow, but not necessarily helpful in the warmer weather. They naturally make a pole a bit clunkier and heavier and may tangled in trailside vegetation as you walk.
• Shock-Absorption: Shock absorbers keep some of the impacts from hitting the ground repeatedly with your poles from traveling up to your hands. Some people like that extra flex, while others feel the additional inch or two of movement from the spring makes them feel unstable.
• Camera Mount: Some trekking poles have a top handle that unthreads and allows you to thread your camera’s tripod mount on it.
• Trekking Pole Tents: Many ultralight tents require trekking poles to set up. They save weight since you don’t need to carry tent poles.

FAQs

What are trekking poles for?

Trekking poles are for supporting you while hiking by helping you maintain balance and relieve stress on your joints.

How to attach trekking poles to a backpack?

To attach trekking poles to a backpack, collapse the trekking pole down to its smallest possible size then loop the tip through the trekking pole/ice ax loop. Secure the top with a strap or a piece of shock cord to hold it in place.

📷 Some of the photos in this post were taken by Dana Felthauser
(@danafelthauser)