The foam grips on the Micro Varios are amazingly comfortable and many people prefer them to cork, but they can get a bit sweaty on long, warm treks and aren't as durable as cork. The Kevlar cords may need replacing if you use the poles a lot, and you need to buy additional tips and baskets separately.
Key specs — Material : carbon shaft, Aergon rubber grips; Length packed : 38cm; Length extended : cm; Weight : g per pole. Buy now from Go Outdoors. These rugged aluminium poles from Black Diamond only weigh a few grammes more than their carbon cousins and cost considerably less cash. Their folding Z-pole design is similar to Leki's Micro Varios and breaks down to 40cm for easy storage. Then you just grab the sections and fold out to create one pole.
The lightweight EVA foam grips come with breathable, moisture-wicking covers to stop your hands getting clammy. These fixed-length carbon poles may look like riding crops but they're specially designed for Nordic walking. They're exceptionally strong and reasonably lightweight, and their mechanism-free construction means they don't vibrate even when you really get into your stride.
The vulcanised rubber hand grips feel great and is easy and comfortable to grip for hours at a time. Buy now from Alpinetrek. Leki's Cressida trekking pole is made for smaller hands and petite heights, and is fully adjustable. The aluminium shaft feels rugged and stable in all terrains, but without much weight — it's just g.
The clips are quick and easy to lock and unlock, allowing you to get the right length for you and your needs, while the breathable skin strap helps keep your hands warm on the comfy cork grip.
Key specs — Material: aluminium shaft, cork grip; Length packed: 64cm; Length extended: cm; Weight: g per pole. Buy now from Cotswold Outdoor. You do tend to get what you pay for with walking poles. Products from trekking specialists such as Leki and Black Diamond have been perfected over years, and they're worth the investment if you're a keen hiker or traveller.
They adjust down to 66cm and up to cm they're at full length in the photo using a screw mechanism, and come with a detachable basket and extra rubber tip. And at half a kilo for the pair, they're not much heavier than our other picks. That's a really good deal. They won't last for years, though. Leki's rubber-tipped aluminium pole is very light and folds down super-quickly to just 63cm. However, it's also extremely strong and has a big ergonomic handle that you can use as a walking stick, so it's ideal for taking your weight after an injury.
We love how easy the stick is to adjust and lock to precise lengths, although if you're tall you'll wish you could extend it to longer than cm. Not many poles on the market are sold singly, so if you prefer using one pole and keeping one hand free, this is a good, solid quality single pole choice. Foam grips are also great at wicking moisture and can take a bit of the impact from your hands as well. As I said, I am a fan of foam and my ego is unaffected if my poles are not equipped with cork grips, which has in effect become the trademark look of the trekking pole enthusiast.
Rubber and plastic grips are found on budget trekking poles. Rubber grips are ok, though many hikers have reported chaffing as the result of using them.
A benefit of having rubber grip poles is that they can easily be cleaned and sanitized when they get filthy wash off the stink mitt smell. For me, I really tend to go for trekking poles that feature anti-shock technology. The performance on a step or challenging hike is obvious. The more impact you can transfer from your knees and hips to the trekking poles the better.
Having rigid trekking poles comes with the benefit of less weight. If you move fast and cover big miles you are likely interested in hauling the least amount of weight possible. That said, preserving my knees for the long haul is my top priority. I plan on trekking into my ripe old age, and my long term plan to make that happen includes always using anti-shock trekking poles. I suggest you try both types of trekking poles rigid and shock-absorbing and see which style works for you.
Every hiker is different, but yeah, anti-shock trekking poles kick ass in my opinion. Most mid-range and above even some budget options should come with the associated interchangeable baskets that attach to the bottom of your trekking poles for winter use. If you have the budget and the space in your garage, you might find yourself with two pairs of trekking poles to be used during different times of the year. They are lightweight, yet durable enough to be a solid 4-season trekking pole option.
Most hiking poles out there are unisex. Though if you look at the average anatomy of women vs men, women tend to be shorter and also tend to have smaller hands. They can be adjusted to shorter lengths, so one can achieve the perfect fit, even if you are only standing five feet tall. Budget trekking poles are great for people new to the world of trekking pole use.
For a little bit of money you can dip your toes into the sea of a better hiking experience. There is a huge variation in quality across the board depending on the company however. If you go down that road you can expect the associated performance. Though I must admit I have owned some super cheap trekking poles before and they actually worked very well they were heavy. As I have said, budget trekking poles are often bulky, heavy, and can feature uncomfortable plastic or rubber grips.
If cheap, shit sticks are all you have known than you will probably continue to be happy with them. If you are somehow unsure whether or not poles are for you, pick up some budget trekking poles and see how they feel. You can always upgrade later on down the line. The Montem Ultra Strong trekking poles are good budget candidates. Trekking poles with seriously reduce the wear and tear on your body over time, period.
Hiking and trekking in the mountains takes its toll on you. The sooner you get on the train the better. With enough abuse, your knees, ankles, feet, hips, and back will eventually wear out. I honestly believe that trekking poles will add decades of life to those body parts. I have hiked well over 4, miles in the mountains with trekkingpoles and at this point there is no going back.
They are a mandatory staple in my hiking kit. Some words from a physiotherapy and wellness organization regarding trekking pole use and benefits:.
Still have some questions? No problem! The simple answer? Because they are awesome. Anti-shock tekking poles are great at absorbing the impact on your body even more than rigid trekking poles. With only Professional trekking poles need to be high-quality, durable and in most cases, shock absorbing.
However, we also need to mention the Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork as another great option for pros. I know just how hard it can be to choose a pair of hiking pole for yourself.
After reading this review you are now armed with all of the important information you need regarding the best poles on the market. You can now make an informed decision based on your own needs, budget, and trekking style. For an all-around awesome trekking pole experience go with my top pick: the Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork.
Finally, for all of you backpackers that want to pick up a decent pair of budget poles, the obvious choice is the Cascade Mountain Tech Carbon Fiber poles. I can guarantee you that you will feel the difference after using a quality set of trekking poles. Pick up a pair of badass sticks and start reaping the benefits immediately. I did not receive any free gear from any companies to write this review.
Thus, I had no agenda or particular bias whilst crafting this article. All thoughts expressed within are indeed my own opinion based on my own experiences. But we do it because we love it — we love providing epic and free content. We love the knowledge that our content keeps you adventuring.
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Again, thank you! This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. More information. Table of Contents Show. Finding the right trekking poles for yourself will elevate your hiking game considerably it did for me!
Check on Amazon. Check on REI. Check on Gossamer. Durable carbon shaft Black Diamond warranty included Packable. Not an ultralight trekking pole Expensive. Shock absorbers included in design Flick lock telescope design. Heavier than other models. Affordable price. Ideal for year round use Highly packable Durable. Heavier than ot trekking poles No shock absorber may be a deal breaker for some backpackers.
Competitive price Black Diamond warranty included. Quite Heavy Rubber grips can be uncomfortable for some people. Folding poles have superior packability Black Diamond warranty included. Expensive Cork grips started to wear out after limited use. Foldable poles have superior packability Black Diamond warranty included. Versatile for the multi-sport backcountry athlete Articulated 15 degree corrective angle for support Black Diamond warranty included.
Heavier than other similar products. Competitive price Dynamic suspension system anti-shock. Heavy compared to similar types of trekking poles. Ultralight Simplistic design.
Expensive Questionable long-term durablity. How to Choose the Best Hiking Poles. The ability to easily keep the locks tight adds to the already durable nature of these poles. As expected, there are tradeoffs to this design. As with other folding trekking poles, the Micro Vario Cor-Tec TA is compact, but it's quite heavy at over 1 pound 4 ounces for the pair the sacrifice of the more affordable price tag and alloy build.
Additionally, folding poles in general are less sturdy than their telescoping counterparts, making these some of the least weight-bearing aluminum poles on this list. The fixed-length Black Diamond Carbon Z above are the lightest trekking poles on this list, but the adjustable aluminum version arguably has wider appeal. In addition, we prefer the alloy FLZ for use with an ultralight shelter as the adjustability between 6 to 8 inches depending on size simplifies the set-up process and the thicker material holds better in the wind.
That said, if you value a small packed size, the Distance wins out easily 15 in. Weight: 10 oz. The vast majority of trekking poles are sold in pairs, but some hikers and backpackers prefer to hit the trail with a single pole including some on our team. Clearly, there are some compromises in opting for a single pole like the Mountainsmith Dolomite. For one, you lose out on the option to bring a full set for times when stability is important, such as hikes over particularly rough or steep terrain.
And a concern we have specifically with the Mountainsmith is its ounce weight, which makes it one of the heavier designs on our list. When it comes time to pack the poles away, the three-piece design folds down to a diminutive The bottom sections of the pole also wrap around the handle and lock in place with magnets, which helps keep things compact and makes it easy to quickly secure the Pivot to the outside of a backpack.
Why do we have the G3 Pivot Trek ranked here? And at this price point, you lose out on some premium features like cork handles and metal lever locks, both of which the BD has.
But if you get out year-round and prioritize packability and durability over weight and comfort, the Pivot has a lot of appeal. See the G3 Pivot Trek. Leki has built a reputation around its super comfortable cork grips and their ergonomic shape. With a slight forward tilt, they have a very natural feel in the hands, and the build quality of the grips is second to none. Their Makalu Lite carries on this tradition while including modern features like lever locks and a minimalist strap design at a reasonable weight of around 1 pound 1 ounce per pair.
Expect consistently strong holds, and as a bonus, you can adjust the locking mechanism without a screwdriver. On paper, the poles stack up really well with a 1-pound weight, simple lever locks, and foam grip extensions. The Carbon Fiber poles are available with either a foam or cork grip, and while we typically prefer cork, we lean towards foam in this case as a cheap cork grip will break down over time.
The main downside in choosing the Cascade Mountain Tech poles is durability. The carbon shaft does a great job keeping weight low but is more likely to get a crack or snap under a load than another budget pole like the aluminum REI Trailbreak above.
The fifth and final Leki pole to make our list is also the lightest: their Cross Trail 3. And unlike the models above, the strap itself covers nearly your entire hand, which translates to added security over particularly steep or technical sections. The carbon poles are light at just See the Leki Cross Trail 3. The system works quite seamlessly and reacts well to both light and hard impacts. The rest of the set-up is classic Black Diamond, with quality materials and components like their metal FlickLock Pro.
Cons are the expected sacrifices for the Trail Pro Shock's additional tech. All told, the Trail Pro isn't for everyone, but its 4-season-ready construction and functional shock absorption earn it a spot on our list.
On the upside, the shaft is made of aluminum that should hold up decently well over time, and BAFX Products includes mud baskets and two sets of rubber tip covers. In addition, the built-in springs help to alleviate some of the vibration that you often get with cheap trekking poles. If you have plans of logging significant miles or need to rely on your poles over serious terrain, we highly recommend opting for one of the models above.
These poles are just not built well enough to trust on anything more than easy trails. Telescoping poles made of two or three sections are the most common type on the market, and are known for their durability and ease of use.
The different pole sections expand from each joint by a locking system that can be opened for adjustment and secured while on the trail. These points of connection also are their greatest weaknesses, so a quality locking mechanism is highly recommended we discuss this in more detail below.
In this category, we prefer light poles with simple feature sets: secure locking mechanisms, quality aluminum or carbon fiber construction, and comfortable grips. Black Diamond pioneered the ultralight folding category with their Z-Pole line. Much like the poles that come with a tent, you can separate the pieces and pack them down into a compact size oftentimes 10 inches shorter than a comparable telescoping pole. Most folding poles have very thin shafts, can bear less weight than their telescoping counterparts, and are either not adjustable or limited in their adjustments lengthwise.
Favored by fast hikers, trail runners, climbers, and travelers, these poles will cause the least amount of arm fatigue over long miles. A third category of trekking pole is the straight-shaft, fixed-length design. As such, no fixed-length poles made our list.
Generally, trekking poles are made either from carbon fiber, aluminum, or a combination of the two a three-section pole may have two carbon upper pieces and an aluminum lower, for example. High-end trekking poles are often made from carbon, which is lighter and stiffer but also more expensive and brittle and when carbon fiber breaks, it breaks; aluminum may just dent or bend and still be usable.
Price and overall durability are the main reasons hikers opt for aluminum poles. There's something to be said about a confidence-inspiring design like the Black Diamond Trail Ergo , which is super stable and has virtually no wobble even on steep descents.
The classic style used a twist lock: to tighten you twist each section closed to lock the segments into place. These poles are haunted by inconsistent performance, with hikers either over-tightening to the point of seizing, or twisting too loose, resulting in perpetual issues with collapsing.
Needless to say, the twist lock has gone out of vogue. And while there are a few models out there that do a good job—such as what you get on Gossamer Gear's LT5—we typically recommend avoiding the twist lock.
Enter the lever lock. Better still, the tendency for segments to slip when in the locked position is significantly reduced, giving additional confidence to the user. The lever lock is the new standard. Materials: Cork, Foam, and Rubber Trekking pole grips come in three main types: cork, foam, and rubber, with cork being our personal favorite. A quality cork handle has an exceptionally comfortable feel in the hand and wicks sweat very well.
It also will conform nicely to your hand over time, making it great for long-distance treks and multi-season use. EVA foam is soft, provides a measure of shock absorption, and does a decent job at wicking moisture in the summer months although it will typically retain more moisture than cork.
Rubber is the third option and usually found on budget trekking poles. Ergonomic Handle vs. Standard Handle Looking beyond the grip materials, another consideration is whether or not to get an ergonomic handle. These types of grips have a slight forward angle, typically around 15 degrees, which is supposed to mimic where your hands would naturally rest.
Choke-up Extensions Many poles will have a second, smaller grip below the main one. This is what we refer to as a choke-up extension, or extended grip. These predominantly foam grips are great for finding a secure hold lower on your poles while climbing steep hills or sidehilling, improving balance and leverage. For those who often travel on steep or technical terrain, extended grips are a must-have feature.
For a DIY alternative, you can wrap duct tape around your poles under the large grips for a more secure hold. Wrist Straps The final piece in the grip construction is the wrist strap. There is an impressive diversity of strap designs, ranging from heavily padded to simple nylon. In choosing a strap, the biggest consideration is noticing any potential irritants.
If a seam is rubbing against the back of your hand on a short walk, that can turn into serious chafing by mile In general, the straps on most quality trekking poles are very comfortable.
At the other end of the spectrum, you get nearly full hand coverage with Leki's new Cross Trail 3, but many hikers and backpackers will find the design overkill and a bit polarizing.
A light pole will fatigue your arms less quickly, which is a big benefit on long treks. For moving light and fast, the lighter the better, with a caveat that durability diminishes once you get into the ultralight category we see it happen right around 1 pound.
On the extreme end are poles like the Gossamer Gear LT5 These are great for ultralight backpackers and thru-hikers, but the shaft materials are too delicate for bushwhacking or 4-season use. Our preference is to go lightweight without having to be constantly worried about snapping the poles, which is why we rank the BD Trail Ergo atop our list.
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