Trekking poles provide many benefits to hikers and backpackers from added stability and balance on rough trails to less wear and tear on knees and hips, especially when hiking downhill. The most popular trekking poles used by hikers and backpacks are adjustable in length, with a clamp-style lever lock adjustment system instead of twist-locks because they are more reliable and easier to fix.
| Make / Model | Material | Grip |
|---|---|---|
| Black Diamond Trail Ergo Cork | Aluminum | Cork |
| Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork | Carbon Fiber | Cork |
| REI Traverse | Aluminum | Cork |
| Leki Back Series FX Carbon | Carbon Fiber | Cork |
| Leki Cressida AS | Aluminum | Cork |
| Black Diamond Distance Z Folding | Aluminum | Foam |
| Paria Outdoor Tri-Fold Carbon Fiber | Carbon Fiber | Cork |
| Cascade Mountain Cork Carbon Fiber | Carbon Fiber | Cork |
| Mountainsmith Halite 7075 | Aluminum | Cork |
| Pacerpole Dual Lock | Carbon Fiber | Plastic |
In recent years, carbon fiber trekking poles have become increasingly popular and have started to eclipse aluminum poles because of their light weight. This trend has been fueled by competition from low-cost manufacturers without huge advertising and marketing budgets like Paria Outdoor, Cascade Mountain Tech, and others. Some of their products are really quite good values, especially for beginner hikers and backpackers, and offer a great way to try trekking poles without breaking the bank.
If you’re still unsure about which poles to purchase, read the explanation of our trekking pole selection criteria and key considerations below. It provides a good introduction to the pros and cons of different trekking pole features and design choices.
Here are the top 10 trekking poles that we recommend.
1. Black Diamond Trail Ergo Cork Trekking Poles
Available from:
REI | Backcountry | Black Diamond
2. Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork Trekking Poles
Available from:
REI | Backcountry | Black Diamond
3. REI Traverse Trekking Poles
Available from:
REI
4. Leki Black Series FX Carbon Hiking Poles (Pair)
5. Leki Cressida AS Trekking Poles
6. Black Diamond Distance Z-Pole Trekking Poles
Available from:
REI | Backcountry | Black Diamond
7. Paria Outdoor Tri-Fold Carbon Fiber Trekking Poles
Available from:
Paria Outdoors
8. Cascade Mountain Cork Carbon Fiber Trekking Poles
Available from:
Amazon
9. Mountainsmith Halite 7075 Trekking Poles
Available from:
REI | Mountainsmith
10. Pacerpole Dual Lock Carbon Fiber Trekking Poles
Available from:
PacerPole
Key Considerations for Buying Trekking Poles
Here are the important features for you to consider when choosing which trekking poles to buy including pros and cons.
Price and Warranties
There is a big price difference between premium poles from Black Diamond and Leki vs less expensive off-brands like Montem, Paria, Cascade Mountain, and the dozens of other trekking pole companies you’ve never heard of on Amazon. When you buy a set of premium poles they are better quality, with tighter fitting parts, and have a stiffer feel. Black Diamond and Leki also have much more generous warranty departments and will often replace broken poles or pole segments for free, which can be a big deal if you hike a lot. The off-brands are lest generous, but good for people who want to try trekking poles for the first time and don’t want to make a huge price investment. Their poles are perfectly usable for hiking, but there is a noticeable difference in durability and longevity over time.
Three-Piece, Two-Piece, Fixed Length or Folding Poles
Most hikers and backpackers prefer three-piece poles or folding poles over two-piece or fixed length trekking poles because they’re easier to stow when not in use. Folding poles are especially convenient for traveling although you can also pull apart three-piece poles and reassemble them when you arrive.
Lever Lock or Twist Lock Trekking Pole Adjusters
Multi-piece trekking poles are telescoping with thinner sections collapsing into thicker ones. When extended there are two main adjustment mechanisms to make them hold their desired length. Lever Locks, called Flick Locks on Black Diamond trekking poles are external clamps that fold down over the thinner section and prevent them from collapsing further. They are easy to adjust, repair, and are very durable. Twist Lock poles rely on a plastic expander inside the poles that expands inside the thicker segment and prevents the thinner tube from moving higher. These expanders tend to wear out over time and stop working, which can be really frustrating if you’re in the middle of nowhere. We’ve used both and far prefer lever lock poles because they are so easy to care for and tighten if they loosen up. You literally tighten and external screw with a penknife or twist it tight with your fingers.
Carbon Fiber or Aluminum Trekking Poles
Many companies claim that carbon fiber poles are lighter weight than aluminum ones, or that they vibrate less, or that they’re more durable. We have seen any evidence that one material is better than another because poles made with both still break if you trap the tip between rocks or fall on them. The only advantage of aluminum is that you can usually bend them back into shape whereas carbon fiber shatters. The most important thing when deciding between the two, besides price (carbon fiber is always more expensive), is that you can buy replacement sections from the seller when you break a segment or a pole tip.
Cork Handles or EVA Foam Trekking Pole Handles
Most trekking poles come with cork handles or foam handles. Both repel moisture and provide an excellent grip. In fact, many cork poles have foam extensions under the handle if you need to lower your hands when climbing uphill. Some people will argue that cork is better because it absorbs sweat and molds to your hand over time although we’re not terribly convinced it does either. Ultimately it comes down to personal preference and price.
Shock Absorbing Trekking Poles or Regular
Some trekking poles have a shock-absorbing component, usually built into the handle or as a spring between shaft segments, that reduces the shock you’ll feel in your wrists or forearms when hiking over rock trails or asphalt. They can be very helpful to reduce the risk of repetitive stress injuries in your wrists or inflammation if you suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome or arthritis.
Ultralight Carbon Fiber Poles
Some smaller ultralight backpacking companies sell extremely lightweight carbon fiber poles that are considerable lighter weight than carbon fiber poles from Black Diamond or Leki. These ultralight poles are a lot less durable and may break frequently depending on your personal hiking style and the terrain in which you hike. For example, I have a friend who’s used the same pair of Gossamer Gear carbon fiber trekking poles for years, while I consistently broke them within a day. Just be aware that there is usually a durability difference between very thin ultralight carbon fiber poles and ones that are thicker and heavier.
Trekking Pole Baskets
The trekking pole baskets have several purposes. The small ones called trekking baskets are designed to prevent your pole tips from getting caught between rocks and broken. The wider ones called snow baskets are designed to float in top of the snow so they don’t sink in. Many pole companies don’t include snow baskets in the purchase price of their poles, even though you’d want them for snowshoeing and skiing. It’s just something to watch out for if you want poles for four-season use.
Trekking Pole Tips
Most trekking poles cope with carbide tips for hiking over bare ground and rock. It’s very difficult to wear these out and you’re more likely to break them. If either happens you want to make sure that the poles you buy have replaceable tips and that you’re able to purchase them separately. Many poles also come with rubber tips, which can be used on asphalt. These may be curved on the bottom or just bulbous rubber caps. Either type works well.
Unisex vs Gender-Specific Poles
The main difference between unisex and gender-specific poles is the length and the grip size. Men’s and unisex poles tend to be an inch longer than women’s poles and have a narrower grip because women tend to have smaller hands. Otherwise, they’re interchangeable.
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Another consideration when choosing trekking poles is appropriate length for that trekking pole tent you want them to support. Longer “mens” poles that are adjusible in length are generally better suited. You can get “jacks” to extend a trekking pole to the appropriate length. These are sometimes necessary for taller trekking pole tents but it is another thing to keep track of.
For someone who doesn’t know if they want to use them or not, Walmart’s Ozark Trails poles with cork grip and flick locks can be bought in a set for about the cost of an order of fajitas at a Mexican restaurant. The aluminum shaft is a bit thinner but they really aren’t a bad set of poles, although I much prefer (and use) my Pacerpoles. If the purchaser decides poles aren’t for him, he isn’t out much money.
For me, switching to using hiking poles was a game changer. I don’t think I would have been able to hike the places I have been without them. They provide quasi 4WD going up and downhill, help my old arthritic legs and feet and keep me from falling on my tush in stream crossings.
I purchased Black Diamond Trail poles a few years back. I am very happy with them. The external locking mechanism never loosens. I used to have some Leki poles with an internal locking mechanism. They needed to be tightened every couple of hours, otherwise quality was very good.
Black Diamond Trail has foam handles but I have never found that to be an issue.
The best way of testing walking poles before buying is to lean on them a little to see how they bend. If the walking poles break they would have been a waste of money anyway. Unless you hike on flat terrain, it is better to invest in a good-quality pair. It’s cheaper than dealing with the consequences of rolling down the mountain.